Sir Frederick Barclay
(Picture: PA Wire)Sir Frederick Barclay was banned from visiting his private Channel Island after a bitter falling-out with his twin brother Sir David, the High Court heard.
The brothers built a business empire together that included the Telegraph Media Group and luxury hotels including The Ritz, and in 1993 they purchased the freehold in the island of Brecqhou.
However, the High Court has heard the identical twins fell out in 2014, creating a bitter divide in the Barclay family.
Lady Barclay, Sir Frederick’s ex-wife, claimed animosity between the twin brothers - who were once inseparable - once descended into physical violence on a holiday boat trip, when they “were punching each other”.
And on Tuesday she told the court that her former partner was effectively barred from going to Brecqhou, where the brothers shared a mock-Gothic castle complete with two swimming pools and a helipad, after he stopped contributing to the maintenance of the island.
“When they fell out, he threw him out”, Lady Barclay said of the brothers’ feud.
“I think when they fell out, he stopped paying the maintenance.”
Charles Howard QC, representing Sir Frederick, said Brecqhou’s “enormous overheads” have been paid in recent years by “the other side of the family”, and suggested Sir David “claimed that Sir Frederick had no right to visit the island”.
“I think he had told him that”, replied Lady Barclay, agreeing that “effectively Sir David took control of the island”.
The court heard Sir David, who died in January last year, had invested heavily in Brecqhou and his widow, Lady Reyna, continues to live in the castle.
“You and Sir Frederick, on the one hand, and Lady Reyna are not on terrible good terms?” said Mr Howard.
Lady Barclay replied: “I think he didn’t like her. I don’t like her either.”
Lady Barclay claims Sir Frederick has sufficient funds, including an interest in Brecqhou and £545 million in loan notes, to settle the divorce bill and alleges he has deliberately not paid.
In his defence, Sir Frederick argues he does not have access to the funds, and says he is not in a position to realise the value of the Channel Island.
Mr Howard pointed out an “awful lot of money” has been invested in the castle, and showed the court a legal letter saying Lady Reyna and her family “are not in a position to acquire the 50 per cent (share), not would our client countenance of a sale”.
The court heard Lady Barclay believes Sir David is buried on Brecqhou, and Mr Howard argued this is part of the reason why she may not want to sell the island.
Lady Barclay, 79, suggested this stance on the potential sale is part of a “conspiracy”, orchestrated by Sir Frederick, to block her divorce payment until she or her partner dies.
“Maybe my husband talked to Alistair (Sir David’s son), saying let’s do this until my divorce case is over”, she said.
“He organised all this, my husband and Alistair, together.”
She claimed that Sir Frederick continues to be a “powerful man”, distancing himself from financial interests through a series of trusts but continuing to wield influence.
“He has got power to do whatever he wants”, she said, adding of the trustees in one trust: “These people are working for him – they will do whatever my husband says.
She also claimed Lady Reyna may not live at the castle throughout the year, saying: “I don’t think she likes living there either. Not at all. Because it’s quite isolated.”
And she argued Alistair Barclay had considered selling Brecqhou before changing his mind.
A spotlight was put on the Barclay family feud when Sir Frederick discovered his favourite spot at the Ritz, where he would talk business with daughter Amanda, had been covertly bugged by his brother’s sons Alistair, Aidan and Howard as well as Aidan’s son Andrew.
Lady Barclay said she spoke to Aidan in the last few weeks, when he revealed he “has no love for Amanda and Sir Frederick”.
“He doesn’t like him at all”, she said. “He had such a hard time in the bugging case.”
However she said Aidan and Sir Frederick still talk, claiming they are working together and against her to “protect their wealth”.
“He planned to not give me money, to make it look like he has got no money - he made that himself”, she said.
Mr Howard responded: “There is absolutely no basis for saying this - it’s pure distrust and suspicion. You can’t point to anything that justifies a conspiracy, which is a very serious allegation.”
The High Court hearing in front of Sir Jonathan Cohen continues.
Sir David’s son made a bid to keep secret the burial site of their father, calling it “deeply private and personal” information, but the judge rejected the application.
“Lady Barclay has said she understand that is where Sir David is buried - it’s put forward by the family as a reason why the island should not sold”, he said.
“It is a material matter, and I’m in no doubt it should remain in the public arena.”
