Dunne’s transfer of assets challenged

A dispute over whether bankrupt developer Sean Dunne validly transferred various property assets to his wife Gayle, including a hotel in South Africa, has come before the Commercial Court.

Mr Dunne has debts of up to €700m and Chris Lehane, the official administering his bankruptcy, is concerned about a purported agreement under which Mr Dunne allegedly transferred his interest in a number of properties in Ireland and South Africa to his wife. Those properties include the Lagoon Beach Hotel in Cape Town.

In his Commercial Court proceedings, Mr Lehane is seeking to have the court decide whether Mr Dunne owns the assets or whether they were validly transferred by him to his wife under agreements between the two. Mr Lehane disputes there was any valid transfer.