EVEN one of Ireland's most notorious debt collectors appears to have been bitten by the recession.
The firm run by veteran criminal Martin 'The Viper' Foley has recorded a significant drop in profits.
Newly published accounts show that The Viper Debt Collection Agency suffered a loss of €6,324 for the year ending September 2010, a hefty fall from the €27,316 profits recorded in 2009.
Foley (62), who has 45 criminal convictions, is a director of the debt collection company with his partner, Sonia Doyle.
Accounts published last week by the Companies Office suggest that the recession has taken its toll on the business.
The firm recorded a gross profit in this period of €36,451 – a fall from €59,009 in the year previous. The news comes as sources close to Foley revealed that intends to "take a step back" from the running of the company later in the year.
The Viper has told associates in recent weeks that he intends to give up directly calling to people's doors.
The Viper has earmarked a date later this year when he will retire – as long as he can put in place a trusted individual.
Sources have revealed that he has become more concerned about his family's safety in recent months after an armed gang attacked his south Dublin home in the summer.
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The well-known debt collector has also become extremely irked with the level of media attention he continues to attract.
"Foley has made it clear he wants to take a back seat later in the year. I suppose you could say he will retire but he'll still hold on to the business," a well-placed source explained.
"He's been gauging opinion as to who he will ask to take over the running.
"But he doesn't trust many people so he won't take a step back until he finds someone suitable."
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The Viper has increased the security on his home on Cashel Avenue, Crumlin, after it was attacked by a three-man gang armed with golf clubs and baseball bats in July.
The Viper and Sonia Doyle were at home when the masked men attacked it and also smashed up two of the vans he uses for his agency.
Nobody was injured.
Sources say this incident caused great concern for The Viper, who has already been shot on four separate occasions.
But he has also complained to associates about the level of media coverage he continues to receive.
"He's been around for such a long time. He's into his sixties now and nearing retirement age anyway. But he still cares about the business and will be determined that any decision will not affect the collection agency."
The Viper did not respond to a request for comment.
