Judge dismisses fugitive’s letters to bank on behalf of borrowers as ‘nonsense’

Letters sent by the fugitive leader of a mysterious property trust to a bank in relation to a €51m development loan have been dismissed as “nonsense” in the High Court.

Charlie Allen, who has been evading an arrest warrant since September, had written to AIB on behalf of the owners of the Submarine Bar and Ashleaf Shopping Centre in Crumlin. He told the bank he was serving a “Notice Re Fraud and Barratry” in relation to proceedings AIB took against Gary and Amanda Smith, of The Paddocks, Castledillon, Straffan, Co Kildare.

The Smiths were among thousands who paid to join Mr Allen’s Rodolphus Allen Family Private Trust with the aim of putting assets beyond the banks’ reach. This is the first to be put to the test in the High Court.