ANGLO Irish Bank, which claims to be owed £200,000 by a west of Ireland restaurateur, is to seek a High Court order today freezing his assets.

Ms Dara Foynes, counsel for the bank, told Mr Justice Barr yesterday that Mr John Gerrard, owner of the Happy Eater in Sligo's O'Connell Street, had closed down the restaurant.

She said the bank had information he might be attempting to dissipate his assets to frustrate any judgment it might obtain against him.

She said proceedings seeking judgment against him had already been taken out in the Master's Court.

Ms Foynes said Mr Gerrard and his wife had successfully run a restaurant at Lord Edward Street, Sligo, for a number of years. It had run into difficulties after the acquisition of the O'Connell Street premises which boasted the largest floor space of any restaurant in the west.

She said the bank had forwarded Mr Gerrard £200,000 on foot of security relating to an apartment in Galway and fixtures and fittings in the O'Connell Street restaurant. Recently, the Lord Edward Street restaurant had been sold and the landlord of the O'Connell Street premises had informed her clients that fixtures and fittings were being removed from the restaurant.

Ms Foynes said the bank feared he might be attempting to dissipate his assets. He was the owner of a number of freehold properties in the west.

Mr Justice Barr said the court would require further, more explicit, information relating to the matter and said the application could be renewed before him today.