A DECISION is to be given in the High Court in Dublin next week in the case in which boxer. Steve Collins, is seeking to overturn a judgment granted against him in the Irish courts last November for £165,500.
At the conclusion of a three day hearing yesterday, the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Costello, said he would like to consider documents he had been given and would give his judgment next Friday.
The judgment against Mr Collins last November in favour of Massachusetts boxing manager, Mr Pasquale Pat Petronelli, followed proceedings in the US courts.
Mr Petronelli sued Mr Collins in the US for alleged breach of contract, but Mr Justice Costello was told Mr Collins did not have a contract with him. Mr Collins, in an affidavit, said he had a contract dated March 17th, 1988, with Petronelli Brothers Athletic Clubs Inc, which was dissolved as a legal entity in December, 1990.
Mr Colm Allen SC, for Mr Collins, said yesterday that if personal service of the summons prior to the November judgment had not been effected, his client was entitled to have that judgment set aside.
It was common case that only one attempt was made at personal service. That allegedly took place at the Baggot Inn, Dublin, on September 25th, 1995. There had been no suggestion that any personal service took place when two private investigators last September went to Castleknock, Co Dublin. There was no suggestion they met Mr Collins. Personal service had not been achieved at the Baggot Inn.
Mr Allen said Mr Collins resided in Jersey. A house at Talbot Downs, Castleknock, was rented by his wife. It was not the case that Mr Collins lived in a hotel in Jersey. He had his own apartment and resided there when he was not spending the extensive time in the US which people pursuing his type of career were obliged to do for training and other purposes.
There was nothing sinister about the question of residence and there had been no attempt to mislead the court in that regard.