Court action over Kiev mall 'contrived'

THE QUINN family, through their public relations consultant, have declined to comment about the ongoing events in Kiev concerning the Ukrainian shopping mall.

The family and the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) are involved in a number of High Court clashes as well as proceedings in other jurisdictions in a battle involving legal fees of many millions of euros.

Seán Quinn’s wife Patricia, and children Ciara, Colette, Brenda, Aoife and Seán jnr, are contesting debts of almost €3 billion the bank claims they owe.

They are also arguing that attempts by the bank to seize foreign properties, including the mall in Kiev, are invalid.

Other members of the extended Quinn family were mentioned by IBRC executive Richard Woodhouse in an extensive affidavit he swore for a court in Cyprus in July, and which touched on developments in Ukraine.

Mr Woodhouse said legal actions then under way in Ukraine indicated a similar strategy to developments in courts in Sweden, Russia, India and Cyprus, and “are likely another limb of the conspiracy alleged against” the Quinns in proceedings initiated in the Irish courts.

Mr Woodhouse said he believed the action taken in Kiev by Jurbusinessconsulting was “contrived” and was part of an attempt by Ms Quinn and her children to place a valuable asset beyond the corporation’s reach.

He said nine new Ukrainian companies were registered in the first three days of June 2011 in which the director of Univermag, Larisa Yanes Puga, was the sole director.

The registered shareholders of the companies were, according to Mr Woodhouse, all Irish and included: “Claire Marie (or Mary) Quinn, who I believe is Peter Quinn’s sister; Patricia McMahon, Seán Quinn’s sister; Thomas McMahon, Patricia’s husband and Seán Quinn’s brother-in-law; Séamus McMahon, brother of Thomas McMahon, and other individuals who appear to be close to the Quinn family.”

Peter Quinn is a nephew of Seán Quinn.

Mr Woodhouse said he believed these firms were part of a plan to use “mirror companies” to dissipate assets away from the Quinn companies that had entered into arrangements with Anglo arising from loans issued by the bank.

He said there was “a sinister pattern” in Sweden, Russia, Ukraine and elsewhere of Ms Quinn and her children “conspiring from Ireland” to act unlawfully and put valuable assets beyond IBRC’s reach.

He said the Quinns continued to maintain “an appearance of incredulity” about what was happening.

The Quinn family are contesting the conspiracy allegation.

Mr Woodhouse said the Quinn children had given personal guarantees to Anglo when it was funding the foreign property purchases, which were organised by their father for the benefit of his children.

Judgment orders for more than €2 billion have been made against Seán Quinn.