Developer Sean Dunne faces legal action following a bitter split with the prominent hotelier recruited to run his three Ballsbridge hotels.

Mr Brennan and Mr Dunne both moved to terminate the relationship on Monday when tensions came to a head - sources have claimed that Mr Dunne and his team were constantly interfering in the running of the hotels.

The Irish Independent cites sources on both sides of the split as describing the parting as "extremely acrimonious".

It claims that both Mr Dunne and hotelier John Brennan are now taking legal advice on the situation.

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The partnership began in September 2007 when the Kerry hotelier was unveiled as the new manager of Mr Dunne's Jury's and Berkeley Court hotels, which had already closed.

Mr Brennan re-opened the hotels under the d4hotels brand. Reportedly business was buoyant from the outset - with increased revenue from targeted online sales and reduced costs from franchising the properties' bars and restaurants.

However sources claimed that relations were frequently fraught between Mr Brennan, his staff and Mr Dunne and his team.

According to the Independent, Mr Brennan's lawyers are now preparing a case with 11 separate breaches of contract by Mr Dunne and his Mountbrook homes.

The paper also cited a spokesman for Mr Dunne as saying: "Mountbrook had terminated their relationship with Mr Brennan last Monday, because of a number of series of issues."

(VB/JM)