Weather delays Dunne hearing

The blizzard conditions affecting the northeastern US have delayed an attempt by former developer Seán Dunne and his wife, Gayle Killilea, to have a case against them dismissed.

Their lawyers had been due to argue that this should happen because all the key players in their row with Nama are Irish.

Nama has taken an action in the US against the couple, other parties, and linked companies over claims that the developer fraudulently attempted to hide profits from the purchase and sale of properties in Connecticut and in Switzerland.

Mr Dunne, once known as the Baron of Ballsbridge, denies involvement in the transactions, which netted the sellers a $6m (€4.4m) gross profit.

No revised date for the hearing was available at the time of going to press. When it goes ahead at Connecticut Superior Court in Stamford, lawyers will argue for and against the dismissal.

Mr Dunne claims the US court has no jurisdiction over his dispute with Nama, which is attempting to collect on a €185m claim lodged against him.

The Dunnes submitted separate, but similar, mot-ions asking for the case to be dismissed. They argue the case would should heard in Ireland or Switzerland.

The dispute involves an Irish plaintiff and Irish defendants who were non-US residents when the properties were bought, their lawyers argue.

The purchase and sale of the Geneva property happened well before the couple moved to the US.

Nama lawyers have argued that while the parties are Irish, the couple now reside in the US, and that it is a recovery action where the assets are in the US.

A trial date has been set for Sept 2014.