The Indo Daily: Rugby stars, Leaving Cert grinds, lewd jokes and a High Court case
Investors, including well-known names like Brian O'Driscoll and Caelan Doris, have been keen to get in on the action, as the pair did when they helped fund hybrid learning platform Grinds 360 last year. But the competition in the grinds world can be just as intense as it is on the rugby pitch, and sometimes notably bitter.
Take the case of respected maths teacher Rob Browne, whose high-profile transfer from the Dublin Academy of Education to Grinds 360 led to a contentious dispute that landed in the High Court where, among other things, a lewd joke made on TikTok was under scrutiny.
On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Kevin Doyle is joined by Sunday Independent journalist Mark Tighe, to discuss this unusual legal battle.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
a day ago
- The Journal
'Full on war' between John Magnier and American tycoon over €22m Tipperary estate, High Court hears
THE HIGH COURT has heard of a deleted text message sent by the sister of Richard Thomson-Moore in which she was critical of American tycoon Maurice Regan before Mr Regan offered the family €5M more than John Magnier's bid for their 17th Century Tipperary Estate. Alexandra McCullough was giving evidence to the court this afternoon in the legal row over the collapse of a €15M agreement for the farming estate taken by bloodstock billionaire John Magnier against Ms McCullough's brother. Mr Magnier was in court today. In the text, she described the fight for the 751-acre Barne estate in Tipperary between Mr Regan and Mr Magnier as 'full on war'. In the deleted 10 September 102023, text to local auctioneer John Stokes, Ms McCullough described letters allegedly sent to Mr Stokes by Mr Regan as 'swiping' and 'sniffing' in the manner of his approach in making offers on Barne. She further said he had 'thrown a tantrum' over the sale. The court was told the text was only discovered because the estate agent took a screen grab of it. Competing bidder Mr Regan, the court heard, had complained in legal letters to Mr Stokes about the way the auctioneer handled the proposed sale. Mr Mangier, the court has heard, believed he had a deal for the land after a purported handshake agreement with Mr Thomson-Moore at his Coolmore home the month beforehand. In messages confirmed by the witness, she described Mr Magnier as 'savvy' and 'decent'. Ms McCullough described the situation of the competing bidders, Mr Magnier and Mr Regan, to Mr Stokes: 'We are now at full war and we are the peasants caught up in it.' Mr Magnier is suing Mr Thomson-Moore and Barne over the collapse of the purchase. The estate has been owned by the Thomson-Moore family for generations and is held in a trust. Caren Geoghegan SC, for the Magnier side, put it to Ms McCullough that she deleted the message because she was afraid the disparaging comments about Mr Regan would come to light should the trustees of Barne entertain the higher offer submitted by Mr Regan as the family later requested. Ms Geoghegan also put it to Ms McCullough that she deleted the message after a €50K cash gift from Mr Magnier, gifted to Anna and Richard Thomson-Moore in brown envelopes, was returned to Coolmore on 11 September, 2023. Ms McCullough said she initially reacted to the offer of €50K in a text to Mr Stokes saying 'sounds good'. She told the court she 'just thought it a goodwill blessing gesture that happens in Irish business' which was 'above board'. Advertisement As time went by and when the money was returned, Ms McCullough said she was, by then, 'uncomfortable' with the cash offer. Ms Geoghegan said the deleted message was because Ms McCullough did not want it to come to light as it was 'critical' of the eventual preferred buyer Mr Regan and whereas it said Mr Magnier had behaved 'decently'. Ms McCullough said it was a 'hot message' she was 'uncomfortable with'. She said she was getting rid of a message in which she had been 'lippy about someone I didn't know' and that it was 'not as intentional as you [Ms Geoghegan] are inferring'. She confirmed it was the only message she deleted during the August to October 2023 period. 'I felt I was very rude about Mr Regan,' said Ms McCullough, who referenced people in her own job with 'so much money', 'stirring' things and 'making up lies' with whom she chooses not to engage. Mr Magnier is suing Mr Thomson-Moore and Barne over the collapse of the purchase. The estate has been owned by the Thomson-Moore family for generations and is held in a trust. Mr Magnier wants the court to enforce the deal he claims he sealed with Mr Thomson-Moore with a €15M hand-shake agreement for the 751-acre estate on 22 August, 2023, at Mr Magnier's Coolmore home. The Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Mr Thomson-Moore and three trustee companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group, seeking to enforce the purported deal, which they say had been 'unequivocally' agreed. The Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement, as they needed the consent of the trustees to finalise any deal. Mr Thomson-Moore has told the court that while a 'price' was agreed with Mr Magnier for Barne, a 'deal' was not. After agreeing on €15M, Barne and the Magniers entered into an exclusivity agreement stipulating that Barne would not permit itself or its representatives to solicit or encourage any expression of interest, inquiry or offer on the property from anyone other than Mr Magnier between 31 August to 20 September, 2023. The trustees who hold the estate initially decided to remain loyal to the Magnier offer and felt Mr Regan's higher offer could be seen as 'provocative'. After the exclusivity period had ended, the trustees decided to go with Mr Regan's offer Mr Regan finally offered €22.25M and was made the preferred bidder. Mr Regan is not a party to the case. The case continues before Mr Justice Max Barrett. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Killarney brewing company collapse: covid cost overruns and whiskey tariffs blamed
