Legal

Irish construction manager sues Qatari royals for defamation

Plaintiff says letters alleging his misconduct on hotel sites have caused people in his industry to ‘shun him’

Paddy McKillen: the property developer received a letter from the Qatari royal family that made allegations about Irish construction manager Frank Sinton. Picture: PA

An Irish construction manager has taken legal action against members of the Qatari royal family in the London High Court, claiming that allegations they made against him of “serious reprehensible behaviour” were defamatory.

Frank Sinton claims that communications sent by individuals within the Qatari royals’ group have given rise to the belief that he “is very likely guilty of some unspecified but serious misconduct, such that he cannot be safely trusted around other workers”.

He ...