Cullen forgot he owned hotel land

The five-star Muckross Park Hotel has been put back in receivership after businessman Bill Cullen and partner Jackie Lavin lost their legal battle for court protection while they put an investor in place.

The order reinstating the ACC-appointed receiver to take control of the Killarney hotel came after Mr Justice Peter Charleton declined to confirm the appointment of an examiner and give the hotel 100 days under High Court protection to come up with a survival plan.

The judge ruled after it emerged the three companies under the Muckross umbrella which sought the protection of the court owned only half the hotel, and Mr Cullen owned the other half.