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13 Jul 25
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Tears flow as Anna Thomson-Moore outlines son’s struggles in Barne Estate case as High Court row with John Magnier continues
Witness tells how legal dispute is delaying her family’s planned move from Tipperary to Australia for sake of child (5)
Mark Tighe
Today at 05:30
Anna Thomson-Moore was not in the witness box long before tears sprang to her eyes.
Asked why the Thomson-Moores had decided to end their family’s 400 years of ownership of the Barne Estate in south Tipperary, Ms Thomson-Moore, an Australian solicitor, said life changed for her and her husband Richard after the birth of their son Teddy five years ago.
But their desire to sell their land in Tipperary to make a move to Australia – for the sake of their son – was stymied by High Court wrangling over the estate of 750 acres.
Her husband, Richard Thomson-Moore and the IQ EQ trust that holds the property in trust for him and his sister Alex, have been blocked from selling the estate by a legal action taken by bloodstock tycoon John Magnier.
Mr Magnier and two of his children have taken High Court action to try to enforce a handshake deal that he claims was agreed with Richard Thomson-Moore and his wife at an evening supper in Mr Magnier’s home in Tipperary on August 22, 2023.
I have a child with a disability, so I know a lot of the challenges
In the High Court on Friday, Ms Thomson-Moore found some common ground with the judge.
Teddy is “a delightfully happy and inquisitive child”, she said.
As she cried and dabbed tears away, Judge Max Barrett reassured her.
“If it’s any comfort to you, Ms Thomson-Moore, I have a child with a disability, so I know a lot of the challenges,” the judge said.
Ms Thomson-Moore said: “I’ve never wished for Teddy to be defined by his disabilities, but the single fact of our everyday life with him is that he cannot do any of the things that you would expect a five-year-old child to be able to do.”
Teddy has a number of diagnoses, including epilepsy and cerebral palsy. While his epilepsy is “well under control”, the family once had the “trauma” of watching Teddy being taken in an emergency helicopter from a ferry after suffering a seizure.
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Ms Thomson-Moore said Teddy, who is non-verbal, requires 24-hour care and cannot sit independently, crawl or walk.
“Whilst I never want him to be defined by his physical status, it has a huge impact on our daily life and our life as a family and on what we have to do in order to look after him,” Ms Thomson-Moore added.
She said the old Barne Estate mansion was “completely impractical” for Teddy’s needs. She and her husband considered themselves “older parents” and she thought every day about what would happen to Teddy when she died.
None of the Thomson-Moores’ family now live in Ireland but she has a large family network in Australia who could help.
Even to come to court, she outlined how she had to rely on the kindness of friends who have flown in from the UK and Switzerland to help look after Teddy and their other child. She said early and consistent intervention in cases such as Teddy’s can have long-term benefits but “particularly in south Tipp”, the disability services for children are “under-resourced and oversubscribed”.
In contrast, Australia would provide not only a family network but the National Disability Insurance Scheme, where a child with a disability is allocated a personalised budget on an annual basis to be put towards supports. This can include therapies, mobility devices, communication tools, food, nappies and equipment. As an Australian citizen, Teddy would be entitled to avail of this.
In the High Court, Mr Magnier has contended that the deal to sell the property for €15m is enforceable. He says later bids from rival tycoon Maurice Regan, a Kerry businessman based in New York, of €22.5m are unlawful due to the deal.
Ms Thomson-Moore said she made clear at the meeting in Mr Magnier’s home in August 2023 that any deal was subject to the consent of the trustees, who were not in Tipperary and were not consulted that night.
Mr Magnier’s side insists the deal agreed that night made no such mention of the need for further consent from trustees.
Ms Thomson-Moore recounted how Mr Magnier and his son JP came up to their house on September 7 after Mr Regan had made an offer of €16.5m.
She said John Stokes, their selling agent, came into the house after the meeting with two brown envelopes and said “well, this is a luck penny from Mr Magnier”. She said they contained €50,000 in cash with the number 25 written in each corner, referring to the €25,000 in each envelope.
Ms Thomson-Moore was immediately “uncomfortable” with the cash. As a lawyer she had never heard the term “luck penny”, which usually refers to a small amount of money given by a seller to a buyer as a token of good luck after a transaction. The cash was returned by Mr Stokes after that weekend.
She also explained how the Magniers set up a meeting between them and Andrew Gallagher, a tax expert in KPMG, to help advise them on tax liabilities.
