IRISH FINANCIER Derek Quinlan allied himself with prominent business twins the Barclay Brothers to achieve their aim of wresting control of three landmark London hotels, a court heard.

Patrick McKillen and investor Derek Quinlan bought the iconic Claridge’s, Berkeley and Connaught hotels with other shareholders in 2003. But the pair fell out when Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay acquired 28 per cent of Coroin, the £1 billion company that owned the luxury hotels.

Mr McKillen accused Mr Quinlan of acting on behalf of the Barclays to secure ownership of the hotels even to the detriment of the company.

Mr Quinlan had entered an agreement to sell his shares to the brothers late in 2010, giving them a controlling stake of 64 per cent of the company and leaving Mr McKillen with the remaining 36 per cent.

But Mr McKillen claims the deal breached a shareholder agreement that required him to offer his interest in the company before selling to third parties.

In a newly disclosed witness statement submitted to London’s High Court Chancery division, Mr McKillen’s representative on Coroin’s board, Liam Cunningham, said Mr Quinlan would act as a cheerleader for the brothers’ interest. He told Justice David Richards that Mr Quinlan acted in “accordance with the brother’s instructions” when they had helped block rival investors’ access to the company’s data room in February 2011.

The move frustrated the Qatari royal family and a consortium of Malaysian investors from completing due diligence on the company before making an offer.

“It was my clear impression from this and the earlier decision of Mr Quinlan to enter into exclusive agreement with the Barclays that he was now allied to them and prepared to act in accordance with their instructions irrespective of the effect on other shareholders in the company,” Mr Cunningham said.

The relationship with Mr McKillen and the brothers descended throughout 2011 as Mr Cunningham claimed they tried a range of different means to secure full ownership of the company and marginalise Mr McKillen.

The case continues.