The case was brought by Jennifer O'Carroll, chief operations officer of Limerick-based software group, HansaWorld, who had sought orders against the company lifting her suspension as director and company secretary and to stop alleged interference in her role as COO.

Soon after Martin O’Toole left the court, lawyers for Paul Beirne, another of the men due to appeal the severity of his sentence before the court on Tuesday, informed the panel that their client had also indicated his wish to discharge his legal team.