Bank seeks receiver for contents of Galway’s Forster Court Hotel

Bank of Scotland on Wednesday asked Mr Justice Tony Hunt in the High Court to appoint a receiver over the contents, fixtures and fittings of Galway's well-known Forster Court Hotel, which employs 34 people and is just off Eyre Square.

The bank claimed a sale of the contents would help the receiver, already appointed over the hotel itself, to realise the maximum value of the hotel which he intended to sell and which was worth €2.75 million.

Judge Hunt heard the hotel had been in receivership since 2012, but had continued to trade.

Owner unhappy

While the hotel owner Ronan Lawless had not brought any challenge against the receiver's appointment, he was nevertheless unhappy with the receivership and was opposed to the hotel being sold.

In an ex-parte hearing where only one side was represented, the court was told the bank had loaned more than €12 million to Mr Lawless, of Newcastle, Galway, in 2007.

The loans were used to purchase and fit out the hotel, and service loans had been taken out with another bank.

Judgment secured

Bank of Scotland claimed Lawless defaulted on those loan agreements and it had secured judgment for €14.7 million against him.

The receiver wanted to sell the hotel and reduce Lawless’s debt to the bank.

Judge Hunt said he was prepared to appoint a receiver over the contents of the hotel but, on the basis of Mr Lawless’s objections, he put a stay on the receiver acting on his powers until Mr Lawless was given an opportunity to come to court and voice any concerns or objections he might have.

The judge adjourned the matter until after the Easter holidays.