THE HIGH Court has made orders for a journalist and a director of a charitable organisation to give evidence as part of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in the United States involving businessman Tony Quinn.
Mr Justice Gerard Hogan yesterday granted orders for Sunday World journalist Nicola Tallant and Mike Garde, a director of Dialogue Ireland, a group whose role included working with victims of cults, to give evidence in October as part of court proceedings in Denver, Colorado.
The judge said as the application was made ex-parte (one side only represented), he was adjourning the matter to next month when Ms Tallant and Mr Garde, should they so wish, can apply to have the orders set aside.
The US action arises from the sale of shares in International Natural Energy (INE) LLC, the holding company of a firm involved in oil exploration in Belize. Tony Quinn was appointed a director of INE several years ago. Colorado resident and former INE director Jean Cornec has brought an action against INE, its chairwoman Susan Morrice and the firm’s directors and affiliates. He claims he has not been paid in full for a $15 million sale of his shares to Ms Morrice.
The claims are denied and, in a counterclaim, the defendants allege Mr Cornec broke their contract by engaging in a campaign of disparagement meant to damage the reputation of the defendants, including Mr Quinn. Mr Cornec denies those allegations.
As part of the proceedings, due to be heard in Colorado in January 2013, lawyers for the defendants secured orders from the district court in Denver County, Colorado, requesting the Irish High Court to order Ms Tallant and Mr Garde be deposed as witnesses in the Colorado lawsuit. The defendants in the US case say Mr Garde and Ms Tallant have evidence in relation to the counterclaims.