200-year-old home ancestral home at risk over £114,000 debt
Editorial Department • Published 9 Feb 2012 13:30
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A Fermanagh family could lose the ancestral pile after the Ulster Bank went to court over a £114,000 debt.
The Haire family has lived at Armagh Manor at Ballagh, between Lisnaskea and Rosslea, for almost 200 years.
Now the Ulster Bank has obtained a High Court order for the possession and sale of the property in an attempt to recover money it loaned to the family.
The judge, Mr. Justice Weatherup, granted an order for £114,162.98, plus accruing interest of £7.86 a day. However, he stayed its implementation for six months to allow the family the opportunity to raise the money to pay off the debt.
The legal proceedings were taken against William Haire, his son William junior, and William junior's wife Marie, after the bank spent years trying to get its money back.
Lawyer Mark Orr QC, for Mr. Haire senior, said the 86-year-old pensioner lives in the Georgian manor with members of his family. The house stands on 250 acres.
Mr. Orr said: "Some of the land is in poor condition but we have seen a total valuation from the bank of £1 million."
Mr. Haire senior has launched a separate legal bid to regain ownership of the property, which he transferred to his son's name 10 years ago, when the debt was said to be in the region of £40,000.
Joseph Aiken, for the Ulster Bank, suggested the debt could be paid off by selling some of the land.
Mr. Orr told the judge: "The land has been in the possession of the Haire family for almost 200 years. Your Lordship will appreciate the attachment they have to it."
He said Mr. Haire senior accepted that the Ulster Bank's claim must take priority but asked for the possession and sale order not to be enforced for six months.
The court heard that Mr. Haire junior and his wife do not live at Armagh Manor and were not contesting the bank's application for possession and sale of the property.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 09 Feb 12
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