Former pirate Phantom 'made a fool of' BCI
The claim was made by counsel for Zed FM, a consortium which included Bob Geldof and radio investor Dermot Hanrahan, which is challenging a decision by the BCI to award a Dublin rock licence to Phantom FM.
The winning group involved people formerly involved in the pirate station of the same name, aswell as several investors including U2 manager Paul McGuinness.
Brian O'Moore SC, counsel for Scrollside Ltd (Zed FM) alleged that Phantom "took up arms again" by going back on air as a pirate station .
But BCI chief executive Michael O'Keeffe said during cross-examination yesterday that the BCI was satisfied in 2003 that the Phantom group was ready to "embrace the legal regime".
The group issued a press release stating that it was no longer going to broadcast as a pirate station and applied for a temporary licence.
Central to Zed FM's case is the claim that Phantom benefited from its illegal activities as a pirate station.
The BCI rejects this and says it has always accepted radio station applications from people previously involved in pirate radio.
- Samantha McCaughren
