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Further Legal Action Against Westlife's Shane Filan

THE FALLOUT following the collapse of the construction sector continues to plague Westlife's Shane Filan and his brother Finbarr.

Fresh High Court action against the pair was issued last week by Sligo company Trio Foods. This follows actions by Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank. See SligoToday.ie 12/4/12

This move is not against the brother's troubled Shafin Developments but relates to another company, The Nalif Partnership.

Trio Foods formerly had a depot on a site in Ballinode, opposite IT Sligo, on which Shane and Finbarr Filan (trading as The Nalif Partnership) had planned a €5m development.

The plans, approved by Sligo Borough Council and An Bórd Pleanna last summer, despite objections by local residents and a local business, was for student accommodation (five two-bed and twelve student studio apartments), a supermarket, two take-away restaurants, medical centre, offices and a coffee shop.

Left. Shane and Finbarr Filan in happier times

A major supermarket chain had expressed interested in becoming the anchor tenant. 'High Street' fast food franchise outlets along with a pharmacy group, bookmakers and butchers were also interested in renting the retail outlets.

The catchment area, with over 6,000 students, the nearby Abbott Ireland facility, several housing estates and sited on the busy Manorhamilton and Dromahair thoroughfare was appealing to several more retailers.

Shane Filan, currently living in the UK, is anxiously awaiting the decision of a British court  which he hopes will grant him protection through a Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) and allow him to put in place a five-year plan to discharge his debts.

The largest creditor, Bank of Ireland was last joined by Ulster Bank when it petitioned the High Court to have a receiver from the international accounting firm KPMG appointed to Shaefin Developments. The bank has already placed and registered two charges on Shafin's accounts against loans carrying personal guarantees by the singer.

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