Μάριο Καραγιαννά - Beyond Contempt

Ακίνητα: A… Shame in the Sun

Αλγεινή εντύπωση προκάλεσε η κίνηση Άγγλου πολίτη να αναρτήσει υβριστικά και δυσφημιστικά πανό για την Κύπρο έξω από την έκθεση A Place in the Sun που διοργανώθηκε στο Λονδίνο.

Το InBusinessNews που αναφέρθηκε στο θέμα και την περασμένη βδομάδα, εξασφάλισε φωτογραφίες από τον κ. Λέανδρο Μαυρομμάτη, Σύμβουλο Ακινήτων στην Aristo Developers από τη διαμαρτυρία του Άγγλου Conor O’Dwyer έξω από τον χώρο της έκθεσης. H κατάσταση δημιούργησε μία πάρα πολύ κακή εντύπωση τόσο στους επισκέπτες όσο και στους 200 εκθέτες από 40 χώρες.

Ο κ. O’Dwyer υποστήριζε πως ακίνητο που αγόρασε στην ελεύθερη επαρχία Αμμοχώστου, πουλήθηκε για δεύτερη φορά από τον developer χωρίς ο ίδιος να γνωρίζει κάτι ενώ έχασε και τα λεφτά του. Περαιτέρω, ο ίδιος και μέλη της οικογένειας του κρατούσαν φωτογραφίες που τον έδειχναν σε κρεβάτι νοσοκομείου, μετά που όπως υποστηρίζει ξυλοκοπήθηκε από άτομο της εταιρείας που τον εξαπάτησε.

Όπως πληροφορηθήκαμε, οι εκκλήσεις των κυπριακών εταιρειών για να απομακρυνθεί ο κ. O’Dwyer εισακούστηκαν μόνο εν μέρει, αφού η τοπική αστυνομία απλά του ζήτησε να μετακινηθεί σε άλλο σημείο, το οποίο και πάλι ήταν η βασική οδός για κάποιον που ήθελε να πάει στην έκθεση.

Στην έκθεση έλαβαν μέρος τέσσερις κυπριακές εταιρείες. Η Aristo Developers, Hadjivasili Bros Property Developers, Pafilia Property Developers και Loizos Iordanou.

Αυτό που ενόχλησε περισσότερο, όπως μας ειπώθηκε, είναι το γεγονός πως ο παραπονούμενος, με αφορμή ένα μεμονωμένο γεγονός, το οποίο δεν αποδείχθηκε ότι ευσταθεί, κατηγορούσε ολόκληρη την Κύπρο ότι είναι η χώρα της απάτης.

Original article
14.04.2010
antonis@imh.com.cy

Yaşamları allak bullak oldu

Aldıkları villaya taşınmayı beklerken, bir başka İngiliz’e daha yüksek ücretle satılan evlerine giremeyen O’Dwyer ailesi, şimdi Surrey yakınlarındaki kiraladıkları evde yaşıyor. Anne Michaela 8 ve 13 yaşındaki iki kızının olaylardan çok etkilendiğini belirterek; “ailemizin tüm yaşantısı allak bullak oldu” dedi

O’Dwyer ailesi, Londra’ya 1,5 saat uzaklıkta yemyeşil Surrey bölgesinde yaşıyor. Daha önce de aynı bölgede 4 yatak odalı evleri varmış. Bu evi Kıbrıs’ın Güneyi’ne yerleşmek amacıyla satarak, parasını oraya yatırmışlar. Ancak istedikleri hiçbir şey planladıkları gibi gitmemiş. Conor ve eşi Michaela’nın biri 13, diğeri 8 yaşında Courtney ve Zoe adlı iki kızı var. 4 yıl önce çocuklarını Yunanca öğrensinler diye kursa yazdıran çift, şimdi o günleri anmak bile istemiyor.

