A MAN IS being sued by four companies providing subscription cable TV and other services for allegedly costing them up to €9.2 million by selling equipment enabling others to access their services for free.

Thomas Roddy, Lower Salthill, Galway, and Crenane Bridge, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, was claiming to be a student teacher suffering from depressive episodes. Just after he had signed himself in for holistic therapy, however, some €200,000 was being "squirrelled away" from at least 15 bank accounts in his name, Michael McDowell SC, for the companies, said.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday granted applications by UPC Communications Ireland Ltd, East Point Business Park, Dublin, and three Swiss-registered companies - Nagravision SA, Nagracard SA and Kudelski SA, all providing services which control access to digital TV and broadband internet - to transfer their proceedings against Mr Roddy to the Commercial Court.

Mr McDowell said his clients believed their loss of opportunity due to Mr Roddy's activities amounted to some €9.2 million. It had never been suggested that Mr Roddy had a substantial defence to the case, Mr McDowell added.

Mr Roddy's counsel said the defence was denying all the claims and he asked for time to take instructions from his client as to how matters should proceed. There was an issue concerning Mr Roddy's psychiatric condition, he added.

If the defence was simply a traverse of the claims, it was just "putting off the evil day" which made no sense, Mr Justice Kelly said. He adjourned the proceedings for a week to allow counsel to take instructions from Mr Roddy.