High Court hears claims GAA manager Davy Fitzgerald is victim of fraud

Waterford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has claimed that he is the victim of a fraud that has resulted in proceedings being brought against him before a Portuguese court.

The High Court also heard today that the All-Ireland winner is fighting proceedings taken against him by a receiver and "a vulture fund" aimed at securing possession of a property, owned by Mr Fitzgerald, where his sister Helen lives.

Mr Fitzgerald from Sixmilebridge, Co Clare claims he first discovered last July that his name had, without his knowledge or consent, been put on "false" mortgage documentation in respect of "six or seven" properties in Portugal.

Mr Fitzgerald claims that former ACC Bank official Jarlath Mitchell, whom he had professional dealings with several years ago, entered his name on the "false mortgages and documents".

Mr Michell, it is alleged, was jailed in 2013 for two years after he admitted stealing over €450,000 from customers to pay off debts from unsuccessful investments in the property market.

Mr Fitzgerald claims that Mr Mitchell had been his relationship manager and accepts that he took out loans with ACC.

He alleges that based on Mr Mitchell's advice he bought an apartment in Portugal. That property is not the subject of the Portuguese action.

However, Mr Fitzgerald said he had no idea he was involved with the other properties until he received documents from the Portuguese courts during the summer.

He has had to instruct Portuguese lawyers to defend himself in respect of proceedings brought in respect of those proceedings brought before the courts in that jurisdiction.

In a sworn statement, the former goalkeeper said that Mr Mitchell been jailed for falsifying documents.

Mr Fitzgerald further claims that €45,000 that was held