Patrick Canny, the director of an off-licence in Kilmacud, Dublin, which went into liquidation, told a judge he and his wife Caitríona, a fellow director, had only a weekly €320 welfare payment to live on.
Peter Shanley said Mr Canny, who ran The Bottle Shop in Kilmacud, had signed a personal guarantee to cover credit supplies from Michael Slattery Wines and Spirits Ltd. He had run up an unpaid bill of €18,474.
Mr Canny told his counsel Nicholas Hosey he was dyslexic and believed he was signing only a new account application form. He believed the company was responsible for the debt.
Judge Ray Fullam granted judgment against Mr Canny. He had sympathy for him, but it was clear he had wanted supplies in a bid to trade out of a difficult situation.
