Debt of €10m to be chased by post

A BANK has been allowed to chase a Co Kildare man for a €10 million debt by dropping a letter in the post.

Barrister Ian Walsh told the High Court yesterday that Allied Irish Bank had been unable to track down Patrick Byrne at two Co Kildare addresses — Thomastown, Carragh, Naas, and his latest abode, Baroda, Oldtown, Athgarvan, Newbridge.

Mr Walsh told Ms Justice Mary Irvine the bank was owed in excess of €10m.

It had made an application to the High Court for permission to transfer its claim for repayment of the debt to the Commercial Court.

Mr Walsh said the matter was due to come up before the court again on October 10.

In the meantime the bank had been unable to serve Mr Byrne with the proceedings and a motion to transfer them to the Commercial Court.

Mr Walsh said that a neighbour and a gardener — who works at the Baroda address — had confirmed to a summons server that Mr Byrne resided in the house but none of them could say at what time on any given day he was likely to be there.

The court heard that the bank forwarded the loan to Mr Byrne with regard to the purchase of certain properties.

Judge Irvine allowed the bank leave to serve Mr Byrne with documentation through the ordinary pre-paid post.