Magnier drops plan to appeal Barne Estate ruling

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

John Magnier has dropped his planned appeal against the High Court ruling over the Barne Estate in Co Tipperary, saying the decision was made on pragmatic grounds and that he stands by his position at trial. His statement said the appeal would have challenged the judge’s findings but would not have sought to enforce the land deal or claim damages.

The High Court had dismissed the case, finding that no land-sale or option agreement had been concluded. In December 2025, the court ordered Magnier to pay the sellers’ legal costs, estimated at more than €4 million. Mr Justice Max Barrett made the exceptional award at the higher legal practitioner-client level, saying that entirely false evidence had been given by the plaintiffs. The appeal will not be pursued, and the estate’s sale to Maurice Regan will not be affected.