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“I don't need money, I have plenty
of it”
19.10.11
Wealthy farmer
denies borrowing from friend
A WEALTHY Inishowen farmer who sold eight sites
during the boom denied receiving loans from his
friend saying he has "plenty of money".
Robert John McKinley was defending a civil action
taken against him by 78-year old cattle dealer,
George Doherty of Churchtown, Carndonagh, Co
Donegal.
Mr Doherty said he gave five loans to the defendant
ranging from €200 to €3,000 between January and May
2008. They had been dealing cattle successfully
between each other for more than 15 years and were
“good friends”.
Mr McKinley, of 7 Manor Court, Moville, had told the
plaintiff he was in the process of selling a site
for €300,000 in Greencastle and when the money came
through he would settle his debt, the court heard.
Mr Doherty, represented by solicitor, Ray Lannon,
said he and Mr McKinley shook hands in the
traditional way by spitting on their hands. "When
you shake a man's hand like that, it is as good as
money in the bank, as far as I’m concerned," said Mr
Doherty.
Buncrana District Court heard that Mr McKinley told
the plaintiff he needed the larger sums because he
was buying a house. He needed the smaller loans for
diesel, gas for his house and because the ESB were
"coming to cut off his electric". Mr Doherty also
paid a vet's bill of €70 on Mr McKinley's behalf in
August 2008. The court heard that Mr Doherty had to
take back five cows from the defendant later that
year when he realised he was not going to be paid
for them. He was left without working cash and had
to get a €5,000 overdraft from his bank.
Defence solicitor, Paudge Dorrian, described Mr
Doherty's version of events as "a concoction". He
said Mr Doherty's diary notes of the loan
transactions were not contemporaneous and were
"carefully prepared” for court. Mr McKinley, who has
since quit cattle dealing, told Judge Paul Kelly he
sold eight sites between 2006 and the end of 2008
and "got a lot (of money)" for them. He owed no
money to the bank and had no reason to borrow from
Mr Doherty. "I've no call for that little amount of
money. I don't need money, I have plenty of it," he
said. Judge Kelly also heard evidence from the men's
sons, Jonathan McKinley and Michael Doherty, and
senior Department of Agriculture official, Camillus
Mulcahy. The judge said there was a "complete and
utter conflict of evidence" but that he "preferred
the evidence of Mr Doherty". He referred to a bank
statement showing Mr Doherty’s withdrawals as well
as a vet's receipt. The judge said there was a
Department of Agriculture record showing cattle had
been transferred back to the plaintiff.
"The only objective evidence appears to coincide
with Mr Doherty's evidence," said Judge Kelly. He
found in favour of the plaintiff and granted a
decree in the sum of €5,680 plus defended costs. Mr
Dorrian indicated that his client might appeal the
ruling. |
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