A High Court judge has approved court protection and examinership for companies involved in operating two hotels in Naas employing 250 people on grounds both hotels appear to have a reasonable prospect of survival as going concerns.

The decision means the four-star Kilashee House Hotel and Lawlor's Hotel will continue to operate as normal while the examiner, Kieran Wallace, prepares a survival plan.

Mr Justice Peter Charleton approved protection for Craigfort Taverns Ltd, op- erator of the Kilsahee Hotel and Spa employing 182 people; Kilashee Schools Company Ltd, owner of some 25 acres lands adjoining the hotel containing car parks and grounds used by residents; and Marchford Ltd, operator of Lawlor's, employing 68 people.

The judge refused protection for Faxhill Homes Ltd, a property holding company owned by Co Kildare builder John Tierney, which is the parent company of the other companies. Faxhill has liabilities of some €77 million to the National Asset Management Agency.

Nama opposed protection for Faxhill but took a neutral position on examinership for the other firms.