Michael Flatley hired ex-police to examine huge loans at firm for his shows, court hears

Belfast High Court was presented yesterday with sworn evidence from the former garda fraud squad member as Mr Flatley won back control of the European leg of the tour.

The court heard allegations from ex-garda [Irish police] Denis O’Sullivan of a stand-off in Croatia over a live show, concealed bank records, and an unauthorised St. Patrick’s Day performance in London.

The tour had already been the focus of a heated legal battle earlier this year between Mr Flatley and Switzer Consulting Ltd, which finally culminated in an agreement allowing the Riverdance star to stage the Dublin premiere last month.

However, Judge Ian Huddleston was told that Switzer had allegedly breached undertakings it had then made not to interfere with the tour, and that Mr Flatley’s production team had been barred from entering an arena in Zagreb yesterday.

He was also told that Switzer had tried to take control of the costumes, had collected a €300,000 advance fee from an Eastern European promoter, and had tried to undermine confidence in the production among suppliers, crew, cast and promoters.

In addition, the judge heard that Switzer had staged a "Lord Of The Dance" show at Annabel’s Club, Mayfair, London, on St. Patrick’s Day, which took place without Mr Flatley’s consent.

The allegations were made in an ex-parte hearing, at which only Mr Flatley’s side were represented. Switzer can apply to the court to respond.

During the hearing, the judge was told that Mr Flatley had hired a private detective due to his concerns about his financial situation, following his involvement with Switzer Consulting, the Northern Irish company which had been contracted to run the tour.

In a sworn statement before the court, Mr O’Sullivan, of Merrion Square, Dublin 2, described himself as a forensic fraud and asset tracing consultant, specialising in complex fraud investigation and asset identification, tracing and analysis, who had previously served in An Garda Síochána.

He said that in late October 2025, he was asked to assist the Flatley family in understanding their assets and liabilities following their involvement with Switzer.

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Michael Flatley "Lord of the Dance".

‘The Flatley family’s core concern was when Switzer Consulting took over management of their financial affairs in the second half of 2022, borrowings stood at approximately €4million,’ he said.

‘By mid-2025 those borrowings had spiralled to €17million. The family was unable to obtain any explanation for this increase.’

Mr O’Sullivan said he had been met with ‘deliberate theatrics’ from Switzer when seeking to examine the Flatley accounts and bank statements.

He claimed: ‘In 46 years of professional experience, I have never encountered obstruction of the kind I have faced in this matter.

From the outset I have been met with abuse, false allegations and outright dishonesty from the directors of Switzer Consulting and those acting on their behalf.’

He added: ‘For five months I have been seeking the bank statements of Switzer Consulting to which the Flatleys are entitled. My investigation has established that one of the Switzer Consulting directors has purchased several properties since taking over the Flatley business affairs.

‘Mr Armand Lako, a director of Switzer, confirmed to me in early 2025 that they had purchased a property in Citywest, Dublin, previously sold by the Criminal Assets Bureau and formerly associated with a major international organised crime group, for approximately €1million.

‘When I became aware of this we sought to obtain a reconciliation of Mr Flatley’s financial records in order to ensure that he did not inadvertently have any part in this.’

Mr O’Sullivan also told how he had travelled to a Zagreb arena yesterday, arriving at 7.30am, together with the production team, comprising some ten to 12 staff members, with one articulated lorry and additional 40-foot trucks and containers present on the arena grounds.

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Michael Flatley.

‘Upon arrival, a member of arena staff who identified himself as being in a middle management role informed us that the team would not be permitted access to the arena, stating that he was awaiting further instructions,’ he said. He said the production team could not gain access to the arena to produce tonight’s show.

After Zagreb, the tour is scheduled to move to Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Germany.

Mr Flatley himself also swore an affidavit, which was put before the court yesterday by his barrister, David Dunlop. He outlined the previous legal disputes, culminating in the undertaking given by Switzer in February that it would not interfere with or obstruct him from making use of the intellectual property and rights to Lord Of The Dance.

Switzer also undertook to make the new stage and costumes available to him. Mr Flatley said: ‘Since the order was made, [Switzer] have actively contacted my dancers, crew, and production staff, pressuring them to perform exclusively for Switzer and falsely denying my legal rights to the production.’

He said Switzer had also ‘wrongfully interfered with and assumed control of key categories of property… all of which are necessary for the production’.

Mr Flatley alleged that Switzer and its directors ‘have engaged in a calculated, deliberate and ongoing campaign to flout the court’s authority’. He said the Zagreb arena has a capacity of over 20,000 and that 80% of tickets have been sold.

Following the hearing, Judge Huddleston ordered that Switzer must not interfere with or disrupt the Lord Of The Dance – 30th Anniversary Tour.

The judge said it must not interfere with any members of the cast, crew or production staff, or assert any authority, ownership or entitlement over the show.

A trial of the full dispute between Switzer and Mr Flatley has yet to be given a hearing date.

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.