Michael Flatley is to resume control of The Lord of the Dance after beating a legal challenge that had barred him from any involvement in the productionâs upcoming 30th anniversary tour.
A judgment was delivered at the Chancery Court in Belfast on Thursday following a civil case application in which âtrenchant and quite personalâ allegations were made on both sides, according to Mr Justice Simpson.
The judge ordered the lifting of a temporary injunction blocking the choreographer from participation in the show, as it could lead to âpotentially unquantifiableâ financial losses.
There were âhotly disputed issues of factâ aired during the proceedings that could not be dealt with in a civil setting, the judge said. They were matters for a trial in the future, he added.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Flatley described the outcome as a âfantastic victoryâ.
Lord of the Dance is to begin its 30th anniversary run in Dublin next week.
âI wonât be in the car 10 seconds and Iâll be calling all my dancers, all of the cast and crew,â Mr Flatley told reporters.
âAll their families have flown in and weâre going to lift the roof on Thursday.
âThis will be the greatest version of this show that you will ever see.
âIâm absolutely delighted.â
Asked if he was back in control of the production, Mr Flatley said: âYes, 100 per centâ.
The civil case centred on a temporary injunction granted to Switzer Consulting Ltd a fortnight ago that blocked Mr Flatleyâs involvement in the planned worldwide tour.
Switzer sued the 67-year-old for alleged breach of contract.
Two years ago, both parties struck a formal service agreement that allowed Switzer to run the shows.
The temporary injunction was first filed by Switzer director Joe Gallagher on January 12th.
Mr Gallagher, described as âthe face of Switzerâ during the hearing, applied to block Mr Flatley from âcancelling, postponing, or in any way interferingâ with the Lord Of The Dance, including forbidding him to âcontact promoters or venuesâ, the judge said.
The court heard he has received nearly £430,000 in royalties in a 15-month period after the July 2024 agreement was signed.
Mr Justice Simpson was told that 268 performances of Lord of the Dance have been booked across Europe and North America in the âglobal ventureâ.
âThe Dublin show is good to go. But itâs the effect which Mr Flatleyâs interference and conduct may have on shows down the line which essentially prompts this application,â Switzerâs barrister, Gary McHugh, told the court on Wednesday.
In his affidavit, giving an address in Monaco, Mr Flatley rejected Switzerâs depiction of his character and financial reputation.
Allegations were made about the retired performerâs âdifficult financial historyâ.
The dancerâs former financial adviser, Des Walshe, claimed his ex-client had been living the lifestyle of a Monaco millionaire âwithout the funds to do soâ since 2019.
He had borrowed â¬75,000 to pay for his own birthday party, the court was told.
âIn the bluntest terms, he was faking it on a multimillion euro scale,â Mr Walshe wrote in a letter to Mr Flatleyâs solicitor in Dublin last month.
Mr Flatleyâs barrister rejected claims that Mr Flatley âwas a poor manager of his own affairs and was a man with substantial debtsâ.
âAd-hominem attacksâ had been made on his character, the court heard.
