Ex-TD Keaveney declared bankrupt
FORMER Fianna Fáil TD Colm Keaveney has declared himself bankrupt – four months after losing his Dáil seat.
The 45-year-old – who is separately being sued for alleged defamation by Denis O’Brien over a speech he made in the Dáil about the businessman – appeared briefly in the High Court’s bankruptcy wing yesterday.
Mr Keaveney asked Ms Justice Caroline Costello to make him a bankrupt with immediate effect, and the judge agreed.
It means that his assets are now under the control of Official Assignee Chris Lehane, who oversees all Irish bankruptcies. Mr Lehane’s office will now have the power to seize assets owned by Mr Keaveney for distribution among his creditors.
Details of his finances were not revealed during the hearing. However, High Court records show ACC Bank began legal proceedings against the politician and his wife Deirdre in 2009. After the hearing, attempts to contact Mr Keaveney were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Mr Keaveney is himself suing Independent Newspapers – in which Denis O’Brien holds a 29.9% stake – claiming he was defamed in an ‘infographic’ accompanying a news story which he claims suggested he was part of a conspiracy to damage Mr O’Brien.
Mr Keaveney lost his Galway East Dáil seat in February’s general election. He was elected a Labour Party TD in 2011 before becoming an Independent, and he then joined Fianna Fáil in 2013.