SARK’S Seneschal’s Court will sit in Brecqhou today to hear evidence from Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay in their own home.

Lt-Seneschal Patrick Talbot, QC, made the ruling yesterday after reading reports from Sir David Barclay’s medical advisers that, Mr Talbot said, appeared to disclose a serious, long-term medical condition, the symptoms of which were periods of severe debilitation.

Sir David and Sir Frederick are applying to the court for either an injunction to stop a public house from being run at Sark’s Island Hall – which is flanked either side by the island’s school and playschool – or the return from the trustees of the premises of the £200,000 that they and their charitable foundation gave to the project.

Counsel for the Brecqhou owners, Advocate Peter Ferbrache, said that Sir David was happy to attend the court to give evidence in the normal way but, he suspected, the medical advisers were saying that giving evidence would be stressful. Advocate Ferbrache added that Sir David would be ill-advised to appear in court.

Advocate Ferbrache said that his client was an intelligent man who realised that because of the points at issue in the court action knew that he would have to give evidence.