Developer loses government case

The case involved the Queen's Quay project

A Belfast businessman has lost a legal case against a government department after it dropped him as a preferred developer of a prime city centre site.

Peter Curistan wanted the High Court to overturn the decision by the Department of Social Development.

His company, Sheridan Millennium, had been the preferred developer for the multi-million Queen's Quay project.

He claimed his company was denied the contract due to allegations of IRA money laundering.

However, the government claimed it was due to Sheridan Millennium failing a due diligence examination.

On Monday, the High Court found in favour of the government.

Mr Justice Gillen said Mr Curistan had allowed his extreme annoyance at the unfounded money laundering allegations and his annoyance at losing preferred developer status to blind him to his company's deficiencies, which were the real reason it had lost its status.

Appeal

Afterwards Mr Curistan, who may appeal the decision, said: "We are obviously very disappointed that the court has been unable to find sufficient grounds to reverse the department's decision.

"However, the judge has repeatedly made it clear in his judgement that the court was reviewing the process whereby the department made its decision and not the actual merits of the decision itself."