Property owner complies with court order after spending night in jail

AFTER spending a night in Mountjoy Prison a property owner who had refused to give the High Court an undertaking about obeying its orders changed his mind yesterday.

Seamus Killoran had been jailed for a month on Tuesday after Mr Justice Gerard Hogan found him to be in “flagrant breach” of a court order directing him not to interfere with work being carried out by a bank-appointed receiver.

The judge had directed he be detained in Mountjoy and brought back to court yesterday to give him a final opportunity of providing the undertaking to court.

Killoran had refused to obey an order made by Ms Justice Mary Laffoy in July last restraining him from interfering with the duties of Fergus Lowe, who had been appointed receiver to three of Killoran’s properties.

Mr Lowe was appointed receiver by Dankse Bank, trading as National Irish Bank, over three dwelling houses at Ardilaun Green, Ballymahon Road, Mullingar, Co Westmeath; Carra Grove, Mullingar; and Coolcarrigh Coil Dubh, Naas, Co Kildare.

William Abrahamson, counsel for Mr Lowe, told the court that Killoran resided in one of the properties and had barricaded himself and others into one of them.

Mr Lowe had been seeking possession of the three properties and, because of difficulties with Killoran, had to obtain the restraining order from Judge Laffoy.

Killoran had continued in occupation of the properties and was in contempt of court as a result.

On Tuesday Judge Hogan gave him several opportunities to give the court an undertaking to abide by Judge Laffoy’s order, but he refused.

Jailing Killoran for a month, the judge directed that he be brought back to court yesterday for a final chance to change his mind.