The High Court has heard a claim that Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave “significantly altered” and distributed a negative recording of his phone call with the former director of a major tech conference to “harm” him, alleging the latter had improperly investigated a sexual harassment claim against another director.
The 2021 conversation with Mr Cosgrave was recorded by David Kelly, whose recording was played in the High Court on Thursday. Mr Kelly said he was a “broken man” because of the actions of Mr Cosgrave, who he described as “a scumbag making up rubbish”.
The Commercial Court is hearing a “bitter” multi-million pound legal dispute between Mr Cosgrave and minority shareholders and former directors Mr Kelly and Dar Hickey.
Mr Cosgrave is suing Mr Kelly for alleged breach of duties relating to his directorship. Mr Kelly and Mr Hickey are in turn suing Mr Cosgrave for alleged oppression of minority shareholders and breach of a profit sharing agreement.
Mr Cosgrave and Mr Kelly deny the charges against them.
David Kelly leaves the High Court. Photo: Collins
The High Court heard on Thursday that Mr Cosgrave had sent a message to Mr Kelly that he knew of a visit by Mr Kelly, when he was director of Web Summit, to what Mr Cosgrave described as a Singapore “brothel” known as Four Floors of Whores.
Michael Cush SC, representing Mr Kelly, said Mr Cosgrave suggested photographs of the visit could be used to “keep” Mr Kelly. Mr Kelly was investigating, along with two others, a sexual harassment allegation against Mr Hickey made in 2016 by a Web Summit employee at an event in New Orleans.
Mr Kush noted that Mr Kelly had claimed he and the group were brought to Singapore by a “venture capitalist” and that “absolutely nothing” happened inside before he and the group left the venue, which the lawyer described as a “significant tourist attraction” because Singapore is “not renowned for its nightlife”.
Mr Cosgrave claims Mr Kelly failed to tell him about what he considered a “flawed” investigation, but Mr Kelly denies the allegations.
Mr Kush said there was “certainly no doubt” that Mr Cosgrave had “detailed” information about the investigation and that he “knew
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
