The High Court has temporarily extended the bankruptcy of retired solicitor Brian O'Donnell and his wife Mary Patricia.
The extension is being sought by the official in charge of the O'Donnell’s bankruptcy, the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy Mr Chris Lehane for alleged non co-operation.
The O'Donnells oppose the move and deny the allegations.
At the High Court on Monday Mr Justice Raymond Fullam extended the bankruptcy period, which was due to end later this month, pending a hearing whether it should be extended for a period.
The length of any extension would be decided by the court. The maximum period that the bankruptcy should be extended is five years.
Edward Farrelly BL for the OA said there were a number of grounds why the OA was seeking to extend the O'Donnell's bankruptcy.
One was that they had not filed a statement of affairs until two and a half years after they had been adjudicated as bankrupt.
The application, counsel said is expected to last for one to two days and is not likely to be heard until October at the earliest.
Representing himself Brian O'Donnell said he and his wife, whom he said is seriously ill and could not be present in court, were opposing the applications both extend their bankruptcy and the interim order.
He and his wife had been subject to insolvency for some six years and it would not be fair on them if this was to be extended he said.
He and his wife had "answered all the questions" put to them by the OA. "I don't know what else we are supposed to do," he said.
He said he is bringing a motion as part of the application to extend seeking to do a number of things including cross examine Mr Lehane, and that he be provided with documents from Bank of Ireland, which in 2013 petitioned the court have the O'Donnells declared bankrupts.
Mr O'Donnell also seeks in his motion to have parts or all of a sworn statement included in the application to extend their bankruptcy by the OA struck out.
Mr O'Donnell also said the OA had delayed and waited till the last minute before bringing his application to extend the bankruptcy.
In reply Mr Farrelly said there was nothing unusual in making an application to extend the period of bankruptcy when it was just about to end.
The entire of period of bankruptcy has to be looked at, counsel said.
Mr Justice Fullam said he was prepared to make the interim order extending the O'Donnell's bankruptcy.
He also that the matter be heard as soon as possible. The application is to be mentioned before the court next week.
The O'Donnells were adjudicated bankrupt by the High Court in August of 2013. The finding was confirmed by the Supreme Court in February 2015.
Bank of Ireland applied to have the couple declared bankrupt after they failed to satisfy a judgment for €71.57m obtained against them.
The judgment was obtained by BOI in December 2011 after they failed to repay loans advanced by the bank.
