Born Clothing Group, Including Former Thurles Outlet, At Centre Of €1m High Court Claim.

The Born Clothing Group, Including Former Thurles Outlet, now at Centre of €1m Thai Villas High Court Claim.

The collapsed Born Clothing group, which previously operated a store in Thurles Shopping Centre, County Tipperary, is at the centre of High Court proceedings concerning the alleged use of almost €1 million in company funds to purchase two luxury villas in Thailand.
The retail group operated 15 shops around Ireland before entering liquidation with reported debts of €7.82 million. This included approximately €2.2 million owed to the Irish Revenue Commissioners.

The allegations have been made by the company’s joint liquidators, Mr David O’Connor and Mr Ian Barrett. They claim that Mr John Curley, whom they describe as the group’s de facto managing director and “controlling mind”, used company money to acquire the Thai properties for his personal benefit, while the businesses were experiencing serious financial difficulties.
Mr Curley strongly disputes the liquidators’ account. He maintains that the properties were purchased under a voluntary co-investment arrangement with the company. He claims that he contributed €220,000 and was entitled to a 30 per cent interest in the villas, although the properties were registered solely in his name.

The liquidators allege that various payments totalling close to €1 million were transferred from the company between April 2022 and November 2024 to fund the purchases.
One of the properties is reportedly believed to have generated rental income of approximately €3,505 per month through the Kamala Falls Residential Resort.

Mr Curley has said that he was an employee of an associated company, Elland Distributors Ltd, earning €24,000 annually, and that he acted under the instructions of those controlling the business.
However, the liquidators claim that he exercised substantial influence over Born Clothing’s daily operations. They say this included dealing with staff, negotiating with landlords and providing personal guarantees connected with company financing.
Mr Curley had previously served as a company director before resigning in 2011.

The court was also told that he had the use of a BMW 7 Series company car reportedly worth approximately €110,000. The liquidators believe the vehicle remains in his possession.
Born Clothing’s sole registered director at the time of liquidation was Joan Lynch. According to the liquidators, Ms Lynch has said that she knew nothing about the alleged co-investment arrangement involving the Thai villas.

At a one-sided preliminary hearing on Friday, Judge Brian Cregan permitted the liquidators to serve proceedings at short notice. They are seeking injunctions preventing Mr Curley from selling or otherwise disposing of the villas, along with declarations that he holds the properties on trust for the company.
No final findings have been made against Mr Curley, and the allegations remain strongly contested.

The matter is due to return before a vacation sitting of the High Court on August 12th 2026.

The case will be of particular local interest in Thurles and across County Tipperary, where Born Clothing formerly operated from Thurles Shopping Centre before the nationwide closure of the retail group.