Joe Fitzpatrick, a solicitor handling the Barne Estate deal for Coolmore, told the High Court he understood a contract to sell to John Magnier was nearly “ready to go” in late August 2023 before the vendors went cold.
The court heard that the difficult phone call spurred John Magnier to drive immediately to the Barne Estate to push for an exclusivity agreement to block out other bids.
Counsel for sellers the Thomson Moores claimed this morning that John Magnier's account of what happened on the night he says a deal was struck for a 750-acre estate “doesn't hold water”.
In a full day of cross examination, bloodstock magnate John Magnier denied being the "bad guy" and said he didn't really understand tax matters and trusts. That's why he hired experts.
Irish businessman Maurice Regan and crime journalist Paul Williams feature in the opening of bloodstock magnate John Magnier's bitter court battle to buy the 17th-century Barne Estate in Co Tipperary.
Lawyers for the former Riverdance star say a refinance package for the €5.7m Novellus debt will be with Arthur Cox Solicitors by Tuesday morning, potentially ending a long-running saga to stop receivers moving in on Castlehyde.
It was a day marked by tetchy exchanges in court, claims of bullying and ultimately delay as the row over the future ownership of the 750-acre Barne Estate in Co Tipperary stands adjourned.
It was meant to be D-Day, the beginning of the Barne Estate trial in which bloodstock tycoon John Magnier claims he bought the historic property with a €15m handshake in August 2023. Instead of drama, there was deadlock.
A bidding war, missing documents and a "sham" trust are among the claims dogging the contested sale of the 750-acre estate in the heart of the Golden Vale. Two business titans circle for the prize.
Gerry Gannon is one of Ireland's most prolific housebuilders, building almost 15,000 homes in the greater Dublin area. Now his loans are being sold by Nama to a Kerry entrepreneur based in the US.
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