O'Reilly's boom-to-bust business empire ended with Bahamas bankruptcy

Fostering a collection of disparate stock market and private business interests, including Independent News and Media, Tony O’Reilly was ill-prepared for the blows that followed

Dr Tony O Reilly Snr went on to deploy the multi-millions earned as a high-profile CEO in the US to finance and raise loans in Ireland. Picture: Paul Sharp/RollingNews.ie

Over 40 years, Tony O’Reilly built a business empire that included newspapers, crystal and china, telecoms, hotels, oil and mining prospecting, as well as ‘Big House’ trophy properties, and discount supermarkets.

Mr O’Reilly leveraged his considerable sporting fame and honed a much-storied talent for marketing food brands.