Evidence has been given that Eddie Irwin, who has been described as Mr Magnier’s “fixer”, sent Mr Magnier a WhatsApp message in the days after the KPMG meeting in September 2023. The message read: “Got off‑the‑record report from Andrew Gallagher. The Thomson‑Moores do not know he’s keeping me in the loop.” Mr Irwin has given evidence to say he did not mean to imply that Mr Gallagher disclosed anything from his meeting with the couple.
The court earlier heard that the estate owed €2.66m in taxes arising from the death of Colijn Thomson-Moore in 2015. Some €850,000 of that is owed due to penalties and interest from late payment of discretionary trust tax.
There’s a lot of press focus. I have found it oppressive
Ms Thomson-Moore said the estate had taken out a loan to defend the legal action. She said Mr Magnier had told their estate agent he would tie them up for years in litigation at a cost of millions.
“On one of the calls Mr Stokes said to us, you know, ‘Mr Magnier said I’ll take you to court and I will tie this up for years in litigation and it will cost millions’.”
She said the delay in selling the property and the legal case had an enormous impact on their family life.
“We do live in a small community,” she said. “There’s a lot of press focus. I have found it oppressive.”
She added Teddy was delayed in finding a school in Australia. Ms Thomson-Moore’s mother had developed dementia and she was unable to spend time with her.
“There’s a whole lot of family stuff going on that we’re not being able to help with because we’re here,” she said.
The case continues on Tuesday.
Witness tells how legal dispute is delaying her family’s planned move from Tipperary to Australia for sake of child (5)
Mark Tighe
Today at 05:30
Anna Thomson-Moore was not in the witness box long before tears sprang to her eyes.
Asked why the Thomson-Moores had decided to end their family’s 400 years of ownership of the Barne Estate in south Tipperary, Ms Thomson-Moore, an Australian solicitor, said life changed for her and her husband Richard after the birth of their son Teddy five years ago.
But their desire to sell their land in Tipperary to make a move to Australia – for the sake of their son – was stymied by High Court wrangling over the estate of 750 acres.
Her husband, Richard Thomson-Moore and the IQ EQ trust that holds the property in trust for him and his sister Alex, have been blocked from selling the estate by a legal action taken by bloodstock tycoon John Magnier.
Mr Magnier and two of his children have taken High Court action to try to enforce a handshake deal that he claims was agreed with Richard Thomson-Moore and his wife at an evening supper in Mr Magnier’s home in Tipperary on August 22, 2023.
I have a child with a disability, so I know a lot of the challenges
In the High Court on Friday, Ms Thomson-Moore found some common ground with the judge.
Teddy is “a delightfully happy and inquisitive child”, she said.
As she cried and dabbed tears away, Judge Max Barrett reassured her.
“If it’s any comfort to you, Ms Thomson-Moore, I have a child with a disability, so I know a lot of the challenges,” the judge said.
Ms Thomson-Moore said: “I’ve never wished for Teddy to be defined by his disabilities, but the single fact of our everyday life with him is that he cannot do any of the things that you would expect a five-year-old child to be able to do.”
Teddy has a number of diagnoses, including epilepsy and cerebral palsy. While his epilepsy is “well under control”, the family once had the “trauma” of watching Teddy being taken in an emergency helicopter from a ferry after suffering a seizure.
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Ms Thomson-Moore said Teddy, who is non-verbal, requires 24-hour care and cannot sit independently, crawl or walk.
“Whilst I never want him to be defined by his physical status, it has a huge impact on our daily life and our life as a family and on what we have to do in order to look after him,” Ms Thomson-Moore added.
She said the old Barne Estate mansion was “completely impractical” for Teddy’s needs. She and her husband considered themselves “older parents” and she thought every day about what would happen to Teddy when she died.
None of the Thomson-Moores’ family now live in Ireland but she has a large family network in Australia who could help.
Even to come to court, she outlined how she had to rely on the kindness of friends who have flown in from the UK and Switzerland to help look after Teddy and their other child. She said early and consistent intervention in cases such as Teddy’s can have long-term benefits but “particularly in south Tipp”, the disability services for children are “under-resourced and oversubscribed”.
In contrast, Australia would provide not only a family network but the National Disability Insurance Scheme, where a child with a disability is allocated a personalised budget on an annual basis to be put towards supports. This can include therapies, mobility devices, communication tools, food, nappies and equipment. As an Australian citizen, Teddy would be entitled to avail of this.
