Courts

John Magnier offered €50,000 in brown envelopes to Barne Estate owners to ‘make their lives easier’

Magnier’s lawyers allege that Maurice Regan made ‘threatening’ phone calls to Barne Estate’s property agent in a bid to block the Coomore stud owner’s deal

John Magnier is suing Richard Thomson-Moore, whose family has owned Barne Estate since 1654, in an effort to enforce a €15 million deal for the property he alleges was agreed after the pair and an estate agent shook hands. Picture: Getty

John Magnier agreed to make a cash payment of €50,000 in brown envelopes to the owners of the Barne Estate in appreciation of them “resisting the pressure” from Maurice Regan, new court filings have alleged.

The Coolmore stud owner said he and his son decided to make the cash payment to the Barne Estate owners to “make their lives a bit easier” after being told they were “strapped for cash”.

His lawyers have also alleged ...