Jason Rose

THE Deen brothers, Brisbane’s most notorious demolition firm, boast: “All we leave behind are the memories.”

But they may become memories themselves after creditors applied to have one of their debt-ridden companies wound up and liquidators appointed.

The Deens have a long history in Brisbane of being the demolishers of choice under the Bjelke-Petersen government.

Using the joint weapons of surprise and darkness, they were responsible for destroying some of the city’s best-known and loved buildings, including the grand Cloudland ballroom in 1982 and the Belle Vue hotel in 1979.

Now their battle is a legal one, with creditors Timms Contracting Pty Ltd applying to the Queensland Supreme Court to have Deen Bros Contracting Pty Ltd wound up.

The original Deen brothers – Ray, Happy and Funny – parted amiably in 1995, and ownership of the company has passed to the next generation.

According to Australian Securities & Investments Commission records filed to the court, Ibrahim Deen, 44, is the sole director and secretary of Deen Bros Contracting, which was incorporated in Queensland in March 2008.

Mohammed Abdul Deen, 38, is a former director and secretary of the company and is the sole shareholder.

According to documents filed last week, Timms Contracting wants the Deen brothers’ company wound up on the grounds of insolvency.

Timms Contracting claims Deen Bros Contracting owes it more than $100,000.

On June 6, District Court judge Douglas McGill SC ordered Deen Bros Contracting to pay up, but they did not.

One month later, lawyers for Timms sent Deen brothers a letter demanding they pay the debt of $122,599.71 within 21 days.

When Deen brothers did not respond, Timms Contracting launched the winding-up lawsuit against them.

Joanne Dunn and John Shanahan, from KordaMentha, have consented to be appointed as liquidators should the Supreme Court grant the Timms Contracting request.

The winding-up application lodged by Timms Contracting will be heard in the Supreme Court on September 21.

There are a number of other winding-up applications for companies controlled by the Deens before the Queensland courts.

The Deens did not return telephone calls from The Australian yesterday.