The Killarney Brewing and Distilling Company which went into liquidation this week had dozens of creditors when it entered the examinership process in April, with more than €8m owed. The company confirmed the unsuccessful conclusion of its examinership process on Tuesday, with more than 50 jobs impacted by the brewery ceasing operations. The company premises included the plush multi-million euro brewery, whiskey distillery, and visitor centre overlooking the lakes of Killarney in Fossa. The independent expert's report filed as part of a petition to the High Court in April showed Killarney Brewing Company had a creditors' listing topping €8m. Included in the list of creditors of the brewing company were Kerry County Council, which was owed an outstanding amount of just over €108,000, and the Revenue Commissioners, who were owed €143,400. The report said the financial difficulties of the company predominantly arose from delays and the significant overspend on the construction of the company's Fossa facility, which went through an extensive renovation in 2021 and 2024, which it said impacted the company's profitability and cash flow. The estimated cost overrun caused by pandemic-related issues was around €8m, the report said The Killarney Brewing and Distilling company in Fossa, Killarney County Kerry where a liquidator was appointed on Monday. Picture: Don MacMonagle 'As all the hospitality businesses were predominantly closed during the peak pandemic years and completion of the Fossa unit was delayed, significant trading losses were incurred as investment monies raised, which were forecasted to assist with early years working capital, were utilised on the construction-related overspend,' the report said. To address the significant construction overrun costs and aid working capital, the group borrowed around €4.4m from a number of sources in December 2022, the report also noted. Speaking this week, the company said high tariffs on Irish whiskey exports to the US and wider economic uncertainty further hurt the business and had compounded previous challenges arising from the pandemic and ongoing global tensions. The Killarney Brewing and Distilling company in Fossa, Killarney County Kerry where a liquidator was appointed on Monday. "Like many in the drinks manufacturing industry, KBD has faced significant and sustained challenges in recent years, stemming from the lasting effects of the pandemic, delays in opening our state-of-the-art distillery in Fossa, global supply chain disruptions, rising input costs, and ongoing geopolitical and trading pressures," the brewery said. "More recently, high tariffs on Irish whiskey exports to the US and wider economic uncertainty have further impacted the business." Earlier this year, the company had reached a preliminary agreement to merge with a US-based strategic partner, but the partner ultimately chose not to proceed. In response, KBD entered the examinership process in the hope of securing new investment to protect jobs and stabilise operations for the long term. A spokesperson for the liquidator declined to comment. Read More Killarney Brewing & Distilling confirms unsuccessful end of examinership process
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Demolition company partner claims break up agreement not complied with
A partner in a demolition company has claimed in the High Court that there had been a failure to comply with the terms of a break up agreement in which he was to be paid €400,000. Richard Geraghty was granted an order by the court on Thursday restraining Vladimir Balmus, a co-shareholder with Mr Geraghty in Unbuilders Group Ltd, from transferring any part of the €400,000 which was lodged in the defendant's solicitor's client account. Mr Geraghty, who lives in Hollingbourne, Kent England, said in an affidavit that as a result of a breakdown in the relationship between the parties, there were multiple court proceedings. They included a petition by Mr Geraghty under the Companies Act alleging that the powers of the company's directors were being exercised in an oppressive manner. Due to the irreconcilable breakdown, he said, a settlement was reached last May in which the two men agreed to terminate their relationship. Under it, Mr Geraghty's shareholding was to be bought out for €400,000 by Mr Balmus with the money held in escrow by the defendant's solicitor pending completion of the sale. READ MORE Subsequently however, the defendant sought to frustrate and delay the payment out, Mr Geraghty said. His fears were exacerbated by what he said were 'utterly spurious and untrue' allegations made by parties connected by personal relationships to both men. As a result, it was necessary for him to bring the court application seeking injunctions compelling the defendant to pay the money to him and restrain him from registering the transfer of his shares in the company pending payment or a further order. Mr Justice Brian Cregan said he was satisfied to grant an order restraining any payment of the money from the client account and preventing Mr Balmus from registering the shares of Mr Geraghty in the Companies Registration Office, pending a further order. The application was made with only Mr Geraghty's side present, and returns to court next week.
