Ireland's sheriffs in debt pursuit

Ireland's unlucky economy may be starting to claw it's way back, even though court documents suggest a mountain of debt. Photo / APN

Sheriffs in Ireland, who collect debts rather than police small towns, are chasing luxury cars, motorbikes and art as creditors try to recoup money they lent before the economy collapsed.

"We're getting orders worth millions," said John Fitzpatrick, a sheriff in Dublin who has confiscated Jaguars, Range Rovers and Mercedes from indebted businessmen.

"Those people are owned body and soul by the banks."

Statistics show Ireland is beginning to recover from its worst recession in 89 years as an independent country. At the same time, court documents suggest the mountain of debt accumulated in what was the euro region's most dynamic economy five years ago will take longer to overcome.

Fitzpatrick, 66, is one of 16 sheriffs appointed by the Justice Ministry to pursue unpaid taxes. In the High Court in Dublin, debt recovery claims rose 48 per cent to 5653 cases in 2009, according to the Courts Service.

Ricky Wilson at Wilsons Auctions in the west of the Irish capital said the amount of assets he has sold for sheriffs has increased by as much as 15 per cent this year. Wilson, who will invite bids for a confiscated Ducati motorbike on July 31, expects business to remain brisk for the rest of the year.

Sheriffs execute court judgments against borrowers who don't pay debts. They are self-employed and get some expenses paid by the state.

Once property is seized, they are responsible for selling it to help pay creditors.

"When money was really tight, they literally used to take blankets off beds," said Jim Stafford, whose corporate recovery agency in Dublin advises companies on how to deal with sheriffs. "They don't do that anymore. They're looking for high value."

At his showroom this month, Wilson said the Ducati 996 motorbike was originally worth as much as €20,000 ($36,000) and was seized by a sheriff working for the tax agency.

"It's the equivalent to a Ferrari car," said Wilson, 32, whose grandfather founded the family-owned business in 1936. "It tells a tale."

Last month, a sheriff seized artwork belonging to property developer Bernard McNamara at his home in Dublin's affluent Ballsbridge district, newspapers including the Irish Times reported. McNamara said in a January 13 interview with national broadcaster RTE that company debts of more than €1 billion had left him broke.

A spokesman for McNamara, 60, declined to comment on the reports. Brendan Walsh, the sheriff reported by the Irish Independent to have seized McNamara's art, said by telephone he couldn't comment on individual cases.

The Irish system predates the 12th century, according to Stafford. The sheriffs earn commission known as "poundage" on the goods they take, taking 5 per cent on the first €5500, or €275. They are entitled to 2.5 per cent on any additional balance.

Sheriffs acting for the tax office chased debts of €697.4 million last year, up 31 per cent from 2006. "They love motor vehicles because they can be driven away," said Stafford.

"They don't like dealing with cattle."

Ireland sank into the mire as property prices plunged as much as 50 per cent from their 2007 peak and the country's biggest banks needed rescuing from bad debt. The Government spent €7 billion bailing out Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks and nationalised Anglo Irish Bank.

Irish households are among the world's most indebted after lending more than tripled in the decade to 2007, according to Goodbody Stockbrokers in Dublin.

"One home I visited was palatial, an absolute palace," said Fitzpatrick, who has been a sheriff since 1979 and employs about 20 people.

"The guy was reduced to bankruptcy. He was emotional. I don't think he had anything left."Bloomberg