Who's who in the battle for Jurys Doyle
THE FAMILY Bernie Gallagher: PV Doyle's youngest daughter, mother of three and the driving force of the three Doyle sisters who retain a stake in the Jurys Doyle group. Her independently successful husband, John Gallagher, is also a close adviser. She presided over the departure of her brother, David, as chief executive of the company and negotiated lucrative terms during the Jurys takeover. Potential investors regard Bernie, along with her sister's husband, Tom Roche, as the key to securing the prime Ballsbridge hotel sites.
Ann Roche: Ann nominated her husband Tom to represent her on the board. He is the chairman of National Toll Roads, regarded as highly astute and "the voice most listened to" by the Doyle siblings, according to one source.
Eileen Monahan: Eileen, a solicitor, is the lowest-profile of the three sisters. With her husband, Ray, she is involved in commercial property development in the west of Ireland.
THE BIDDERS Sean Dunne: Affable but tough former ordance surveyor and friend of Fianna Fail, who is married to the society journalist, Gayle Killilea. The successful property developer is said to desperately want the Ballsbridge sites that take in Jurys and the Berkeley Court. Having committed to buy the Jurys site for ?260m, he spent ?200m buying shares in the company to ensure a say in what happens to it. He will also bid for the Berkeley Court, if he doesn't end up buying the whole group. His share-buying continued late last week.
Liam Carroll: Reclusive mega-rich builder who controls property vehicles Zoe Developments and Dunloe Ewart. Unmasked as the mystery buyer of shares in Jurys Doyle on Thursday, some reports now put his stake at close to 10 per cent following a share-buying frenzy late last week. Sources say he wants the Berkeley Court and Montrose lands that are now up for sale and was prepared to spend ?70m on shares to make sure he can, like Dunne, have a say from inside the group.
Precinct Investments: Unlikely alliance of Bryan Cullen, an occasional property speculator, David Coleman, who runs a legal practice, Lavelle Coleman, and a Wexford builder, JJ Murphy. Together they came to prominence when they bought the Gresham for ?107m. Their ambitious bid for Jurys fell apart when the Anglo-Irish Bank withdrew support. They pulled out, citing the rising share price.
Reuben brothers: David and Simon Reuben, London billionaires who made their fortunes on aluminium, were originally brought in by Precinct. In the wake of Precinct's failure, the Reubens are set to go it alone in a bidding war against Sean Dunne and Liam Carroll for the hotel group.
