Yates: AIB’s pursuit of debt is vindictive

Former Fine Gael minister Ivan Yates has called AIB “vindictive” for pursuing his wife for €1.6m in debts over the collapse of his Celtic Bookmakers chain after the High Court ruled the bank was entitled to have the money paid to it.

Mr Yates, a broadcaster with Newstalk and TV3 who went bankrupt in Wales several years ago, said the action was pointless as his schoolteacher wife, Deirdre, had no assets to hand over.

“It was completely unnecessary to seek a judgement against Deirdre because there has never been any suggestion that I transferred any assets out of my name either to Deirdre or any other family member,” he said.