Paddy McKillen has apologised in the High Court for calling Qatari royalty “scum”.
The Irish property developer apologised to the court for the “colourful” language used in texts he sent in November 2010 to an associate of fellow Maybourne Hotel Group shareholder Derek Quinlan. The revelation will be embarrassing for McKillen who hopes to get financial backing from the Qataris if he wins his battle with the Barclay twins whom he alleges led a conspiracy to seize control of the owner of top London hotels. Sir Frederick and Sir David deny McKillen’s allegations. The Times says the Barclays are likely to sell on one or both of the Connaught and Berkeley hotels if they emerge victorious. The newspaper says a sale of the Ritz looks unlikely in the near future. The twins estimate the Ritz is worth “in excess of £625m”, a value one leading hotel property agent called “absolutely barking”. The Times reports how the McKillen v Barclay bros High Court battle that has finished its first week has exposed the “bizarre world of reclusive billionaires”. The case continues.
24/03/12 Times 30, 31
Independent 51
