Wedding planner Paul Mayfair has said he is getting a job to allow him to pay back money he owes to suppliers and the bank.
Claims were made this week that the Cork-based wedding planner owed €250,000 to clients and suppliers around the country. However, yesterday Mr Mayfair told The Irish Times that the correct figure was just over €58,000.
He said he owed most of the money to the bank and about €20,000 to 14 suppliers, mainly wedding-reception venues.
Mr Mayfair rejected claims that he had gone into hiding but said he was refusing to go on RTÉ's Liveline or talk to other media outlets as it would create "a feeding frenzy".
Mr Mayfair said he was going to get a PAYE job and use his earnings to clear the debts. He said he still had six weddings to co-ordinate and he would stand by his obligations.
"I will either give a refund or have the wedding go ahead as planned."
One bride-to-be broke down on Liveline yesterday, saying she had paid him thousands of euro and had been unable to contact him.
Mr Mayfair said he rang her after the programme and left a message on her voicemail. "I am desperately sorry about that and I will do everything in my power to make things right for her. I am not a heartless git."
He said he had received hate e-mails since the story became public, "the general consensus being that I should burn in hell".
Clare-based priest Fr Joseph Ryan, who first highlighted the case, said he had received dozens of calls since the case was highlighted on Tuesday.
He had estimated that Mr Mayfair owed €250,000 to suppliers. Yesterday he said that figure was "only the tip of the iceberg", judging by the calls he got.
