A convicted conman who tried to sue firms for millions of pounds has been found dead at his home.
Christopher Ireland, 40, was banned from being a company director and conducted a series of scandalous business enterprises which led to a six-year jail term in 2012. Ireland was found at his flat on Loons Road, Dundee, at 11pm on January 1 and police believe there are no suspicious circumstances.
Paramedics attended the scene but were unable to resuscitate him. The businessman has tried to start up many different ventures and referred to himself as “Dr Christopher Ireland”.
He was described as a Walter Mitty type but left several victims in his wake, who were owed several thousand pounds. A source said: “Christopher Ireland had big plans but he was no business guru - everything he was involved in was either unrealistic or fraudulent.
“He lost his way in life. In many ways it is a very sad story.”
In March 2017, the UK Government’s Insolvency Service said Ireland was banned from serving as a company director for seven years. His Scotboys Group plc went into compulsory liquidation on September 22, 2015 owing creditors of £52,106.
His last venture, the Jute, Jam and Journalism Group, was painted as a successful pub and restaurant chain but in reality it failed to get off the ground. Ireland was jailed in April 2012 after admitting five fraud charges in which almost £50,000 was lost by creditors.
Perth Sheriff Court heard Ireland set up a string of fake firms and conned suppliers into providing office furniture, fire safety equipment and food. Companies House link him to 52 failed businesses. Ireland was also connected to doomed lawsuits seeking to sue firms for millions of pounds in claims.
He failed in bizarre bids to sue an IT firm for nearly £9million and also launched cases against the Daily Record. His bid to sue Westgate IT was thrown out of court when he failed to make a case or turn up to hearings – but the firm spent thousands defending the action.
The day before his death, Ireland posted on social media: “I am truly grateful for the true friends in my life and old ones that have come back into it and I am proud to come into 2023 with them with new things and new beginnings.”