In the High Court, Mr Magnier has contended that the deal to sell the property for €15m is enforceable. He says later bids from rival tycoon Maurice Regan, a Kerry businessman based in New York, of €22.5m are unlawful due to the deal.
Ms Thomson-Moore said she made clear at the meeting in Mr Magnier’s home in August 2023 that any deal was subject to the consent of the trustees, who were not in Tipperary and were not consulted that night.
Mr Magnier’s side insists the deal agreed that night made no such mention of the need for further consent from trustees.
Ms Thomson-Moore recounted how Mr Magnier and his son JP came up to their house on September 7 after Mr Regan had made an offer of €16.5m.
She said John Stokes, their selling agent, came into the house after the meeting with two brown envelopes and said “well, this is a luck penny from Mr Magnier”. She said they contained €50,000 in cash with the number 25 written in each corner, referring to the €25,000 in each envelope.
Ms Thomson-Moore was immediately “uncomfortable” with the cash. As a lawyer she had never heard the term “luck penny”, which usually refers to a small amount of money given by a seller to a buyer as a token of good luck after a transaction. The cash was returned by Mr Stokes after that weekend.
She also explained how the Magniers set up a meeting between them and Andrew Gallagher, a tax expert in KPMG, to help advise them on tax liabilities.
Evidence has been given that Eddie Irwin, who has been described as Mr Magnier’s “fixer”, sent Mr Magnier a WhatsApp message in the days after the KPMG meeting in September 2023. The message read: “Got off‑the‑record report from Andrew Gallagher. The Thomson‑Moores do not know he’s keeping me in the loop.” Mr Irwin has given evidence to say he did not mean to imply that Mr Gallagher disclosed anything from his meeting with the couple.
The court earlier heard that the estate owed €2.66m in taxes arising from the death of Colijn Thomson-Moore in 2015. Some €850,000 of that is owed due to penalties and interest from late payment of discretionary trust tax.
There’s a lot of press focus. I have found it oppressive
Ms Thomson-Moore said the estate had taken out a loan to defend the legal action. She said Mr Magnier had told their estate agent he would tie them up for years in litigation at a cost of millions.
“On one of the calls Mr Stokes said to us, you know, ‘Mr Magnier said I’ll take you to court and I will tie this up for years in litigation and it will cost millions’.”
She said the delay in selling the property and the legal case had an enormous impact on their family life.
“We do live in a small community,” she said. “There’s a lot of press focus. I have found it oppressive.”
She added Teddy was delayed in finding a school in Australia. Ms Thomson-Moore’s mother had developed dementia and she was unable to spend time with her.
“There’s a whole lot of family stuff going on that we’re not being able to help with because we’re here,” she said.
The case continues on Tuesday.
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Ruthless men. Ask Alex Ferguson. That being said, Reegan is not a innocent actor in all this imo. Poor lady has been caught in the middle basically
Greed is an awful thing , john in his latter years a man and his family that have accumulated so much wealth that the lay person could not even imagine ,surely enough is enough , the ruthlessness ,the greed no apathy for who they bull doze through , it's my understanding he has half of land in tipperary bought up , does he think he,ll live forever , unfortunately greed is a disease, they more they get they more they want.i always think mcmanus is opposite of magnier, he uses his wealth to help people and I couldn't imagine jp getting involved in a debacle like magnier , anytime I've seen magnier being interviewed he strikes me as ruthless vehemous individually that would trample on anyome he could
If it's in trust then obviously the trustees would need to agree to the sale. Pretty basic stuff which you would have thought an experienced businessman would know. Don't think he's got a leg to stand on imho.
I suspect you're right. These boys will spend 2 pounds to cost you 1 though as a matter of principle. I'd say the strategy was to pressure them into a settlement while the litigation fees rolled up. Reagan I believe has promised to cover whatever costs she may accrue
Mr Magnier and two of his children have taken High Court action to try to enforce a handshake deal that he claims was agreed with Richard Thomson-Moore and his wife at an evening supper in Mr Magnier’s home in Tipperary on August 22, 2023.
The irony won't be lost on SAF here.
The irony won't be lost on SAF here.
