Noel Smyth and Cyril Metliss were the best of buddies this week when it was announced that British Land is buying half of Cherrywood for £33.5 million and injecting another £6 million of equity directly into Dunloe Ewart.

But relations between solicitor-turned-property developer Noel Smyth and the British Land boss were not always so cordial. According to Mr Smyth, the first encounter he had with Cyril Metliss was when he was fighting a legal battle against British Land on behalf of Dunnes Stores many moons ago.

Dunnes and British Land were having a row over Dunnes' flagship store in British Land's Stephens Green Centre, a row that was won in the end by Dunnes. "I admired British Land for their tenacity, so when we were putting Cherrywood together last year, I approached them," he said.

Just as well Mr Metliss doesn't harbour bitterness!