Former Wexford hurler Paul Codd allowed to return home from Mountjoy Prison

Former Wexford hurler Paul Codd was allowed to return to his family yesterday after a weekend in Mountjoy Prison.

Mr Codd, winner of an All-Ireland senior medal in 1996, was taken to jail on Saturday morning last after having been arrested for failing to co-operate about his affairs with official bankruptcy assignee Chris Lehane.

Sworn affidavit
After telling Mr Justice Kevin Cross in the High Court that he would make a statement to Mr Lehane, and having made a sworn affidavit in the courtroom, the judge told him he could go home.

Mick Wallace TD attended court and sat beside Mr Codd before and during the hearing. Although he spoke with Mr Codd in court, he played no part in the proceedings.

Garda Sgt Tom Murphy, of Clonroche Garda station, told the court he had called to Mr Codd's home on Saturday and, following a brief conversation, arrested him and transported him to Mountjoy Prison.

Mr Lehane, who is the court-appointed official whose role is to assist bankrupts in their obligations to their creditors, said Mr Codd had been arrested on foot of a warrant issued on October 14th for failing to co-operate with him regarding his assets and liabilities.

He told Mr Justice Cross he had spoken to Mr Codd in court and Mr Codd had assured him he would now fully co-operate with him. He asked the judge to briefly adjourn the matter to just before lunch by which time he hoped to have a statement of Mr Codd’s affairs completed.

Barrister Conal Ellis, counsel for Friends First Finance, said Mr Codd was guarantor for 10 items of plant and machinery leased by the bank. Despite a court order, those assets had not been returned to the bank.

When Mr Justice Cross told Mr Codd the motion before the court was an application to put him in prison for contempt of court orders directing him to engage with the official in charge of his bankruptcy, Mr Codd said he was now prepared to co-operate with Mr Lehane “to the best of my ability”.

Last March, Mr Codd, of Askinfarney, Clonroche, Co Wexford, was adjudicated bankrupt by the High Court arising from his failure to satisfy a judgment secured against him in 2011 for €530,000.

The application in March to have him declared bankrupt arose out of a sale by David Deasey, a dairy farmer from Timoleague, Co Cork. He sold Mr Codd 46 acres of land at Askinfarney for about €800,000 and, while a deposit of €40,000 was paid, Mr Codd had not completed the sale.

Judgment secured
Mr Deasey obtained a judgment of €530,326 against Mr Codd in 2011 and, when that was not satisfied, Mr Deasey petitioned the court to have Mr Codd adjudicated bankrupt.

After taking statements, Mr Lehane and Mr Ellis told the court Mr Codd had promised to fully co-operate in the future.

The matter was adjourned until January 20th.