Winter Wonderland man could lose home

ADRIAN SMITH, the man behind the collapsed Winter Wonderland event, has been given 10 days to file a defence following the threatened repossession of his estimated €1m home.

The 35-year-old, who claims to have no money left after the collapse of the Curragh event, risks losing his palatial six-bedroom home in Co Laois after the Irish Nationwide claimed he and his wife, Amanda, defaulted on mortgage payments.

Mr Smith, believed to be living with his mother in England, did not attend the Circuit Court hearing in Portlaoise yesterday, but his solicitors, AJ Duncan and Co, were told by court registrar Jim Cahill that Mr Smith, of Killenure, Balybrittas, had 10 days to file a defence. The financial institution has threatened to repossess his home unless he makes a case. Irish Nationwide is suing Mr Smith and his wife on foot of mortgage arrears.

A fortnight ago, the bank lodged proceedings before court registrar Mr Cahill. The proceedings could lead to a judgment against the couple and the repossession of their home.

The house was once used by Mr Smith and his wife as a bed and breakfast business.

It has emerged that Mr Smith, who pulled the Winter Wonderland event after selling an estimated 20,000 tickets, encountered difficulties in gaining planning permission to convert his home to a B&B.

He initially wanted to turn the house into a guesthouse and licensed restaurant but this was turned down by local planners. In the summer 2001, planners refused permission on three grounds: it was prejudicial to public health because of poor ground conditions on site; because it was an extensive commercial undertaking inappropriate to a rural area; and it constituted a traffic hazard.

Mr Smith appealed the decision and was granted permission provided only four bedrooms were converted for use.