Latest news with #Thomson-Moore
The Journal
6 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Heir of Barne Estate 'shocked' by €50k brown envelope 'luck penny' offer from John Magnier
AN HEIR OF the 17th century Barne Estate, who John Magnier is suing over a collapsed deal for the prized farmland, has said he was 'shocked' by an 'untoward' offer of 'two envelopes stuffed with money' amounting to €50,000, which the bloodstock billionaire sent as a 'luck penny'. Richard Thomson-Moore was giving evidence at the High Court today in his defence relating to the failed €15m agreement. Magnier wants the court to enforce the deal he claims he sealed with Thomson-Moore in a handshake agreement for the 751-acre farm in Tipperary on 22 August 2023, which took place at Magnier's Coolmore home. The Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Thomson-Moore and three companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group, seeking to enforce the purported deal, which they say had been 'unequivocally' agreed. The Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement, as they needed the consent of the trustees to finalise any deal. They subsequently preferred to sell the estate to billionaire Maurice Regan for over €20m. Thomson-Moore has told the court that while a 'price' was agreed with Magnier for Barne, a 'deal' was not. After agreeing on €15, Barne and the Magniers entered into an exclusivity agreement stipulating that the estate would not permit itself or its representatives to solicit or encourage any expression of interest, inquiry or offer on the property from anyone other than Magnier between 31 August to 30 September 2023. The trustees who hold the estate initially decided to remain loyal to the Magnier offer and felt Regan's higher offer could be seen as 'provocative'. After the exclusivity period had ended, the trustees decided to go with Regan's offer. The court has heard that on 7 September 2023 – two weeks after Magnier claims he shook hands with Thomson-Moore on the deal for the Barne Estate – Magnier called to Barne with his son, JP. The Thomson-Moores have told the court their estate agent, John Stokes, who had walked out with the Magniers, returned to the house with two brown envelopes given to him by JP containing a total of €50,000 in cash – €25,000 in each. Thomson-Moore told the court that he did not interrogate Stokes about the purpose of the envelopes and that Stokes explained their offering as a 'luck penny'. A 'luck penny' is an amount of money given by a buyer to the seller after a deal is done to bring good luck. Advertisement The Magnier side have told the court that the money was a token of 'appreciation' to the Thomson-Moores for letting the Magnier side onto the land before any sale was finalised. The Magnier side were ultimately gazumped by US-based construction magnate Regan, who offered a final €22.25m, and was made the preferred bidder. Regan is not a party to the case. At the High Court today, Thomson-Moore said the delivery of the money to their Barne home caused him 'shock' and he felt the offer of 'envelopes stuffed with cash' was 'untoward'. The money was later returned by the Thomson-Moores. Thomson-Moore told defence barrister Niall Buckley SC that a guide price of €13.5m had been advertised by the selling agents, which he thought was underpriced. He said he believed the property to be worth between €17.5m and €20m based on a comparator property in Kildare. Thomson-Moore said that Magnier's retort to this valuation was 'slightly hostile' before an offer of €15m was accepted by the Thomson-Moores at the Coolmore kitchen meeting. Caren Geoghegan SC, for the Magniers, asked Thomson-Moore about lists drawn up detailing the contents of the Barne mansion and asked why there were two lists – one 'complete' list with a separate incomplete list going to the trustees of the estate. Thomson-Moore said that after the Magnier offer, he was in talks organising an auction of the contents of Barne with Mealy's auction house. Geoghegan put it to Thomson-Moore that his intention at this time was to give one list to the trustees that did not disclose all the items in the house. She put it to him that his intent was to not disclose 'high-value items' to the trustees of the estate, which he denied. 'There is no ambiguity about the intention,' said Geoghegan, 'a complete list and then a separate list for trustees.' Thomson-Moore said 'it didn't happen' but added: 'that is what it looks like, though, yes'. The case continues before Mr Justice Max Barrett. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
11-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Estate got loan to fight legal proceedings over land deal with Magniers
