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Hope & Glory promoter writes to Isle Of Man government demanding money

By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 10 November 2017

The man behind the disastrous Hope & Glory festival in Liverpool this summer, Lee O’Hanlon, is back, this time reigniting an old feud with the Isle Of Man’s government.

The dispute relates to a falling out over two shows previously promoted by O’Hanlon on the island, one headlined by The Jacksons in 2014 and another last year by Tom Jones. O’Hanlon has previously made a number of accusations against the Isle Of Man’s Department Of Economic Development, claiming that he was “cheated” out of money he was owed on the Jones show.

Now O’Hanlon has written to the island’s Chief Minister Howard Quayle and Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly noting recent accusations – linked to the much reported Paradise Papers – that the island’s government actively welcomes tax avoiders, and again demanding the money he believes he is owed. That letter has now been published by local radio station 3FM.

O’Hanlon writes: “Given that the world is watching how you deal with the millions and more that bypass through the Isle Of Man (I’ll not be the one to judge how proper or not that is), I was wondering if now might be a good time to pay me the £63,000 you owe me?”

He goes on to describe the amount as “paltry”, adding: “I was delighted to see Laurence is saying any tax evasion will be investigated. I can only hope the same will apply to your government not paying me what I am due. Go Laurence!”

As previously reported, the Hope & Glory festival in Liverpool collapsed after its first day. An investigation by Liverpool City Council – itself the subject of various accusations from O’Hanlon – found that “mismanagement” on his part led to “a catalogue of errors” at the event. There was overcrowding, bands went on late (or in the case of Charlotte Church, not at all), and O’Hanlon abruptly announced the cancellation of the festival the morning of what should have been its second day, apparently without telling anyone else involved first.

The company set up to run the festival subsequently went into liquidation, owing almost £1 million to creditors. This included over £200,000 to ticketing companies Eventbrite and Skiddle, which refunded ticket holders out of their own pockets after it became apparent that the festival would not.

Something about glasshouses and stones.