THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS Committee is to seek a hearing with the widow of a farmer who took his own life two years ago and who is being pursued by NAMA in the High Court.
Philip De Vere Hunt, 64, died by suicide in December 2012. One of NAMA’s companies, NALM, had taken a case against him and his business partner over a €30 million loan to develop a shopping centre in Clonmel.
Last year, the inquest into his death heard from coroner Paul Morris that the farmer and businessman’s dealings with the State’s bad bank had “brought him to the end of his tether”.
The Sunday Business Post reported at the weekend that NAMA has now launched High Court proceedings against widow Annette and son Robert for the family farm where Philip’s ashes are scattered.
This morning PAC chairman John McGuinness said that he had spoken to Annette De Vere Hunt at length in recent days and described her case as “shocking”. The case was also raised by Tipperary South TD Mattie McGrath in the Dáil this week.
PAC will now contact the widow seeking to arrange a hearing with her that is likely to take place in private session.
Annette told the the Business Post that she is determined to fight the court case and retain the family farm.
NAMA has not yet commented on the case and a spokesperson told TheJournal.ie this morning: “NAMA won’t be making any comment on this matter.”
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