Villa accused 'justice fugitive'

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A Northern Ireland businessman accused of running a property scam in Turkey has returned home as "a fugitive from justice", the High Court has been told.

The claim was made by a lawyer for investors who are taking civil action against Kevin O'Kane, 48, of Bellaghy.

He is being sued by up to 70 investors but denies wrong-doing in an alleged scam involving more than £2.5m in bogus property on the Aegean coast.

Mr O'Kane claims he was the victim of a rogue Turkish property developer.

Mr O'Kane was originally banned from leaving Turkey while the case was investigated.

Earlier this month, it emerged that he had returned to Northern Ireland because he said he was ill and had received threats to his life.

But in the High Court on Wednesday, a lawyer for 20 of the investors, claimed he understood Mr O'Kane had returned as "a fugitive from justice".

He said that the businessman's legal representatives had not had a chance to speak to him because police wanted to interview him.

The judge adjourned the case for a week. He said Mr O'Kane's lawyers may consider it inappropriate to proceed with the civil action until the prospect of any criminal proceedings has been dealt with.