Secret phones, wiped laptops and ‘dirty’ money: More drama in court as bitter land dispute involving John Magnier rumbles on
Bloodstock billionaire is seeking to enforce a handshake deal to buy Barne Estate, a 751-acre property in Tipperar
A secret phone, “professional bullies”, wiped laptops and cash that makes you feel “incredibly dirty” revealed in John Magnier land dispute
Almost two months since the bitter land dispute trial began at the High Court, it has finally heard directly from Richard Charles Thomson-Moore, the defendant taken to court by John Magnier.
Mr Magnier, the bloodstock billionaire, and two of his children are seeking to enforce a handshake deal agreed between Mr Magnier and Mr Thomson-Moore to buy Barne Estate, a 751-acre property in Tipperary that has been in the Thomson-Moore family for nearly 400 years.
Mr Magnier contends that the €15m deal agreed in his Coolmore home in Tipperary on August 22, 2023 with Mr Thomson-Moore is binding.
He argues that a later €22.5m deal Mr Thomson-Moore and his family trust agreed with Maurice Regan, the US-based Kerry building tycoon, is “unlawful”.
Mr Magnier claims Mr Thomson-Moore, the Barne Estate company and trusts have tried to use a conveyancing law that requires a written agreement for land deals as “an engine of fraud”. He is seeking an order of “unjust enrichment” that would entitle him to be given any profits obtained by the Thomson-Moore side if they are allowed to sell their family home to Mr Regan.
The court, presided over by Judge Max Barrett, has now heard evidence of a secret phone, a massive loan from Mr Regan to cover defence legal expenses, wiped computer drives, “dirty” money, hidden lists of assets and how Mr Thomson-Moore described his estate agent as a “c**t”.
Taking the stand directly after his Australian wife Anna had finished a sometimes tearful two days of evidence, Mr Thomson-Moore began his evidence by outlining his education. He attended the Royal Agricultural College in Gloucestershire before studying real estate investment management at Oxford Brookes.
He worked as a chartered surveyor in London before returning to Ireland “full-time” in 2012 to manage the tillage farm on the Barne Estate. He is the only son of Major Colijn Thomson-Moore, who had served in the Irish Guards in the British army, and died in 2015, aged 73.
In his direct evidence, Mr Thomson-Moore said he, his older sister Alex, and his wife and children were the beneficiaries of the trust that owned the Barne Estate.
Anna has said that after their son Teddy was born five years ago with a number of life-long medical conditions, the couple decided they would emigrate to Australia for a better family life and state support.
A decision was made to sell the family home. Mr Thomson-Moore also said the trust was under pressure to sell in order to settle a tax liability arising from his father’s death.
“For me, I found it very difficult,” Mr Thomson-Moore said about the decision to sell. “I thought it was sad to think that I’d probably be the last member of the family to walk out the gates of Barne, and that would be something which I’d have to bear.”
Savills was appointed to market the property and chose a guide price of €13.5m. He was “not very happy” with this price that was agreed with IQ-EQ, the trust company. He thought €18m to €20m was a fairer price, but said “my view wasn’t listened to”.
He said Mr Magnier visited their house in July when the sales process opened and asked them if they were being forced to sell by a bank.
Mr Thomson-Moore said they told him they were not under pressure, but had agreed to sell the property with the trustees, something Mr Magnier denies was said.
On August 22, Mr Thomson-Moore accompanied his wife and John Stokes, their local estate agent, after they were invited to Coolmore to hear Mr Magnier’s bid. He said they entered a room with Mr Magnier, his wife Sue, and Joe Holohan, Coolmore’s farm manager.
He said Anna, a solicitor, spoke first to say anything agreed that night would be subject to the approval of the trustees. Mr Magnier’s witnesses have said Mrs Thomson-Moore never spoke that night other than “chit-chat”.
Mr Thomson-Moore said he began negotiations seeking €17.5m and thought Mr Magnier’s response was “slightly hostile”. They eventually agreed to a €15m deal after consulting his sister Alex by phone.
Mr Thomson-Moore said he emailed the trustees the following day outlining the terms of the deal, which he considered “an offer”. His email, setting out the terms, said it was “subject to contract/contract denied”.
He said he had no entitlement to conclude an oral deal without trustee approval and did not believe anyone could agree such a deal in Ireland or England.
Whether the trustees later recorded the deal as being subject to contract/contract denied has been a matter of significant controversy raised by Mr Magnier’s side.
The trial has heard extensive evidence from IT experts as to the significance of revisions made to electronic minutes of a meeting by the trustees on the Magnier deal months after it was held.
