Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (formerly Anglo Irish Bank) has succeeded in having Sean Quinn’s Northern Irish bankruptcy annulled and having him declared bankrupt in the Republic of Ireland. The difference in jurisdiction is significant as the discharge period for bankrupts in Northern Ireland is twelve months, whereas the corresponding period in the Republic is twelve years.

The bank brought an application before the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland for the annulment of the bankruptcy order obtained there by Sean Quinn in November of last year. The bank successfully argued that the Northern Ireland High Court did not have jurisdiction to grant the order in the first instance as Mr Quinn’s centre of main interest is in the Republic and not in Northern Ireland.

The bank then obtained an order from the High Court in Dublin declaring Mr Quinn a bankrupt in the Republic. The order was granted on foot of summary judgment orders in excess of €2 billion made by the Irish courts against Mr Quinn last year. The application was not opposed by Mr Quinn.