TREASURY HOLDINGS

The pin-up of many a middle-aged male fantasy, Johnny Ronan, is reportedly fleeing the country for a few months in a bid to take the heat off his ailing business, Treasury Holdings.

Ronan, 55, has been in the full glare of the headlines since his ex-girlfriend and high-profile model Glenda Gilson went ape about a boozy weekend trip on board his private jet to Morocco in the company of former Miss World Rosanna Davison.

According to The Sunday Independent, the colourful Ronan sat down last week with top PR firm Murray Consultants and he heeded their (probably very expensive) advice to ‘get out of Dodge’.

Gossip columns aside, Ronan is facing far bigger headaches. Billions of euro owed by Treasury will be among the first destined for Nama and the company is deeply embroiled in the Dublin docklands, on which a scathing government report is due shortly.

The company can’t afford any distractions while it is seeking fresh funding from its bankers.

It has also emerged a Treasury subsidiary owes its parent almost €400m. The Sunday Business Post reports accounts recently filed by the Spencer Dock Development Company include a note by directors to the effect the financial crisis was “creating difficulty in extending our banking facilities beyond 2010 and 2011”.

Perhaps Gilson’s comments to the Sindo about her relationship with Ronan could become a metaphor for the nation’s soured dalliance with big developers.

“I had the time of my life with Johnny at the start … after that, no”.