Rory McIlroy’s counsel tells of ‘baseless’ allegations made against him

A judge will deal next week with various pre-trial matters in the action by golfer Rory McIlroy over a disputed representation agreement.

Mr Justice Brian McGovern was told yesterday by Rossa Fanning BL, for Mr McIlroy, that a number of “serious allegations” made against his client are “baseless” and appeared to have “no point” to them.

Maurice Collins SC, for Horizon Sports Management Ltd and two other companies, disputed counsel's characterisation of matters.

The judge told the sides they should confine themselves to the issues to be addressed.

The judge was also told the sides agreed that an application seeking documents from Mr McIlroy’s father Gerry, who is not a party to the action, is unlikely to substantially proceed.

Mr Justice McGovern fixed Thursday, November 27th to deal with various pre-trial matters concerning discovery of documents.

Mr McIlroy is suing Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management Ltd; Gurteen Ltd, with a registered address in Malta, and Canovan Management Services, also based in Dublin. He claims a representation agreement signed by him in December 2011 is invalid and unenforceable on a number of grounds including alleged undue influence.

He alleges the agreement was signed when he was aged just 22, inexperienced, and without the benefit of independent legal advice.

The defendants deny the claims and have counter-claimed for some US$3m dollars allegedly outstanding under the agreement for off-course revenues. They claim additional monies are owed under both the December 2011 agreement and a later agreement of March 2013 and are seeking damages for alleged past and continuing breaches of both agreements.

Last month, the court heard attempts to mediate the dispute had failed. The case will go to full hearing at the Commercial Court next year.