Harry Potter actor 'spent earnings on drink, girls and cars'

An actor who earnt €1m (£810,000) playing a boy wizard in the Harry Potter films spent his money on drink, girls and fast cars, his mother told Ireland's High Court yesterday.

Fidelma Murray said that her son, Devon, who played Hogwarts pupil Seamus Finnegan in the films, had "gone drinking, taken out girls and bought cars, because that is what teenage boys do".

She added that she would not criticise his behaviour because he was her only child, reports the Irish Independent.

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The actor and his parents are being sued by his former agent, Neil Brooks, who claims the family owe him €286,000 (£231,000) in commission fees.

The Murrays deny owing money to Brooks and said the arrangement to have an agent had been "forced on us" without legal advice.

Fidelma Murray told the judge she had sacked Brooks because he had not done enough to limit the adverse publicity generated when her son was photographed smoking on set at the age of 13.

Brooks said he had been in South Africa helping his seriously ill sister at the time and that the incident was the responsibility of the actor's guardian.

"What could I have done?" he said.

Devon Murray, now 27, said he had originally formed a bond with Brooks but that later, it had become difficult to get in touch with him and the family had problems receiving cheques.

"It was like Where's Wally," he said.

Brooks argued the Murrays had been unhappy with arrangements made for their son to stay in London during the filming, wanting an apartment instead of a five-star hotel so Fidelma Murray could cook.

He also said the actor had wanted his own driver to take him to the set in a Lexus. Fidelma Murray denied this and said her son had only said he would love to have a ride in a Lexus.

A decision is due today.