YENİDEN BAŞLAMA MÜCADELESİ
Leatherhead yakınlarındaki evlerinde, bıraktıkları yerden hayata yeniden başlama mücadelesindeler. Baba Conor, 40 yaşında, ithalat yapan bir işadamı.. Güney Kıbrıs’ın AB’ye üye olması ve orasını askerlik günlerinden tanıması nedeniyle, Dikelia üssüne yakın bir yerde ev aradıklarını söylüyor. Adaya yaptıkları seyahatlerden birinde Paralimni yakınlarındaki yeni siteyi gezip, planlarını incelerler. Ve burasını beğenip, almaya karar verirler.

3 YILLIK HAKSIZLIK
Conor O’Dwyer, neredeyse son 3 yılını villasıyla ilgili uğradığı haksızlığa adamış durumda. İnternette açtığı web sayfasının bir hayli takipçisi var. www.shameoncyprus.com’a girerseniz bağlantılı linklerini, başından geçenleri, belgelerini orada okuyabilir, görebilirsiniz.
Eski asker, hem acı tecrübe yaşamanın ağırlığını taşıyor. Hem de bir yerde; “iyi ki gençmişiz. Biz her şeye yeniden başlayabiliriz. Ya bizim gibi aldatılan, dolandırılan yaşlılar ne yapsın” diyerek, bir parça teselli bulmaya çalışıyor.

İŞ KURACAKTI
Evinden ithalat yapan Conor O’Dwyer, aynı işini Kıbrıs’ta da devam ettirecek, internet üzerinden hediyelik eşya ve başka şeyler pazarlayacaktı. Ayrıca eşiyle Aya Napa yakınlarında bir de dondurma yeri açmak istiyorlardı. Ancak tüm hayalleri, villa skandalıyla son buldu.

“ ‘BAŞINI KOPARTALIM’ DİYE BAĞIRDILAR”

“Tanıştığımız Rum müteahhit Christophes Karayiannas ve oğlu Marios bize çok yakınlık gösterdiler. Hele baba Karayiannas, çocuklarımı dizlerinde zıplatıp, sitede çocuk parkı, yüzme havuzunu nereye yapacaklarını bize neşeyle anlatıyordu. Şimdi bunlar aklıma geldikçe çok sinirleniyorum. Bir aileyle böyle nasıl oynanır? Nasıl gözümüze baka baka yalan söylerler? İşin en acı yanı, Karayiannas, 1974’de Kuzey’den kaçtığını ve geride kalan köyünün adını bu siteye verdiğini söylemişti. Sitenin adı Ayios Sergios’du. Müteahhit bir yerde Türkleri suçlarken, köyünün adını verdiği sitede bize satıp, yarı parasını aldığı villamızı bir başkasına ikinci defa satmakta sakınca görmemişti. Paramız bankasında, baba-oğul bana iki kere saldırdılar. ‘Başını kopartalım, kolunu kıralım’ diye Rumca bağırdıkları videolar internette. Ve açtığım dava Baş Savcı tarafından ‘kriminal’ suç unsuru olmadığından ceza davası kabul edilmedi. Sivil mahkemeye gitmem söylendi. Bu nasıl bir standart? Son 4 yılda en az 20-25 kere adaya gittim. Saldırıya uğrayıp, hastanelik oldum. Ne sesimi duyan oldu, ne paramı geri alabildim. Zaten müteahhit bana ilk yazdığı mektupta paramın bir kuruşunu bile geri alamayacağımı yazmıştı”.

100 BİN STERLİN TAZMİNAT

COnor O’Dwyer, anlattıkça kızıyor, kızdıkça duygusallaşıyor. Eşi Michaela sık sık söze giriyor. Çocuklar okuldan gelmeden bu konuşmaları yapmamız gerekiyor. Onların daha fazla üzülmesini haklı olarak istemiyorlar. Aile bu işten baştan sona çok etkilenmiş durumda.
Baba O’Dwyer’ı en fazla kızdıran ise Baş Savcının kararı. 2006 ve 2008’de iki kere baba-oğlun saldırısına uğrayan, hastanelik olan eski asker, her saldırıyı videoya almış ve bunu sitesinde ve Youtube’ta gösteriyor. Zaten müteahhitleri en fazla kızdıran da bu davranışı. Onlar da villa için ödedikleri 100 bin sterlinin üzerine yatmışlar, tabiri yerindeyse.

