The High Court has ordered more than €3.1 million in summary judgment against Stephen Heffernan, a bookkeeper at the centre of an alleged multimillion-euro fraud involving four Eddie Rockets franchises.
Heffernan, who also operated the now-closed Thunders Bakery, told the court he would not contest the judgment but stopped short of consenting to it, citing ongoing criminal investigations. The sum—over €2.7 million to Ziggy Investments Ltd and more than €376,000 to Jean Genie Investments Ltd—relates to claims he wrongfully obtained millions “by deception.”
The court heard Heffernan will face cross-examination on his assets in November after filing an affidavit claiming he has limited means and no undisclosed property. A freezing order remains in place on assets linked to Heffernan, his wife, sister, and several companies, though his relatives deny wrongdoing.
In his affidavit, Heffernan admitted to making unauthorised transfers but said funds were used to “prop up” his businesses and are now gone. He rejected suggestions he distanced himself from his wife to shield assets, claiming he hid the transfers from her.
Separately, the plaintiffs secured an interim injunction against Fast Casual Ltd (FCL), the Eddie Rockets supplier owned by founder Niall Fortune, to prevent it from filing a winding-up petition against them. Their barrister argued that FCL itself may have been a victim of fraud, with allegations that Heffernan redirected more than €1.5 million from its accounts by manipulating payment details.
The injunction application will return to court next week, while the main fraud case continues alongside related criminal investigations.
