While Mr Quinn — who disputes the overall level of debt owed by him to the IBRC — successfully filed for bankruptcy in Northern Ireland, his bankruptcy has now been registered in the Republic. The benefits of filing for bankruptcy in Belfast are significant for Mr Quinn, as debtors can emerge free from bankruptcy here after one year compared to 12 years in the Republic. The IBRC is bringing an application to the Belfast court on Thursday to have the bankruptcy annulled. In the bankruptcy petition, the businessman listed the IBRC as his only creditor in his sworn statement of affairs. However, lawyers representing the official receiver told Dublin High Court Judge Mr Justice Peter Kelly, the listing judge of the commercial court, that there may be others who are owed money by Mr Quinn. Barrister Bernard Dunleavy, representing the Republic's official receiver, said yesterday that "there can hardly have been a bankruptcy ever before" like Mr Quinn's in the UK or Ireland.