Last Updated on 17 July 2026 by Watchdog Witness
Introduction – A Wexford Institution Brought to Its Knees
For sixty years, Hynes Jewellers was a Wexford institution. A family business that specialised in high-end jewellery, it was a trusted name on North Main Street .
Then, in 2016, masked bailiffs arrived. The county sheriff moved in to execute a county registrar order in favour of the landlords, who were owed €49,872 in rent arrears . The property was repossessed, and the business ceased trading .
The man behind the collapse was Alan Hynes – a former accountant who had been brought into the family business by his cousin, Frank Hynes . What followed was a trail of fraudulent trading, phoenix companies, a fake “proxy” director, and the longest director ban in Irish history.
The liquidator in the case called Alan Hynes the “most dishonest director” he had ever encountered, saying: “there is almost nothing he will not do to further his aims.”
This is the story of how one man’s greed and deception brought down a family business, defrauded investors of over €18 million, and led to a record-breaking court ruling.
Who Is Alan Hynes?
Alan Hynes is a former accountant from Wexford. He was expelled from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2015 following complaints from investors who lost more than €18 million on his failed property development ventures .
He was declared bankrupt in October 2022 . His bankruptcy was extended to 10 years (until October 2033 ) because of what a High Court judge described as his “total” and continuing failure to co-operate with the official assignee .
In January 2026 , he was handed an 18-year director disqualification – the longest ever in Irish history .
He is now personally liable for over €4.7 million in debts .
Part 1: The Fall of Hynes Jewellers
The story of Alan Hynes’s downfall begins with a family business. Hynes Jewellers (Wexford) Ltd (HJW) was founded in 1956 and was a local institution . By 2014, the managing director was Frank Hynes, Alan’s cousin .
Alan Hynes was brought in to help run the business. What happened next was catastrophic.
By April 2016, the company had collapsed. The county sheriff repossessed the property, and the business ceased trading . The landlords were owed €49,872 in rent arrears .
But that was just the beginning.
Part 2: The Phoenix Scheme – A Deliberate Deception
After HJW collapsed, a new company was set up: JW Fashions Ltd (JWF) . The purpose was to continue the jewellery trade, but without taking on HJW’s debts .
The court found this was a deliberate “phoenix” scheme – a classic attempt to move assets beyond the reach of creditors .
The liquidator’s investigation revealed a pattern of fraudulent trading, failure to keep proper books and records, misfeasance, and acting while disqualified .
The court also found that company funds were being intermingled with personal funds and diverted out of the company to bring them beyond the reach of creditors . Records were deficient, and the companies traded while insolvent to the detriment of creditors, including the Revenue Commissioners .
Part 3: The “Proxy Director” – The Most ‘Fishy’ Detail
Alan Hynes had been disqualified from being a director in 2013. He was not allowed to act as a director again . To get around this, he orchestrated a deliberate deception.
He appointed his brother-in-law, Dr. Adrian O’Reilly , a Cambridge-based doctor with no business experience , as the director of Tuskar Property Holdings Ltd (TPH) .
The court found that Dr. O’Reilly was a “proxy director” acting under Alan Hynes’s direction . He was a front, a figurehead – a deliberate attempt to conceal Alan Hynes’s true control of the company .
This is a classic tactic: using a nominee director to hide the real person pulling the strings. The court was not fooled.
Dr. O’Reilly was also disqualified – for 12 years – and held personally liable for over €1 million in debts .
Part 4: The “Most Dishonest Director”
The liquidator, Myles Kirby, did not mince his words. He described Alan Hynes as the “most dishonest director” he had ever encountered, stating:
“There is almost nothing he will not do to further his aims.”
This is not a verdict from a rival or a disgruntled creditor. This is the assessment of a professional liquidator who has seen the worst of corporate misconduct.
The scale and level of the misconduct led Mr Justice Michael Quinn to place Alan Hynes’s actions in the “most serious of categories” .
Part 5: The Bankruptcy – A 10-Year Extension
Alan Hynes was declared bankrupt in October 2022 . He was due for discharge in October 2023, but the High Court extended his bankruptcy to 10 years – until October 2033 – because of his “total” and continuing failure to co-operate with the official assignee .
