Full coverage: Persona

Tony Boyle built a global communications business, and spent three decades battling the State and Ireland’s richest men over the mobile phone licence — a fight he was determined to win until illness claimed him this week.

Persona’s legal action against the State is inching closer to a full hearing. The government that Michael Lowry helped form is defending the case, despite accepting the findings of the tribunal underpinning the case that Lowry rejects. Confused? You should be.

A new High Court judgment sheds light on the legal back-and-forth between Persona and the businessman Denis O’Brien over the discovery of documents relating to the Moriarty Tribunal.

Persona is seeking damages over the awarding of a lucrative mobile phone licence nearly 30 years ago. A New York fund with “a strong focus on litigation-related investments” has now taken an equity position in the company behind the action.

Tony Boyle was prepared to drop a€500m claim if the State paid his legal bills and took action against those implicated by the Moriarty Tribunal. The offer was never taken up. And with a new investor on board, the changes of a deal have eroded.

Persona is seeking damages over the awarding of a lucrative mobile phone licence nearly 30 years ago. A new injection of equity from a US backer gives it the financial firepower to see the case out.