Judge refers Michael Flatley dispute over insurance claim on Cork mansion to arbitration

The judge said: 'It seems to this court, that it is Mr Flatley who is seeking to avoid his responsibility to Hiscox.'

Michael Flatley, in an affidavit opened to the High Court during the hearing, claimed the high-end insurance company which covered his Fermoy estate until earlier this year was trying to rewrite his consumer household policy into a commercial policy in order to rely on the Arbitration Act.

A High Court judge has directed that a dispute between Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley and his former insurance company over a €30m claim on his Cork mansion Castlehyde policy must be thrashed out at arbitration rather than the courtroom.

The latest move in the Flatley Castlehyde drama came as the former Riverdance performer lost his High Court bid to prevent his multi-million claim against the high-end insurance company Hiscox over alleged defective work done to Castlehyde being referred to out of court arbitration.