John Magnier's wife: €15m deal was sealed over drinks...then we all had dinner together
The wife of billionaire John Magnier has told the High Court about the meeting she and her husband hosted at Coolmore Stud, in a bid to seal a deal for a neighbouring farm.
Susan Magnier, 71, the daughter of legendary Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien said she had asked her staff to ensure there was dinner available for Barne Estate owners Richard Thomson-Moore and his wife Anna.
The court heard how the couple were welcomed at the front door at around 8pm on August 22, 2023, and were shown into the open-plan kitchen-dining area, where the meeting was held around the long kitchen table, which can seat 16. John Magnier. Pic: Collins Courts
Ms Magnier sat at one end of the table, while her husband was seated at the other, with selling agent John Stokes and farm manager Joe Holohan to one side, and the Thomson-Moores to the other.
A member of staff served drinks, while another was ready to serve food if required, she said.
Giving evidence by videolink, Ms Magnier said Mr Stokes had been told by her husband that the Thomson-Moores should come to Coolmore only if they wanted to do a deal to sell the 751-acre Tipperary property. Susan Magnier. Pic: OLIVIER LABAN-MATTEI/AFP via Getty Images
The Magniers were preparing to travel to Brussels the following day, to watch their grandchildren compete in a show-jumping competition.
'My husband John would have told me that's what the hope was, that he could do a deal that night,' she said.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Magnier, 77, had explained: 'I wasn't going to leave a bid of €15million on the table while I went off show-jumping with the grandchildren. Richard Thomson Moore and Anna Thomson Moore. Pic: Tom Honan
'That's the reason I went from €11.25million to €15million, so we would have absolute certainty, and that was the basis on which they came to the house.'
Mr Magnier has sued Richard Thomson-Moore and the holding company of the Barne Estate shares, in a bid to secure the deal he contends was made to buy the land for €15million on August 22, 2023.
Construction magnate Maurice Regan made a later bid of €22.5million for the farm, and the sale is on hold pending the outcome of the case.
Ms Magnier said Anna Thomson-Moore made small talk, but 'never opened her mouth' about the land negotiations.
She said the main business of the night was discussed between her husband and Mr Stokes.
'I know we finished up on €15million,' she said.
After saying they were going to call the trustees and Mr Thomson-Moore's sister, she said Mr Stokes returned, closely followed by the Thomson-Moores.
'Mr Stokes came through the door first,' she said. 'He was very elated and said the deal was done. He was directly followed by the two Thomson-Moores, who were clearly delighted the deal was done,' she said. 'Everybody was happy. We all shook hands… I asked them would they stay for dinner, and they said they would.'
The conversation over dinner was 'light and light-hearted', she said. Farm manager Joe Holohan, who has worked for Mr Magnier for more than 35 years, confirmed he was also at the meeting, and was 'honoured' to be asked.
'To be there at a deal being done by Mr Magnier and that – it was going down in history,' Mr Holohan said.
He said Mr Magnier had admired the farm for many years, and that they went to see it immediately after Mr Stokes confirmed it was on the market.
He recalled overhearing a phone conversation in the car between Mr Regan and Mr Magnier's son-in-law, David Wachman, after Mr Regan learned of the Coolmore 'deal' for the farm.
He said of Mr Regan: 'He was giving out a lot. He said he would give €5million more for it. He was well agitated, I assure you.'
Yesterday morning, Mr Magnier told the court Mr Regan outbid him for land right beside Coolmore on a previous occasion.
He said Mr Regan now lived next door to him, saying: 'I hope we are going to be good neighbours… He's right beside us. I can see him from the bedroom window.'
Mr Magnier said he visited Mr Regan after issuing legal proceedings against the Thomson-Moores. Mr Regan is not a party to the action. Mr Magnier said he was legally precluded from revealing what was said.
'He gave me some information I am not allowed to use… I have information that would be beneficial for me to use, gained at that meeting. I have not used it. I would like if I could bring into the open what was said there.'
Defence barrister Martin Hayden queried why Mr Magnier had not challenged the wording of an exclusivity agreement and a tillage agreement, which were drawn up following the meeting of August 22.
Neither referred to a binding agreement having been made on that date but mentioned that discussions were to take place between both sides, counsel said.
'I knew what happened on the 22nd, because I did it myself. I did not do this [the documentation],' Mr Magnier replied.
He remained adamant that no mention was made at the meeting of a need for the estate's trustees to approve any deal.
The case continues next week.
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