Solicitor Ciarán Callan was heavily involved in property conveyancing. Some 85 per cent of the fees of his legal practice, Callan & Co in Rathfarnham, south Dublin, was generated from buying and selling properties for his clients, many of whom were wealthy individuals from the south Dublin area.

A former Leinster rugby player and coach, Mr Callan has - as a solicitor - represented players who have been found guilty of stamping during games.

He has also served as a disciplinary match commissioner in the Heineken-sponsored European Cup competition.

His rugby connections would also have brought a considerable amount of business to his legal practice.

Mr Callan, who is believed to have suffered from poor health in recent times, has been in talks with a number of parties in recent days about winding down his practice and transferring his assets and clients. However, one of the firms said it was keen to assess the scale of the liabilities of Callan & Co before it takes on Mr Callan's assets and clients.