Man barricaded himself into house, court hears

A HIGH Court judge has directed that a property owner, who was previously jailed for being in contempt of court, be brought before the court for allegedly barricading himself into a property he had undertook not to interfere with.

Last August, Seamus Killoran was released after 24 hours in Mountjoy prison by agreeing to comply with a High Court order not to interfere with the work being carried out by Fergus Lowe, who was appointed receiver to three of his properties including one he owned at Coolcarrigh, Coill Dubh, Naas, Co Kildare.

Yesterday at the High Court, Mr Justice Murphy directed that Mr Killoran be brought before the court after being told by Mr Rowe’s counsel that Mr Killoran had breached an undertaking previously given to the court by re-entering the property in Naas.

William Abrahamson BL for the receiver said that despite giving an undertaking last August Mr Killoran recently re-entered the premises in Naas, changed the locks and barricaded himself in.

Counsel said the receiver had no option other than to bring a motion seeking that Mr Killoran be brought before the court and that he be committed to prison if he continues to be in contempt of the court orders.

Counsel said earlier this week Mr Killoran was served with notice of the proceedings against him. Counsel added that Mr Killoran had only attended the previous proceedings after being brought to the Court by gardaí.

Mr Justice Murphy made the matter returnable to later this week.

In December 2010, Danske Bank trading as NIB appointed Mr Lowe as receiver to Mr Killoran’s dwelling houses at Ardilaun Green, Ballymahon Road, Mullingar, Co Westmeath; Carra Grove, Mullingar, as well as to the property at Naas.

Last July, Mr Lowe brought proceedings against Mr Killoran after security staff, hired by Mr Lowe, discovered that Mr Killoran changed the locks and barricaded himself into the Naas property.

In August, Mr Justice Gerard Hogan committed Mr Killoran to Mountjoy after he found him in “flagrant breach” of the order not to interfere with the receiver’s work.