An Olympic gold medallist, Ms Mary Peters, has brought a High Court action for damages against a company alleged to have used, without her agreement, her image in an advertising campaign.
The action, due to be heard on February 20th, is against Ark Life Assurance Company Ltd arising out of an advertising campaign which started in 1996. In court yesterday, Ms Jacinta Heslin, for Ark Life, said the company had run an advertising campaign showing a number of historic events which was headed: "Remember when . . . " One of the events featured was Mary Peters winning a gold medal for the pentathlon at the Munich Olympics in 1972.
Around June 1996, Ms Peters alleged, Ark Life had started an advertising campaign which included an image of her and the title: "Remember when Mary Peters won Gold?"
She alleged the campaign was designed to take advantage of her personality, goodwill and reputation and was made without her consent. Because of the association with Ark Life, she claimed the campaign excluded her from involvement with another financial institution in Ireland.
Ark Life denies Ms Peters's claims.