TWO CARIBBEAN companies are suing an Irish developer over allegedly diverting for his own use large sums out of $52 million paid to his companies for a major hotel and resort development in the Caribbean allegedly left unfinished.

It is claimed Pádraig (Paudie) O’Halloran (40) misappropriated substantial funds to pay for his planned wedding in Ireland, to be organised by Weddings by Franc; buy property in the Caribbean; renovate his rented Barbados home; buy expensive cars and a $65,000 teardrop diamond ring for his girlfriend; and lease a private plane.

Mr O’Halloran, his girlfriend Suzanne Floyd and others are now being sued before the Caribbean courts by two companies owned by David Ames, of Essex, England.

Proceedings have also been brought in the Irish courts.

A former employee of Mr O’Halloran’s, Trisha Young, said in an affidavit the “key motive behind the siphoning off of funds was to continue to enable his beloved girlfriend Suzanne Floyd to live her lavish lifestyle”.

In her affidavit, Ms Young, who worked for Mr O’Halloran between 2007 and 2009, said she believed he had a reputation in the Middle East for “running away from projects he could not finish”.

It is claimed that Mr O'Halloran paid €50,000 to Weddings by Franc Ltd for a wedding ceremony that Mr O'Halloran was organising with Ms Floyd.

I'd love to know what he did to piss off "Trisha Young" who features heavily

familar with Devoni
July 23, 2010 at 12:36 am

FELLOW READERS: PLEASE NOTE THAT DEVONI YOUNG A/K/A TRICIA YOUNG A/K/A TRICIA HINDS A/K/A TRICIA DEVONISH IS THE AUTHOR OF REPLIES 8 THROUGH 13. SHE IS A HELL OF A CON ARTIST AND FRAUDSTER BUT LACKS ANY SIGNIFICANT LITERARY OR GRAMMATICAL SKILLS. TRICIA-HOW ARE YOUR CRIMINAL CASES GOING? YOU MAY HAVE ONE OTHER TO DEAL WITH IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

I do not believe that any real estate has been developed by Harlequin in the 8 years they've been in business. Let them wait. If you said in two months you will buy at the price they offered you previously, I suspect they'd do the deal. If not, as a Harlequin investor, if you ended up with teh same results as me, I can assure you you'd be better off not doing the deal in the first place.

I invested with Harlequin in August 2006. My develpment was due to complete in December 2008. Having been sold a development which Harlequin clearly had no intention of developing, I have been trying to get a refund for over a year. Harlequin have written to my solicitor that they have nothing to do with the contracts, it's the Caribbean company. Company searches have revealed that Caribbean company has no money.

Based on my story, have a think about whether to 'invest' with Harlequin, or alternatively, make the most of the ongoing housing market price re-adjustment over here.

A deverloper unlawfully diverted over US$13million (€9.5m) for his own benefit from $50million (€36.8m) funds paid towards the completion of a luxury resort in the Caribbean, it was claimed in the High Court.
Padraig O'Halloran (42) of Shippool, Inishannon, Co. Cork, allegedly misappropriated the funds and various payments were made by his company to Irish bank accounts including €120,000 and US $72,000 to Weddings by Franc and €20,000 to Adare Manor, it is claimed.
The owners and operators of the luxury resort in Buccament Bay, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Harlequin Property SVG Ltd and Harlequin Hotels and Resorts Ltd, have brought an action claiming Mr O'Halloran also bought a large number of assets with the funds.

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Up to 3,000 Britons have poured up to £250 million of their savings into a controversial Caribbean property scheme which is facing the threat of legal action.
Several investors say they fear financial calamity after being persuaded by pension advisers to put large sums into projects run by Essex-based Harlequin Property. It has promised to build 6,000 luxury villas in St Lucia, St Vincent, Barbados and the Dominican Republic. So far only 300 have been constructed.

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