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Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Michael Flatley alleges ‘blatant' level of ‘overcharging' in new row over legal bill in Castlehyde mansion case
Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley is embroiled in another row in the Commercial Court over a €1.4m disputed costs bill associated with the recent efforts to keep a receiver from the door of his Cork mansion, Castlehyde.
Irish Examiner
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Michael Flatley challenges 'blatant level' of alleged 'overcharging' by receiver in Cork mansion case
Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley is embroiled in another legal row, this time over a €1.4million disputed costs bill associated with the recent battle to keep a receiver from the door of his Cork mansion Castlehyde. And the entertainer, in an affidavit to the Commercial Court where he is disputing six-figure sums in legal and receiver fees, claimed he was shocked at what he called 'the blatant level' of alleged "overcharging'. Referring to a receiver costs bill of €86,000 plus legal costs of €186,000 Michael Flatley alleged he may be seen "as an easy mark for inflated costs". Also in dispute are €793,000 in legal fees from the opposing side in the Castlehyde receiver battle. In the affidavit to the court the dancing star claimed that there was also an alleged charge for 13 hours allegedly put in by the joint receivers for attendance at the High Court at a combined rate of €1000 an hour. At one stage Mr Flatley also said: "I have no objection to paying fees in general but in circumstances where the fees are exorbitant and mainly unvouched and unjustified and lacking transparency the vouching of the documents sought is in the interests of justice.' The court on Wednesday was considering an application by the Flatley side in which it was seeking certain documents from the Novellus side including the receiver's report, a contemporaneous record of tasks carried out by the receivers and a full breakdown of invoices and timesheets from third-party providers to the receivers. The Flatley side want the documentation as part of their bid to have the court decide in relation to the €1.4million in disputed costs. Mr Flatley's counsel, Ronnie Hudson BL instructed by Maxwell Mooney solicitor, said Michael Flatley has no objection to paying costs, but he needs transparency. "The only motivation of Michael Flatley is to get the money back," counsel said. Case background Counsel for Novellus and the receivers, Kelley Smith SC, said previously all allegations made by the Flatley side were withdrawn and her side was concerned about the motivation behind the latest application. Counsel said it was misconceived and was "more of the same grandstanding". Last March, Mr Flatley paid off a €6.9million loan on his Castlehyde mansion to save it from the receiver. The original legal battle related to a loan made to Mr Flatley's Blackbird Film Productions Ltd by Novellus Finance Ltd with registered offices at St Stephen's Green, Dublin, in 2023 with repayments of €67,000 per month over two years. Novellus claimed there had been default on repayment, which Mr Flatley denied. Mr Flatley provided a guarantee for the loan on the strength of the value of his Castlehyde mansion. As a result of the alleged default, Novellus appointed a receiver over the property. An interim injunction was granted to the Flatley side to prevent the receiver from taking further measures in relation to Castlehyde and a judge conducted a two-day hearing on the matter. The Flatley side asked the court to hold off on giving judgement on whether to set aside the interim injunction stopping the receiver taking steps or grant an interlocutory injunction to the Flatley side and said Mr Flatley was flying into Dublin to pay off the loan. The €6.9m loan was finally paid off but the issue of certain disputed costs remained. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey had reserved his judgement to a later date. Read More Michael Flatley faces new battle over security for costs at Cork's Castlehyde
