Darragh Kane, sole director of DK Windows and Doors, which collapsed in December 2024 leaving €1.2m in customer deposits unpaid.
Last Updated on 10 July 2026 by Watchdog Witness
Introduction – A Family’s €44,750 Nightmare
Sonya Keating placed an order with DK Windows and Doors in September 2024. She paid a deposit of €15,000. Weeks later, she paid a further €29,750. She was given an installation date of mid-December .
The windows never arrived. The money was gone.
She is not alone.
When DK Windows and Doors suddenly ceased trading in December 2024, it left behind 225 unfilled contracts and €1.2 million in customer deposits . Some customers lost nearly €50,000. One elderly woman paid €9,100 and was left “a broken woman” .
The company’s sole director, Darragh Kane, is now at the centre of a High Court investigation. Liquidators have accused him of a “sustained course of egregious behaviour” . A judge has called the situation “alarming” . And the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) is now considering whether to bring proceedings for fraudulent trading .
This is the story of how a seemingly reputable Dublin windows company collapsed — and the questions that remain unanswered.
🔗 Sources:
- The Irish Times – Disqualification to be sought against DK Windows director (June 2026)
- Irish Independent – Judge says proceedings for fraudulent trading should be considered (June 2026)
- The Irish Times – Customers fear money is gone (Dec 2024)
Who Is Darragh Kane?
Darragh Kane is the sole director and founder of DK Windows and Doors, a company established in 2005 that supplied UPVC and aluclad windows and doors to both developers and homeowners .
The company had a solid reputation. It boasted on its website of having featured in RTÉ’s Room To Improve . At its peak, it employed 26 permanent staff and eight subcontractors .
But by December 2024, that reputation lay in ruins.
Part 1: The Collapse – A Sudden Closure
On December 4, 2024, the landlord of DK Windows’ premises at Westland Business Park in west Dublin changed the locks due to rent arrears . The company had ceased trading.
The High Court appointed joint liquidators from Grant Thornton — Nicholas O’Dwyer and Colm Doran — to investigate .
The scale of the disaster quickly became clear:
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Unfilled contracts | 225 |
| Customer deposits paid | €1.2 million |
| Average deposit per customer | €5,300 |
| Debt to Revenue Commissioners | €600,000+ |
| Employees made redundant | 26 |
🔗 Source: The Irish Times – Creditors allege fraudulent activity (Feb 2025)
Part 2: The Victims – “She’s a Broken Woman”
The human cost of the collapse is devastating. Several customers shared their stories with The Irish Times .
Sonya Keating – €44,750 Lost
“We are now into the second week of December and I have no installation and no product and down €44,750.”
Niamh Keoghan’s Mother-in-Law – €9,100 Lost
“My mother-in-law paid €1,300 deposit in August and was told it would take 12 to 14 weeks for fitting. They came back a few weeks after that to finalise the measurements and took another €7,800 which she will never see again. She’s a broken woman.”
Richard McCaulfield – €15,000 Lost
McCaulfield bought a house needing extensive refurbishments. He placed an order worth almost €15,000 in June 2024. He was given five subsequent installation dates — none were met. He cancelled the order and requested a refund in October. It never came .
“We had to take out a loan in order to get the windows from a new supplier [and] request a payment holiday from our mortgage provider.”
Anonymous Customer – €6,200 Lost
A woman who wished to remain anonymous paid a 10% deposit on July 31, 2024, then a further 40% on August 22 — a total of €6,200. She was given a 12–14 week lead-in time. In early November, she was told the windows would arrive on December 19. Then the date was pushed back to January. Then she was told there was no delivery date at all .
She asked for a refund. None came.
🔗 Sources:
- The Irish Times – ‘She’s a broken woman’ (Dec 2024)
- The Irish Times – Customer fury as Dublin windows company shuts (Dec 2024)
Part 3: The Black Friday Promotion – A “Frightening” Campaign
In November 2024 — just weeks before the collapse — DK Windows ran a major Black Friday promotion .
Customers were encouraged to pay substantial deposits to secure discounts. The company was actively advertising and taking new orders while knowing it was already in financial trouble.
The liquidators later confirmed that:
- By August 2024, it was already clear the company was insolvent, yet it took in €400,000 in orders out of a total of €880,000 .
- During the Black Friday campaign alone, the company accepted €40,000 in additional orders .
Judge Brian Cregan later described the situation as:
“A fairly alarming situation where a company takes in funds during a Black Friday campaign when they are not in a position to fulfil those orders.”
🔗 Sources:
- The Irish Times – Disqualification to be sought against DK Windows director (June 2026)
- Irish Independent – Judge says proceedings for fraudulent trading should be considered (June 2026)
Part 4: The Liquidators’ Investigation – “Egregious Behaviour”
The joint liquidators spent over a year investigating DK Windows’ collapse. Their findings were damning.
The Principal Concerns
| Issue | Detail |
|---|---|
| Inadequate accounting records | Kane could not have reasonably relied on them to assess the company’s financial position . |
| Diversion of customer deposits | Deposits were used to discharge historic liabilities rather than to progress customers’ orders . |
| Trading while insolvent | The company continued to accept new orders despite being unable to fulfil them . |
| Reliance on deposits for Revenue plan | A payment plan to Revenue was based on taking new customer deposits . |
The Language of the Liquidators
In June 2026, the liquidators told the High Court that Kane’s conduct amounted to:
“A sustained course of egregious behaviour”
and that he had shown:
“A serious disregard for the interests of creditors and members of the public, and conduct which falls significantly below the standards expected of a company director.”
They have now decided to seek disqualification against Kane under Section 842 of the Companies Act .
