Judge tells sides to 'put their heads together' as Michael Flatley seeks hearing against his former solicitor

The President of the High Court said the focus should be on the directions that should be made in the case and hearing date was being sought 'out of the blue'

Previously in an affidavit to the High Court, Michael Flatley (pictured) said it was not correct that invoices relating to legal fees had not been paid to his former solicitors, Maxwell Mooney and Company.

Parties in the legal battle between Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley and his former solicitor have been told by the President of the High Court to put their heads together on the case.

Mr Justice David Barniville made his comments as the Flatley side applied to the court for a hearing date in the case, and the other side said there had been no advance on mediation.

The legal row between the entertainer and his former solicitor erupted at the start of the year amid allegations on both sides about legal fees and an alleged hold on files.

Michael Flatley is seeking to compel Maxwell Mooney and Company solicitors, with offices in Maynooth, Co Kildare, to hand over the files relating to the proceedings about and linked to his Cork mansion, Castlehyde, in Fermoy, Co Cork.

In the case, the Flatley side are seeking that Mr Mooney be directed to produce or deliver the client files in respect of all legal services provided to Mr Flatley.

The Flatley side are also seeking an order compelling Mr Mooney to provide a copy of the Flatley client account.

The court previously heard the breakdown in the relationship between Mr Flatley and his former solicitor had happened in November last year.

When the case came before the President of the High Court on Friday, counsel for Michael Flatley, Niall Buckley SC asked the court for a date for hearing which they estimated would last 90 minutes.

Counsel said that issues had been narrowed and the court would need to allot 90 minutes for the balance of the application by the Flatley side.

Mr Justice Barniville said the case had been adjourned from time to time including earlier this month after the unfortunate death of Mr Flatley’s wife, Niamh O’Brien.

The judge said he was not going to fix a date for hearing and all the parties should now put their heads together.

The judge said the focus should be on the directions that should be made in the case and hearing date was being sought “out of the blue”. He said directions would have to be made in the case so it does not "lurch from adjournment."

Counsel for Mr Mooney, Ronnie Hudson BL, said there had been no advance in relation to mediation and they are "reluctantly going down the taxation route". The judge put the case in for mention on October 29 next.

Previously in an affidavit to the High Court, Mr Flatley 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, which stipulated a total of €487,837 had been paid by Mr Flatley, or on his behalf, between May 2022 and August 2025.

In an affidavit to the court, solicitor Barry 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.”