Sheriffs Roam Ireland Seizing Cars From Debtors After Collapse

July 28 (Bloomberg) -- Sheriffs in Ireland, who collect debts rather than police small towns, are chasing luxury cars, motorbikes and art as creditors try to recoup money they lent before the economy collapsed.

“We’re getting orders worth millions,” said John Fitzpatrick, a sheriff in Dublin who has confiscated Jaguars, Range Rovers and Mercedes from indebted businessmen. “Those people are owned body and soul by the banks.”

Statistics show Ireland is beginning to recover from its worst recession in 89 years as an independent country. At the same time, court documents suggest the mountain of debt accumulated in what was the euro region’s most dynamic economy five years ago will take longer to overcome.

Fitzpatrick, 66, is one of 16 sheriffs appointed by the Justice Ministry to pursue unpaid taxes. In the High Court in Dublin, debt recovery claims rose 48 percent to 5,653 cases in 2009, according to the Courts Service.

Ricky Wilson at Wilsons Auctions in the west of the Irish capital said the amount of assets he has sold for sheriffs has increased by as much as 15 percent this year. Wilson, who will invite bids for a confiscated Ducati motorbike on July 31, expects business to remain brisk for the rest of the year. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=avjKnI.FQDpQ&pos=12

but in the US it is a Sheriff's job to serve court papers whether civil or criminal. That would include court orders to take possession of assets. It is absolutely forbidden in every state I am aware of for law enforcement officers, in uniform/with police identification, to do non court ordered asset seizure (repossessions). Just a fine point. I can't tell if this article is talking about sheriffs doing repossessions or serving court orders.

It seems from a quick reading of this piece, the courts in Ireland order repossessions (prob. because the creditor petitions the court for civil relief) and the sheriffs' departments carry them out. This would be better than the shit they've got here in the US, where the bank orders repos, they send out some guy who looks like he belongs in the Hells Angels to get the car, and you wind up on TruTV.

is that the minute the courts are involved it adds thousands to the debt. Allowing for self help repossession only adds a few hundred usually. Most states have some mechanism for repossession via court order...replevin..it is just costly and used as a last resort usually.

a few years ago. Now they bleed.

nt

I remember him talking about how great Ireland was for business. How's that workin' for ya?