‘HEM SAVCI, HEM YARGIÇ OLDULAR’
“Ödediğimiz tüm para 100 bin Sterlin. Bundan sonra zaten ödeme almadılar bizden. Çünkü bir başka İngiliz’e Michelle McDonald’a evi daha fazlasına satmış. Bizden aldığı parayı, internetteki yayınlardan dolayı kendilerine tazminat olarak değerlendirmiş ve vermemeye karar vermişler. Bana söyledikleri bu. Hem yargıç, hem savcılık yaptılar. Güney Kıbrıs’ta on binlerce İngiliz’in evi var. Benim gibi mağdur çok sayıda insan var. Ne yazık ki Rum makamları İngilizlere adil, eşit davranmıyor. Kendileri için yasaları kullanıyorlar, ancak yabancıları korumuyorlar. Şimdi de baba-oğlun sesini kaydettiğim, filmlerimi çektiğim için beni dava ettiler. İnsan haklarını çiğnediğim için. Benim insan haklarımı düşünen yok bu arada. Bu bana ve aileme en büyük hakarettir. Güneyde mal sahiplerini koruyan kanunlar var. Ancak bize uygulanmıyor”

“ORAMSLAR SALDIRIYA UĞRAMADI”

Orams davasını yakından izleyen Conor O’Dwyer, kendi davalarıyla onlarınkini karşılaştırıyor. “Onların evini en azından işgal eden biri olmadı. Orams çifti bizim gibi saldırıya uğramadı” diyor. Güney Kıbrıs’ta tüm emlak acentelerinin durumlarını bildiğini kaydeden eski asker, konuşmasını şöyle tamamlıyor;
“ İngiltere’deki bölge milletvekilim ve Avrupa Parlamentosu Milletvekilim davamızı baştan sonra biliyor ve durumu nefretle karşılıyorlar. Beni destekliyorlar. Durumdan İngiliz Dışişleri Bakanlığı da haberdar. Hakkımda 5 ayrı dava var. Ailemin maddi, manevi tüm yaşamı allak bullak oldu. Güneyden ev alacaklara tavsiyem bizim düştüğümüz duruma düşmemek için plandan ev alıp, paralarını kaptırmasınlar. İkinci defa satılan, bitmiş emlak alıp, tapusunu üzerlerine geçirsinler. İnternetten çok destek mesajı geliyor. Adalete inanıyoruz. Davamızı kazanacağımızı umuyoruz”

Mihrişah Safa

VİLLA SKANDALI

Larnaka yakınlarındaki Frenaros bölgesinde 4 yatak odalı, yüzme havuzlu villa alan 40 yaşındaki O’Dwyer, 100 bin Sterlin ödedikten sonra, villasının bir başka İngiliz’e satıldığını öğrenince ‘dolandırıldığını’ anladı. Hukuk mücadelesi başlatan aile, önce dayak yedi, ardından Rum savcının kararıyla sarsıldı.

GÜNEY KIBRIS’a temelli yerleşmek amacıyla 4 yıl önce villa alıp, parasının yarısını ödeyen İngiliz Conor ve Michaela O’Dwyer çifti, müteahhit Rum baba-oğul tarafından dolandırıldı. Evlerinin bir başka İngiliz’e satılması üzerine hem paralarından olan, hem saldırıya uğrayan çift, evsiz de kaldı.
Aileyi en fazla yıkan ise Rum Başsavcı’nın, Conor O’Dwyer’ın Rum müteahhit baba ile oğluna karşı açtığı davada, ‘kriminal değil, sivil bir dava’ kararı. Göz göre göre İngiliz çiftin banka vasıtasıyla parasını alıp, evi başkasına satan baba Christoforos Karayiannas ve oğlu Marios Karayiannas, olayı protesto eden İngiliz’e, iki yılda iki kere saldırarak, hastanelik etti. Baba-oğul aleyhine açtığı davadan ‘şaşırtıcı’ bir karar çıkması üzerine, eski asker Conor O’Dwyer, Rum müteahhitler ve evini kanunsuz işgal eden İngiliz kadın Mihchelle McDonald hakkında özel kriminal davası açtı.

