Court row over failure to jail Offaly businessman

The High Court is demanding an explanation as to why a Co Offaly businessman has not been jailed for breaching a court order.

Donal Rigney, who runs a tool and plant Hire business in Tullamore, was to be committed to Mountjoy prison last Monday after defaulting on a €1.9m debt to financial institution Lombard Ireland Ltd.

A court order issued in May directed Mr Rigney to hand over his assets in Dubai to his creditor Lombard.

Ms Justice Mary Laffoy directed his committal because he has so far failed to deliver up the 17 pieces of construction machinery, valued at €2m.

Today another of Rigney's creditors National Irish Asset Finance Ltd has come to court seeking an order directing him to deliver up 25 large vehicles over unpaid hire-purchase leases valued at over €500,000.

When it emerged in the course of the hearing that Mr Rigney is still a free man, Ms Justice Maureen Clarke called it a flagrant disregard of her colleague's order – she has asked both parties to give her an explanation as to why he is not in prison by this afternoon.