The wife of a man being sued by John Magnier over the purported sale of a Co Tipperary estate to him has told the High Court how they had to get a commercial loan to fight the proceedings over the collapsed land deal. Anna Thomson-Moore told the High Court the stress and impact of the proceedings initiated against them was "enormous". She said it also delayed the family's plans to move to her native Australia to attend to the health needs of their son, who needs around-the-clock care. Billionaire Mr Magnier wants the court to enforce a €15m deal he claims he agreed with Richard Thomson-Moore in a hand-shake deal for 751 acres of the land in Co Tipperary on August 22, 2023, at Mr Magnier's Coolmore home. In her evidence on Friday, Ms Thomson-Moore told barrister Martin Hayden that on September 7, 2023 — two weeks after the claimed handshake deal — Mr Magnier called to Barne Estate with his son, JP, and met with the Thomson-Moores, who told Mr Magnier that they had to work through tax issues and involve the trustees of the estate to complete any deal. Ms Thomson-Moore said that at the end of that conversation, their estate agent, John Stokes, who had walked out with the Magniers, returned to the house with two brown envelopes given to him by JP containing a total of €50,000 in cash — €25,000 in each — about which she felt "uncomfortable" and told Mr Stokes this. Ms Thomson-Moore told Mr Hayden that the money was put in their safe and that the following morning they decided to return the money as Ms Thomson-Moore was now "very uncomfortable" with the situation. The Magnier side have told the court that the money was a token of "appreciation" to the Thomson-Moores for letting the Magnier side onto the land before any sale was finalised. The Magnier side were ultimately gazumped by Irish-born, US-based construction magnate Maurice Regan, who offered €22.25m, and was made the preferred bidder. Mr Regan is not a party to the case. The Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Mr Thomson-Moore and three companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group, seeking to enforce the purported deal, which they say had been "unequivocally" agreed. The Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement, as they needed the consent of the trustees to finalise any agreement, and subsequently they preferred to sell the estate to Mr Regan. Barne Estate has been held for the benefit of Richard Thomson-Moore and others by a Jersey trust. Mr Magnier claims that the deal had been agreed at the kitchen meeting and that there had been no mention of it being subject to trustee approval, which he has said to the court on numerous occasions. Ms Thomson-Moore told the High Court that Mr Magnier was told a number of times prior to the alleged deal that any agreement was subject to the consent of the trustees. Exclusivity agreement Both sides entered into an exclusivity agreement from August 31 to September 30, 2023, stipulating that the estate would not permit itself or its representatives to solicit or encourage any expression of interest, inquiry or offer on the property from anyone other than Mr Magnier. However, during September 2023, Ms Thomson-Moore sad Mr Regan had offered around €20m for the estate but the trustees recommended honoring the exclusivity agreement with Mr Magnier. Ms Thomson-Moore said she was "frustrated" that the trustees were not looking at the higher offer at all. After the expiry of the exclusivity deal, she said that there was a "flurry" of calls in early October, 2023, during which time Mr Stokes told the Thomson-Moores that Mr Magnier had told the estate agent he would take the matter to court and "tie this up for years and millions in litigation". Ms Thomson-Moore said a commercial loan was taken out by the defendants under Barne Estate Ltd in order to provide liquidity to defend the Magnier action. "We did not have the means to defend these proceedings without a loan. "I think it is important to have access to justice and we were being steamrolled into proceedings because of a lack of cash and it would not be fair. "It felt like an onslaught of proceedings that kicked off very quickly," she told the court. The case continues before Mr Justice Max Barrett.
Irish Examiner
10-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Witness weeps as she tells High Court of decision to sell Barne Estate
The wife of a man being sued by bloodstock billionaire John Magnier over the purported sale of a Co Tipperary estate, broke down in tears in the witness box at the High Court as she told of the decision to sell the estate so that the family could move to Australia because of their child's healthcare. Anna Thomson-Moore's husband, Richard is being sued by Mr Magnier, who claims that he had agreed a handshake deal with the Thomson-Moores for Barne Estate in Co Tipperary worth €15m in August 2023. Ms Thomson-Moore told the High Court on Thursday that her five-year old son, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, is in need of 24-hour care, cannot walk or crawl and is non verbal and that this was behind the decision to sell the Co Tipperary estate. Ms Thomson-Moore told her barrister, Martin Hayden SC, that she did not want her son to be "defined by his disabilities" but that his condition meant the family had chosen to move to Australia where Ms Thomson-Moore has a large family that could support her son. Anna Thomson-Moore told the High Court her family decided to sell Barne Estate in Tipperary so they could move to Australia because of their child's healthcare. Picture: Collins Courts Ms Thomson-Moore was emotional when she described her thoughts as to how Teddy would be cared for after she and her husband, as "older" parents, died or should anything happen to them. She said her son was a "delightfully happy and