HAYALLERİ YIKILDI
İki kızlarıyla adanın güneyinde yeni bir hayat kurma planları yapan 40 yaşındaki çiftin Kıbrıs hayalleri, Rumların adaletsizlikleri nedeniyle yıkılırken, O’Dwyer çifti adanın güneyinde emlak almak isteyen İngilizlere; “Sakın plan üzerinden, bitmemiş ev alıp, paranızı kaptırmayın. Bir başkasından, tapulu, tamamlanmış emlak alın” tavsiyesinde bulundular.
8 ve 13 yaşındaki kızlarıyla İngiltere’deki evlerini satıp, temelli Kıbrıs’a taşınma planları içindeyken, 100 bin Sterlin’den fazla paralarını kaybeden, son iki yıldır da bir o kadar parayı kira, yol, mahkeme masraflarına harcayan aile; “Artık Kıbrıs bizim için güvenilir yer değil. Hayatımız orada tehlikede. Bir daha adımımızı oraya atmayacağız. Kıbrıs bizim için bitti” dedi.

SALDIRIYA UĞRADI
Eviyle ilgili anlaşmazlıkların başında, villasını görmeye giden İngiliz işadamı, iki yıl içinde baba-oğul Rum müteahhidin saldırısına uğrayıp, Güney Kıbrıs’ta hastanelik olunca, kaydettiği saldırı filmlerini internette yayınladı.
Ayrıca, sesini Rum makamlarına duyurabilmek için Londra’daki Kıbrıs Yüksek Komiserliği önünde 2008 ağustos ayından, ekim sonuna kadar 74 gün gece-gündüz çadır kuran aile, ‘Shame on Cyprus’ ‘Utanmaz Kıbrıs’ sloganıyla protesto başlarından geçenleri protesto ettiler. Son olarak geçtiğimiz günlerde Earls Court sergi salonundaki ‘Place in the Sun’ emlak sergisinde, Rumları aynı sloganla protesto eden aile, durumunu İngiliz kamuoyuna duyurmaya çalıştı.

‘ADALETSİZ DAVRANDILAR’
STAR KIBRIS’ı Londra’nın güneyinde Surrey yakınlarındaki kiralık evlerinde ağırlayan Conor, Michaela, Courtney ve Zoe O’Dwyer, inanılmaz hikâyelerini baştan sonra anlatarak, Rumların adanın güneyinde ev almak isteyen İngilizlere karşı son derece “adaletsiz” davrandığını öne sürdü ve orada ev almak isteyen hemşerilerini uyardılar.
Rumların, Kuzey Kıbrıs’ta kendi arsalarına yapılan emlak nedeniyle mahkemelere gidip, kendilerini haklı çıkartmaya uğraştıklarını söyleyen Conor O’Dwyer, “ Kıbrıs A.B üyesi. Ve bizim gibi orada emlak almak isteyenleri koruyan kanunları var. Ancak Kuzey’de kendi vatandaşları Rumları benzeri kanunlarla korurlarken, güneyde bizim gibi İngilizlere bu kanunlar işlemiyor, işletilmiyor. Bir evi satıp, parasının yarısını alıp, bankaya yatırıyorlar. Ev ilk sahibin üzerine tapuya kaydedilmesine rağmen, sonra evi ikinci kere bir başkasına satıp, paranın üzerine yatıyorlar. Ve ülkenin Baş Savcısı bunun kriminal bir suç olduğunu kabul etmiyor. Sivil mahkemeye havale ediyor. Bir de hakkınızı aramaya kalktığınızda dayak yiyorsunuz. Tüm rüyalarımız, hayallerimiz yıkıldı.. Finansal olarak da paramparça olduk. Ama sonunda adalete güveniyor ve hakkımızı alacağımıza inanıyoruz” diye konuştu.

