Another Street Heritage Director to be questioned at AG trial

The trial of the Attorney General is due to hear from another of the former directors of Street Heritage, Jamie Irving.

Yesterday, his father was told he’d happily dish out ‘allegations of dishonesty against anyone standing in his way’.

A court's also heard how Jonathan Irving tried to sue senior figures in the Manx government for losses after his company was wound up.

Mr Irving was at the centre of proceedings yesterday on day two of the re-trial of the Island’s Attorney General, Stephen Harding.

Fifty-two-year-old Mr Harding – who is currently suspended from his role as the government's senior legal adviser - is accused of perjury and committing acts against public justice, relating to the winding up of Mr Irving's firm Street Heritage in 2010.

The court heard how Mr Irving and his son Jamie put together a proposal which highlighted how they had been affected after the company was wound-up.

They set their reputational damage at £1 million, Mr Irving’s personal damage at half a million pounds and even cited a loss of focus from his youngest daughter - who was due to sit her GCSEs a few months later - at £600,000.

This was based on her getting good results and earning an average of £15,000 a year over a 40 year career.
That claim was later reduced to £50,000.

As well as claiming damage to his reputation, Mr Irving also accused senior government figures of dishonesty, seeking £3.2 million worth of damages for ruination of reputation and loss of future earnings – a petition which was struck out.

David Farrer QC told Mr Irving his claims for loss to his reputation and business were ‘ludicrously extravagant’ and ‘grossly inflated’.

‘I resent that greatly,’ replied Mr Irving, ‘we did everything we could to get the company on its feet.’