inquisitive child" but that he had a number of diagnoses and his conditions meant that he could not feed or wash himself, nor was he toilet trained and required 24-hour care. She said her son was not capable of doing things other five-year-olds would be expected to do and moving to Australia was decided as healthcare services for children in her area in Co Tipperary were under-resourced, difficult to avail of and over subscribed. Businessman John Magnier at the High Court in May. File picture: Collins Courts Ms Thomson-Moore said that there was a national scheme available in her homeland with individualised budgets for children with her son's diagnoses but that the family would have to physically be in Australia to avail of the services there. Ms Thomson-Moore said that Mr Magnier had visited Barne before the purported handshake deal of August 22, 2021, and had asked if the family was being put under pressure by a bank to sell. A trained lawyer, Ms Thomson-Moore said she told Mr Magnier that it was a family decision to sell the estate and said this decision involved the trustees of the estate. Mr Hayden asked Ms Thomson-Moore if Mr Magnier expressed any surprise upon learning of the involvement of trustees in the estate to which Ms Thomson-Moore said "no". The Magnier side claims a deal was struck for Barne Estate, which the Magniers believed they had shook hands on in August 2023 for €15m. However, the Magnier side were ultimately gazumped by Irish-born, US-based construction magnate Maurice Regan, who offered €22.25m. Barne Estate, Clonmel, Co Tipperary. The case centres on Mr Magnier's claim that Mr Regan engaged in a "full-frontal assault" on Mr Magnier's claimed deal to buy the 751-acre tract and that Barne estate reneged on the deal. Barne Estate has been held for the benefit of Richard Thomson-Moore and others by a Jersey trust. The Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Mr Thomson-Moore and three companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group, seeking to enforce the purported deal, which they say had been "unequivocally" agreed. The Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement, as they needed the consent of trustees to finalise any agreement and subsequently they preferred to sell the estate to Mr Regan. Mr Regan is not a party to the case. The case continues before Mr Justice Max Barrett.
Metro
07-07-2025
- Metro
Posh London restaurant fined £31,000 after dead mouse found in kitchen
A dead mouse discovered at a former London restaurant frequented by celebrities and royalty was among the atrocious conditions that led to the operator being fined more than £30,000. New photographs showing the appalling unsanitary scenes at Beach Blanket Babylon have emerged after the former owner was convicted at court of a string of food hygiene offences. Another image shows cockroaches in a kitchen area at the once upmarket townhouse and ballroom in Notting Hill, west London, which was also found to be infested with mice and rats. Other hygiene breaches discovered by inspectors from Kensington and Chelsea Council included packets of till white seeds, cocoa powder and flaked almonds that had been gnawed by mice. The now closed restaurant became a den of hygiene horrors despite the likes of Prince William and Kate, Prince Harry, Rita Ora, Selena Gomez and Naomi Campbell having been among the customers. Conor George Thomson-Moore, 30, was ordered to pay a total of £31,000 for serious breaches of food and hygiene legislation. The amount imposed at Westminster Magistrates' Court included a £7,000 fine, £2,000 victim surcharge and the council's legal costs of £22,000. Thomson-Moore, who is no longer the owner, was also banned from operating a food business for 10 years under the Food Hygiene England Regulations at the hearing on June 16. He had previously pleaded guilty to contamination of food with mouse droppings, poor cleaning, inadequate pest control procedures and failure to comply with a Hygiene Improvement Notice. The prosecution was brought after inspectors found the breaches during a visit in September 2022, including droppings around the premises and food contaminated with mouse faeces. A further visit in February 2023 found there was no hot water and further issues with pest control. Hygiene Improvement Notices were served but the food business operators failed to comply with one of the notices for lack of hot water to a wash hand basin. The restaurant had marketed itself as a townhouse with a ballroom 'serving beautiful British food and inspired cocktails from lunch till late.' But one nearby cafe worker previously told Metro: 'I never went there because I heard horrible things. 'Apparently it was really dirty in there, like the back of house had rats and bugs, if it reopened I wouldn't go in.' Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for environment and planning said: 'Kensington and Chelsea is home to a vibrant and growing food scene, visited and enjoyed by many. 'We support our local businesses, but we also take food safety seriously. More Trending 'Our officers work with businesses to ensure high standards are maintained that our residents and visitors expect and deserve. 'This prosecution shows our commitment to being a safe and fair borough and we won't hesitate to act against those businesses who don't play by the rules.' Metro has attempted to contact Mr Thomson-Moore for comment. Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact MORE: 'Gnawed bag of popcorn' discovery at Tesco store triggered hygiene investigation MORE: Mouse droppings discovered 'throughout' kitchen at McDonald's franchise MORE: Restaurant popular with Royals and celebs shuts down after rat poo found in food
