The High Court in Dublin has directed that an application by the former Anglo Irish Bank to have Seán Quinn declared a bankrupt should be heard next Monday.

Lawyers for Irish Bank Resolution Corporation asked the court to direct that the bankruptcy petition be heard as soon as possible following a decision by the High Court in Belfast this morning to annul Mr Quinn's bankruptcy in Northern Ireland.

Mr Quinn was declared bankrupt by the High Court in Belfast last November. But the bankruptcy was challenged by IBRC, which said Mr Quinn's centre of main interest was in the Republic and not in County Fermanagh as Mr Quinn had claimed.

The Belfast High Court agreed and ruled this morning that the bankruptcy order should not have been made.

A few hours later, lawyers for IBRC went into the High Court in Dublin and asked that court to hear an application to have Mr Quinn declared a bankrupt in this jurisdiction as quickly as possible.

The court heard that a bankruptcy petition was served by the bank yesterday and was due to be heard on January 23. But lawyers for the bank said there was a concern that Mr Quinn might attempt to remove assets from its reach before then.

Mr Justice John Edwards directed that the hearing take place next Monday instead. Mr Quinn is also due to challenge the bankruptcy summons issued by the bank on that day.