CONCERT PROMOTERS Eamonn McCann and Denis Desmond have settled a High Court dispute over their alleged partnership.
After talks between the sides yesterday, the eighth day of the case, Brian O’Moore SC, for Mr McCann, told Mr Justice Brian McGovern that, after “considerable efforts” between the parties, this case, plus a separate action also in this jurisdiction and a third action in Northern Ireland, had all been resolved.
Counsel asked that the matter be listed for January 12th so as to allow the settlement to be implemented. Mr Justice McGovern said he was pleased the parties’ differences had been resolved and adjourned the case as requested. Neither promoter had any comment to make outside court.
Mr McCann, Deramore Drive, Belfast, had claimed he was entitled to a certain share in the profits of the alleged partnership. He claimed the partnership began in 1980 when they got into business together as MCD, an amalgamation of the first initials of their surnames.
Mr Desmond, Vartry Lodge, Strand Road, Killiney, Dublin, denied his claims and said at best they were involved in a joint venture.
During the hearing, Mr McCann agreed that, when he met Mr Desmond in 2006 to discuss a proposed buyout of Mr McCann’s share in the business, Mr McCann lied when he told him he had cancer. Mr McCann told the court he deeply regretted saying this and did not know why he had done so. He denied he told this lie as part of a thought-out plan to put pressure on Mr Desmond to buy him out.
The court had been asked to decide a number of issues concerning the June 2006 agreement to buy out Mr McCann’s share in the alleged partnership in relation to outdoor concerts in the Republic. These included the nature of the alleged partnership and how profits overheads and expenses were calculated.