Business dealings land sports fan in the rough

BILL DEEGAN’S name was synonymous with business and sport in County Wexford so it must have appeared to outsiders a dream come true when he combined both pursuits by becoming a director of one of the most prestigious golf courses in Hungary.

But what they didn't know, and what Mr Deegan claims not to have known, is a garda investigation into the collapse of his auctioneers and insurance brokerage that had teed off back home six years earlier was about to become his biggest handicap.

Mr Deegan, a native of Kilkenny where he had had been chairman of the GAA supporters club inherited Ryan's Insurance in New Ross from his father-in-law and built up the business with considerable success.

He was equally active on the sporting front, becoming chair of the Wexford GAA Supporters Club and Wexford Racecourse, as well as a Leinster branch member of the Golf Union of Ireland.

Local people were stunned when his licence to operate was withdrawn in 1993 amid rumours of missing money. He left the country temporarily but returned to find a full-scale garda investigation underway.

The investigation was slow due to the intricacies of trawling through bank accounts, and the fuss gradually died down. But Mr Deegan's marriage suffered and he left his wife, Eileen, and their children four sons and a daughter eventually leaving the country completely in 1996.

He remained in contact with family members and friends, however, and several accompanied him to court yesterday, including a son described by Mr Deegan as a "man of substance", who was willing to put up bail for him.

He applied for legal aid, telling the court he had no business and no property, that his home in Hungary was rented, and he had lost his job at the Pannonia Golf and Country Club.

The Pannonia where Mr Deegan is listed in promotional material as the golf pro is a championship standard course, a rarity in Hungary, and was created in 1997 in Mariavolgy on the outskirts of Budapest, occupying lands that were once the weekend retreat of the former ruling Hapsburg dynasty.