One of the country’s most controversial sub-prime lenders is vigorously seeking to repossess dozens of properties in at least 15 counties after every one of his borrowers went into default.

How did a convicted fraudster, who dodged long-standing creditors, get regulatory approval as a licensed lender, when a key requirement is that firms must be of the highest financial and personal probity?

From a troubled start in the late 1970s, Ronald Weisz has built a strong business here that, despite concerns raised in the Dáil, was vetted and licensed by the Central Bank in 2009.