🔗 Sources:
- The Irish Times – Disqualification to be sought (June 2026)
- Irish Independent – Judge says proceedings for fraudulent trading should be considered (June 2026)
Part 5: The Judge’s Warning – Fraudulent Trading Should Be Considered
In a significant intervention, Mr Justice Brian Cregan told the court that proceedings for fraudulent trading should also be considered .
The judge noted the Black Friday promotion and the acceptance of €40,000 in additional orders when the company was clearly insolvent.
“It is a fairly alarming situation where a company takes in funds during a Black Friday campaign when they are not in a position to fulfill those orders.”
He adjourned the matter for a month to await a response from the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) . He indicated he may request the CEA to appear before the court to state what it intends to do .
🔗 Source: Irish Independent – Judge says proceedings for fraudulent trading should be considered (June 2026)
Part 6: The Defence – “Vigorously Defended”
Kane and DK Windows have denied any liability under the Companies Act provisions governing fraudulent and reckless trading. Their solicitor has stated that any proceedings would be “vigorously defended if pursued” .
Kane’s accountant has argued that:
- The company’s financial records were kept in Quickbooks and Profitmaker software, and login details were provided to the liquidators .
- The Black Friday campaign “did assist the company in generating new orders” .
- Kane “never benefited from the company’s demise” .
- It was “astonishing” that the liquidators continued to assert Kane made financial decisions without any basis .
However, the liquidators noted that there were contradictions between Kane’s responses and other available evidence .
Kane has since consulted with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (Mabs) and is in the process of arranging his affairs with a personal insolvency practitioner .
Part 7: The Current Status – What Happens Next?
The case remains before the High Court. The key developments are:
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| December 2024 | Company collapses; liquidators appointed |
| February 2025 | Court hears creditors allege fraud; €1.2m owed |
| October 2025 | Liquidators say Kane’s representative has left questions unanswered |
| March 2026 | Liquidators submit report to CEA alleging insolvent trading |
| June 2026 | Liquidators decide to seek disqualification; judge says fraudulent trading should be considered |
The next steps:
- The liquidators are awaiting a response from the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) .
- The CEA could decide to bring its own proceedings.
- Judge Cregan has indicated he may ask the CEA to appear before the court to indicate its intentions .
- The case is adjourned to allow for further discussions.
Why This Case Matters for Watchdog Witness Readers
This case raises urgent questions about consumer protection in Ireland:
1. The Vulnerability of Consumers
When a company collapses, customers who have paid deposits become unsecured creditors. They are at the bottom of the queue — behind banks, Revenue, and employees . The average deposit of €5,300 is a life-changing sum for many families.
2. The “Black Friday” Red Flag
A company running a major promotion just weeks before collapse is a classic warning sign. Consumers should be wary of sudden discounts or pressure to pay large deposits quickly.
3. The Gap in Enforcement
The liquidators have done their job. But the CEA has yet to decide on action. Director disqualification is a civil sanction — not a criminal penalty. Is that enough?
4. The Question of Accountability
Darragh Kane has not been charged with any crime. He has denied any wrongdoing. But the court has heard allegations of “fraudulent trading,” “egregious behaviour,” and a “serious disregard” for creditors. The High Court judge has described the situation as “alarming” .
The question for Watchdog Witness readers is simple: If the sole director of a company can take €1.2 million in customer deposits, collapse, and face only the possibility of disqualification — what protection do consumers really have?
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2005 | DK Windows and Doors founded by Darragh Kane |
| Mid-2024 | Customers begin reporting delays; deposits taken |
| August 2024 | Company clearly insolvent; takes €400k in orders |
| November 2024 | Black Friday promotion; €40k in additional orders |
| 28 November 2024 | Revenue freezes company bank account |
| 4 December 2024 | Landlord changes locks; company ceases trading |
| December 2024 | Provisional liquidators appointed; 26 staff made redundant |
| February 2025 | High Court hears creditors allege fraud; €1.2m owed |
| October 2025 | Liquidators say Kane’s representative has left questions unanswered |
| March 2026 | Liquidators submit report to CEA alleging insolvent trading |
| June 2026 | Liquidators decide to seek disqualification; judge calls for CEA to appear |
Sources – Click to Verify
| Source | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| The Irish Times | Disqualification to be sought against DK Windows director (June 2026) | View |
| Irish Independent | Judge says proceedings for fraudulent trading should be considered (June 2026) | View |
| The Irish Times | Liquidators report alleged insolvent trading to CEA (March 2026) | View |
| The Irish Times | Creditors allege fraudulent activity (Feb 2025) | View |
| The Irish Times | ‘She’s a broken woman’ – victim testimonies (Dec 2024) | View |
| The Irish Times | Customer fury as DK Windows shuts (Dec 2024) | View |
| Graham Kenny Solicitors | Liquidators’ report on unanswered questions (Oct 2025) | View |
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available court records and news reporting. Darragh Kane has not been convicted of any criminal offence. The allegations of “fraudulent trading” and “egregious behaviour” are those of the liquidators and have been denied by Kane’s representatives. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law. This article does not constitute legal advice and is provided for informational and journalistic purposes only. Watchdog Witness does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of third-party sources cited. This article may be updated as further information becomes available.
Watchdog Witness will continue to track this case and others like it.
Should you wish to request the removal of this article, we will consider legitimate and lawful grounds for doing so, in accordance with our editorial policy and data protection obligations. If you have information about this story — a tip-off, new evidence, or a correction — we want to hear from you. Your identity will be protected. If you believe any detail in this article is inaccurate, please contact us with your evidence, and we will review it promptly.
Contact us or share your story — your voice matters. — [contact us or share your story]. Email us at watchdogwitness@proton.me
About The Author
