John Delaney, chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), wrote a personal cheque for €100,000 to his employer in 2017. Delaney has refused to explain the reason for the payment.

Last night the FAI boss failed in an emergency application before the judge Anthony Barr of the High Court to prevent The Sunday Times revealing details of the payment. Following a three-hour hearing, the judge ruled in favour of the newspaper’s right to report the existence of the payment.

A copy of the cheque has been seen by The Sunday Times and its authenticity verified by several sources. It is dated April 25, 2017.

The €100,000 payment was drawn from Delaney’s account at Bank of Ireland in Waterford. The cheque was subsequently lodged