A British couple who described themselves as aristocrats and planned to renovate a country mansion were yesterday arrested by gardai on foot of an extradition request by British police investigating a number of frauds.
Mr Arnold Mallows, alias Lord Arnold Johnson, and his wife, Ms Jennifer Esther Mallows, alias Lady Guinevere Johnson, and formerly Clive Charles Dillon Hall, were arrested yesterday at a caravan beside a ruined 18th-century country manor, Kilmurry House, which they bought two years ago.
The couple will appear before Dublin District Court next Friday to face an extradition application by British police investigating frauds at three British banks.
The couple, who arrived in Fermoy two years ago, had told locals they planned to spend £1.25 million on restoring the mansion which had previously been occupied by new-age travellers.
Mr Mallows told locals he was a retired investment banker in London while his wife said her father was a Dublin jeweller and theatre impresario, Harry Dillon. She said he had discovered Milo O'Shea.