Latest news with #legalbattle
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
High Court hears from John Magnier's 'right hand man' in multi-million Barne Estate row
A senior advisor described as a "right-hand man" to bloodstock billionaire John Magnier, who is involved in a legal battle over the purported multi-million sale of a Tipperary estate that fell through, has told the High Court he was not secretly "kept in the loop" of the tax affairs of the vendors. Financial advisor at world-famous Coolmore Stud, Eddie Irwin, also rejected a description of him by counsel for Barne Estate as Mr Magnier's "fixer"and "right hand man". Advertisement Mr Irwin said Coolmore did not use "catchphrases or fancy titles" but agreed with counsel that he would be called to work on projects if things went "wrong". Mr Irwin, who has 40 years' experience working with Mr Magnier, was called in to aid in securing the Barne Estate deal which the Magniers believed they had shook hands on in August 2023 for €15 million. However, the Magnier side were ultimately gazumped in being the preferred buyer by Irish-born, US-based construction magnate Maurice Regan, who offered €22.25 million. 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. Advertisement Barne Estate has been held for the benefit of Richard Thomson-Moore and others by a Jersey trust. At the High Court on Friday, Mr Irwin said he met with Mr Thomson-Moore in early September 2023 and they contacted tax experts KPMG after the Thomson-Moore family requested tax liability advice. A KPMG tax expert met with the Thomson-Moores later in the month as a "favour" to Coolmore, who were large clients of KPMG. Mr Irwin did not attend that meeting but allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to Mr Magnier telling him "off the record" that the tax expert, who was named in court, allegedly told him that the Thomson-Moores were considering whether to retain KPMG and that the expert had informed the Thomson-Moores of what approach he recommended. Advertisement Mr Irwin answering Martin Hayden SC for Barne Estate denied he had an "off-the-record" report from the expert that, counsel alleged, would keep him "in the loop" in return for introducing the Thomson-Moores to KPMG. Mr Irwin said that the wording of the WhatsApp message was an "aberration" and "unfortunate" and that he meant for Mr Magnier not to share information already known from previous meetings as it was a "private" and not for dissemination. Mr Irwin told Mr Hayden that the named expert was an "innocent, decent and honourable" man, who was being "defamed" in the court as someone who would keep him "in the loop" on private tax matters. However, Mr Irwin said he did have "grave" concerns at the time that the tax issue raised by the Thomson-Moores was put forward just before the September 29th, 2023, end of an exclusivity agreement and may not have been a genuine one. Advertisement Mr Irwin told Mr Hayden that he was told by Mr Magnier that a week after the alleged handshake deal that his son-in-law, David Wachman, received a call from Mr Regan, who was "angry and abusive" about the purported sale. Mr Regan told Mr Wachman that he would outbid the Magnier side by €5 million to prevent the deal going through, claimed Mr Irwin. After the expiration of the exclusivity agreement on September 29th, 2023, Mr Irwin contacted Eugene McCague, a former partner at legal heavyweights Arthur Cox, who represent Coolmore in these proceedings, and sought legal advice should the matter be litigated. In early October 2023, with the exclusivity agreement now expired, the local estate agent involved in the sale, John Stokes, told the Magniers that the Barne Estate had been subject to a €20 million bid. Advertisement The Magnier side then upped their bid to €16 million with a separate, additional offering of €500,000 to establish a trust for a member of the Thomson-Moore family. Mr Irwin said he was told by the auctioneer that the Thomson-Moore's were happy to accept the Magnier offer but the Barne Estate solicitors never sent the contracts and the deal was never done. Ireland Ireland closing embassy in Tehran amid 'deteriorat... Read More 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 next month.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Firefighter who gave £45,000 of £200,000 scratchcard win to his 'spendaholic' ex-girlfriend fights her in court to get it back
A firefighter who sent £45,000 of his scratchcard win to his 'spendaholic' ex faced her in court to get the cash back. Craig Titchener, 36, took his ex Heather Douglass to court after she claimed he 'lovebombed' her with £45,000 worth of gifts because he was 'desperate' to keep her. The nurse claims the Heathrow Airport firefighter gave her a five-figure sum to spend on herself after his lucky win to 'get back into her good books' when they quarrelled. She said she splashed out thousands on exotic holidays, household renovations and other expensive items with her ex-partner's approval, adding that ADHD gave her 'an addiction to overspending'. The now-estranged couple ended up facing off in court over three cash transfers totalling £45,000 made by him to her in 2022. Ms Douglass insisted were 'outright gifts,' while he claimed they were for investing on his behalf. Mr Titchener sued, saying he had paid her the sums as he respected her financial 'savvy' and wanted her to plough the cash into premium bonds or other high-interest savings, with both of them sharing the interest. After three days in court, District Judge Charlotte Hart ruled that £40,000 of the money transferred was intended to be invested, as Mr Titchener claimed, and was not meant as a gift. Craig Titchener, 36, took his ex to court after she claimed he 'lovebombed' her with £45,000 worth of gifts because he was 'desperate' to keep her Craig Titchener, 36, took his ex to court after she claimed he 'lovebombed' her with £45,000 worth of gifts because he was 'desperate' to keep her However, she went on to find that a third £5,000 cash transfer was a gift as claimed by Ms Douglass, intended as a thank you from Mr Titchener for her support during their relationship, along with a £300 bottle of Lancôme perfume. Airport firefighter Mr Titchener scored his big win after gambling on a Winter Wonderlines scratchcard in 2019, pocketing the top prize of £200,000. He told the court he wanted to use the money to buy a house for him and his children, but that after beginning a 'volatile' 11-month relationship with Miss Douglass, he handed her £45,000 of his cash in 2022. After they split, he began his Central London County Court bid to retrieve his cash, telling the judge that he had expected Miss Douglass to invest it for him. 