Six laptops used by the trustee company have been wiped, so earlier copies of these minutes are not available.
On September 7, Mr Thomson-Moore outlined how the Magniers visited Barne and presented them with €50,000 in cash in two brown envelopes.
Anna Thomson-Moore was tearful on Tuesday as she described how the money left her feeling “incredibly dirty and tainted”.
These people should not be the new owners of your family farm
Her husband said he was “shocked” by this move and had the money returned by Mr Stokes to the Magniers after the weekend.
Mr Thomson-Moore said he was aware Mr Regan was making bids rivalling Mr Magnier’s throughout September 2023, but said he did not engage with them.
In one WhatsApp message to Mr Thomson-Moore on September 9, Mr Regan said Mr Thomson-Moore was dealing with “professional bullies” in Coolmore.
“If you wish to open the process I will support you and take care of any obligations that they are intimidating you with, such as planting a crop. These people should not be the new owners of your family farm or if they are, they should be made to pay dearly for it,” he wrote.
Anna Thomson-Moore confirmed in her evidence that the Barne Estate had recently taken a loan from one of Mr Regan’s companies to support its litigation costs.
This weekend, Pat Burke, a spokesman for Mr Regan, confirmed that a seven-figure loan had been given to aid the Barne Estate’s litigation costs. He said no indemnity had been provided for legal costs.
Barne Estate had signed a 30-day exclusivity agreement with Coolmore at the end of August 2023, prohibiting it from entertaining other bids up to the end of September.
Mr Thomson-Moore said he accepted he said in a meeting with the trustees that month that he would “drag his heels” in getting the information required to close the Coolmore deal. He said he was not worried about the exclusivity deal “running its course”.
Under cross-examination by Caren Geoghegan, Mr Thomson-Moore was asked about a WhatsApp thread of messages between his farm manager Colm O’Flaherty and Mr Regan, in which they discussed getting a “secret phone” to Mr Thomson-Moore so he could talk with Mr Regan in October 2023.
Although the phone was left for him in his kitchen with a charger, Mr Thomson-Moore said he never used it or even held it.
In the messages, Mr O’Flaherty said he advised his boss, who was then facing legal threats from Mr Magnier, to “keep in contact with Maurice” as he believed Coolmore were “afraid of him” and Mr Regan would help him.
In one message, Mr O’Flaherty said he had called in to Mr Thomson-Moore and he complained about estate agent John Stokes.
“The more I think of things, the more I think Stokes is a c**t,” he said his boss’s exact words were.
Asked about an email where he advised his wife to draw up two lists of the assets contained in their house and to leave off some high-value assets from the one to be presented to the trustees, Mr Thomson-Moore denied that this happened.
Warned by Ms Geoghegan that he was giving evidence “under oath”, Mr Thomson-Moore accepted that it “looks like” his intention was to hide certain assets from the trustees.
This week, Alex Thomson-Moore is scheduled to give evidence, before the estate agents on the deal will be called as witnesses.
Here’s the palatial country manor at centre of High Court dispute
It’s a magnificent chateau-style mansion that dates back to the 17th century.
Set among 751 acres, it is at the centre of a contentious High Court dispute over its sale.
Bloodstock billionaire John Magnier is suing the Barne Estate and heir Richard Thomson-Moore over the collapse of the purchase of the land and house for €15m.
Mr Magnier wants the court to enforce the deal he claims he sealed with Mr Thomson-Moore with a €15m handshake agreement on August 22, 2023, at Mr Magnier’s Coolmore home.
The Magnier side were ultimately gazumped by US-based Maurice Regan, a Kerry native, who offered a final €22.25m, and was made the preferred bidder.
Previously listed for sale with a guide of €13.5m, the property features formal gardens, a feature lake and surrounding parkland.
The luxurious Barne Estate
The luxurious Barne Estate
The three-storey mansion looks out over the lake, with a sweeping driveway leading up to the property.
The ground floor is mainly devoted to entertaining, with formal reception rooms including a dining room and drawing room, while the west and east wings comprise a games room, morning room and library/study.
On the first floor are eight bedrooms, with a four more and a lady’s drawing room on the second floor. The third floor/attic level was originally used to accommodate staff.
The house extends to 16,930 sq ft (1,572 sq m). Outbuildings surrounding the courtyard provide the current staff accommodation, a tack room, a butchery and a buttery.
