Former Fine Gael TD Josepha Madigan faces court battle over €225k Ulster Bank debt

Former Fine Gael TD Josepha Madigan has been given a deadline to file a defence to a bank's debt claim within eight weeks or she may have a High Court judgment entered against her.

Ulster Bank Ireland DAC, represented by barrister Nevan Powell and OSM Partners, says it advanced a €201,000 loan to the Madigans in late 2005, extended overdraft facilities that year and in 2007.

The bank claims the Madigans owe €225,869, with interest accruing at a rate of €27.82 per day.

The case was before the High Court on Monday, when Mr Justice Senan Allen gave Madigan eight weeks to file a defence to the claim or face a judgment against her.

The Irish Independent reports that Madigan was not present in court and was not legally represented.

Madigan, a former junior minister, was elected to the Dáil in 2016 but lost her seat at the last general election in 2020.

She has previously said that she is "dealing with the issue."

The case is the latest in a series of legal actions taken by banks against former politicians over unpaid debts.
In 2021, former Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness was ordered to pay €1.2 million to AIB.

And in 2022, former Fine Gael TD Paudie Coffey was ordered to pay €800,000 to Bank of Ireland.

Former Fine Gael TD Josepha Madigan faces court battle over €225k Ulster Bank debt

The case is the latest in a series of legal actions taken by banks against former politicians over unpaid debts. In 2021, former Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness was ordered to pay €1.2 million to AIB. And in 2022, former Fine Gael TD Paudie Coffey was ordered to pay €800,000 to Bank of Ireland.