'I am someone who has always fought hard for a better life, for both myself and my children,' he told the judge. 'When I won that £200,000 on the scratchcard, I didn't see it as just luck but as a life-changing opportunity. 'I thought that now I can finally buy the family home I've always wanted, and that intention to invest in a home has been consistent from the start.' But Miss Douglass fought the case, asserting that the payments were gifts, claiming that her ex 'lovebombed' her with generous presents and cash to 'get back into her good books' when they quarrelled, telling Mr Titchener: 'You sent me money because you were desperate to be in a relationship with me'. With both sides representing themselves in court and sitting just yards apart in a cramped courtroom, Mr Titchener challenged his former partner as she gave evidence, asking: 'Why would I have transferred half of my life savings just to be in a relationship with you?' She replied: 'You want women to be with you, and you struggle when you're on your own. 'You're very controlling and this was a relationship wholly based on control. You believe that you can buy people.' Miss Douglass, who suffers from ADHD, told the judge that she had spent much of the money with Mr Titchener's agreement, including on a Thai holiday for them both, household work and other items. 'Part of my diagnosis is that I have an addiction to overspending,' she told the court. 'When I'm elated I will buy extravagant things. I have a tendency to overspend. If you came to my house, you'd see there are things coming there every day.' Giving judgment, the judge said there was 'very little evidence to support claims of a controlling or harassing relationship' and ruled that Ms Douglass had failed to prove that the £40,000 was gifted to her. But she held that Mr Titchener had also tried to bolster his case by concocting a digital document which he claimed was a signed agreement between him and Miss Douglass confirming that the transferred money was earmarked for investment. 'I think he created that document to support his genuine case that the money was not outright gifted, but given to use for the purpose of investment,' said the judge. But although labelling this 'extremely damaging to the claimant's credibility,' Judge Hart said it did not alter the central fact that Mr Titchener had transferred the cash sums for investment purposes. 'There will be judgment for Mr Titchener with a sum to be assessed by an equitable account, she added. 'It's declared that £40,000 was transferred by the claimant to the defendant and held in a bare trust for his benefit, to be invested in premium bonds or high interest savings.' On top of the disputed money, the pair also ended up bickering over a 500ml 'prestige' bottle of Lancôme perfume, which Mr Titchener likewise labelled an investment, while Ms Douglass said it was a gift of her favourite scent. Mr Titchener said the scent, bought for around £300 at auction. was 'a prestige bottle bought with the intention of investment,' but Ms Douglass said she wore the perfume 'all the time' and that her ex had told her his car 'smells like you now' after a similar bottle leaked in it. 'I used this perfume throughout my relationship with him,' she said in her closing arguments to the court. Finding against Mr Titchener in relation to the 'limited edition' perfume, the judge decided this was a present from the firefighter, saying: 'It's conceded that this is Ms Douglass' perfume of choice and on the balance of probabilities I find that this was a gift.' Although Mr Titchener had launched his bid to retrieve his cash transfers, the judge decided there must be a further court hearing to determine whether Ms Douglass may have spent some of her ex's £40,000 stake with his consent. The case will return to court for an investigation into where the £40,000 went, the judge noting that some £19,000 is still not accounted for, although £21,000 had been traced going into Ms Douglass' savings accounts.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
R Kelly denied release from prison just days after overdose
Disgraced singer R Kelly has been denied release from prison just days after his lawyers claimed he overdosed as a result of a botched murder plot. The former R&B star's legal team filed a motion on June 17 to have him sent to home confinement rather than being behind bars due to the 'imminent' threat to his life. But Judge Martha Pacold ruled that there was 'no legal basis for this court's jurisdiction' and threw the request out. The artist's lawyers claimed last week that Kelly had suffered an overdose after prison guards deliberately gave him too much anxiety medication. They also claimed that the 58-year-old, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was forcibly removed from hospital despite doctors finding blood clots in his legs that required surgery. Federal prosecutors rejected these allegations at the time as 'deeply unserious' and said the latest motion made 'a mockery' of the abuse suffered by Kelly's victims. They added that 'every convicted murderer, rapist, and terrorist will have a newfound shot at freedom' if Kelly was to be released from prison. Despite this and the recent rejection to have Kelly sent to home confinement, his lawyer Beau Brindley said he and his legal team would file a new motion based on what he called 'newly discovered evidence.' Mr Brindley said the request would also call for immediate bail 'pending its litigation'. 