Stuart Pearson (Ireland)

In reports published in December 2008, Pearson claimed to be 24 and from Arklow, where his family owned a Burmah petrol station.[4][5] By 1998 they moved to Carlow where he claimed to own 'The Foundry' nightclub.[5] (In fact, The Foundry is part of the Dinn Rí Hotel complex[6] owned by the McLoughlin family.[7]) Pearson claimed to have qualified as an accountant in Portlaoise around 2008.[4] He moved with his wife and two daughters to County Kilkenny,[8] where he rented a house in Goresbridge[9] and worked in a convenience store in Graiguenamanagh.[8][9] According to contemporary reports, he was attacked in a robbery on the shop in January 2008.[10][11] In May 2009, The Irish Times reported that he had separated from his wife, who claimed to have no knowledge of his business dealings; and that locals in Goresbridge were surprised by and sceptical of the reports of Pearson's extreme claim of wealth.[9]

In interviews, Pearson claimed to have inherited money from relatives in 2003.[5][8][12] This was reputedly held by trustees until 2008,[8] who were claimed to have invested it in property in Ireland and Britain.[8][13][14] The trust was reported to have property in Ireland,[15] to have paid £940m for two retail properties in London,[12] bought several units on Dublin's Grafton Street;[12] and earned up to €800m from an investment in New York City.[16][17]

In October 2008, Pearson was reported to have been negotiating to buy Taggart Holdings, a housebuilding firm based in Northern Ireland which was in administration with debts reported at €150m.[8][13][14][16] In December 2008, it was reported that he might invest in Aer Lingus,[17] and subsequently that he might launch a takeover offer of up to €900m, funded from a war chest of €1.5–2b.[18] In 2009, he was reported to be planning to build a retirement village in Arklow, and to start an insurance company.[4] He was claimed to be a supporter of several charities, and in April 2009 he proposed to produce a DVD showcasing investment opportunities in the Carlow/Kilkenny region.[19]

In May 2009, all of the claims made by Pearson were reported to be hoaxes, reputedly started to attract "attention".[3] In some reports, Pearson was described as a "Walter Mitty" character who "[did not have] two cents to his name".[3] In other reports, a family member was quoted as stating that Pearson had worked in a fast food take away and as a barman, and was "living on a shoestring".[1]

In August 2009, Pearson was charged with trading without a licence and selling alcohol to underage people.[20]