There is also a walled garden to the rear, which is believed to date from circa 1870.
It has been in the hands of the Thomson-Moore family for generations. Richard Thomson-Moore has worked as an investment surveyor, chartered surveyor and even as a resort manager for a small chalet holiday company in Verbier for the winter ski season, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He has been estate manager of Barne Estate Ltd for the past 16 years, overseeing farm, agriculture and property management.
The property is the former home of the Moore family, with Richard Moore, who made his wealth as a sheep farmer, arriving in Ireland from Devon circa 1654.
Bloodstock billionaire is seeking to enforce a handshake deal to buy Barne Estate, a 751-acre property in Tipperar
A secret phone, “professional bullies”, wiped laptops and cash that makes you feel “incredibly dirty” revealed in John Magnier land dispute
Almost two months since the bitter land dispute trial began at the High Court, it has finally heard directly from Richard Charles Thomson-Moore, the defendant taken to court by John Magnier.
Mr Magnier, the bloodstock billionaire, and two of his children are seeking to enforce a handshake deal agreed between Mr Magnier and Mr Thomson-Moore to buy Barne Estate, a 751-acre property in Tipperary that has been in the Thomson-Moore family for nearly 400 years.
Mr Magnier contends that the €15m deal agreed in his Coolmore home in Tipperary on August 22, 2023 with Mr Thomson-Moore is binding.
He argues that a later €22.5m deal Mr Thomson-Moore and his family trust agreed with Maurice Regan, the US-based Kerry building tycoon, is “unlawful”.
Mr Magnier claims Mr Thomson-Moore, the Barne Estate company and trusts have tried to use a conveyancing law that requires a written agreement for land deals as “an engine of fraud”. He is seeking an order of “unjust enrichment” that would entitle him to be given any profits obtained by the Thomson-Moore side if they are allowed to sell their family home to Mr Regan.
The court, presided over by Judge Max Barrett, has now heard evidence of a secret phone, a massive loan from Mr Regan to cover defence legal expenses, wiped computer drives, “dirty” money, hidden lists of assets and how Mr Thomson-Moore described his estate agent as a “c**t”.
Taking the stand directly after his Australian wife Anna had finished a sometimes tearful two days of evidence, Mr Thomson-Moore began his evidence by outlining his education. He attended the Royal Agricultural College in Gloucestershire before studying real estate investment management at Oxford Brookes.
He worked as a chartered surveyor in London before returning to Ireland “full-time” in 2012 to manage the tillage farm on the Barne Estate. He is the only son of Major Colijn Thomson-Moore, who had served in the Irish Guards in the British army, and died in 2015, aged 73.
In his direct evidence, Mr Thomson-Moore said he, his older sister Alex, and his wife and children were the beneficiaries of the trust that owned the Barne Estate.
Anna has said that after their son Teddy was born five years ago with a number of life-long medical conditions, the couple decided they would emigrate to Australia for a better family life and state support.
A decision was made to sell the family home. Mr Thomson-Moore also said the trust was under pressure to sell in order to settle a tax liability arising from his father’s death.
“For me, I found it very difficult,” Mr Thomson-Moore said about the decision to sell. “I thought it was sad to think that I’d probably be the last member of the family to walk out the gates of Barne, and that would be something which I’d have to bear.”
Savills was appointed to market the property and chose a guide price of €13.5m. He was “not very happy” with this price that was agreed with IQ-EQ, the trust company. He thought €18m to €20m was a fairer price, but said “my view wasn’t listened to”.
He said Mr Magnier visited their house in July when the sales process opened and asked them if they were being forced to sell by a bank.
Mr Thomson-Moore said they told him they were not under pressure, but had agreed to sell the property with the trustees, something Mr Magnier denies was said.
On August 22, Mr Thomson-Moore accompanied his wife and John Stokes, their local estate agent, after they were invited to Coolmore to hear Mr Magnier’s bid. He said they entered a room with Mr Magnier, his wife Sue, and Joe Holohan, Coolmore’s farm manager.
He said Anna, a solicitor, spoke first to say anything agreed that night would be subject to the approval of the trustees. Mr Magnier’s witnesses have said Mrs Thomson-Moore never spoke that night other than “chit-chat”.
Mr Thomson-Moore said he began negotiations seeking €17.5m and thought Mr Magnier’s response was “slightly hostile”. They eventually agreed to a €15m deal after consulting his sister Alex by phone.
