A QUARREL between two brothers over nine original paintings worth almost €200,000 has been settled, the High Court heard yesterday.
The paintings by John Shinnors were allegedly removed seven years ago by Liam O’Reilly from the business premises of his art aficionado brother Patrick in an alleged dispute over money.
The paintings were returned on Thursday evening just after High Court proceedings by Patrick O’Neill opened.
Patrick O’Neill, a retired company director and art collector, Malahide Marina, Dublin, had claimed his brother, a retired bank manager, Hattyfield Downs, Beaumont, Cork, had threatened to burn the paintings if he was not given €500,000.
Patrick sought injunctions against Liam seeking the return of the paintings along with damages.
They were among 32 works by John Shinnors which Patrick O’Neill had collected over the years and hung in his office and his Malahide home, the court heard.
Richard Kean SC, for Patrick, told the court the paintings had been returned to his client in the Four Seasons Hotel, Ballsbridge, on Thursday evening and his client was now only seeking legal costs.
Mr Justice Michael Hanna said he did not know how he could have measured damages arising from “artistic deprivation”.
The judge said he was sorry this had come to pass between two brothers and while he did not propose to award damages, Patrick was entitled to costs.
In his claim, Patrick alleged Liam took the nine paintings from Patrick’s Taxback Ltd office in Crosses Green, Cork, in early 2004.
They included works entitled Little Witch, City Gate, Red Kite, Shy Fox, Six Sheep, Mannequin Easter Window and Formal Wear. As of May 2008, they had an estimated value of €198,000, he said.
Liam was not present in court but was represented by counsel.
Patrick told Mr Kean that the paintings were taken on February 17th, 2004. He contacted gardaí and had to go to solicitors and the courts on a number of occasions because Liam refused to say whether he had the paintings.
Patrick said Liam had later admitted having the paintings and also threatened to burn them “unless I gave him €500,000”.
When Liam’s counsel objected to this evidence, Mr Justice Hanna said Liam could have come to court to challenge it.
While he was concerned about the devaluation of the paintings, Patrick agreed with Mr Kean that what he also wanted to do was “mark his disapproval” of what Liam had done.
“I am shocked he did not turn up [in court] because he has been huffing and puffing for the last seven years,” he said.
He added that he wanted his legal costs against his brother.
Under cross-examination by Liam’s counsel, Patrick denied his brother had sought €150,000 and not €500,000.
Mr Justice Hanna declined a request from Mr Kean for an undertaking there would be no further interference with the paintings. Patrick had the paintings, the judge said.