Luigi Wewege, a central figure in the Len Brown infidelity scandal, has re-emerged in Ireland.

The Irish Times reports the South African is taking defamation action against broadcaster RTE over allegations made about Vivier Mortgages on its Prime News programme.

The Times says Mr Lewege bought Vivier last year. The subprime lender was formerly known as Home Funding Corporation (HFC).

Vivier popped up in another High Court case this week, when a couple in the Irish county of Roscommon who borrowed IR£40,000 from HFC in the 1990s were hit last year with a demand for €1.4 million.

The couple has succeeded in getting the court to strike out repossession proceedings, the Times says.

Mr Wewege, born in South Africa to a family of Italian background, quickly gained profile in National Party circles after moving to NZ in 2011, particularly at social events.

He left NZ in 2013, shortly after the story broke about Len Brown's affair with Bevan Chuang. Text messages between Wewege and Chuang published by the NZ Herald suggested Ms Chuang was in a relationship with Mr Wewege at the same time as the mayor, and that Mr Wewege, who worked for challenger John Palino's campaign had pressured her to go to media. He denied both claims.