A director of the State's biggest cosmetic surgery group was yesterday charged with working as a director of a company while an undischarged bankrupt.
Mr Jeffrey Burton (52), a director of Advanced Cosmetic Surgery, was arrested at Dublin Airport on Monday morning after he got off a flight from the UK. He was brought to the Bridewell Garda station in Dublin, where he was held overnight.
Advanced Cosmetic Surgery has five clinics in Ireland in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Belfast. Mr Burton acquired the clinics of the Transform Group, with business partner Ms Halina Ashdown-Shiels, in 1997 and established Advanced Cosmetic Surgery.
Since then the company has carried out more than 7,000 surgeries in Ireland. It provides surgical and non-surgical treatments, including botox, facelifts and breast implants.
Mr Burton appeared before a sitting of Dublin District Court yesterday morning facing charges of working as a company director while an undischarged bankrupt.
Mr Burton was declared bankrupt in the UK.
It is understood he was declared bankrupt in 2000.
It is alleged he had not discharged his debts relating to that bankruptcy but was still practising as a company director of Advanced Cosmetic Surgery, an offence in the Republic under the Companies Act, 1963.
He was released on bail on his own surety of €5,000 and an independent surety of €3,000.
He must reside at one of two named addresses in Ireland or the UK. He will appear again in court next month. If convicted he faces a fine of at least €1,500 and/or a term of imprisonment.
Mr Burton is a British national. It is understood he divides his time between Ireland and the UK.
At the Companies Office, his Irish address is listed as Malahide Marina in Dublin.
Records at the Companies Office show he was a director of Advanced Cosmetic Surgery and of three other companies. One of those companies, a "human health activities" firm, Laragen Ltd, is dissolved.
He is listed as a director of Biotech Direct Ltd, a "cosmetic and toilet articles" retail group, and Ruthar Ltd, a "medical practice activities" company.
Advanced Cosmetic Surgery has been at the centre of high-profile advertising campaigns in the past.
In 2000, Ms Ashdown-Shiels, the group's managing director and a 50-year-old grandmother, appeared in a billboard advertising campaign lying naked on her stomach.
A spokeswoman for Advanced Cosmetic Surgery last night said the firm was aware one of its directors had been detained. "We have no comment at this time, the matter is in the hands of our solicitor," she said.
Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Clinics
