A Lotto millionaire lost his business yesterday when a court ruled that he must lose his dream Titanic themed pub and restaurant.
Vincent Keaney (49) Cobh, Co Cork, won £1 million in the Lotto in 1996.
Following the win he vowed to fulfil his dream of setting up a bar on the spot where 120 passengers embarked on the fateful first and last voyage of the huge ocean liner in 1912.
Mr Keaney put his Lotto winnings into the venture and bought Scott's Buildings, which is the location of the former White Star Line offices, and is also the former dole office where he once signed on.
After almost six years of difficult negotiations and building work Mr Keaney finally succeeded in opening the business.
The project ran into trouble and was forced to close. Then with the help of Michael Nolan and his company, Tregan Properties, Mr Keaney salvaged the venture and it was back on course.
However, it soon encountered more difficulties and it has eventually ended its run in the courts.
Yesterday Tregan and Mr Keaney were before Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Civil Court.
Tregan was suing Mr Keaney's company for possession of the two properties - the bar and restaurant and adjoining buildings. The company was also seeking rent arrears of €220,000 from Mr Keaney.
The court was told that Mr Keaney went into partnership with Michael Nolan shortly before the opening of the bar in August 2000.
Following the second closure of the business, Mr Nolan became the leading shareholder of the business and leased Scott's Buildings to Mr Keaney.
Terry O'Driscoll, representing Mr Keaney, explained to the court the origins of his client's problems.
"This all comes out of the win in the Lotto - he tried to get the pub up and running. He brought Mr Nolan on as an adviser."
As the business began to flounder, the men entered into an agreement in which Mr Nolan allegedly agreed to pay off the debts of the company. However, Mr Keaney alleges that Mr Nolan did not fulfil this agreement.
Willis Walsh, representing Michael Nolan, said he was requesting the court to award possession of the properties to Mr Nolan.
Judge Ó Donnabháin said that Mr Keaney's counsel had not "established a defence".
He added that in the circumstances he must award possession to Tregan and adjourned the case involving the rent arrears for seven weeks so that Mr Keaney could formulate a defence.
Mr Keaney was not in court for the judgment and Mr Nolan sat impassively in the back of the court.