A LANDLORD and insurance broker with interests in a number of valuable properties is drawing €218 a week social welfare, a court was told yesterday.
Judge Joseph Mathews granted Ulster Bank Ireland Ltd possession of a €1 million-plus house in Dalkey, Co Dublin, against Martin Kelly and his partner Lynette Mann. However, he put a stay on the order pending the sale of another property.
The couple did not personally attend the court for the case
Barrister Lydia Bunni, for the bank, told the judge that Mr Kelly owed Ulster Bank €56,000 in arrears on 11 Claddagh, Bailey View, Dalkey, and since 2008 he had reneged on agreements to maintain payments and clear or reduce arrears.
She told the Circuit Civil Court the mortgage outstanding had reached €1.16 million.
Ms Bunni handed Judge Mathews a statement of Mr Kelly’s and Ms Mann’s affairs which revealed one or both of them owned five other properties, at least one of which was worth more than €1 million.
They included a holiday home in Rooskey, Co Roscommon, where Mr Kelly and Ms Mann resided; one in Pilot View, Dalkey; in Clonskeagh, Dublin, and in Christchurch, Dublin.
Joseph McDonagh, solicitor for Mr Kelly and Ms Mann, told Judge Mathews that a company owned by the couple had just sold a house in Pearl Valley, South Africa, for the equivalent of €700,000.
The purchaser was awaiting confirmation of a mortgage, but when the deal was completed by the end of January, Mr Kelly expected to have equity of about €350,000 which would more than clear up his arrears. Mr McDonagh said there was equity only in two of the couple’s properties and the remainder were in negative equity.
Judge Mathews remarked on the fact that Mr Kelly owned two houses that were each worth more than €1 million yet he was drawing social welfare.
If Mr Kelly sold one of his properties he could resolve his problems. He seemed to be a victim of the Celtic Tiger era, being asset rich but strapped for cash. He granted the bank possession of the Claddagh property, but said he would throw Mr Kelly a lifeline. “He is haemorrhaging money but I will grant him a five-month stay on the court order in the hope he will be able to staunch the flow.”
He told Ms Bunni the bank would win either way. If the South African sale went through it would get its money and if not, it would still have the property.