A former head of security at the Aga Khan's stud in Co Kildare has serious difficulties about the complete disclosure of a file dealing with his previous career in the Army because of sensitive security issues, the High Court was told yesterday.
Mr Roddy Horan, for the Aga Khan, said that during his military career, Mr Frank Faughnan had undertaken special work on behalf of the State, and any disclosure of those activities might present Mr Faughnan with his own security difficulties.
Mr Justice Budd gave liberty to Mr Faughnan to swear an affidavit about difficulties he may have about complete disclosure of his military records.
The judge was dealing with a case in which a former secretary at the stud, Ms Mary Charlton (54), of Canalway, Kilcullen, Co Kildare, is seeking an order of attachment or committal against the Aga Khan and members of his staff. She previously obtained a court order against the Aga Khan's Studs Societe Civile, with headquarters in Aiglemont, France, restraining it from holding a disciplinary hearing involving her.
It had been alleged that Ms Charlton, a secretary at the stud at Gilltown, Kilcullen, was made a scapegoat for a fraud allegedly committed by a former manager at the complex.
The proceedings have been before the courts since August 1998 but the trial of the action between the parties has yet to be heard. Mr Justice Budd has previously urged both sides to consider the possibility of settlement.
Yesterday the court was told by Mr Horan that the Aga Khan enjoyed immunity and would be claiming this if he was obliged to become a participant in the case.
The judge said he was determined the case would come into order so that it could go to trial. He adjourned the matter to January 13th.