Curistan in fraud claim against bank over Odyssey

BELFAST property magnate Peter Curistan is alleging fraud in his multi-million pound legal action against the former Anglo Irish Bank, the High Court has heard.

The developer, who built the city’s Odyssey entertainment complex, is also claiming breach of duty and negligence over the process to find a buyer for his long-term lease in the venue.

His case against the defendant, now known as the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, may see a Northern Ireland judge travel to Dublin to hear some evidence.

Mr Curistan is suing in a personal capacity after previous litigation was brought in the name of Sheridan Millennium, a company he ran before it went into administration in 2011.

The businessman, who developed the Odyssey Pavilion before losing control of it to Anglo, was disqualified from being a company director for six years in 2016.

Since then he has continued with a series of actions against the bank.

Papers lodged in Mr Curistan’s current lawsuit focus on claims around how Anglo identified one of its clients as a potential purchaser for the leases in around 2008-09.

It is alleged that the management of the process amounted to a “shadow directorship”.

Although no date for trial has been set, it was previously indicated that two former bank executives could give evidence in Dublin.

Madam Justice McBride, who is now presiding in the case, has yet to confirm if that remains the position.