OPENING DAY OF COURT CASE

Rory McIlroy 'wiped data' from mobile

phones before legal action, court told

FROM THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH

By Tim Healy

Rory McIlroy deliberately "wiped clean" up to eight mobile phone and electronic devices despite the fact they may have contained important information relating to his legal action against his former sports management company, it was claimed 

This "factory resetting" of devices, which it is claimed was also done to devices of three other key figures in the case, including McIlroy's father Gerry, was "incredible for a person in his position", senior counsel Paul Sreenan said.
Mr Sreenan was opening a  High Court application brought by Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management and two other companies, seeking orders from the court for further disclosure of documents and inspection of the devices of the world number one golfer and others.
Mr Sreenan said his clients had to bring the application because McIlroy had refused or failed to respond to requests for better disclosure and had asserted that he (McIlroy) and three others close to him had also wiped their devices before passing them on to others or to charity.
McIlroy is suing Horizon, along with Gurteen Ltd, with a registered  address in Malta, and Canovan Management Services, also based in Dublin, claiming a representation agreement signed by him in December 2011 is invalid and unenforceable on a number of grounds including alleged undue influence.
The defendants deny the claims and have counter-claimed for some US$3m  allegedly outstanding under the agreement for off-course revenues.
Mr Sreenan said today the amount of lost commission to his clients is now estimated at US $9m.
McIroy, in his claim, says Horizon charged commission "many times greater" than is standard in the sports agency industry including one agreement in which he must pay 20 per cent of his sponsorship