The Irish Mortgage Holders Association has said the latest Central Bank figures show that the volume of mortgages either at risk of arrears, in arrears, or in default at the end of June has hit €46.6bn, or 33.4% of all balances.

Despite the great destruction of wealth, the squandering of lifelong achievement, the collapse of businesses built on courage, sweat, and endless hours, despite near record unemployment figures, there can hardly be a more distressing manifestation of our economic collapse than the prospect of mortgage holders, unable to meet their obligations, losing their hard-won homes.