Couple reveal impact of mortgage on health

A man who is celebrating holding on to his home after securing a 53% mortgage writedown required morphine doses to deal with severe migraines while his wife contemplated suicide over the debt.

Earlier this year, the man in his late 40s was also admitted to hospital as a result of chest pains his wife believes were brought on by the prospect of the couple losing their home.

Last week at the Personal Insolvency court in Ennis, Co Clare, Judge Michael Meaghan approved a deal allowing the married couple to remain in their home and write down their mortgage debt by 53%.