The solicitor acting on behalf of Celtic Helicopters in an action against a film company over a crashed aircraft has said he was not aware until last year that the claim had been assigned to a third party.
Mr Gerald Kean also said he had not been aware until yesterday that the third party was the late Mr Des Traynor.
Mr Kean was asked to take over the case from John S. O'Connor Solicitors in October 1994 by Mike Murphy Insurance, brokers for Celtic Helicopters. The case involved one of the company's helicopters which crashed in September 1991 while being used by Irish Company Incorporated (ICI) for the filming of the movie Far and Away.
Mr Kean said he believed the claim against ICI had a good chance of success.
ICI has challenged the jurisdiction of the courts to try the case.
Mr Kean said that before any settlement he would have consulted the aviation company and its insurers Church and General, which had paid £95,000 to Celtic Helicopters following the crash and was entitled to an equivalent sum from any award.
He said he would also have had to consult Mr Traynor's estate had he known the claim had been assigned to him.
He added it had come as a surprise to hear that the claim had been assigned to a third party. He was told this some time around May 1998 by Mike Murphy Insurance and solicitors acting on behalf of Celtic Helicopters for the Moriarty tribunal.
In relation to compensation, Mr Kean said a statement of claim was prepared for £250,000 for the loss of the helicopter and a further £250,000 for loss of earning. He said these figures had been given to him by Mike Murphy Insurance and not by Mr Ciaran Haughey or his business partner, Mr John Barnicle.
The claim is still being pursued.