Mr Thomson-Moore said he emailed the trustees the following day outlining the terms of the deal, which he considered “an offer”. His email, setting out the terms, said it was “subject to contract/contract denied”.
He said he had no entitlement to conclude an oral deal without trustee approval and did not believe anyone could agree such a deal in Ireland or England.
Whether the trustees later recorded the deal as being subject to contract/contract denied has been a matter of significant controversy raised by Mr Magnier’s side.
The trial has heard extensive evidence from IT experts as to the significance of revisions made to electronic minutes of a meeting by the trustees on the Magnier deal months after it was held.
Six laptops used by the trustee company have been wiped, so earlier copies of these minutes are not available.
On September 7, Mr Thomson-Moore outlined how the Magniers visited Barne and presented them with €50,000 in cash in two brown envelopes.
Anna Thomson-Moore was tearful on Tuesday as she described how the money left her feeling “incredibly dirty and tainted”.
These people should not be the new owners of your family farm
Her husband said he was “shocked” by this move and had the money returned by Mr Stokes to the Magniers after the weekend.
Mr Thomson-Moore said he was aware Mr Regan was making bids rivalling Mr Magnier’s throughout September 2023, but said he did not engage with them.
In one WhatsApp message to Mr Thomson-Moore on September 9, Mr Regan said Mr Thomson-Moore was dealing with “professional bullies” in Coolmore.
“If you wish to open the process I will support you and take care of any obligations that they are intimidating you with, such as planting a crop. These people should not be the new owners of your family farm or if they are, they should be made to pay dearly for it,” he wrote.
Anna Thomson-Moore confirmed in her evidence that the Barne Estate had recently taken a loan from one of Mr Regan’s companies to support its litigation costs.
This weekend, Pat Burke, a spokesman for Mr Regan, confirmed that a seven-figure loan had been given to aid the Barne Estate’s litigation costs. He said no indemnity had been provided for legal costs.
Barne Estate had signed a 30-day exclusivity agreement with Coolmore at the end of August 2023, prohibiting it from entertaining other bids up to the end of September.
Mr Thomson-Moore said he accepted he said in a meeting with the trustees that month that he would “drag his heels” in getting the information required to close the Coolmore deal. He said he was not worried about the exclusivity deal “running its course”.
Under cross-examination by Caren Geoghegan, Mr Thomson-Moore was asked about a WhatsApp thread of messages between his farm manager Colm O’Flaherty and Mr Regan, in which they discussed getting a “secret phone” to Mr Thomson-Moore so he could talk with Mr Regan in October 2023.
Although the phone was left for him in his kitchen with a charger, Mr Thomson-Moore said he never used it or even held it.
In the messages, Mr O’Flaherty said he advised his boss, who was then facing legal threats from Mr Magnier, to “keep in contact with Maurice” as he believed Coolmore were “afraid of him” and Mr Regan would help him.
In one message, Mr O’Flaherty said he had called in to Mr Thomson-Moore and he complained about estate agent John Stokes.
“The more I think of things, the more I think Stokes is a c**t,” he said his boss’s exact words were.
Asked about an email where he advised his wife to draw up two lists of the assets contained in their house and to leave off some high-value assets from the one to be presented to the trustees, Mr Thomson-Moore denied that this happened.
Warned by Ms Geoghegan that he was giving evidence “under oath”, Mr Thomson-Moore accepted that it “looks like” his intention was to hide certain assets from the trustees.
This week, Alex Thomson-Moore is scheduled to give evidence, before the estate agents on the deal will be called as witnesses.
Here’s the palatial country manor at centre of High Court dispute
It’s a magnificent chateau-style mansion that dates back to the 17th century.
Set among 751 acres, it is at the centre of a contentious High Court dispute over its sale.
Bloodstock billionaire John Magnier is suing the Barne Estate and heir Richard Thomson-Moore over the collapse of the purchase of the land and house for €15m.
Mr Magnier wants the court to enforce the deal he claims he sealed with Mr Thomson-Moore with a €15m handshake agreement on August 22, 2023, at Mr Magnier’s Coolmore home.
The Magnier side were ultimately gazumped by US-based Maurice Regan, a Kerry native, who offered a final €22.25m, and was made the preferred bidder.
Previously listed for sale with a guide of €13.5m, the property features formal gardens, a feature lake and surrounding parkland.
