Courts / Tipperary / Report

Estate agent alleged that John Magnier threatened to put landowners in 'litigation for years', witness tells court

Date
2025-07-11

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Tipperary

Summary

The High Court heard evidence in the ongoing dispute between John Magnier and Richard Thomson-Moore regarding a purported €15 million handshake deal for 751 acres in Co Tipperary. Anna Thomson-Moore, wife of the defendant, testified that the family was forced to take out a commercial loan to defend the case, describing the proceedings as an "onslaught" that delayed their plans to move to Australia for their son's care. She alleged that estate agent John Stokes conveyed a threat from Mr Magnier to pursue "litigation for years" at a cost of "millions" if the land were sold to others. Ms Thomson-Moore stated that the defendants had informed Mr Magnier that any agreement was subject to trustee consent, a condition Mr Magnier denies was mentioned. She also detailed receiving two brown envelopes containing €50,000 in cash from JP Magnier, which the family subsequently returned. The Magnier side characterised the cash as a token of appreciation. The defendants, including the Barne Estate and three IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd companies, deny any binding agreement existed, noting they ultimately preferred a higher offer from non-party Maurice Regan. The case continues before Mr Justice Max Barrett.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Estate agent alleged that John Magnier threatened to put landowners in 'litigation for years', witness tells court. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

August 22, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
September 7, 2023 Other
August 31 Other
September 30, 2023 Other
September 2023 Other
2025-07-11 Publication

Why: 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. CNI source report