Hot Pressmagazine editor Niall Stokes has taken a High Court action alleging businessman Denis Desmond, Riverdanceduo Moya Doherty and John McColgan and others have a liability for losses, now estimated at €1.5 million, for the company running the music Hall of Fame museum in Dublin.
The action by Mr Stokes and a business partner MáiríSheehy, Trinity Street, Dublin, is against Mr McColgan and Ms Doherty; Cyril O'Brien, Knockabbey Castle, Co Louth; Tony Burke, Cabinteely, Dublin; and Mr Desmond, Strand Road, Killiney, Dublin.
Mr Stokes and Ms Sheehy were the sole directors of Steeple Investments Ltd of James Place East, Dublin, and claim they were engaged from 1998 in a business venture with Mr O'Brien and Mr Burke to obtain investment in Steeple through a business expansion scheme to develop and operate the Hall of Fame Museum.
It is claimed that on November 18th, 1998, Mr O'Brien and Mr Burke agreed to indemnify Mr Stokes and Ms Sheehy against two- thirds of any liabilities, costs or losses.Mr O'Brien, Mr Burke and Mr Desmond are liable for the bulk of the alleged losses, it is claimed, while Mr McColgan and Ms Doherty are liable for more than €158,000. The defendants deny there was the loss or damage alleged.
Mr McColgan and Ms Doherty deny they agreed to participate in the venture as alleged or that they agreed to indemnify Mr Stokes and Ms Sheehy against losses.
In the Commercial Court yesterday, Mr Justice Peter Kelly ordered Mr McColgan and Ms Doherty to make further discovery. The case will come before the court again on April 30th.