Irish couple fail to convince judge to declare them bankrupt in Britain
The couple again failed to persuade a High Court judge in London that their economic base was in England.
In December, Mr Justice Newey had concluded that the couple’s “centre of main interests” was in Ireland, not England, and dismissed bankruptcy petitions.
The O’Donnells asked the judge to review that decision, but yesterday he ruled against them once more.
Mr Justice Newey said the couple had presented more evidence — including tax documentation and a tenancy agreement relating to a house in Kent. However, the judge said it was not enough to change his mind.
The Bank of Ireland, to which Mr and Dr O’Donnell owe money, had opposed the couple’s English bankruptcy bid and said bankruptcy orders should be made in Ireland.
Bank bosses accused the couple of “bankruptcy tourism”; people made bankrupt in England can be discharged after a year but in Ireland discharge can take 12 years.
Mr Justice Newey said the couple began investing in the 1980s and had bought property in Ireland, England, the US, and mainland Europe.
He said they had owned a “substantial house” near Dublin, a country estate in Co Galway, a £10.5m (€15.8m) house in London, as well as Bentley, Daimler, and Morgan cars.
