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 of the High Court ruling in the Barne Estate case, saying on pragmatic grounds that it would not be pursued. The intended appeal was to challenge the judge’s factual and legal findings, rather than seek enforcement of the land deal or associated damages.

In September 2025, the High Court found that neither the alleged land sale nor an option agreement had been concluded and refused the relief sought by the plaintiffs. The judge also found that Richard Thomson-Moore and estate agent John Stokes had told Magnier that any deal was subject to trustee approval.

After dismissing the action, Mr Justice Max Barrett said Magnier had given evidence that was “entirely false” and said he had lied, criticising the changes in his account of his belief that the trustees had been informed. Magnier’s statement said he continues to disagree with the trial judge’s findings and maintains that he acted in good faith. The Thomson-Moore family welcomed the end of the proceedings.