26/02/2008

Fraud Bureau Probe Bank-Developer Link

It has emerged that an Irish property developer is being investigated by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation.

The move comes on top of news that two more Bank of Scotland Ireland customers have raised concerns about their dealings with a former lending manager at the bank who had business links to the same developer.

A second and a third customer have already initiated legal proceedings against the bank.

As with the first customer, they were also introduced to the same property developer by the bank official concerned.

The two latest customers are reported to have lost €300,000 through dealings with the 'recommended' property developer.

The first customer to raise concerns - in relation to his dealing with the bank official in 2003 - is also taking legal action against the developer.

He claimed that after receiving a loan from the bank, the lending manager then offered to set up a meeting with a property developer to discuss investment possibilities.

The developer said that if the customer invested €400,000 he could easily double his money within a year.

However, after three years the customer claims he has only been repaid slightly over €70,000, leaving him with a substantial debt to the bank.

It emerged last week that the lending manager had links to the property developer, and further investigation into land registry documents revealed they jointly owned property.

Bank of Scotland Ireland has said that it can only confirm it is facing legal proceedings but cannot comment further.

(VB)(BMcC)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

20 February 2008
Bank Of Scotland Ireland Faces Negligence Case Over Links To Developer
A customer of the Bank of Scotland Ireland is bringing a case to the High Court, accusing the bank of negligence. The case relates to the customer's 2003 dealings with a lending manager at the bank, who has since left the company.
16 December 2011
Ms Quinn Ordered To Pay Anglo €3M
The wife of Seán Quinn has been told to repay the former Anglo Irish Bank over €3 million over a loan she signed for with her husband five years ago. Patricia Quinn said she was a homemaker for 36 years and had no knowledge of business matters.
10 September 2009
Decision Due On Zoe Group Survival
Developer Liam Carroll's Zoe group is today waiting to hear in the High Court whether it will survive, for the second time. The High Court is expected to announce its decision today on whether to appoint an examiner to the powerful Irish property developer's troubled Zoe group.
10 May 2012
New Name For Northern Bank
Danske Bank has announced a new organisational set-up for its operations in Northern Ireland and Ireland. The new structure will take effect on 1 June 2012. The re-organisation mirrors a similar Group wide set-up being introduced in all Danske Bank operations.
27 September 2013
CAB Seek To Establish Source Of Money Found In McFeely House
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is trying to establish the source of €200,000 found hidden at the former home of bankrupt developer Tom McFeely. A plumber doing work on the house at Ailesbury Road, in Dublin's most expensive residential district, when he uncovered €140,000 hidden beneath the bath.