A LONDON antique dealer who claimed she `paid more than £650,000 sterling as a deposit on Italian-made Lamborghini cars took an action against Cork businessmen in the High Court yesterday.
The court heard the action arose out of fraud allegedly perpetrated by a number of people in 1990.
Ms Amanda Forshall, of Paultons Square, Chelsea, owner of Fine Arts and Collections Ltd, agreed in May 1990 to purchase some Lamborghini Diablos through Lambo Motors of Ireland Ltd, a private company with a registered office at Castle Street, Macroom, Co Cork, and a business address at The Bowl Road, Macroom.
The action is being taken against nine defendants. All have denied the allegations.
Mr Hugh O'Neill SC, for Ms Forshall, said his client paid over £650,000 in a deposit for nine Lamborghini Diablos.
Ms Forshall and her company were at the time involved, in sourcing fine arts and classic cars for wealthy Japanese clients.
While there were a number of defendants, the main culprit was Lambo Motors with whom Ms Forshall's company formed a contract, said Mr O'Neill.
One of the defendants, Mr Gerard Walsh, a member of the firm of Walsh and Partners, Quantity Surveyors and Project Managers, of Wilton House, Dennehys Cross, Cork, held himself out as being the owner of Lambo Motors when he was not.
Another defendant was Mr Timothy McSweeney, a member of the firm of O'Brien Cahill and Co, chartered accounts of Washington Street, Cork. He was also a director of Lambo Motors.
Mr Michael McSweeney, a brother of Mr Timothy McSweeney and manager of the Bandon branch of the Bank of Ireland, who was also a defendant, had indicated to Ms Forshall that he was familiar with the affairs of Lambo Motors.
Mr O'Neill said the money paid out by Ms Forshall in respect of the purchase of the cars had never be recovered. Her reputation had been severely damaged and other contracts which might have occurred with Japanese business people had been lost.
Investigations carried out by Ms Forshall established that Lambo Motors were not, and never had been, authorised agents for Lamborghini cars and the chassis numbers included in an alleged agreement were entirely fictional.
The action before Mr Justice Shanley continues today.