Michael Flatley embroiled in another legal battle — this time with his former solicitor

Lord of the Dance star is in the High Court seeking to compel Maxwell Mooney and Co to hand over files relating to his mansion in Castlehyde in Fermoy, Co Cork

Michael Flatley at the Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championship Round 2 game against Italy at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Picture: Ben Brady/Inpho 

Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley is embroiled in another legal battle in the High Court — this time with his former solicitor.

The entertainer is seeking to compel Maxwell Mooney and Company solicitors to hand over files relating to proceedings about and linked to his Cork mansion, Castlehyde in Fermoy, Co Cork.

The legal row has erupted amid allegations on both sides about legal fees and an alleged hold on files.

Mr Flatley’s new legal team — Niall Buckley SC with Katie Nagle BL, instructed by solicitor Barry Creed — in an ex-parte application to the High Court on Monday were granted short service to serve notice of the proceedings on Mr Mooney.

Mr Flatley's case

The case, where the Flatley side is seeking that Mr Mooney be directed to produce or deliver the client files in respect of all legal services provided to Mr Flatley, will be heard by the High Court on Friday.

The Flatley side is also seeking an order compelling Mr Mooney, with an office at Maynooth, Co Kildare, to provide a copy of the Flatley client account.

Granting the short service in the ex-parte application, where only the Flatley side was represented, president of the High Court, Mr Justice David Barniville, said there appeared to be a clear dispute between the parties. 

He also noted that Mr Flatley’s appeal against a €1.1m security for costs order made against him in his €30m court action over works carried out at his Cork mansion had to be adjourned because his new legal team allegedly did not have discovery documentation.

Michael Flatley's affidavit 

In an affidavit to the High Court to ground his application, the entertainer said it was not correct that invoices relating to legal fees had not been paid to Mr Mooney. 

Mr Flatley said he could confirm the payments set out in the affidavit of his new solicitor, Barry Creed of Creed McStay solicitors, which stipulated that €487,837 had been paid by Mr Flatley or on his behalf between May 2022 and August 2025. 

Mr Creed stated that it was unclear whether €290,000 had been applied as fees or whether they remain held on account.

Mr Flatley also alleged in the document before the court that there was an alleged failure to provide all client account information, which he claimed he requested three months ago. This, Mr Flatley alleges, is impeding the orderly progression of his litigation.

'Negative headlines' 

In the affidavit, Mr Flatley said that, in July last year, he was concerned about how his proceedings were being managed, "and in particular the many negative headlines which were published about me”.  He claimed: 

At all times I was informed that matters were progressing positively; however, the media depicted a very different picture. 

He said Creed McStay solicitors now represent him in the two proceedings before the court, including his €30m action over works carried out at his Cork mansion. 

He said he believes and has been advised "that I am at a substantive disadvantage and prejudiced in the proper progression of those proceedings".

In an affidavit, solicitor Barry Creed said a notice of a change of solicitors was filed on December 10, 2025. 

Mr Creed said extensive correspondence was exchanged with Mr Mooney, and Mr Mooney wrote that his office was “exercising a general lien” over all files and papers relating to Mr Flatley until "we and counsel are paid in full”.

The case is back before the court on Friday.