Few tears will be shed in Belfast this weekend at the news that American entrepreneur John DeLorean has been evicted from his 434-acre estate in New Jersey and his furnishings are to be liquidated.

The British authorities unsuccessfully pursued DeLorean for damages for years after the collapse of his west Belfast car plant in the early 1980s. And many felt the executive had escaped the long arm of the law.

But it seems bankruptcy has at last caught up with DeLorean, who cost the taxpayer nearly £80 million (€130 million) and put 1,000 people out of work in Northern Ireland. One thing is certain - DeLorean won't find much charity this side of the Atlantic again.