More woes for L’il Larrikins producers

Ettamogah Entertainment, producers of TEN animated series L’il Larrikins, is back in the spotlight this week as the financial fallout of the company continues.

In 2009 writers, voice-over artists and animators claimed they were owed more than $100,000 in unpaid wages.

The company was placed in liquidation in January after entering voluntary administration in November.

According to the Sunday Age, liquidator David Ross, from Hall Chadwick, said he would be taking legal action against owner Leigh O’Brien, 60, to try to recover money owed as it appeared the company had traded when insolvent. He said he had received claims in excess of $9 million owed to creditors.

Another O’Brien company, L & D O’Brien Holdings, was placed in liquidation two weeks ago and on Friday an application was made to the Federal Court in Sydney to have one of four Ettamogah Pubs wound up over $30,000 in unpaid wages.

O’Brien also pleaded guilty on April 7th in the Moorabbin Magistrates Court to charges including stalking and using a carriage service to menace. He was placed on a diversion plan and ordered to return to court next month.

O’Brien, who has sold his $8m Brighton home to cover debts, said he is trying to get people paid.

”I am sick to death of everyone going for the jugular and not wanting to work it out,” he told the newspaper.

”All the people lose. I’m sorry, but all the poor unsecured creditors are the losers. They all should have been paid and could have been paid.”

O’Brien also gave the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council the rights to use his Li’l Larrikins cartoon characters for a natural disaster safety program.

The series screened on TEN last December and a previous series, Wakkaville, has aired on Nine.