Michael Flatley 'intends to seek nominations to run for President', court told
An affidavit opened before Ms Justice Eileen Roberts in the Commercial Court on Friday made the assertion, following on from speculation that the Irish-American would contest the upcoming presidential election.
Mr Flatley's counsel Ronnie Hudson BL instructed by Maxwell Mooney solicitor introduced the document to court as part of a case where a building contractor and insurance companies involved in carrying out works at the Flatley Castlehyde mansion in Cork are seeking to have the star put up €2.8m security for costs before his action against them begins.
A security for costs application is usually made when the defendants in the case apply to the court seeking to have their costs covered if they end up successfully defending the main proceedings. It is often sought when litigants are not resident in the EU.
Mr Hudson told the court that Mr Flatley's intention to return to live in Ireland in the coming days represented a 'material change of circumstances' which must be considered by Ms Justice Roberts in her ruling on the security for costs application.
Andrew Fitzpatrick SC, representing the underwriting and insurance defendants in the case, objected to the affidavit being admitted to court as the judge had already reserved judgement on the application.
He also said it was 'hearsay', given that the affidavit was signed by Mr Flatley's solicitor Mr Mooney rather than the man himself.
Counsel for building contractor Austin Newport, Stephen Dowling SC, meanwhile said that there were no details of where he would be living in Ireland and did not meet the threshold to be admitted.
Ms Justice Roberts determined that the affidavit would be taken into account.
'In fairness to Mr Flatley, I will allow the affidavit to be admitted,' she said. 'I will treat it then with the weight, if any, I give to it.'
The judge also indicated that she had already begun work on the judgement and it would be delivered in a 'reasonably short period'.
Mr Flatley's side has previously described the security of costs application as 'a final effort to derail my claim'.
Mr Hudson said Mr Flatley is an Irish citizen and has assets in this jurisdiction and he contended it could be 'a form of discrimination' if the court were to make an order for security of costs against him.
In the main proceedings, the Riverdance performer claims he and his family had to vacate the Castlehyde period property in October 2023 after alleged toxic chemical residue was detected during routine maintenance.
Mr Flatley is suing Austin Newport Group Ltd, the main contractor and insurance underwriters — MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd, AXA XL Underwriting Agencies LTD and Hamilton Managing Agency Limited along with Lloyds Insurance Company.
All of the allegations are denied.
The court has previously heard the dancing star, who recently directed and starred in his own self-financed action film Blackbird, had been intending to move back to Ireland.
Last weekend, he told Brendan O'Connor on RTÉ Radio One that he was not ruling out a bid for presidency to succeed Michael D Higgins in this autumn's election.
For Mr Flatley to get onto the ballot, he would need the backing of either 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities.
So far, the only candidates to put themselves in the race are independent TD Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness.
Conor McGregor has also repeatedly posted on social media that he too wants to be the next president of Ireland.
The election must take place before 11 November, when President Higgins' term ends.
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