Mansfield being pursued for €280m

HOTELIER Jim Mansfield, who is suffering what the Commercial Court yesterday called an incurable neurological illness, is being pursued by Bank of Scotland (BoS) and NAMA for summary judgment orders totalling €280 million.

In what Mr Justice Peter Kelly said was probably the biggest ever summary judgment application brought here arising from a personal guarantee, BoS is seeking orders for €206m against Mr Mansfield arising from debts of his companies.

NAMA, in a separate case, is seeking €74m summary judgment orders, also arising from Mr Mansfield’s guarantees over loans to made by Irish Nationwide Building Society to two companies.

Efforts by Mr Mansfield, of Tasaggart House, Saggart, Co Dublin, and others to persuade a Saudi Arabian prince and a US business to invest in the Citywest enterprise were unsuccessful, the court heard. The Mansfield group had failed to deliver any of the items set out in a strategic plan provided by them to BoS, it was said.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly transferred both proceedings to the court, which fast-tracks commercial disputes, and listed the BoS summary judgment application for November 10. Given Mr Mansfield is suffering from a condition said to be incurable, it was in his interest the BoS case be heard speedily, the judge said.