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Banned director takes up finance role with show jumping body

John Curran has been appointed to the management and finance committee of Showjumping Ireland
John Curran has been appointed to the management and finance committee of Showjumping Ireland John Curran has been appointed to the management and finance committee of Showjumping Ireland

A Co Tyrone businessman banned from being a company director has been appointed to help manage the finances of show jumping’s governing body in Ireland.

John Curran was also recently selected to be the chair of the Ulster Region Committee of Showjumping Ireland – which oversees the popular equestrian pastime in the north.

And at a recent meeting of the Ulster committee he was selected as their representative to the management and finance committee at Showjumping Ireland, a 32 county body that oversees the sport.

That appointment was ratified at a meeting of the organisation last week.

The appointments came just weeks after he was banned from being a director for seven years after one of his firms, Tiffen Developments, went into administration in 2013 along with a related firm, S&F Properties.

A property development business, Tiffen was based near the Moy and owned more than £2million when it went bust.

The Department for the economy said it accepted the disqualification undertaking from Mr Curran based on claims of “unfit conduct” which it said were not disputed.

The department said the conduct included a failure to adequately account for sales proceeds on the disposal of plant and machinery and failing to make PAYE and NIC payments to the crown totalling more than £85,500.

Caroline Curran, who is believed to be Mr Curran’s wife, has also been disqualified for three years.

In February 2013 it was reported that the Ulster Bank appointed receivers to properties owned by firms linked to Mr Curran in the Republic.

Two of the firms Tiffen Developments (IRL) and Kinler Developments owed £34.5m.

Receivers were also appointed to properties owned by Curran linked Farad Enterprises and Kinler Properties in counties Armagh and Fermanagh around the same time.

Mr Curran was confirmed as the chairman of the Ulster committee in December after the original election yielded no result due to the number of spoiled votes cast.

It is understood a second man nominated for the job later withdrew from the race leaving the way clear for Mr Curran.

Known for his keen interest in equestrian sports, Mr Curran is listed on the Showjumping Ireland website as having 22 horses and ponies registered to him.

Showjumping Ireland is registered in the Republic as The Show Jumping Association of Ireland – a company limited by guarantee.

Mr Curran said he had never “attempted to hide the fact” that he had taken a “voluntary directorship ban” and SJI members were aware of this.

He added that he was not a director of SJI and did not seek a nomination to become a member of its executive.

He claimed that in the past disqualified directors have held senior posts within SJI, which was never an issue for either SJI or its members.

“My role within the SJI is voluntary and I have not and will not be accepting any remuneration or expenses during my tenure,” he said.

“My only aim to develop the sport for the future.

“I am looking forward to the year ahead and I aim to implement a number of changes within the SJI Ulster region all for the betterment of the sport, including a robust governance policy.”