A few years ago the Sunday Times newspaper featured a fresh-faced Irish entrepreneur in a list of the richest people under 30 in the British Isles. The cherubic features belonged to the then Stentor chief executive, Patrick Cruise O'Brien. At that stage Patrick's worth was measured in millions and it was expected to increase further as the company extended its telecommunications network around the world.

However, as a board member said afterwards, the company's fortunes then went "pear shaped" and Patrick left the company after it accumulated debts of £14 million.

This week, after a long absence from the fray, Patrick Cruise O'Brien's name surfaced again. This time he was selling shares in Stentor. However, on this occasion there was little interest in the man once described as a "celtic cub". Maybe this was because when Patrick sold his 25,000 shares he was paid the princely sum of £7,250 sterling. On that basis, he has some way to go to before he can be included in next year's Sunday Times rich list.