Gardaí in Wicklow plan to question a major Dublin southside criminal over an alleged incident in which four men assaulted and placed a gun in the mouth of a businessman who owed a substantial debt to another businessman.

The criminal, who runs a debt collection agency, is not suspected of involvement in the incident, but gardaí have established that he checked into a hotel in Arklow on the night of the attack.

Two businessmen in Arklow have been in a dispute over a debt of €100,000. One of these men hired the criminal figure's company to collect the debt. The company is registered with the Companies Office and is based in Dublin.

The criminal has met once with the businessman who owes the money and was due to meet him again last Wednesday. However, on Tuesday night, four men in bomber jackets assaulted the man in his home and placed a gun in his mouth. Gardaí have no evidence linking the attack to the criminal but they wish to speak to him after discovering he checked into a hotel in Arklow with an associate on Tuesday night.

The Sunday Tribune previously revealed that gardaí in the midlands gave security advice to a businessman after he complained that the criminal called to his home seeking money in a manner that made the man "ill at ease".

The criminal is regarded as a notorious gangland figure; he has dozens of convictions.

The businessman owed a creditor a significant amount of money but was unable to pay it and received a visit from the notorious criminal.

The debt collection business is thriving but he is by no means the only convicted criminal branching out into this area. There is evidence that, as the economic downturn continues, several criminal gangs have become involved in the industry. As many small companies fold, there is an emerging trend of frustrated creditors hiring criminals when they are unable to collect debts.

Often the creditors claim they cannot afford to wait for the outcome of court proceedings as their own businesses are in jeopardy. This is most common in the construction and property sectors, which have been badly hit by the recession.

Some criminals acting as debt collectors have threatened physical violence and damage to property. Eastern European gangs and Russian mafia are also suspected of getting involved in the business, particularly in Dublin.

"There are disturbing reports of threats, intimidation, destruction of property and even physical assaults on people owing substantial debts," said Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan.