Thereās McBrides in every town in Ireland ![]()
Needs the ultimate sanction
Nolan runs the retreats
Another jewel here - just the 120 priorsā¦ā¦ Aine Forde said her late brother (pictured) was āabsolute oppositeā of driver Danny Connors:
Lord of the Dance show creator Michael Flatley faked the lifestyle of a millionaire in Monaco using other peopleās money because he did not have the financial means to do so, a court in Belfast has been told.
The claim was made during a court case involving the dancer and a company trying to block his involvement in upcoming productions of the show.
A worldwide 30th anniversary tour of The Lord of The Dance is due to get under way in Dublin next week.
More than 260 other shows are scheduled to take place throughout Europe and North America this year.
Mr Flatley was in court in Belfast defending an attempt by an entertainment company called Switzer Consulting to prevent him from having any future control of the shows.
The proceedings centre on a service agreement reached in July 2024 for Switzer Consulting to run the stage show.
Earlier this month the company obtained an interim injunction blocking Mr Flatley from having any role.
The company is seeking a full injunction and suing the retired performer for alleged breach of copyright, which he denies.
A lawyer for the company told the court that the July 2024 agreement was to be the rebirth of The Lord of The Dance.
Gary McHugh KC told the court that the agreement gave Switzer the worldwide rights to the show, including ownership of the copyright and the rights to perform it in public.
The lawyer said the company was seeking to prevent interference by Mr Flatley because he had an industry wide reputation for not paying bills and for running shows at a loss, claiming that made many promoters reluctant to deal with him.
He quoted an email from a former business advisor to the dancer who said that since 2019 Mr Flatley has lived the lifestyle of a Monaco millionaire without the funds to do so.
It said the choreographer had maintained āa facade of wealth using other peopleās moniesā and alleged he had been āfaking it on a multi-million euro scaleā.
The email claimed Mr Flatley was all about image and borrowed money āto maintain a pretence of wealthā.
It cited two examples, saying the dancer had borrowed ā¬75,000 for his birthday party and ā¬50,000 to join a Monaco yacht club.
A lawyer for Mr Flatley described those claims as scurrilous and salacious, and insisted that Switzer had no claim to control of The Lord Of The Dance.
He quoted from an email sent to Mr Flatley by the same former business advisor in September 2024, two months after the agreement with Switzer.
David Dunlop KC told the court the email said Mr Flatley owed 100% of all the rights and could proceed to operate and ultimately sell the business, āthereby receiving the monies you deserve for the 30 years that you have put into thisā.
It added: āYou do so in the secure knowledge that it is you and your family that will be the sole beneficiaries.ā
The lawyer said Switzer Consulting had carried out an attack on Mr Flatleyās character and ability to run a business which had nothing to do with the issues about the agreement.
The judge will give his decision tomorrow.
More stories on
Like Icarus his only crime was to dream too big.
We need a DJ Carey musical.
Lord Of The Dodge.
āLord of the Fifteen Steps to beat Wexford in 1991 Leinster Semi Finalā is a catchy title I think
āFifteen Points Down After Fifteen Minutes and Fifteen People There To See Itā about the 1990 Leinster Semi-Final.
Brothers charged with multiple counts of money laundering
Updated / Thursday, 29 Jan 2026 14:14
James Mansfield (L) and Patrick Mansfield appeared in court charged with multiple counts of money laundering
Crime Correspondent
Two Dublin businessmen have appeared in court charged with multiple counts of money laundering more than ten years ago.
James Mansfield, aged 59, of Tasaggart House, Garters Lane in Saggart, and his 49-year-old brother Patrick are each charged with 25 money laundering offences in 2013 and 2014.
Patrick Mansfield, also with an address at Tassagart in Saggart, is also charged with eight counts of company fraud.
Two detectives from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau gave evidence of arrest charge and caution.
Detective Garda Paul Kane said that he arrested Patrick Mansfield at 8.30am this morning on the main street in Blanchardstown and when he was later charged with 33 money laundering and company fraud offences, he made no reply to the charges.
The total sum related to the charges is over ā¬352,000.
Detective Garda Fiona Connaughton told the court she arrested James Mansfield at Lucan Garda Station this morning and when he was charged at 9am with 25 money laundering offences he made no reply.
The total sum related to these charges is over ā¬192,000.
Judge Ćine Clancy remanded the brothers on bail on their own bond of ā¬10,000 each with no cash lodgement to appear again at Blanchardstown District Court for service of the book of evidence on 28 April.
Patrick Mansfield was ordered to surrender his passport and not apply for any other travel documents.
No travel restrictions were imposed on James Mansfield but he was directed to give gardaĆ 11 days notice before travelling.
Patrick was married to Clonmel Beauty Queen Andrea Roche once upon a time
What attracted her to him?
We need more judges like her.
Were any of the Mansfieldās ever done for using their airstrip to fly drugs in?
I donāt think so.
Never went away
not technically as it would have been egg in the face for the State and a demonstration of either naivety or collusion or both at certain levels, instead the takedown was slow and cathartic aided and abetted by the death of the celtic tiger credit bubble
Garda couple to sue force after acquittal in Limerick penalty points trial Garda couple to sue force after acquittal in Limerick penalty points trial
But ambivalent here. Taxpayer again and all that.
