Dunne can have his say, but it doesn’t mean the State should let him off

BUST property developer Seán Dunne has been all over the news this week, his behaviour in trying to avoid the financial consequences of his failures giving rise to much harsh and disbelieving comment.

Dunne can have his say, but it doesn’t mean the State should let him off

Most people cannot comprehend the brass neck he has exhibited. He has not merely applied for bankruptcy in the US, to avoid the full repayment of his massive debts in Ireland, but he boasted about his actions, and lashed out against many of his detractors in an almost comical outburst published in the Sunday Independent.

All of this, while he has continued to enjoy a highly expensive lifestyle over the last five years, spending money freely that could have been used to reduce his debts further. This, remember, is a man against whom Nama — the national assets management agency, a debt recovery agency that the State owns on behalf of all its citizens — secured a High Court judgment for the repayment of €185 million. He will repay only a tiny fraction of that if his bankruptcy application is successful.

Already a subscriber? Sign in

You have reached your article limit.

Unlimited access. Half the price.

Annual €120 €60

Best value

Monthly €10€5 / month

More in this section

Revoiced

Newsletter

Sign up to the best reads of the week from irishexaminer.com selected just for you.

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited