‘Winter Blunderland’ boss pulls house from market at €460,000

THE man who stole Christmas from thousands of children when his Winter Wonderland venture went wallop has failed to sell his nine-bedroom mansion.

Adrian Smith’s home went under the hammer yesterday afternoon but nobody seems to want to buy it.

It was withdrawn from auction when it failed to reach the price Mr Smith was seeking.

Agent Billy Mansfield had spent weeks showing budding investors around Killenure Manor.

The property was withdrawn from the market at €460,000.

“We withdrew the property from auction but are in active negotiations with an interested buyer,” Mr Mansfield said.

“We are hopeful that we can strike a deal.”

Bidding started at €350,000 and three interested parties brought the price up to €460,000 before the property was withdrawn. Mr Smith was not at the auction.

However, he was in contact with the agent by phone.

Mr Mansfield said: “A huge number of people viewed the property.

“Many of them were probably only looking at it because of the controversy surrounding its owners.

“We had 15 to 20 people at the auction but just three bidders,” he said.

The purpose-built bed and breakfast on the outskirts of Monasterevin on the Laois/Kildare border was much sought-after.

The property was expected to fetch anything from €600,000 to €800,000.

Mr Smith, 35, fled the country just before Christmas of last year, followed by his wife Amanda and their children, after the Winter Wonderland venture at the Curragh went belly-up.

More than 20,000 tickets at €28 each were sold before Mr Smith fled to Worthing in England.

Fraud squad investigators are still probing the matter and have spoken to the former businessman about it.

While money pledged through credit cards has been returned, those who paid by cash, cheque or postal order have not been re-imbursed.

Killenure Manor lies on five-and-a-half acres.

It is a purpose-built guesthouse and has been built to a very high specification.

Attractive features include imposing wrought iron gates, cherry hardwood flooring, landscaped gardens, a pond and water fountain.

The property also features a study, family room/office, a massive kitchen and a huge number of extras.

Neither Mr Smith nor his wife have been present in court on two occasions when their building society attempted to repossess the home because of mortgage arrears.