Receivers appointed over the assets of family members of businessman Seán Quinn say their living expenses should first be paid out of their personal accounts before any expenses are paid out of accounts frozen four years ago.

Lawyers for the Quinns said the receivers’ Commercial Court application was a “punitive” attempt to stop them getting on with their lives when they had been waiting years for legal proceedings to be heard.

The receivers claim the situation has changed in that most of the family members concerned are now working for a company run by two of their cousins, while one member, Ciara Quinn, works as an agency nurse.

The Quinns claim the court application by the receivers is an attempt to punish them when, they say, the only purpose of freezing orders is to prevent dissipation of assets pending trial.

Mr Justice Brian McGovern reserved judgment.