Music
06 Mar 02

Past 'lives

Does very old footage of the proto-Westlife - then called IOU, back in 1997 - belong to the band's childhood friend who filmed it, or to a promotions company who claim to have contracted him to do so? Let the courts decide

Westlife's Shane Filan was in Sligo Circuit Court earlier this month to offer evidence in support of a former school friend, Ciaran Carthy, who is being sued by Streetwise Promotions - concerning the ownership of a video recording of band members he made before Westlife were formed.

The video, which is currently being kept in a bank vault, shows the three Sligo members of Westlife in their previous incarnation as IOU and was made in 1997. The footage includes some taken of the band in performance at Sligo's Hawkswell Theatre.

Streetwise Promotions claim ownership of the tape since they allege that they entered into an agreement with Mr. Carthy to make the video for £1,140. Mr. Carthy denies this and claims the tape is his property and that he had accompanied and filmed the band at their request, simply as a personal acquaintance.

Shane Filan told the court that he and his fellow band members had frequently asked that Mr. Carthy make videos of the band. He additionally asserted that Mr. Carthy had been backstage with IOU when the band supported The Backstreet Boys at the Point Depot at the request of their future manager Louis Walsh.

He stated that Streetwise Promotions "showed us a contract and wanted us to sign it - but we didn't want to sign it."

The case continues on Friday.