A London antique dealer who has taken an action against a number of Cork businessmen in relation to a deposit of over £650,000 for nine Italian-made Lamborghini Diablo cars, claimed in the High Court yesterday that she sold a Bugatti Royal Knellner for $15 million in 1990.
Ms Amanda Forshall, Paultons Square, Chelsea, London, a director of Fine Arts and Collections Ltd, London, has claimed she paid over £650,000 as a deposit on the Lamborghini Diablos in 1990 through Lambo Motors of Ireland Limited, Macroom, Co Cork.
The action has been taken against 10 defendants who have all denied the allegations made against them.
In evidence yesterday, Ms Forshall said it was the sale of the Bugatti that resulted in her receiving inquiries from Japan for the purchase of the Lamborghini Diablos.
It was stated in court that the money paid out by Ms Forshall in respect of the purchase of the vehicles had never been recovered. Her reputation had been severely damaged and she had lost a number of valuable Japanese contacts as a result.
It was stated that while there were a number of defendants, the main culprit was Lambo Motors.
Ms Forshall said that in March 1990 she contacted a Mr Christopher Dunhill of C & J Dunhill Limited of London after receiving inquiries from her Japanese contacts about the Lamborghini Diablo, which was to be produced, later in the year.
Mr Dunhill shared a showroom with a Mr Christopher Renwick who she learned had property interests in Kinsale, Co Cork.
She told Mr Dunhill her Japanese contacts were interested in purchasing a Lamborghini Diablo and paid him a deposit of £20,000 sterling for one car.
Mr Renwick introduced her to Mr Gerard Walsh, Wilton House, Dennehy's Cross, Cork. Mr Walsh told her that he, through his company, could supply the Lamborghini Diablo cars. She'd agreed to purchase nine through his company.
Ms Forshall said Mr Michael McSweeney, a brother of Mr Tim McSweeney, who was financial director of Lambo Motors, phoned her in April. He told her he was the manager of the Bank of Ireland in Bandon, Co Cork, and offered financial facilities in relation to Cork property she and her husband were interested in buying. She refused.
During subsequent telephone conversations Mr Michael McSweeney told Ms Forshall that Lambo Motors were good customers of the bank and were of good financial standing. He also expressed an interest in the bank meeting her Japanese contacts.
Ms Forshall said Mr Walsh, who held himself out to be the owner of Lambo Motors, at a meeting in London in June 1990 produced a letter, allegedly from the Lamborghini motor company in Italy, claiming Lambo Motors had been appointed as its agents in December 1989.
She said the letter allegedly from the motor company was produced by Mr Walsh after her Japanese contacts had expressed concern at the lack of documentation confirming the purchase of, the Lamborghini cars.
The action before Mr Justice Shanley continues today.