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A UK high court judge has called the long-running legal battle between Breqhou-dwelling media mogul Sir Frederick Barclay and his ex-wife a “charade” after another delay.
The legal fight to settle a long-running dispute following the breakdown of their marriage dates back to 2021, when Judge Sir Jonathan Cohen ruled that Sir Frederick should pay Lady Hiroko Barclay £100m.
Lady Barclay, who had petitioned for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, subsequently returned to court to claim that Sir Frederick had not paid a penny of the money owed – despite allegedly having access to funds through a complex web of offshore trusts.
In August 2022, the court heard that the £245,000 had been paid, but that there was "still no plan for payment" for the full £100m.
In February, Lady Barclay made an application for her ex-husband to be committed to prison, but the case was adjourned following what was only described in national reports as a "proposal".
Pictured: Sir Frederick – now 88-years-old – is listed as the sole tenant of Brecqhou, the island he bought in 1993 with his twin.
Last week, adviser Martin Clarke – described in court as Sir Frederick's "right-hand man" – said that "arranging money has been very, very difficult" and that he was still waiting for money to arrive in his account.
Barrister Stewart Leech KC, the barrister leading Lady Barclay’s legal team, said: "It really has to end this week."
"There really cannot be any more cheques in the post, which is what we have been told for some time," he added.
On Friday 7 July, Advocate Leech told Sir Jonathan Cohen – the judge overseeing the dispute – that money had still not arrived.
“Charade," Sir Jonathan said.
Advocate Leech replied: “That is our impression as well.”
Pictured: The Barclay family tree.
Max Turnell, representing Frederick Barclay, said the delay was "not something that is in our control" as money was being borrowed.
Sir Jonathan said he had adjourned hearings on the basis that a settlement was in the offing.
“I have been told on four or five occasions that this case needs to be adjourned because there is a deal that is about to come to fruition,” said the judge.
“At the moment I don’t have any certainty that it is ever going to happen.”
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