Harlequin, the property investment group engaged in the development of luxury overseas resorts, has won a court case against a former contractor it said had misappropriated money meant for property development.
Padraig O'Halloran, a former ICE Group contractor, misused about £8.5m of some £32.5m sent by Harlequin for the development of its Buccament Bay Resort in St Vincent and the Grenadines, the High Court in Ireland heard. The millions diverted helped fund a wedding, purchase a private jet and acquire a racecourse in St Lucia, Harlequin said. The cash was supposed to be used to fund construction work, but the court heard that the development, though made to look as though there had been progress, was missing vital resources such as sewage, water and power. As a result, the resort opened l...
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