NYC cop’s legal battle to ‘reclaim’ Irish estates

A FORMER New York policeman is set to launch a legal battle to reclaim some of Ireland’s greatest estates from their owners.

John Sweeney staged a symbolic protest in the grounds of Blarney Castle to highlight the start of a case he’s bringing against 10 landlords.

Sweeney, who was born in Cullen, Co Cork, claims the estates were granted to “settlers” and taken from Irish people illegally hundreds of years ago.

He has set up a charity in the US known as the Irish Crown Estates which will administer the land if he ever manages to acquire it through the courts.

Yesterday, he flew the charity’s flag off the ramparts of Blarney Castle, overlooking the sprawling 1,300-acre estate owned by John Colthurst.

Sweeney, accompanied by two American documentary makers, paid €8 as a senior citizen to gain entry into what is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions.

“People might well laugh at me, but I am deadly serious about this,” the 72-year-old said.

Sweeney said although he was shoving on in age he was hopeful he would live to see the day the land was restored for the benefit of the Irish people.

“I’m not doing this for myself. The profits from the land would be used by the charity to help people in Ireland who are in need,” he said.

“I am preparing to go to the courts and will get an attorney to file the suits,” he said.

Last year, he visited a number of estates and “put them on notice” the next time he returned it would signal the start of his legal bid to obtain the land.

Staff at Blarney Castle did not prevent McSweeney from unfolding his charity’s flag on the castle battlements, or in other parts of the grounds.

A spokesman for the estate said Charles Colthurst was not in residence at the time and was therefore unavailable for comment.

Sweeney acknowledged it was highly unlikely estate owners would take the threat of his legal action lying down.

“I know full well they will fight me to the death,” he said.

Yesterday evening, the former Bronx police patrolman was planning to plant a flag at Lismore Castle, owned by the Duke of Devonshire.