Golfer Rory McIlroy "has begun a legal action in the Republic of Ireland against his former agent, Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management," according to the BBC. The details of the case were not outlined at Dublin High Court on Monday, "but it is understood to involve a multi-million euro dispute over fees." It is believed that the golfer views the fees charged by Horizon -- said to be €7.5M ($10M) over an 18-month period -- "as excessive" (BBC, 10/14). The IRISH INDEPENDENT reported McIlroy "is to be hit with a counter claim when he takes legal action against his former sports agent, a court has been told." A barrister for Horizon, set up by agent Conor Ridge, "revealed a counter-claim will also be taken." The agency "is fighting the action and maintains the contract was fair" (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 10/14). In Dublin, Mary Carolan wrote McIlroy's action against Horizon Sports Management "is to be fast-tracked in the big business division of the High Court and will be heard in autumn next year." Horizon Senior Counsel Paul Sreenan said that "it was anticipated there would be extensive disputes related to what documents would be necessary for the action." Barrister Rossa Fanning said that McIllroy travels extensively and an autumn '14 hearing date "would suit him better." Much of the dispute in the case "will center on the exact terms of the 24-year-old Northern Ireland golfer's representation agreements" of Dec. '11 and March '13 (IRISH TIMES, 10/14).