Devamı yarın….

Mihrişah Safa

Cyprus property market tarnished by London protest

TENS of thousands of prospective home-buyers were greeted with placards reading ‘Shame on Cyprus’ at the gates of a property exhibition in London over the weekend.

The signs were part of a high-profile campaign organised by Conor O’Dwyer who is embroiled in a lengthy legal battle with local developers.

Conor O'Dwyer talking to potential Cyprus property buyers at Earls Court — Conor O’Dwyer talking to potential Cyprus property buyers at Earls Court

His colourful protest, camped at the main entrance to Earls Court, was staged during the two-day A Place in the Sun show, an event designed to help people get onto the overseas property ladder.

The show was organised in conjunction with the popular Channel Four television programme, which draws millions of viewers every week.

Over 200 exhibitors, representing more than 40 countries worldwide witnessed the highly visible stand set up by O’Dwyer.

Despite objections from local property developers – many of whom were left fuming, O’Dwyer said he was allowed to stage the protest with the blessing of the Metropolitan police.

“Greek Cypriot property developers came out of Earls Court on masse, they were furious with me. Some took photos; it was worrying because I had my children there. Some even said they would take me to court.

“At first they wanted the stand to be taken down, but after I explained my situation, some of them expressed sympathy and one developer even offered to help, but many were not happy,” he said.

Thousands of property dealers and customers from Spain, France, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Portugal, Italy and the USA were greeted by the protest, with many stopping to discover what was happening.

“It needs sorting out,” insists property analyst Nigel Howarth, “This has been going on for far too long. His case is high profile and who can even begin to calculate the damage by the negative press?”

O’Dwyer claims he purchased a house in the eastern village of Frenaros in 2005 that was then was resold without his knowledge by the developers.

The developers have dismissed the accusations and accused O’Dwyer of attempting to extort a more expensive house from them.

This is not the first time O’Dwyer has taken his campaign to the streets, two years-ago he held a protest outside the Cyprus High Commission in London.

O’Dwyer slept in a tent and spent his day updating his website and talking to passers-by, including, he said, potential British property buyers for Cyprus.

By: Nathan Morley Published: Tuesday 30th March 2010

To see comments from British expats read this article in the Cyprus Property News

We have not learnt our lesson

UNFORTUNATELY, despite the fact that we have had many bad experiences when selling property to foreigners, we haven’t learnt our lesson.

We treat the subject very lightly and then when something goes wrong, we rush to deal with it, by which time it is too late.

A prime example was the event that took place at the exhibition “A Place in the Sun” in London, when Conor O’Dwyer protested outside the exhibition together with his family. O’Dwyer maintained that he bought property in the free area of Famagusta, which was sold for a second time by the developer without his knowledge and he lost money.

We are sure that before O’Dwyer resorted to the protest outside the property exhibition, he must have tried other forms of protest to be heard but had been unsuccessful.

And it is here that the relevant government authorities have a responsibility. If they were as methodical as the private sector and reacted openly and immediately, then we are sure that the problem would have been solved right from the beginning and there would have been no need for the protest in London.

This particular type of incident is not unique. We have seen reports of similar incidents in the past. And it is such incidents that discredit Cyprus internationally, wiping out any gains that have resulted from promotions and advertising that unfortunately only the private sector pays for.

Since we want to promote Cyprus as a destination to buy and invest in property, we should sort out these problems at their root and not let the situation get out of hand in the way that happened recently in London.

The state should intervene dynamically and the Interior Ministry which is responsible for this sector should place this specific problem under its scrutiny. Furthermore, it should take the necessary steps to ensure that such unacceptable incidents never happen again.

