MacAnthony in court to answer charges
Reported on Real Estate Marbella APRIL 26, 2012
Darragh MacAnthony
Darragh MacAnthony, 36, has appeared in court in Marbella to explain what happened to money paid by customers of his overseas property company, MRI, for furniture packs that were never delivered.
MacAnthony is accused of accepting payments from MRI customers for furniture packages which the claimants say they didn’t receive.
Speaking in court yesterday the football chairman claimed the money was paid to furniture companies in Bulgaria and Turkey and that they are the ones who have failed to deliver. He added that he had paid money back to some clients out of his own pocket.
When asked about the company he claimed that MRI was legally wound up in 2010. However, Antonio Flores, from law firm Lawbird acting for the plaintiffs, said that Companies House shows it is still trading, and furthermore accounts for years 2009 and 2010 were submitted just one month ago, on March 29th, according to the registry.
Also in the dock, former MRI chief executive, Dominic Pickering said he was not a director of the company but was there to “sort out furniture problems” following MacAnthony’s departure from Spain in 2010. Pickering claimed he was paid up to €20,000 per month to deal with the problems which he said were “sorted in 99.9% of cases.” He also backed up MacAnthony’s claim that the money had in fact been paid to the furniture companies.
Fernando de Arespacochaga, 91, became the frontman of MRI following MacAnthony’s departure. He said he had been paid €600 per month by the MacAnthony’s to front the company. He claimed his nephew had convinced him to sign and he had done so “in good faith”. He added that he, and his company, are insolvent.
Over 40 plaintiffs are claiming over 600,000 has been paid to MRI to furnish properties they had also purchased through the company.
Darragh left court refusing to comment.
Declared in Marbella six exdirectivos a real estate scam after complaint
Note this is translated to English from Spanish. The Original can be seen on the SUR Spanish Paper Website
Reported in Sur.es 25.04.12 – 15:18 By MONICA PEREZ | MARBELLA
Fifty foreign makers accuse keep MacAnthony of € 500,000 for furniture not delivered
Darragh Macanthony leaves the courthouse in Marbella this morning. / Josele-Release
The well known ex-director of a real estate company, Darragh Macanthony, has returned today to Marbella to declare before court number 4 following accusations for fraud and misappropriation of funds made by 50 foreign citizens. These mainly British and Irish citizens ratified their accusations a month ago in the same courthouse. They claim that they bought furniture from the company in question for properties in different parts of the world; Turkey, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Italy, France and Morocco where this company operated.
Other directors of the company have been called to appear alongside Macanthony: Dominic Pickering, Michael Liggan, Sarah O’Callaghan, Nicola Shaw and Fernando Arespacochaga Alcala del Olmo.
Macanthony was the first to declare. He arrived just after ten and left at midday when he declined to give a statement.
The ex-directors are accused of keeping around five or six hundred thousand euros. Most of the transactions were carried out in the headquarters which Macanthony had in Marbella – the very same place the ex-mayor Jesus Gil y Gil used as a Finance Club.
This newspaper understands that those called today have been asked to give further evidence as the evidence given today has been deemed insufficient.
Their accusers claim that those called today have cleaned out the company leaving it with no assets and that they have moved it to a *ghost office” in Madrid where a 90 year old man, about whom nothing is known, has been put in charge.
Darragh Macanthony is currently owner of a football club in the English First Division, Peterborough United.
Peterborough United boss faces fraud charges in Spain
APRIL 25, 2012 • Olive Press
By Wendy Williams
DARRAGH MACANTHONY APPEARED IN COURT IN SPAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME PHOTOS COPYRIGHT OF THE OLIVE PRESS
The disgraced property mogul is accused of taking tens of thousands of euros off nearly 50 British and Irish victims for furniture packs that never arrived.
The Irish football mogul was grilled by the judge in Marbella for two hours behind closed doors.
Arriving in a white Range Rover with two men, it is the first time the football boss has faced the music in Spain.
DARRAGH MACANTHONY APPEARED IN COURT IN SPAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME PHOTOS COPYRIGHT OF THE OLIVE PRESS
He was joined by his former chief executive Dominic Pickering, Sarah O’Callaghan, and Nicola Shaw, a former director of MRI Ireland.
Meanwhile, 90-year-old Fernando Arespacochaga, whose Peruvian company Inmobiliaria Vasco Peruana SAC took over MRI Overseas Property Group in 2010, also travelled over for the hearing.
None of the accused, who have continually denied the allegations, would speak with reporters.
“I’m sure you are a lovely lady but I am not speaking to you,” said MacAnthony.
MacAnthony Exits Court
It comes three months after over 40 victims travelled to Marbella to tell a judge how the football boss’ company MacAnthony Realty International (MRI) failed to deliver over half a million euros of furniture to them between 2005 and 2010.
MRI – which boasted an annual turnover of more than 100m euros before the crisis – developed resorts in several countries from its main base in Marbella, from where it sold the furniture packs.
The alleged victims – who filed a claim in Madrid in June last year – accuse MacAnthony, 35, of keeping 600,000 euros which they collectively paid for furniture packages for homes in Bulgaria, Turkey, and Morocco.
Meanwhile, Antonio Flores, the Spanish lawyer acting for the group, claims ‘many other’ customers are also affected and due to file further claims.
“The missing furniture is just one of the irregularities linked to the company,” he said.
Flores insisted an additional claim, totalling 15m euros, is being prepared on behalf of up to 200 British and Irish MRI customers claiming they lost large sums in upfront fees.
“Today was just the first step. The courts were gathering information and just listening to what everyone has to say before they decide how to proceed further,” said Flores.
“There is also another claim that will be made in the not too distant future that is substantial.”
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