Gerald Kean admits he’s ‘broke’ after 2008 crash

The personal injury solicitor qualified in 1980 and opened his own Dublin practice, Keans Solicitors, in the late ’80s.

Speaking ahead of his appearance in the upcoming RTÉ reality TV programme Operation Transformation, Mr Kean told the Sunday Independent: “I would describe myself as broke. Well, I mean, I owe money. I am trying to repay it. I owe money to a couple of banks, but my main priority has been the Revenue.”

The widely-recognised lawyer lost heavily on the purchase of his office building, which was later lost in the 2008 crash, as well as his home.

He said: “I paid too much for my house, and that was expensive. I paid too much for a townhouse, which I had to sell and lost.”

He estimated his total losses as “below €5 million”, adding: “When I say I am broke, I make money. But it is paying off everything. Thank God I can do that. But if I stop tomorrow, I’m in trouble.

“I think my account manager said ‘keep going until you’re 91 and then you’re clear’.”