A fashion designer who created the costumes for Riverdance the Show has told the High Court he was" "shocked" to learn he would not be designing the outfits to be used during the show's run on New York's Broadway.
Jen Kelly (49) told the court today he was informed by the show's executive producer in 1999 that another designer, Joan Bergin, had been hired for the costumes to be used in New York.
Mr Kelly, who is claiming more than €800,000 in damages, claims he has not been given proper credit for his work and his designs have been used and altered without his consent. The court was told he designed the costumes worn in the shows after Riverdance was first performed during the interval at the 1994 Eurovision Song contest in Dublin.
Mr Kelly, of North Great Georges Street, Dublin has sued Abhann Productions and Tyrone Productions, Mary Street Little, Dublin 7, for breach of contract. Abhann Productions is the company set up by husband and wife team John McColgan and Moya Doherty to control Riverdance.
The defence denies Mr Kelly's designs were used or copied or that they are in breach of contract. It is also pleaded Mr Kelly cannot sue for damages in light of various agreements he entered into.
Mr Kelly alleges the defendants are in breach of an agreement of November 1999 where they undertook not to use his costume designs in connection with any live performance of Riverdance the Show after December 31st, 2001.
The case before Mr Justice John MacMenamin is listed for two weeks and the judge reminded the sides today that, the longer the case went on, the higher the costs involved.
The case continues.