Vulture funds strengthen grip on Irish mortgages in arrears, Central Bank figures show

In final quarter of last year, these non-bank entities controlled 77% of all residential mortgages in long-term arrears

Almost 47,000 accounts were in arrears in December, the Central Bank said.

Vulture funds and their agents have strengthened their grip in Ireland by gaining more control of residential mortgages that have been in some sort of arrears for more than a year, new Central Bank figures show.

In the final quarter of last year, these non-bank entities controlled 77% of all residential mortgages in long-term arrears, a 3% rise on the previous quarter.