He is one of the world’s wealthiest media tycoons, with homes in Monaco, the Channel Islands and Switzerland, and interests ranging from The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator to the Ritz Hotel. Yet when it comes to sending e-mails, Sir David Barclay has to resort to using his wife’s accounts.
The curious nature of Sir David’s electronic communications emerged on the first day of a case in the High Court that is expected to determine the ownership of Maybourne Hotel Group, the company that controls the top London hotels Claridge’s, the Connaught and the Berkeley.
Sir David and his twin brother, Sir Frederick, face allegations that they resorted to unlawful means to control Coroin, the parent company of Maybourne, against Paddy McKillen, the property developer who holds a 36 per cent stake. Mr McKillen claims the twins, in the face of bid interest from Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Malaysia, sought to seize control by bypassing agreements giving fellow shareholders right of first refusal over any shares sold.
Philip Marshall, QC, for Mr McKillen, said that Sir David, 77, usually communicated by text message. He added: “Sir David did not have an e-mail account, but used those of his wife, Lady Barclay.” An application to search her accounts had been made.
Mr Marshall said that the twins had declined to appear as witnesses. He said Sir Frederick had said his brother was too ill to attend or even make a statement after suffering angina, while he himself was overseas.
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Mr Marshall said the suggestion that Sir David was too unwell “does not sit well with the evidence” and asked the judge, Mr Justice David Richards, to “draw adverse inferences”.
Lord Grabiner, QC, for the Barclays, said: “Both Sir Frederick and Sir David deny the allegations against them. It is clear that these serious allegations have been made for tactical reasons, to try to embarrass [them] and to tarnish their reputations.” The hearing continues.