Golly It's been a while since I've been on here.
On this point, debt pertaining to a mortgage can last for 12 years before Limitation kicks in (12 years for the capital element and 6 years for the interest) and before it becomes statute barred.
This is a long time to wait to write off your debt.
As you live in the UK you can apply online to go bankrupt. You will generally get an order from the Adjudicator within a week. I have processed 6 Irish bankruptcies through this new system already. It is a complicated and time consuming form, but the process of then getting your bankruptcy order is very simple.
Even in cases where my Irish clients have not been in the Uk very long, all that has been required is to scan and email in when asked, copies of a tenancy, utilities bank statements and wage slips.