Courts / Dublin / Report

Developer's wife loses bid to halt alleged invalid transfers case

Date
2016-07-27
Stage
Hearing Or Decision
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Gayle Dunne, wife of property developer Sean Dunne, lost a bid to halt proceedings aimed at setting aside alleged invalid transfers of assets worth about €100 million. The case, brought by Chris Lehane, the official administering Mr Dunne's Irish bankruptcy, concerns two alleged agreements from 2005 and 2008 involving the Lagoon Beach Hotel in Cape Town and Irish properties. Mr Dunne filed for bankruptcy in Connecticut in 2013 and was declared bankrupt in Ireland the same year, a decision upheld by the Irish Supreme Court. Ms Dunne argued the transfers were compensation for her career and that Irish proceedings were oppressive, seeking dismissal on the basis that U.S. courts should decide the matter. The Official Assignee denied these claims, noting the assets were Irish and the transfers involved Irish share and loan assignments. Judge Caroline Costello dismissed Ms Dunne's application, stating Ireland was the proper forum and that her arguments did not show abuse of process.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Developer's wife loses bid to halt alleged invalid transfers case. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

Why: This was because the estate of Mr Dunne was vested in the US trustee and not with the OA. CNI source report

Case subjects

Chris Lehane

Applicant

Outcome: The judge adjourned the matter to a date in October.

Dunne's Irish

Applicant

Outcome: The judge adjourned the matter to a date in October.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Irish Supreme Court

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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