A court order freezing assets belonging to Ranelagh-based financial services broker, Mr Brian Kilbane, who has allegedly gone missing, was made permanent by the Circuit Civil Court yesterday when he failed to appear. The mareva injunction was granted by Judge Alison Lindsay to shopkeepers Ms Bernadette and Ms Roseann Donnelly, of Charlemont Mews, Charlemont Street, Dublin, ordering Mr Kilbane not to reduce his assets below £25,000.

Mr Rory Mac Cabe, counsel for the Donnelly's, said that by direction of the court newspaper advertisements had been placed notifying Mr Kilbane of his clients' application to the court. The court has already granted an interlocutory order similarly directing Eastgrange Investments Ltd from reducing its assets below £25,000 and noted an undertaking from Ms Lisa O'Reilly, secretary, of Kerdiff Avenue, Naas, Co Kildare, not to dissipate her assets below £25,000.

Ms O'Reilly, who was stated to be a former girlfriend of Mr Kilbane's, and a director of Eastgrange Investments, has denied having ever been a director of the company or having any knowledge of Eastgrange Investments or the nature of its business.

Ms Bernadette Donnelly has claimed the defendants owe her and her sister £20,000 and interest. She had numerous conversations with Mr Kilbane concerning the amount owing to them but had received nothing other than an acknowledgment of the debt.

She told the court she believed the defendants intended to deal with their property in such a manner as to frustrate any attempt by her to secure payment of the sums owing to her.