Property, paintings and a Bentley among solicitor's assets

Apartments in China and California, a development site in Poland and paintings worth up to €175,000 are among the assets owned…

Apartments in China and California, a development site in Poland and paintings worth up to €175,000 are among the assets owned by solicitor Thomas Byrne.

Mr Byrne, who listed assets in which he claims a legal or beneficial interest in an affidavit filed in the High Court case taken against him by the Law Society, claims to own a house in Dundrum, Co Tipperary, valued at €1.2 million, on which he is seeking planning permission for six houses and 18 apartments.

He has an interest in a 3.63-acre site in Clonee, Co Meath, worth €1.375 million. He owns a share in a site in Poland worth about €250,000, and apartments in Shanghai and Palm Beach, California.

Mr Byrne claims he owns a share in a number of properties with developer John Kelly. The men are suing each other in the High Court. Mr Kelly is seeking judgment of €6.1 million against Mr Byrne over the handling of a property deal in Co Wexford. Mr Byrne is counter-suing for €30 million for a beneficial interest in the Wexford property and properties in Dublin and Greenwich, England.

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Among Mr Byrne's other assets is a boat, Black Magic, for which he paid €200,000. It was seized on the back of a court judgment of €3.265 million obtained by National Irish Bank.

He claims to own a Bentley car worth about €120,000 and a business called Emerc Chauffeur Company which has two cars worth about €25,000 each. Mr Byrne says the business has ceased trading. He also lists "miscellaneous paintings" worth €150,000 - €175,000. He says he owns a 25-year lease on a building on Dawson Street in Dublin, which costs €120,000 per annum, but that the lease is "likely to lapse for non-payment of rent".

Simon Carswell

Simon Carswell

Simon Carswell is News Editor of The Irish Times