AN INTERIM order granted to Sky Broadcasting against a company which distributes "smart" cards was vacated by the High Court yesterday on the application of Sky.
The order had restrained the company from disposing of, or reducing, its assets in the State. The cards are used to activate Sky television channels.
The President of the High Court, Mr Justice Costello, however, refused a motion by Sky Broadcasting seeking disclosure of the assets and accounts held solely or jointly by Megatek International Ltd, Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre, Dublin.
On June 24th last, Sky won a temporary order restraining Megatek International from disposing of or reducing its assets in Ireland below £200,000.
British Sky Broadcasting Limited had been granted injunctions against the defendant in a court in England the previous week.
In an affidavit, Ms Remy Steffen, director and shareholder of Megatek International, said she believed that Sky Broadcasting was endeavouring to cause Megatek to cease trading altogether.
Due to the order, Megatech's bankers would not allow any withdrawals. As a consequence, Megatek had not been in a position to fulfil its contractual obligations to its many customers.
It was her intention to instruct English solicitors to act on Megatek's behalf in the English proceedings.
Mr Michael Cush, counsel for Sky Broadcasting, said they were seeking to have the temporary order discharged on the basis of the claim by Megatek that it would have to cease trading if the order continued.
Refusing the motion for disclosure, Mr Justice Costello said Sky Broadcasting had not established there was a risk that the defendant was going to try to evade judgment by dissipating its assets.