It was Phil Solomon who didn't pay the bills.

Interview with Robbie Dale by Ray Clark with link in the notes to his interview with Phil Solomon.

https://offshoreradio.co.uk/odds102.htm

The devaluation of the pound in mid November 1967 had increased the debt as Wijsmuller's bills were in guilders.

Phil Solomon says in his interview that Charles Haughey said he would delay any legislation against offshore radio introduced in the Irish Parliament. Cutting I have on Imgur posted to I think Garry's group since it's been on there for six years says he paid Haughey money to do this.



Some more on the proposed legislation:

Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal September 15 1967 on Caroline North being supplied from Dundalk mentions this will possible only if the Dail does not pass a similar act.

Four days earlier a similar report in the Belfast Telegraph ended "Eire's bill to suppress pirate radio stations has already been tabled in the Dail and may be law before the end of the year".

The Dail website says that on June 15 1967 "Leave granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to suppress broadcasting from ships, aircraft and certain marine structures. —(Minister for Industry and Commerce.) Second Stage ordered for Tuesday, 4th July, 1967."

The second stage did not take place until 9 May 1968 and the bill was then passed quickly coming into law on 30 July 1968.

I'd reported to the April 68 Benelux DX Club shortly afterwards that it seemed that there were problems with ships insurance which was placed with foreign brokers and ran out March 16. That would have been from newspaper reports I'd read or been made aware of. I was in regular contact with Paul Harris at the time. Jaap Klein, the editor of the medium wave news column at the time said "This is very likely the one and only reason- I know that a good deal of both hulls are insured on the Amsterdam exchange, I even saw last years slips/cover notes." I went on to report that "both ships should have a seaworthiness inspection. It may be that the cost of repairs will be so high that news ships will have to be purchased. Ronan O'Rahilly has been offered a pirate ship in "first class condition.

They also have a report from Ehard Goddijn: Hot news from Radio Caroline International(South). This station will increase power to 90kw according to a crew member.

Shortly after the ships were towed in Billboard reported that Phil Solomon said he would be launching a high power commercial station from the Isle of Man.