Father of Rory McIlroy asked to produce papers in Horizon dispute

Golfer Rory McIlroy’s father is to be asked to produce documents as part of his son’s legal dispute with a sports management company, the Commercial Court has heard.

Rossa Fanning, for Mr McIlroy, said his side were “very surprised” by the application by the sports company for discovery of documents against Gerry McIlroy, who is not a party to the case.

The golfer's caddy, JP Fitzgerald, has also been ordered by the court to produce documents sought by the management company so it can defend Mr McIlroy's claim that an agreement he made is invalid.

Mr McIlroy is suing Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management Ltd and two other companies, Gurteen Ltd, with a registered address in Malta, and Canovan Management Services which is also based in Dublin.

He claims a representation agreement signed by him in December 2011 is invalid and unenforceable on a number of grounds including alleged undue influence.

He alleges the agreement was signed when he was aged just 22, inexperienced, and without the benefit of independent legal advice.

The defendants deny the claims and have counter-claimed for some US$3 million allegedly outstanding under the agreement for off-course revenues.

They also claim additional monies are owed under both the December 2011 agreement and a later agreement of March 2013. They are also claiming damages for alleged past and continuing breaches of both agreements.

Last month, the court heard attempts to mediate the dispute had failed and the case will now go to full hearing.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Brian McGovern was told, in preparation for the hearing, the McIlroy side had produced a particular document for inspection by the defendants after Horizon brought an application to court seeking its production.

As a result, Paul Sreenan, for the defendants, said his side’s application to the court could be struck out.

Mr Sreenan said a number of categories of documents in relation to the caddy, Mr Fitzgerald, had been agreed and the judge made an order they be disclosed.

Counsel added his side would apply next week in relation to documents held by Gerry McIlroy and documents held by a former employee of Horizon now working for Rory McIroy. A date would have to be set to hear those applications.

Mr Fanning agreed the discovery matter would probably take some time and added the application in relation to Gerry McIlroy “came as a surprise to us”.

The defendants will shortly supply Mr McIlroy’s lawyers with exact details of the total amount they are seeking in their counter-claim, the judge was told.