We will go one step further and propose that a relevant service be set up that will function correctly and pre-emptively in such instances.

At the same time, the necessary funds should be made available so that we can promote Cyprus in the property sector abroad. And why not, we should combine this with promoting Cyprus as a tourist destination and in this way also promote holiday homes. This should be a joint effort with developers who are also promoting Cyprus extensively.

Finally, it is sad that on the one hand millions are spent on publicity to promote Cyprus and great efforts are being made to deal with the problems of Title Deeds, while on the other hand it is all blown away by a single incident such as the one experienced in London and for which Cyprus earned the name “a shame in the sun”.

By: George Mouskides
Published Financial Mirror: Wednesday 12th May 2010

George Mouskides is Chairman of the Association for the Promotion of Property Development and Manager of Fox Smart Estate Agency.

To see comments from British expats read this article in the Cyprus Property News

More delays in O’Dwyer case

THE HEARING of the high profile Conor O’Dwyer assault case has been postponed for another week.

O’Dwyer flew in to Cyprus from the UK to attend proceedings Larnaca District Court yesterday, only to be told that his case had again been moved to a later date.

Legal action was brought by O’Dwyer after he claimed that a property developer, his son and another man beat him up following an incident outside a disputed house in early 2007.

Father-of-two O’Dwyer, 39, has been flying back and forth from England since January 2009 to be present at court hearings, only to be faced with a series of obstacles and adjournments.

O’Dwyer spent a week in Larnaca hospital after the alleged attack and says the incident has blighted his family life.

He claims he purchased a house in the eastern village of Frenaros in 2005 that was then was resold without his knowledge by the developers.

The developers have dismissed the accusations and accused O’Dwyer of attempting to extort a more expensive house from them.

The case is unusual as O’Dwyer publicised his story on the popular video site YouTube, and backed his case up with documents and taped conversations with the developers and their lawyers.

O’Dwyer’s lawyer Yiannos Georgiaides has refused to comment until the case is over.

By: Nathan Morley Published: Thursday 4th February 2010

O’Dwyer assault case drags on into sixth month

THE CYPRUS Property Action Group (CPAG) has expressed outrage at a series of delays in the Conor O’Dwyer case, involving an alleged beating by the property developers with whom he is in dispute over a house purchase.

Father-of-two O’Dwyer, 39, has been jetting back and forth from England since January to be present at Paralimni court hearings, only to be faced with a series of obstacles and adjournments.

The case was brought by O’Dwyer after he claimed that a local developer, his son and another man beat him up following an incident outside a disputed house in early 2007. O’Dwyer spent a week in Larnaca hospital after the alleged attack.

CPAG spokesman Denis O’Hare told the Cyprus Mail that this case was politically loaded and being closely monitored by his organisation and interested parties.

“We are very frustrated; we see this as typical of the legal system here. Basically he has been beaten up…and to make matters worse he has now been assaulted by the legal system here,” he said.

Some legal commentators have expressed bewilderment that a straightforward assault case should be dragging on for so long and questioned why O’Dwyer has been forced to fly from the UK on six different occasions since January this year.

One criminal lawyer, who has been following the case, told the Cyprus Mail he was astounded by events at Paralimni Court.

“For an assault which lasted no more than 10 minutes to result in the complainant having to give nine days of testimony is simply ridiculous and unheard of. Furthermore, this man who is a foreigner, should be given court time priority and not treated in such a shameful way,” he said.

O’Dwyer says the incident has blighted his family life. He claims he purchased a house in the tiny village of Freneros in 2005 that was then was resold without his knowledge by the developers.

He claims the spat resulted in him losing the house and £100,000 he had paid for the property.

The problem started when O’Dwyer took issue with the developer because they were not sticking to the original plans for his house and garden.

Following a series of heated exchanges, O’Dwyer then contended that developers cancelled the contact, accusing him of not paying the next instalment.