'We are not surprised by this ruling as we knew that technical jurisdiction would be a challenge under these circumstances,' Mr Brindley told USA TODAY. 'However, we had no choice but to act immediately given explicit evidence of a threat to Robert Kelly's life.' The news organisation said as of June 19, Mr Brindley and his team had not yet filed the new motion. Kelly was allegedly put in solitary confinement 'against his will' in response to a separate filing from his attorneys which claimed three prison officials hatched a plot to have him killed by a white supremacist gang. His legal team cited a sworn declaration from terminally ill inmate named Mikeal Glenn Stine in which he alleged the prison officials asked him to carry out the singer's murder. Kelly requested he be placed on house arrest for his crimes - which included convictions for child pornography and enticing minors for sex. Prosecutors called the attempt to be freed from his sex crimes sentence 'repugnant'. Stine, a member of the Aryan Brotherhood gang, alleged that high-ranking officials in the prison system offered him the opportunity to escape from prison and live out his final months as a 'free man' before his terminal illness kills him. In the filing, it was further alleged that Stine was pressured to carry out the killing in March when he was transferred to Kelly's unit, and was told by staff: 'You need to do what you came here for.' Stine said he stalked Kelly for months as he considered the assassination plot, but changed his mind and told the singer about the plan to kill him, according to the filing cited by The Independent. The singer's attorneys say they became aware of a second plot in June to have a different member of the Aryan Brotherhood kill both Kelly and Stine. Kelly's attorneys have also requested a pardon from President Donald Trump, saying the singer, 'does not have the luxury to wait for vindication from the Courts that will follow the exposure of the corruption at the heart of his prosecutions.' The attorneys previously claimed they 'are engaged in conversations with multiple persons close to the White House and to President Trump'. Kelly was convicted in 2021 and 2022 for racketeering, sex trafficking, child pornography and enticement. A New York City federal court sentenced him to 30 years in prison in 2022 and he was sentenced to 20 years in jail in a Chicago federal court the year after. Evidence at trial in New York included testimony from more than 10 victims, as well as video and DNA evidence. In the Chicago trial it emerged that Kelly enticed multiple underage girls to engage in sexual activity which he recorded. Kelly met his victims in the late 1990s and engaged in sex acts with them when they were as young as 14, 15 and 16 years old before covering up the acts. The singer has been behind bars since July 2019, and is now at the prison that housed late Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff. He will be 78 when eligible for release in 2045. MailOnline approached The Bureau of Prisons for comment.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon 'sued' by his Free Choice tobacco founder stepfather in $55 million legal battle - as notorious playboy drops off the radar
Notorious Gold Coast playboy Travers 'Candyman' Beynon is being sued by his stepfather Trevor in an explosive multimillion-dollar legal stoush. Trevor Beynon, 79, is the founder of the Free Choice tobacco store empire, and was married to Travers' mother, Sandra, when the couple founded the cigarette chain. Now, according to court documents, Trevor is alleging that Travers, 53, used 'sham' documents in an effort to gain more control over the group's assets - which is at odds with what Trevor intended in his will. The Gold Coast Bulletin recently reported that Trevor ceased his role as director of two 'key' Free Choice companies in March. Court documents indicate he is now alleging that he was removed from the position against his will. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The publication reported that documents lodged before the Supreme Court of Brisbane allege that Trevor met with Travers in 2007 to discuss the future of Free Choice Tobacco. As alleged in those documents, they agreed that Travers would take control of the business on the condition that siblings received a percentage of profits from some of the businesses. It was also claimed that two years after Sandra Beynon died in 2015, Travers enlisted lawyer Matthew Burgess to draw up documents preventing siblings from challenging Travers to a larger cut of the estate. They allege in the documents that they, along with accountant Richard Hoult, created estate planning documents which stated Trevor would gift $55 million to one of Travers' companies - Free Choice Master Holdings - and then loan it back. A separate deed also purported to secure the loan against Trevor's assets, according to the court documents. According to court filings, it allegedly came to a head in January this year, after Trevor and Travers had a disagreement over the management of Free Choice, which resulted in Travers enforcing the interest repayments on the alleged $55 million loan. Trevor claimed in the court documents that he had never paid or received the $55 million, alleging the figure was 'made up'. Trevor also argues the documents had shifted control of his assets to Travers and would prevent his estate from servicing debts after he died. He alleges that he had never signed documents to allow his shares in free Choice companies to be transferred from his ownership, and that he was removed from company directorships without due process. Trevor is asking the court to declare the $55 million a gift and the loan declared fake as well as seeking reinstatement as director of Free Choice companies and that his shares be placed back in his hands. