Richie Connor - Interesting reading!

[INOFFALYIBELIEVE]

A SENIOR GAA manager faced court yesterday over allegations he and another man made "secret profits" amounting to several million euro from land deals.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly said the case against Offaly football manager and auctioneer Richie Connor and Gerard Kilally, of Gerard Killally Auctioneers, involved "serious allegations".

The plaintiffs have claimed that Mr Kilally and Mr Connor, acted as negotiators and agents and made secret profits from various land deals which were not disclosed to the partnerships the two auctioneers had set up with the plaintiffs.

Damages

Three businessmen, Adrian Daly, of Racefield House, Cappincur, Tullamore; Declan Guing of Carrick Road, Edenderry; and Frank Lawlor of Clonmullen Lodge, Edenderry, are seeking damages in the Commercial Court against Mr Connor and Mr Killally.

They alleged negligence, misrepresentation, breach of duty, breach of contract and are also seeking an inquiry for damages for alleged unjust enrichment.

Mr Connor, who captained the Offaly footballers to a famous victory over Kerry in the 1982 All-Ireland final was appointed manager of the county team for a three-year term last month.

He has addresses at Walsh Islands, Tullamore and Rath, Ballybrittas, Co Laois.

Mr Kilally has an address at Shean, Edenderry, Co Offaly.

One of the claims relates to the Daingean Road Partnership formed in 2005 between Mr Guing, Mr Lawlor and the defendants to acquire and deal in lands at Cappincur, Tullamore. It is claimed the partnership was to acquire those lands for €6.5m from another party after being told this was the best price available.

Mr Kilally and Mr Connor did not disclose they had an interest in the land and concealed the true nature of the transaction, the plaintiffs have claimed. The pair are alleged to have conducted a series of secret transactions whereby the lands were initially sold for €5m, delivering them a secret profit of €1.5m. A second claim relates to the Downshire partnership, allegedly formed in 2005 between Mr Guing, Mr Lawlor and the defendants to acquire and deal in lands at Downshire, Edenderry.

It is claimed those lands were to be acquired for €11.5m. It is alleged the defendants failed to disclose they had an interest in this transaction, another party had received €9.5m for the lands and the defendants were making a secret profit of €2m.

The plaintiffs also claim Mr Kilally and Mr Connor made a secret profit in relation to other lands.

These lands were to be acquired for €2.25m by yet another partnership made between all three plaintiffs and the defendants, called the Stateridge Partnership.

Transferred

It is claimed the lands were transferred to associates of the two auctioneers without the plaintiffs' full and proper knowledge and consent.

Unknown to the plaintiffs, a 1.1-acre portion of the Stateridge lands was carved out of the relevant land folio to form part of another folio registered in the names of associates of Mr Kilally and Mr Connor, it is alleged. The plaintiffs claim a secret profit was also made by them from that transaction.

A fourth aspect of the claim relates to a Dublin Road partnership, formed between the plaintiffs and defendants to acquire and deal in lands at Dublin Road, Edenderry. It is claimed the lands were to be acquired for €10.1m from one of two specified parties.

[gutless08]

I think RICHIE CONNORS appointment is awful.However he was a great player and leader and i dont think that article has any place on this site.
lets not turn into THE SUN.

[bracknaghboy]

Why shouldn't this article be posted here its all over the media today. We pay good cash to follow Offaly up and down the country and if somebody is involved in this absurd carry on then I want to know about it. However everyone has the right to a fair trial and is innocent until proved guilty.
This will no doubt have a negative impact on Offaly.....this is not the sort of attention we need. Judging by how awful Walsh Island were on sunday I reckon we are in trouble anyways.

[Archangel]

I think it's a valid thread. Anything that has a bearing on the effectiveness of the county manager is of serious interest to us.
What happens if he gets jailed in the middle of the Leinster Championship or whatever? He is bound to be side-tracked and seriously focused on his personal career over the next while...is that good enough for Offaly?????

[Lone Shark]

In fairness, if it's in the national media, there's no reason not to mention it here - as long as everyone treads carefully.

A couple of things jump out at me when reading this.

(1) It says a lot when a local councillor is part of the alleged dealings, but a GAA manager's involvement is worthy of more focus.
(2) Guilty or innocent, it doesn't bode well for Richie's ability to put the time into the Offaly manager's position that is required. Something like this is both a distraction and time consuming.

(Edit - this is basically Archangel's point - apologies for repetition!)

[Bord na Mona man]

What happens if he gets jailed in the middle of the Leinster Championship or whatever? He is bound to be side-tracked

Be sensible. How would being in jail affect your ability to manage Offaly?

[gutless08]

I think RICHIE CONNORS appointment is awful.However he was a great player and leader and i dont think that article has any place on this site.
lets not turn into THE SUN.

sorry just read the papers . it wasnt mentioned in op where the article came from. as lone shark said thread carefully with this one.

[Sydthebeat]

serious charges....

but the lack of regulation in the 'estate agent' industry is to blame.
I can forsee this ending in a 'breach of code of conduct' and nothng else.

anyone clever enough to make money in this fashion isnt going to leave themselves open to legal action...

and anyway.. the whole auctioneer business is set up on 'secret transactions' basis...

i put this down to sensationist journalism.....

[TheManFromFerbane]

I think the most surprising aspect of this story is that anyone would be willing to pay that amount of money for land in Edenderry

[True Red]

Hould on now for a minute....lets not get hysterical.

[Archangel]

What happens if he gets jailed in the middle of the Leinster Championship or whatever? He is bound to be side-tracked

Be sensible. How would being in jail affect your ability to manage Offaly?

Sure, aren't most of the country's criminal gangs run from the prison cell??????? Where does Offaly seem any different then that?

[durra1]

It’s an issued and served legal writ which is a document of public record. It’s up to Defendants to come on record with a Defence / Counterclaim, issue their own proceedings, or face Judgment of the Court in the absence of either.
A GAA manager's involvement in proceedings is up for ‘fair comment’ - so long as there isn’t any commentary which could land the site in hot water. The site moderators need to make sure no innuendo/roumer mill stuff comes out of here.

[Plain of the Herbs]

In that case I'd imagine a selector would manage the team. Enter Ollie Daly wearing the Bainisteoir's shirt !!!!

What happens if he gets jailed in the middle of the Leinster Championship or whatever?

[gutless08]

What happens if he gets jailed in the middle of the Leinster Championship or whatever? He is bound to be side-tracked

Be sensible. How would being in jail affect your ability to manage Offaly?

call in michael schofield

[Ar an gClai]

I think we're safe enough regardless of whether the allegations are proven or not. Nobody ever gets sent to jail in Ireland for million-euro white-collar theft.

You have to do something really serious to face jail, like stealing a handbag or non-payment of bin charges...........