High Court commissions legal challenge to Start Mortgages

A challenge to Start Mortgages lending practices has been given the go ahead by the High Court.

The action is being brought by unemployed construction worker Robert Gunn of Lyre, Lisselton, Co Kerry who is in arrears on his €210,000 home loan.

He is trying to stop Start Mortgages from taking possession of his home and has engaged legal group New Beginnings in this latest challenge.

It has been argued that Start is not properly authorised to lend in the Irish market.

New Beginnings lawyer Robert Manson has outlined why the case is important.

"We're effectively insuring that the legal process is fair," he said.

"People borrowed money on the basis that the people who were lending them the money were probably authorised to do so.

"What we've asked the court to do here today is ensure that the lenders were properly authorised."