Examples of his non-cooperation included:
| Offence | Detail |
|---|---|
| Failure to provide statements | Despite at least 11 requests, he refused to provide statements of assets and personal information |
| Interference with assets | He continued to interfere with a property in Dunmore East that was vested in the official assignee |
| The Mercedes car | He claimed the car was seized by gardaí but failed to provide information about it |
| “Bizarre” correspondence | He appeared to believe the official assignee was offering to buy the car, rather than reclaiming it |
| Unjustified interference | He attempted to get payments from certain policies he was not entitled to |
The judge, Mr Justice Liam Kennedy, said his conduct “amounted to a serious breach of his obligations under the Bankruptcy Act” and warranted the extension .
Part 6: The 18-Year Director Ban – A Record
In January 2026 , the High Court handed down the longest director disqualification in Irish history .
Alan Hynes was banned from acting as a company director for 18 years .
The court declared him personally liable without limitation for total debts of €3,262,520.10 , plus record-reconstruction costs of €47,851.12 .
The judge applied Section 610 of the Companies Act 2014 in light of the egregious misconduct .
His cousin, Frank Hynes , received a 7-year ban . Dr. Adrian O’Reilly received a 12-year ban and was held personally liable for over €1 million .
Part 7: The Criminal Charges
Alan Hynes also faced criminal charges. In October 2022 , he was charged with six theft and fraud offences before Wexford District Court .
He was charged with theft, deception, and money laundering offences .
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1956 | Hynes Jewellers (Wexford) Ltd founded |
| 2009 | John and Bridget Atkinson obtain a €200,000 judgment against Alan Hynes and his wife |
| 2013 | Hynes is disqualified for 3 years and restricted for 5 years over the collapse of Tuskar Asset Management |
| 2014 | Wife, Noreen Hynes, alleges mortgage over couple’s property obtained with forgery |
| 2015 | Hynes is expelled from the Institute of Chartered Accountants |
| 2016 | Hynes Jewellers (Wexford) Ltd collapses; business ceases trading |
| 2022 | Hynes is declared bankrupt ; charged with theft and fraud |
| 2024 | Hynes’s bankruptcy is extended to 10 years (until 2033) for non-cooperation |
| 2026 | Hynes receives an 18-year director ban – the longest in Irish history |
Sources – Click to Verify
| Source | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| The Currency | Lengthy disqualification for former accountant (Jan 2026) | View |
| The Irish Times | Bankruptcy extended to 10 years (June 2024) | View |
| The Irish Times | Alan Hynes denies being the cause of collapse | View |
| The Irish Times | Alan Hynes U-turns on evidence | View |
| The Irish Times | Wife claims mortgage obtained with forgery (May 2014) | View |
| The Irish Times | “Most dishonest director” quote | View |
| Reddy Charlton LLP | Ireland’s Longest Director Ban (Feb 2026) | View |
| Irish Independent | Bankrupt businessman charged with theft and fraud (Oct 2022) | View |
Why This Case Matters for Watchdog Witness Readers
The Alan Hynes case is a masterclass in corporate fraud and the consequences of dishonesty:
1. The “Phoenix” Scheme
Hynes used a new company to continue trading while leaving the debts of the old company behind. This is a common tactic, but this case shows the courts are willing to take a very hard line.
2. The “Proxy Director” Loophole
Hynes used his brother-in-law as a front to avoid his disqualification. This case shows that the courts will look beyond the official records and find the true controller.
3. The Most Dishonest Director
The liquidator’s assessment – “there is almost nothing he will not do to further his aims” – is a damning indictment. It shows that Hynes’s dishonesty was not a one-off mistake but a pattern of behaviour.
4. The Record Ban
The 18-year ban is a clear message: if you engage in fraudulent trading and obstruct the liquidator, you will face the longest possible disqualification.
5. The Human Cost
Investors lost over €18 million . This is not a victimless crime. Real people lost their life savings.
The question for Watchdog Witness readers is simple: If a man can be called the “most dishonest director” a liquidator has ever encountered, what does that say about the system that allowed him to continue for so long?
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available court records, news reporting, and legal commentary. Alan Hynes is the subject of civil rulings and has been convicted of criminal charges. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty 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.
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