Convicted fraudster Breifne O’Brien has been adjudicated bankrupt by the High Court.

Serious questions have arisen around transactions between the suicide bereavement charity Console and its UK-based sister organisation as more properties and bank accounts have come to light, the High Court has heard.

An insolvency expert, who was involved in a landmark High Court debt case, has urged local authorities to avail of an underused government-backed initiative to help ease the mortgage arrears crisis.