'I don't want to live in Wexford,' Mick Wallace told AIB officials
MEP’s 'threat to burn Clontarf home' if bank forced a sale
Ireland South MEP Mick Wallace. Photo: Steve Humphreys
MEP Mick Wallace rejected a bank's proposal that he sell his Dublin home and live in Wexford - even though he was representing the county in the Dáil.
Dublin Circuit Civil Court also heard that Mr Wallace (64) threatened to burn down his Clontarf home if AIB Mortgage Bank sought to repossess it.
Details of the exchanges emerged at a hearing yesterday where the bank secured a possession order for the property over an unpaid debt of €955,000.
A note of a meeting between Mr Wallace and bank officials in 2015 recorded that the then TD for Wexford rejected a proposal to live in the county.
The proposal involved him selling the Clontarf property, with the proceeds going to AIB, and an option to retain another house he owned in Youngstown, Co Wexford, as his principal private residence.
But the Independents 4 Change politician was recorded as confirming "he would not be moving back to Wexford to live" as he had been living in Dublin for 25 years and his family, job and lifestyle were all in the capital.
The court also heard Mr Wallace had an emotional attachment to the Clontarf property.
According to an affidavit filed by AIB official Sean O'Carroll, the builder-turned-politician told him the bank "would have to take him out in a box"
The comments were said to have been made after the bank told him it was not able to give him a further loan to buy an apartment in Temple Bar.
AIB was prepared to give him a loan, ranging between €200,000 and €250,000, only if he sold the Clontarf house first.
He will not live amongst the people who elect him.......................