Sports stars face business battles in court

IRISH rugby star Paul O’Connell is among more than 60 investors pursuing former Irish rugby manager Pat Whelan and Limerick businessman Pat Chesser to recover €13.4m loans provided for a property development at London’s Earls Court.

Meanwhile, Bank of Ireland is seeking summary judgment for some €3m against the acting manager of Glasgow Celtic Football Club, Neil Lennon, under a guarantee allegedly provided by him for a loan to a building company of which he was a director.

In the O’Connell case, which came before the Commercial Court, it was alleged that the Munster and Ireland star invested €100,000 in the scheme while other investors – with addresses in Limerick, Dublin, Kilkenny, Clare and Meath – invested sums of between €50,000 and €300,000.