Agriland
29-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Reports of owning 20,000ac in Tipperary ‘totally false'
By Paul Neilan Bloodstock billionaire John Magnier has told the High Court that money doesn't mean much to him, but it does offer a way to keep score 'on good days and bad days' in business. Magnier also told the High Court that he employed experts in legal and financial fields because some advisory decisions were 'out of my pay grade'. The billionaire also told the court that a barrister is 'trying to portray me as a bad guy' in a case where he says he had an exclusive agreement to buy land in Co. Tipperary for €15 million but missed out when the owners preferred a higher bidder. Lawyers acting for Magnier, founder of the world-famous Coolmore Stud, have claimed before the High Court that a US-based construction magnate, Maurice Regan, the preferred buyer, engaged in a 'full-frontal assault' on Magnier's claimed deal to buy 751ac of land in Tipperary for €15 million. Magnier's proceedings claim that Barne Estate, having reneged on the alleged deal, preferred to sell the land at the higher price of €22.25 million to Maurice Regan, the founder of the New York building firm JT Magen. Magnier has told the High Court that when he inquired about what happened with the bid, the estate agent involved told him: 'One word, John: greed.' Magnier deal John Magnier – along with his adult children, John Paul Magnier and Kate Wachman – wants to enforce the alleged deal. They say the deal was struck at an August 22, 2023, kitchen meeting at John Magnier's Coolmore home. They also claim an exclusivity agreement that was in effect from August 31 to September 30 stipulated that the estate would not permit its representatives to solicit or encourage any expression of interest, inquiry or offer on the property from anyone other than Magnier. Barne Estate has been held for the benefit of Richard Thomson-Moore and others by a Jersey trust. The Magniers have sued the Barne Estate, Thomson-Moore and three companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd. group, seeking to enforce the purported deal, which they say had been 'unequivocally' agreed. Image: Coolmore Stud Facebook The Barne Estate representatives say there was never any such agreement and subsequently they preferred to sell the estate to Regan. Maurice Regan is not a party to the case. High Court At the High Court, senior counsel Martin Hayden, for Barne, asked John Magnier if he is a billionaire. Magnier replied: 'I'd hope so – I've been fortunate.' Magnier said he was aware that the Thomson-Moores were selling the land so they could move to Australia to get better medical treatment for a family member. Magnier said he did not think the Thomson-Moore family were 'greedy', that he dealt with them in a 'fair and honourable way' and that the comment about alleged 'greed' was something that was said to him by the estate agent. Martin Hayden asked if there was a 'disparity' between Magnier's billionaire fortune and a family, whose sole asset was the farm they were selling for medical bills and who were being offered €7.2 million more than Magnier had offered. The senior counsel asked Magnier if this, in his opinion, amounted to 'greed'. 'You're trying to portray me as the bad guy here. Nobody else would have offered them €15 million. It was the highest bid at the time,' Magnier responded. He told the court that he believed the Thomson-Moores could have been 'misled' by Regan, who Magnier alleged wanted to keep land prices in Tipperary down. John Magnier also told Hayden that he did not think the Thomson-Moores were behaving in a 'greedy' manner when they preferred Regan's offer, which was €7.25 million more than his own. Magnier told the senior counsel that he left school at 15 with 'not a very good education' and that he employed 'experts' in legal and financial matters because some decisions were 'above my pay grade'. The barrister asked the billionaire how much land he owned in Tipperary. Magnier answered, 'very little', and said reports of him owning 20,000ac were 'totally false'. Magnier said that he has five children and 15 grandchildren, that his operation employs 1,300 people and that he would not do deals on distressed properties or people under duress to sell. When the Barne Estate's senior counsel asked about Magnier's wealth, the billionaire said that money does not mean much to him but that it was a way to 'keep the score' on 'good and bad days' in business. Paul Gallagher, senior counsel for John Magnier, has said Maurice Regan was 'the man who started all this'. Counsel said the US-based businessman had a 'grandiose and mistaken' belief that the sale should not go ahead to Magnier and set out to 'destroy' the agreement to purchase Barne. The trial continues before Justice Max Barrett.