The luxurious Barne Estate
The luxurious Barne Estate
The three-storey mansion looks out over the lake, with a sweeping driveway leading up to the property.
The ground floor is mainly devoted to entertaining, with formal reception rooms including a dining room and drawing room, while the west and east wings comprise a games room, morning room and library/study.
On the first floor are eight bedrooms, with a four more and a lady’s drawing room on the second floor. The third floor/attic level was originally used to accommodate staff.
The house extends to 16,930 sq ft (1,572 sq m). Outbuildings surrounding the courtyard provide the current staff accommodation, a tack room, a butchery and a buttery.
There is also a walled garden to the rear, which is believed to date from circa 1870.
It has been in the hands of the Thomson-Moore family for generations. Richard Thomson-Moore has worked as an investment surveyor, chartered surveyor and even as a resort manager for a small chalet holiday company in Verbier for the winter ski season, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He has been estate manager of Barne Estate Ltd for the past 16 years, overseeing farm, agriculture and property management.
The property is the former home of the Moore family, with Richard Moore, who made his wealth as a sheep farmer, arriving in Ireland from Devon circa 1654.
"professional bullies; £50k cash in two envelopes"
These are strong words to describe a horseracing billionaire. What's the purpose of the cash in the two envelopes? What is its significance?
I hope money makes them sleep easy at night. I hope no demons associated with immense wealth befalls any of them or their families. I hope no major illness comes their way in pursuit of more wealth.
What a shocking and sorry state of affairs? The difference is the value of a decent horse in a reputable horse auction. Or a tiny fraction of the stud fees accumulated by Galileo.
These are strong words to describe a horseracing billionaire. What's the purpose of the cash in the two envelopes? What is its significance?
I hope money makes them sleep easy at night. I hope no demons associated with immense wealth befalls any of them or their families. I hope no major illness comes their way in pursuit of more wealth.
What a shocking and sorry state of affairs? The difference is the value of a decent horse in a reputable horse auction. Or a tiny fraction of the stud fees accumulated by Galileo.
Tedium, I find it fascinating, provisionally of the opinion
Not so Coolmore, are bullying this couple, into a Handshake
Deal, not sure the 7 million or would matter to Magnier, So let’s wash our
Dirty laundry in public, if magnier wins, he loses
Not so Coolmore, are bullying this couple, into a Handshake
Deal, not sure the 7 million or would matter to Magnier, So let’s wash our
Dirty laundry in public, if magnier wins, he loses
Public opinion is not something that Magnier has ever worried about
Yo know do ya? Well he’s in the public eye
And they will have an opinion, of both him and his two
Sons?? If I may be so bold ?
And they will have an opinion, of both him and his two
Sons?? If I may be so bold ?
He does not own Magner's Cider. Owned by C & C Group
Being labelled "professional bullies" in court is akin to being called an "unreliable witness" which could be damaging in public life.
Remind yourself of their wealth
John Magnier's Modigliani masterpiece sells for $157 million
https://www.racingpost.com/news/john-magniers-modigliani-masterpiece-sells-for-157-million-in-new-york-aCuIM7F5ymTs/
John Magnier's Modigliani masterpiece sells for $157 million
https://www.racingpost.com/news/john-magniers-modigliani-masterpiece-sells-for-157-million-in-new-york-aCuIM7F5ymTs/
Depends what they paid! 
The article is there for anyone interested to read. Dated 2018 price payed 27 mil.
The article is there for anyone interested to read. Dated 2018 price payed 27 mil.
Did anyone ask the Magniers what that euro 50k was for? I find it intriguing and far from the norm of doing business above the law.
John Magnier blocks rival Maurice Regan’s horses from his stud & equine hospital amid legal battle.
Last month, Coolmore, stopped doing business with Mr Regan’s Newtown Anner Stud, based outside Clonmel, where there are over 150 horses
Also interesting article in link below regarding a trainer no longer willing to do business with Newton Stud
https://x.com/PhilipEvsChels/status/2002830985214488734?s=20
Last month, Coolmore, stopped doing business with Mr Regan’s Newtown Anner Stud, based outside Clonmel, where there are over 150 horses
Also interesting article in link below regarding a trainer no longer willing to do business with Newton Stud
https://x.com/PhilipEvsChels/status/2002830985214488734?s=20
The horses of his adversary are getting the cool shoulder now. What a bad loser! I think he comes across as a heartless and sinister person. Not good PR for any commercial entity.
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