Hotel gets court protection as investor promises €4m

The five-star Muckross Park Hotel in Killarney, owned by businessman Bill Cullen and his partner Jackie Lavin, was yesterday granted protection by the High Court.

The High Court move comes as an investor has indicated to Mr Cullen and Ms Lavin — who previously presented The Apprentice on TV — he is prepared to plough €4m into the luxury hotel and spa in Killarney National Park.

Ms Lavin told the court the hotel employs 105 people, plus another 50 during the summer months, and she was anxious to protect those jobs and to reassure the many couples who had booked weddings. She and Mr Cullen bought the hotel 20 years ago and extensively refurbished it in 2006.