Developer Sean Dunne has been declared bankrupt in the High Court. There was no appearance in court by or on behalf of the businessman who is now resident in the United States.

Ulster Bank brought this bankruptcy petition last February after securing a €164 million judgment against the property developer. But the case ground to a halt when Sean Dunne applied for bankruptcy in the US, where he is now residing.

However a ruling there earlier this month meant the Irish case could go ahead in tandem with the US bankruptcy.

The court heard Ulster Bank immediately set about serving papers on Mr.Dunne and his attorneys.

A US Marshall pinned documents to the door of his Connecticut home when his wife Gayle Killilea refused to accept service of proceedings and said her husband was away for a number of weeks.

Ms. Justice Elisabeth Dunne accepted there could be no doubt that the developer was aware of the petition today.

With no appearance from Mr. Dunne she adjudicated him a bankrupt but noted it was still open to him to challenge that finding.