SEVERAL Donegal businessmen face losing ‘every cent’ they have following a forensic trawl through the county by the National Asset Management Agency, donegaldaily can reveal.
We understand one developer will have all his properties, which may include his substantial family home, taken off him as part of the process.
And sources say several other prominent businessmen face losing well-known businesses in the county.
The identities of six business people are known to donegaldaily.com.
And a close associate of one of them told us: “My colleague faces losing absolutely everything. He won’t have a blade of grass to call his own when this is over.
“NAMA is taking the lot; he is a hard-working and a good decent man who has given so much back to his community and his county over a life-time of hard work.
“He wasn’t doing anything wrong; he is an honest man who made an honest living and then the bubble burst and now it’s over. He employed so many people over the years and contributed to the county in such a positive way.”
NAMA officials are continuing to compile reports on the futures of each property and their estimated value on the open market.
These include partially completed buildings, properties where business has ceased and commercial premises which are continuing to operate in administration on behalf of the banks.
Letterkenny has been badly hit in the downturn with several high profile premises being run in administration.
The NAMA officials need to decide which properties can be sold quickly as going concerns and which need to be updated – or even knocked down.
The NAMA officials have also carrying out assessment work in other parts of the county including Inishowen, Donegal Town, Ballyshannon and Gaoth Dobhair among other places.
