The owner of the Cork bridal boutique which went in to liquidation last month has debts in excess of €1 million and "no assets to speak of", a creditors meeting heard yesterday.
Judith Linehan claims she has received quasi-death threats and abusive phone calls.
More than 300 people, including dozens of angry brides-to-be, their partners and family members, attended the emotionally charged meeting at the Clarion Hotel in Cork city centre. Many incensed brides-to-be left when they heard there was little chance of recouping their losses.
The Wedding Dress store on Penrose Wharf ceased trading on March 21st, due to financial difficulties, with up to 240 paid-up orders outstanding. A sister store in Kenmare, Co Kerry, which only opened last Christmas, also closed last month.
Ms Linehan owes money to more than 341 creditors, including banks, bridal dress suppliers, the Revenue Commissioners and up to 180 brides who paid as much as €7,000 each for their dresses and accessories.
Solicitor Eugene Carey, representing Ms Linehan, said his client deeply regretted the unforeseen closure of the boutique. He claimed she was emotionally drained and had received threatening and abusive phone calls from irate customers.
"In my 30 years as a solicitor, that is one of the most vitriolic and emotional meetings I have ever been at. For the last hour-and-a-half, she has endeavoured to answer all of the questions she has been asked. She has received a number of abusive phone calls and quasi death-threats.
"The threatening calls are being investigated by gardaí. All of them were of an oral nature. She is very drained at this stage, to be honest."
Mr Carey said he understood that brides were upset at the loss of their dresses but it was time for them to gain a sense of perspective on events. The Mallow-based solicitor maintained the customers needed to realise it was "only a wedding dress" and wasn't the worst thing in the world.
In a statement, Judith Linehan said that over 190 dresses and supporting accessories have been processed since the store closure. This figure was disputed by customers who attended yesterday's meeting, few of whom seemed to have received their gowns.
The Wedding Dress shop owner insisted that only 40 brides-to-be have been left without their gowns. Ms Linehan said she had been working to find resolutions for brides-to-be impacted by the sudden closure. She also thanked her staff, friends and children for their "unyielding support".
Dresses from the store started at around €2,000, with designer outfits costing as much as €7,000.
Representations have been made to the banks in an attempt to secure full refunds for brides who paid by credit cards, but customers who handed over cash or obtained a credit union loan will be left out of pocket.
At the close of yesterday's meeting, solicitor Gerard O'Mahony from Midleton was appointed liquidator. A number of brides-to-be were appointed to a committee of investigation.
The story of the Wedding Dress fiasco has appeared in the Australian edition of the Daily Telegraph as well as the weekend magazine in the New York Times.