KBC Bank issues court proceedings against minister

HIGH Court proceedings have been issued by KBC Bank Ireland against Culture Minister Josepha Madigan and her brother Patrick.

The details of the dispute have yet to be disclosed, but it is believed to be connected to a property their family law firm, Madigans Solicitors, had dealings with many years ago.

KBC is seeking what is known as “specific performance”, which generally speaking is an order from a court requiring defendants to fulfil the terms of a contract.

The case was initiated in the High Court in Dublin on Thursday, just a fortnight after Ms Madigan received her seal of office from President Michael D Higgins.

The first-time Fine Gael TD (below) stepped back from her work as a solicitor after being elected to the Dáil and was said to be unaware what the case was about.

Patrick Madigan, who is the firm’s managing partner, said he could not com- ment as papers had yet to be served on him by the bank.

KBC declined to comment. The Irish Independent understands the case relates to a property KBC has appointed a receiver to.

The receiver had been trying to sell the property but ran into a technical difficulty.

The problem is thought to date back around 20 years to when the minister’s father, the late Paddy Madigan, ran the practice and was involved in closing the sale of the property for a client.

It is understood discussions took place between the firm and the bank to resolve the matter before the case was initiated.

Ms Madigan, a former county councillor, was elected to the Dáil in Dublin Rathdown in 2016, dislodging former justice minister Alan Shatter.

She was appointed to Cabinet directly from the back benches in the reshuffle which followed former tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald’s resignation.

While practising as a solicitor, Ms Madigan specialised in family law and civil litigation.