He claims the developers then sold the house to someone else, telling him they were keeping his UK£75,000 for damages.

In a rare public statement last year, the developers accused O’Dwyer of allegedly masterminding a plan to extort a newer, more expensive property and exorbitant damages from the company.

O’Hare told the Cyprus Mail that the continuing setbacks of the O’Dwyer case just add more worry to the Cyprus property sector’s battered image.

“Whatever way this case goes, the ensuing publicity about the delays and so forth will do no good whatsoever for Cyprus and its image. We all want this fixed, it’s a shame“, he added.

Last year O’Dwyer began protesting about his plight outside the Cyprus High Commission, spending 74 nights sleeping in a tiny tent on the streets of London.

He widely publicised the details of his property dispute with the developers on YouTube and on the website lyingbuilder.com, however since the beginning of the court case he has ceased posting updates and refuses to talk to journalists.

The case has prompted a fierce debate on internet forums in both Cyprus and the UK, with many observers commenting that the proceedings need a “tidying up quickly“.

O’Dwyer’s lawyer Yiannos Georgiaides told the Cyprus Mail last night that: he had nothing to say until the case is over. O’Dwyer also refused to be drawn on the issue, but he is understood to be frustrated with the sluggish proceedings.

By: Nathan Morley Published: Tuesday 14th July 2009
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

Cyprus developer appears in court

Accused of causing grievous bodily harm to Conor O’Dwyer, property developer Christoforos Karayiannas and others appeared in the Famagusta District Court yesterday

THE ASSAULT case involving a Cyprus property developer and Conor O’Dwyer finally got underway at the Famagusta District Court yesterday, with judge Evi Antoniou presiding.

The case concerns an alleged attack on Mr O’Dwyer by a local property developer, Christoforos Karayiannas, his son Marios and a third unnamed man causing him grievous bodily harm. The alleged incident took place more than a year ago in the village of Frenaros near Ayia Napa and resulted in Mr O’Dwyer being hospitalised for six days.

Earlier proceedings were postponed after defence lawyers expressed concerns that it was being secretly tape-recorded. And when the case restarted on April 30th, it was postponed yet again when one of the defendants failed to appear.

Yesterday, the court heard Conor O’Dwyer describe details of his alleged beating and the Police presented several items of blood stained clothing O’Dwyer was wearing during the alleged assault.

Conor O'Dwyer pictured in hospital following the alleged assault — Conor O’Dwyer pictured in hospital following the alleged assault

The dispute that led to the alleged assault centres on the cancellation of Mr O’Dwyer’s contract by the property developers some half way through payment, even though the house that he and his wife had bought in Frenaros was already registered in his name at the Land Registry.

O’Dwyer had complained because he said the developers were not keeping to the original plans he was paying for. They then cancelled the contact accusing him of not paying the next instalment. The developers then sold the house to someone else, telling O’Dwyer they were keeping his £75,000 sterling for damages.

Countering Mr O’Dwyer claims, a statement from the developers alleged that O’Dwyer had masterminded a plan to extort a newer more expensive property and exorbitant damages from the company.

“After the cancellation of the contract, Mr. O’Dwyer set his plan in motion seeking for his revenge. A revenge originating from the fact that the value of the house he would have bought increased due to the current value housing boom.”

Mr O’Dwyer has published details of his dispute on a website at www.lyingbuilder.com and last year spent 74 nights camping outside the Cyprus High Commission in London in his quest for justice.

The court case against the three accused continues tomorrow.

By: Nigel Howarth Published: Thursday 7th May 2009
To see comments from British expats read this article in the Cyprus Property News
Copyright © Cyprus Property News

Trial in O’Dwyer assault case begins

THE HIGH profile Conor O’Dwyer assault case finally got underway at Famagusta District Court yesterday.

The case revolves around claims that a local property developer, his son and another man caused grievous bodily harm to O’Dwyer following an incident outside a disputed house on January 13 last year.

