Woman seeks €1m in damages over alleged fraud by equestrian centre business partner

High Court reporters

The owner of an equestrian centre formerly run by the family of convicted gangster John Gilligan is seeking over €1 million in damages from a Carlow couple due to an alleged fraud.

Caroline Teltsch, who ran a successful event management company, told the High Court on Tuesday that she advanced a large amount of loans to her former business partner, James Buckley, and his wife Paula.

She said the money was loaned for a variety of reasons, including to refurbish and run the Kildare facility, formerly known as the Jessbrook Equestrian Centre but which was later renamed the Emerald Equestrian Centre.

However, she claims she "never received a penny back" from the couple.

London-based Ms Teltsch alleges the defendants, and in particular Mr Buckley, unjustly enriched themselves after committing acts of fraud, deceit, misrepresentation against the plaintiff.

In her action against the couple, the plaintiff seeks various orders, including judgement of over €1 million against the couple over their alleged refusal to repay loans advanced on dates between 2010 and 2018.

She also claims the defendants allegedly unjustly enriched themselves at her expense by engaging in a protracted alleged campaign of confidence trickery, emotional manipulation and financial exploitation during the relevant period.

She claims she was convinced by Mr Buckley to advance him loans to pay tax bills, including a payment to Revenue, whicht Mr Buckley said were about to repossess the equestrian centre.

Other loans, she claims, were used to pay for a Jaguar XKR and a Mitsubishi Evo sports car Mr Buckley allegedly used for rallying, Revenue bills, medical expenses, electricity bills, the costs of legal proceedings in whcih Mr Buckley was involved, a deposit on a house, and flights to New York for their wedding.

The claims came before Mr Justice Liam Kennedy on Tuesday.

The defendants, with an address at Hillview Stables, Ballymoon, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, have denied all the allegations against them.

Due to their failure to comply with a court order to disclose certain materials and documents to the plaintiff, Ms Teltsch's lawyers successfully had the Buckleys' defence and counterclaim struck out.

The Buckleys were not present in court for the hearing on Tuesday, nor were any representations made on their behalf.

Following the conclusion of evidence, the judge said he will deliver his judgement later this month.

Ms Teltsch, represented by barrister Anthony McBride SC, Francis McGagh Bl and solicitor Donnacha Anhold, claims that the loans were advanced in many payments.

She claims she first dealt with the defendants in 2010 over the purchase of a horse. She alleges the defendants befriended her, convinced her to invest in a broader set of ventures than originally planned, before exploiting her desire to breed and train horses.