The National Asset Management Agency has put a London-based property company controlled by former Howard Holdings executives into receivership, according to court records in London.

The company, Wandle Holdings – which has 30 outstanding Anglo Irish Bank mortgages – is registered to an address at Hambalt Road, Lambeth in London, according to Companies House files

The administrative receiver to the company, Belfast-based John Hansen, was appointed on October 17th, though he will have to spend the next month or so investigating the company’s affairs.

Wandle directors
Wandle's directors are Francis Gormley, Anthony Coughlan, Evelyn Hider and Brian Madden and also Greg Coughlan, who fled Ireland three years ago after the High Court ordered him to produce a statement of assets.

Last week, Fastnet House, the luxury five-bedroomed home he built with his Anne for more than €5 million in Kinsale, Co Cork, was sold on the orders of Bank of Ireland. It was bought by a London-based Irish oil executive, according to reports.

One of the highest-profile property companies during the Irish property boom, Howard Holdings once had up to €4 billion worth of projects in development in Ireland, throughout the United Kingdom, Portugal and Poland.

Last night, Nama, on foot of questions from The Irish Times, would only confirm that it has appointed a receiver to Wandle.

However, it refused to give any further information about the company, the timing of its actions, or its debts.

Luxembourg judgment
Mr Coughlan quit Ireland after a Luxembourg company secured a €28 million judgment in the High Court in Dublin against former Howard directors.

Later, Mr Justice Peter Kelly accused him of “playing cat and mouse” with the court.

Mr Coughlan is known to have travelled to Portugal, though there have been reports since that he is now living in London, though no efforts have been made to bring him back before the court.

An Garda Síochána has not sought extradition, even though an arrest warrant was issued for him three years ago, since contempt of court is not a qualifying charge under the European Arrest Warrant.