O’Dwyer, 39, took the stand and vividly described details of his alleged beating in the village of Freneros.

Police also presented several items of blood stained clothing O’Dwyer was wearing during the alleged assault.

Speaking after proceedings, O’Dwyers lawyer Yiannos Georgiades said it had been “a good day for Conor”.

Judge Evi Antoniou asked for time to consider a request from O’Dwyers legal team to submit evidence recorded on a DVD disc.

O’Dwyer, who had flown to Cyprus to be present at yesterday, spent a week in Larnaca hospital after the alleged attack in January 2008.

O’Dwyer claims he purchased a property in 2005 that was then was resold without his knowledge by the developers, resulting in him losing the house and £100,000 he had paid for the property.

In a rare public statement last year, the developers accused O’Dwyer of allegedly masterminding a plan to extort a newer, more expensive property, and exorbitant damages from the company.

The company also added that they had “failed to adhere to his blackmail requests“.

The case is unusual as every twist and turn in the saga has been published online on his website www.lyingbuilder.com, which has recorded tens of thousands of hits over the past year.

Last year O’Dwyer began protesting about his plight outside the Cyprus High Commission, spending 74 nights sleeping in a tiny tent on the streets of London.

The case will continue on Friday.

By Nathan Morley Published on May 7, 2009
Cyprus Mail

Cyprus lawyer at centre of protest replies

FOTOS PITTADJIS, the lawyer at the centre of yesterday’s peaceful protest in Paphos, has given his side of the story concerning allegations made against him to the Cyprus Mail. In an article by Bejay Browne in today’s paper, he said:

“I have heard about this demo, and I must say I find it offensive and annoying. It all seems to be organised by Chris Wood and Conor O’Dwyer.

“My father represented O’Dwyer in court, and the case was lost.”

Pittadjis continued, “I’ve represented thousands of British nationals, and offered a high degree of legal service, it’s highly unlikely that the people outside were my clients.”

He added, “As regards Chris Wood, he was only my client for one week. He then decided not to buy the property in question.”

“In Wood’s case, the developer had mortgaged the land. In turn, Chris got a mortgage from the bank, and I explained to him, the mortgage would be taken off the developer’s name and put into his.

“He then told me he wasn’t happy with this and he wanted his money back. He pulled out because of the recession and he’s picking on me.”

Pittadjis continued, “I explained this would be difficult as we had signed a sales contract, but I called the developer to try and negotiate. I was assured by the developer he would refund all the money, I’m sure Chris has had it back.”

Pittadjis believes all of his clients to be happy and assured that his company are careful to provide a high level of legal advice.

Often in Cyprus, properties are built on land mortgaged by the developer in order to fund another project.

“I never accept to release the final payment instalment unless the bank issues a waiver to free the property of the mortgage,” said Pittadjis.

“I’ve spent thousands ensuring that I have highly trained staff, so that this sort of situation can be avoided. I want to protect my reputation. People never get to hear my side of the story, and it’s unfair,” he added.

Pittadjis said he checks the mortgage imposed on a property and that the relevant building permit is in place.

“If anyone is a cash buyer, I check I’ve received a waiver form the bank before we release the third and final stage payment,” he stressed.

He added, “Chris even contacted me to negotiate his legal fees. I decided not to charge him anything, so as not to experience any further problems.”

“I’ve provided a good service to thousands of people. As if I would risk everything for a couple of thousand euros,” he said.

Pittadjis himself is one of many purchasers who have brought a property without title deeds.

“Cyprus was never prepared for this building fever,” he pointed out. “I hope that in two or three years, the new legislation will allow owners to apply for title deeds, and all the problems can be resolved.”

Pittadjis concluded, “I have to be honest. Some of these people are right: there are lawyers who might release payment without checking the situation but we never do that.

“We always make sure we have a bank waiver. That’s why the developers have never wanted to work with me – and this is why I’m so hurt by these accusations now.”

By: Nigel Howarth Published: Tuesday 27th January 2009