ACC BANK has appointed a receiver to the four-star Portlaoise Heritage Hotel, which was controlled by local developer Tom Keane.

Kieran Wallace of KPMG has been appointed as receiver after ACC moved yesterday to take control of the operating company running the hotel, Keane Leisure Management Ltd, after becoming concerned about its loans to the development.

Mr Wallace yesterday appointed Dalata, a hotel operating company led by former Jurys Doyle executive Pat McCann, to run the hotel, which continues to trade as normal.

Situated close to the train station in Portlaoise, the Heritage has 110 bedrooms, a spa and fitness facilities, and caters for conferences and weddings.

Last week, Mr Wallace was also appointed by ACC as receiver to the five-star Killenard Heritage hotel in Laois, which was also controlled by Mr Keane and is a sister hotel of the Portlaoise Heritage.

Dalata has also taken over the operation of the 150-bed property.

Anglo Irish Bank, meanwhile, took control of the championship golf course in Killenard, which was designed by Seve Ballesteros, as well as houses and sites there.

In a statement released to The Irish Times, Mr Wallace said all of the Portlaoise Heritage’s 128 full and part-time staff would continue to be employed and all customer bookings and deposits will also be honoured.

Mr Wallace added: “We are confident that in working with the hotel’s staff and management team that the Portlaoise Heritage will continue to trade successfully and profitably into the future.”

It is understood that bookings have been taken for events in 2012. The hotel building is owned by tax-break investors, and this structure has not been affected.