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Travers' lawyer for comment. Questions started to swirl this week following Travers' apparent internet exit. The flamboyant businessman was certainly not shy about sharing glimpses of his lavish lifestyle to social media. His Instagram account, which enticed a million followers to fawn over posts of luxe parties and high-end living, has been apparently deleted. It's the same story for Travers' Candyshop Mansion website which as been offline since May this year. His Facebook and TikTok pages are still active, however they have not seen some action in quite some time. Travers' last post on Facebook was back in April 2023, while his last TikTok post occurred in August 2019. It's apparently a similar story for the Beynon family tobacco empire with the main Free Choice Tobacco site also currently offline. While its string of franchise stores are still operating, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported that Free Choice vacated its Gold Coast head office in February, with the space, owned by one of Beynon's companies, now leased to a new business. It comes amid what appears to be a period of upheaval for Travers with the playboy recently having another crack at offloading his Candyland mansion. Travers first listed the property back in 2023 and, at one stage, it had an eye-watering $25 million price tag attached The Gold Coast Bulletin reported in May that Travers had enlisted another agent to give the property the push it needs to get it over the line. He had engaged the services agents Ivy Wu and Isaac Kim from Ivy Realty to run an expression of interest campaign for the lavish property. Travers originally purchased the property, located in the northern Gold Coast suburb of Helensvale, in 2010. He later purchased neighbouring land, effectively tripling the footprint of the compound. The property sits on a substantial 1.4 acres with 175 metres of private water frontage. The house itself is set across an expansive 2,230 square-metre floorplan and boasts mosaic murals and hand-painted frescos throughout. The opulent home, which has hosted many wild parties over the years, sits behind large two-ton crested gates and features a gorgeous sandstone driveway and marble-clad majestic courtyard. Its highly desirable location is close to a variety of amenities including world renowned Surfers Paradise shopping centres, restaurants and beach. The listing came after Travers welcomed his fifth child, Santiago, back in June last year. He took to his Instagram Stories to confirm that he and wife of 14 years Taesha had welcomed a baby boy as he shared sweet snaps of the little one. Welcome to the world son,' Travers wrote alongside a video of him holding his newborn son's hand. Travers also shares two daughters Velicia, 12, and Serafina, 11, with his wife Taesha and has two other children - Valentino, 24, and Luciana, 22 - from his previous marriage to Ninibeth Leal.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Justin Baldoni Allowed to Seek Messages Between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift, Court Rules
Justin Baldoni can obtain messages between Blake Lively and Taylor Swift that relate to the filming of It Ends With Us, a court has ruled. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman found on Wednesday that the information is relevant because Lively identified Swift as a person in her orbit who would likely have knowledge about complaints or discussions regarding the working environment on the set of the movie. More from The Hollywood Reporter The Lucrative Business of Becoming Taylor Swift: Tribute Acts Are Saving Lives, Pocketing Paychecks and Finding Fame Blake Lively Subpoenas Scooter Braun Amid Ongoing Legal Battle With Justin Baldoni Scooter Braun Admits He Has "a Lot of Guilt" After Working With "So Many Young Artists" Lively had moved for a protective order relieving her from producing the information Baldoni's lawyers sought, arguing that the communications are irrelevant. The court disagreed. It pointed to Lively citing Swift as possibly having information that can be used in the case. 'The requests for messages with Swift regarding the film and this action are reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively's harassment and retaliation claims,' Liman wrote. The communications Baldoni can obtain will be limited to messages about the movie and the legal battle, according to the ruling. Discovery in the case remains ongoing. Lively's legal team has said it will produce all documents that Baldoni's lawyers seek, except for communications with Swift, by the end of the week if they turn over all video footage related to the movie and unredacted versions of communications cited in their revised complaint. The offer was refused. Swift's involvement in the dueling lawsuits relates, in part, to suggestions from Lively that Baldoni altered a rooftop scene at the beginning of the film. Lively invited the director to her New York City home in 2023 to discuss the script changes. Once there, Baldoni was surprised to see Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, and close friend, Swift, according to his lawsuit, which cites communications that include the name 'Taylor.' The megastars praise Lively's version of the scene, pressuring Baldoni to accept the revisions, he alleged. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
