Peter Thiel-linked conference at Powerscourt Hotel cancelled after threats of protests and blockades, court told

Stonebrick says, in its statement of claim, that US billionaire Peter Thiel is co-founder of Dialog and a founder of the data company Palantir, although he had no involvement in organising the Powerscourt event. File picture: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A private conference co-founded by billionaire technology investor Peter Thiel due to be held at Powerscourt Hotel in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, next month was cancelled when its general manager received abusive phone calls and threats of organised protests and blockades, it has been claimed in Commercial Court proceedings.

The event was organised by the Dialog group and was due to be attended by 200 senior figures from the world of politics, technology, and defence.

In proceedings brought by Stonebrick LLC, trading as Dialog, it is claimed the Powerscourt operators wrongfully cancelled the event scheduled for August 12-17.

Stonebrick is suing Sugarloaf Ventures, trading as the Powerscourt Hotel, and the companies which own the 1,000-acres estate, Powerscourt Estates Ltd and Scalaheen Ltd.

Stonebrick says, in its statement of claim, that US billionaire Peter Thiel is co-founder of Dialog and a founder of the data company Palantir, although he had no involvement in organising the Powerscourt event.

It is seeking declarations including that the hotel operators acted in breach of contract, and that the estate owners wrongfully induced the hotel operators to act in breach of contract.

Stonebrick, which says it has about 1,000 members including chief executives, government officials, and other senior leaders, holds three large retreats per year, of which Dialog Global is one.

The event is a material source of its annual revenue and it expects to face a refund liability as a result of the cancellation of some $2.2m (€1.9m). The hotel general manager cancelled the event on July 3.

Powerscourt Hotel was due to hold the event in August. File picture

Paul Gardiner SC, for the hotel, told the court on Monday his client says this was "a force majeure cancellation".

Stonebrick, which says it was the victim of a cyber-attack in June in which information about the event was leaked to the media, denies it was force majeure.

The contract did not entitle the defendants to cancel by reason of political pressure, reputational concern, media coverage, protest activity, or pressure about staffing concerns or staff being unwilling to attend work for the event, it said. The event could have lawfully proceeded, it is claimed.

On June 16, the hotel general manager informed Stonebrick of the calls, emails, and threats of protests. 

That morning, according to the manager, 15 protesters with placards and chanting slogans had gathered in the hotel lobby and entrance for about 30 minutes.

The manager met with a local Garda inspector who stated the event could be held safely but would require a substantial policing and security response, Stonebrick says. 

The manager expressed concerns that it would mean the closure of the golf course at Powerscourt and its gardens.

Stonebrick had indicated it intended to work with the US embassy, gardaí, and private security providers to ensure the event was safe.

Martin Hayden SC, for Stonebrick, applied for entry of the case to the fast track commercial list on Monday with neither consent or objection from the defendants.

However, Ms Justice Roberts told Mr Hayden she would not admit it to the list until counsel provides an affidavit detailing the amount of the alleged loss involved although she accepted this was something of a "moving target". 

Mr Hayden said 33 attendees had already cancelled.

The judge said she would put the case into one of the court vacation sittings on September 2.