Trial to open in Nice of Thierry Fialek-Birles, accused of an ‘elaborate fraud’ against the actor and director Dany Boon
One of France’s most popular actors will have a starring role in court when a fake Irish aristocrat goes on trial accused of cheating him out of millions of euros.
Dany Boon, director and star of Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (Welcome to the Sticks), France’s biggest box office hit, says an alleged conman, who claimed to be an Oxford-educated maritime lawyer, stole nearly €7m (£6m) from him as part of an elaborate scam.
Next month, the court in Nice will seek to unpick a bizarre and convoluted story that could have come straight out of one of Boon’s movies, featuring luxury yachts, tax havens, multiple aliases, royal connections and an international manhunt.
The man Boon says he knew as Terry Birles – whose real name is Thierry Fialek-Birles – reportedly appeared completely at home when he dined at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in November 2021. Fellow sailing enthusiasts told the Irish Independent the smooth-talking and smartly dressed young man in his 30s came across as cultured, classy and wealthy.
