Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 1206Breach of contract (specific performance of handshake deal) · Co. Tipperary · 22 Aug 2023

Maurice Regan testifies in Barne Estate dispute over John Magnier's €15m handshake deal

John Magnier is suing Richard Thomson-Moore and the Barne Estate over a €15 million handshake agreement allegedly sealed on 22 August 2023 for the 751-acre Barne Estate in County Tipperary. The Barne defendants deny any such agreement existed, saying trustee consent was required to finalise a deal. The case is being heard at the Four Courts before Mr Justice Max Barrett, with testimony from estate agent John Stokes, trustee director Benjamin Newman, and US-based rival bidder Maurice Regan. As of 30 July 2025 the hearing continues, with Regan giving evidence about his competing bids and a WhatsApp message in which he said he hoped a newspaper article would give Magnier a heart attack.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court19 Jul
    4 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The Barne Estate is a 751-acre, 17th-century property in County Tipperary held in a trust and owned by the Thomson-Moore family for generations.
  • John Magnier claims he sealed a €15 million handshake agreement with Richard Thomson-Moore on 22 August 2023 at Magnier's Coolmore home.
  • The Barne defendants say no such agreement existed because trustee consent was required to finalise any deal.
  • An exclusivity agreement prevented Barne from soliciting other offers between 31 August and 30 September 2023.
  • On 7 September 2023, estate agent John Stokes was given €50,000 in two brown envelopes by Magnier's son JP, intended for the Thomson-Moores, and the money was returned a few days later.
  • US-based construction magnate Maurice Regan escalated his bid to €22.25 million and was made the preferred bidder by the trustees.
  • The final Magnier bid was €16 million plus a €500,000 trust for a child of Richard and Anna Thomson-Moore.
Where
The case is being heard at the Four Courts, Dublin, before Mr Justice Max Barrett.
In court
John Magnier has sued the Barne Estate, Richard Thomson-Moore, and three companies of the IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group for specific performance of the alleged handshake deal.
Other details
  • Maurice Regan is not a party to the proceedings but gave evidence as a witness.
  • Richard Thomson-Moore testified that a third party placed a ready-to-use mobile phone in his kitchen so he could contact Regan without trace after the exclusivity period expired.
  • On 30 July 2025, Regan testified about a WhatsApp message in which he said he hoped a newspaper article would give Magnier a heart attack.
38 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe Barne Estate is a 751-acre property in Tipperary. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe alleged handshake agreement was for €15 million. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatStokes was given €50,000 in two brown envelopes on 7 September 2023, intended for chief beneficiaries Mr Thomson-Moore and his sister Alexandra. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMr Regan finally offered €22.25 million and was made the preferred bidder. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Thomson-Moore and three companies of IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement as they needed the consent of the trustees (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe trustees subsequently preferred to sell the estate to Regan for €22.25 million (irishtimes.com)
  • whatEstate agent John Stokes brought two brown envelopes given to him by JP containing a total of €50,000 in cash (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe money was later returned by the Thomson-Moores (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe final Magnier bid was €16 million plus a €500,000 trust for a child of Richard and Anna Thomson-Moore (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe dispute concerns the Barne Estate in County Tipperary (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged handshake agreement was made on 22 August 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOn September 7, 2023, Magnier called to Barne with his son JP (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe handshake deal was allegedly sealed on 22 August 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJohn Magnier is suing Thomson-Moore and Barne over the collapse of the purchase. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Thomson-Moore and three companies of the IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement as they needed the consent of the trustees to finalise any deal. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case continues at the High Court before Mr Justice Max Barrett. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case is being heard before Mr Justice Max Barrett. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case is being heard before Mr Justice Max Barrett in the High Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Magnier side has sued the Barne Estate, Richard Thomson-Moore, and three companies of the IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd group (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe hearing took place before Mr Justice Max Barrett at the Four Courts (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMaurice Regan is not a party to the proceedings (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Barne Estate has been owned by the Thompson-Moore family for generations. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAn exclusivity agreement stipulated Barne would not solicit other offers between 31 August and 30 September 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThomson-Moore said he did not personally receive the phone but the third party placed it in his kitchen and he never touched or used it. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAn exclusivity agreement was entered into for the month of September 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe €50,000 was returned a few days later. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBy the end of September, the decision was made to let the exclusivity expire because of an increased offer of €20 million from Mr Regan. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMr Regan is not a party to the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe estate has been owned by the Thomson-Moore family for generations and is held in a trust. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMr Magnier told the meeting that the €15 million was solely for the land and he had no interest in the company. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Barne Estate is a 751-acre, 17th-century property (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Barne defendants say there was never any such agreement as they needed trustee consent (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Barne defendants decided to sell the estate to Maurice Regan for €22.25 million (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAn exclusivity agreement prevented Barne from soliciting other offers between 31 August and 30 September 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMaurice Regan is US-based (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMaurice Regan said he never knew about the exclusivity agreement when bidding (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Jul2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Maurice Regan sent message saying he hoped article would give Barne Estate rival John Magnier a ‘heart attack’

    Details of Maurice Regan's testimony about his WhatsApp message to a third party, his account of being 'blocked out' of bidding, and the competing claims over whether a handshake deal was reached.

    victim, John Magnier, male, irish (judged from name)John Magniersuspect, Richard Thomson-Moore, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Thomson-Moorevictim, Maurice Regan, male, irish (judged from name)Maurice Regan
  2. 30 Jul2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    €50,000 in brown envelopes turned trustees away from Magnier deal in Barne estate row, court hears

    Adds testimony from Benjamin Newman, a director of the IQEQ (Jersey) Ltd trustees, detailing the €50,000 in brown envelopes incident, the two factors that turned the trustees from Magnier to Regan, and the final Magnier bid of €16 million plus a €500,000 trust.

    victim, John Magnier, male, irish (judged from name)John Magniersuspect, Richard Thomson-Moore, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Thomson-Moorevictim, Maurice Regan, male, irish (judged from name)Maurice Regansuspect, Benjamin Newman, male, namedBenjamin Newmanvictim, female, irish (judged from name)
  3. 25 Jul2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Barne Estate ‘war’ became ‘head-wrecking’ amid legal threats from both sides, auctioneer tells High Court

    Adds testimony from auctioneer John Stokes denying he confirmed a 'deal' to Magnier, details of the €50,000 in envelopes, the exclusivity agreement, Regan's escalating offers up to €22.25 million, and Alexandra Thomson-Moore's description of the dispute as a 'full-on war'.

    victim, John Magnier, male, irish (judged from name)John Magniervictim, Maurice Regan, male, irish (judged from name)Maurice Regansuspect, Richard Thomson-Moore, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Thomson-Moorevictim, Alexandra Thomson-Moore, female, irish (judged from name)Alexandra Thomson-Moore
  4. 19 Jul2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    ‘Secret’ mobile phone provided to contact John Magnier’s rival bidder for Barne Estate, court hears

    Thomson-Moore testifies that a third party placed a ready-to-go phone in his kitchen for him to contact Regan; text messages read to court; Magnier's side argues the deal was 'unequivocally' agreed while Barne defendants say no deal existed without trustee consent; case continues before Mr Justice Max Barrett.

    victim, John Magnier, male, irish (judged from name)John Magniersuspect, Richard Thomson-Moore, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Thomson-Moorevictim, Maurice Regan, male, irish (judged from name)Maurice Reganvictim, female, irish (judged from name)