Lawyers for the Aga Khan told the High Court yesterday that they were not alleging any fraud against a secretary at the Aga Khan's Irish stud.
Mr Roddy Horan, for the Aga Khan, was addressing the court on the third day of an action taken by Ms Mary Charlton in which she is seeking orders of attachment and committal against the Aga Khan, his company the Stud Societe Civile, and members of his staff.
Mr Horan said a French national who had been manager of the Aga Khan's stud in Co Kildare, Mr Ghislain Drion, whose employment was terminated in June 1998, had acknowledged responsibility for a fraud for which he had paid substantial restitution to the Aga Khan.
Counsel said it was acknowledged that Ms Charlton had never been a beneficiary of the fraud. All his side had sought was to question her about documents she created.
Mr Horan said all Ms Charlton's personal diaries, which were in the possession of his clients, would be returned to her.
The court had heard that Mr Drion maintained up to 40 horses, apparently at the expense of the Aga Khan, at the latter's stud in Giltown, Kilcullen.
Ms Charlton (54), of Canalway, Kilcullen, claims that as a result of a court order, the company which represents the Aga Khan's bloodstock interests here - Stud Societe Civile - is restrained from holding a disciplinary inquiry involving her. She claims that court order has been breached.
Yesterday, Mr Ercus Stewart SC, for Ms Charlton, said his client was not part of the management of the stud. Whatever she had done, it was on the orders of Mr Drion, who was her boss at the time.
Mr Justice Budd adjourned the case for mention on November 16th next and said he hoped to be able to resume it later in that week. He ordered the company to continue to pay Ms Charlton's salary in the meantime.