Fantasy defence fails

THERE must be many thousands of people who might wish they could avoid repaying debts by pleading that they were unduly influenced by their spouse to sign the bank documentation needed to get the cash in the first place.

It is unlikely, even if they could summon the shamelessness needed to advance such a pathetic argument, that they might be a director of 63 companies in the Republic, 28 companies in the UK and secretary of an estimated ten companies.

Yet that is the position advanced on behalf of Patricia Quinn, wife of businessman Seán Quinn. Her legal team tried to convince the High Court that she was a put-upon innocent at large and that she could not be expected to repay €3 million advanced by Anglo Irish Bank. The bank was under the impression that the money was to be used to decorate the couple’s Co Cavan home.

Not only did Mr Justice Peter Kelly reject the argument and rule that the loan be repaid but that Mrs Quinn pay costs as well.

One of the less attractive traits attached to the Irish is that we so easily kick a fallen hero but in this case, and the Quinns’ byzantine efforts to shrug off debts of €2.8 billion ultimately claimed by the State, such a reaction is almost understandable.