Courts / Dublin / Report
Freezing order varied to allow boss of collapsed charities platform pay legal fees
Summary
The High Court has varied a freezing order against retired businessman Peter Conlon, former head of collapsed charities platform Pembroke Dynamic, to permit the payment of just over €40,000 in legal fees. Mr Justice Senan Allen granted the limited variation, allowing funds held in a solicitor's client account to be released for legal expenses. The funds originate from a pension Conlon receives from Enterprise Ireland/IDA, which had been lodged in a relative's bank account before being frozen under the 2018 injunction. Conlon, who resides in France and Germany, stated his only assets are co-owned properties in Dublin that are in negative equity, and his income consists of pensions totaling €428 per week. He faces proceedings brought by liquidator Myles Kirby, who alleges that approximately €3.8m in charity donations was misappropriated by Pembroke Dynamic and related entities. Kirby seeks orders making Conlon personally liable for the company's debts. While Kirby's counsel did not oppose the motion to pay legal fees, they retained questions regarding Conlon's means. The main proceedings, in which Conlon intends to contest the liquidator's application, are listed for hearing later this month. The case has been adjourned on several occasions, with the freezing orders remaining in place. Separately, Conlon was jailed in Switzerland in 2018 after pleading guilty to embezzlement for using almost €4m intended for charities to fund his technology company. He received a four-year sentence with three years suspended and was released in 2019 after serving one year.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Freezing order varied to allow boss of collapsed charities platform pay legal fees. Charges or matters: embezzlement there for using almost €4m – intended for charities – to fund his technology company. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- 2021-06-04 Publication
Why: Mr Conlon was jailed in Switzerland in 2018 after he pleaded guilty to embezzlement there for using almost €4m – intended for charities – to fund his technology company. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: embezzlement there for using almost €4m – intended for charities – to fund his technology company (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: He was jailed for four years with three suspended and, as he had already spent a year in prison before his trial, was released in 2019.; The case has been adjourned, with the freezing orders remaining in place, on several occasions.
Places mentioned
- The High Court
- High Court
Topics
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