Divorce judge attacks ‘reprehensible’ mogul
ONE of Britain’s most successful businessmen has been criticised by a High Court judge after becoming embroiled in a fight over money with his estranged wife.
Mr Justice Cohen said Sir Frederick Barclay, 86, sold a luxury yacht and kept the proceeds for his own use in breach of court orders.
He said he regarded that as “reprehensible”, in a ruling published yesterday. The judge ruled that Lady Hiroko Barclay should get lump sums totalling £100million. She had wanted £120million.
Sir Frederick had made an offer which might have led to Lady Barclay receiving nothing, the judge said. Mr
Justice Cohen oversaw the row between Sir Frederick and Lady Hiroko, who is in her late 70s, at private hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London.
He considered arguments over how big a payout she should get at a trial in March, following the breakdown of their 34-year marriage. The judge allowed journalists to hearings but said only some facts could be reported.
He said that he had decided not to publish his entire ruling – which has been given to Sir Frederick, Lady Barclay and their legal teams – but to reveal some detail.
He said Sir Frederick had repeatedly ignored orders to produce documents or answer questions. He added: “Part of (Sir Frederick’s) attend of the available assets included a luxury yacht which was on the market for sale. I made orders intended to control the sale and the use of the proceeds.
“He completely ignored those orders, sold the yacht and applied the equity for his own use.
“I regarded that behaviour reprehensible.”
Sir Frederick and his twin brother Sir David were among the UK’s most high-profile businessmen. Sir David died aged 86 in January.
Their interests included the Telegraph Newspaper Group and The Ritz hotel in London.
The family also has links Channel Islands and Monaco. to as the