Town council prepared to seek compulsory purchase order to hold on to city park

A LOCAL authority may have to seek a compulsory purchase order to prevent Mallow losing its town park to two brothers, one of whom is a former equerry and private secretary to the late Princess Diana.

Patrick Jephson, who served the princess for eight years, and his brother, Michael, have told Mallow Town Council that they want the park back, as a 99-year-lease arranged by their ancestors is due to run out on October 31.

The town council has already offered the brothers in the region of €500,000 to buy out the freehold, but the land could be worth up to €1 million.