Friday, June 22, 2012

Nuns' legal action could be settled

A legal row between an order of nuns and an investment bank could be settled out of court, a judge has heard.

The Holy Faith Sisters - based in Glasnevin, Dublin - sued Morgan Stanley after buying bonds.

Nuns were among scores of investors who took legal action.

Lawyers told a High Court judge in London that all investors had agreed a "provisional" settlement with Morgan Stanley.

More than 100 investors claimed they suffered "substantial losses" because bonds were not sold quickly enough.

In court papers lawyers said investors - most of whom lived or were based in Ireland - lost more than 18.6 million euro in total.

Paperwork showed that the Holy Faith Sisters invested around 348,000 euro.

Andrew Sutcliffe QC, who represented investors, told Mr Justice Walker: "The action has not yet settled but terms have been provisionally agreed."

Laurence Rabinowitz QC, for Morgan Stanley, said: "It is likely this matter will be disposed of."

A further hearing is expected in the near future.