‘Middle Ireland fights back’

A trust set up to help “middle Ireland fight back” and which is estimated to control €2bn in assets and have almost 2,000 members last night prevented gardaí and receivers from entering a farm in Co Kildare.

The farm — Kennycourt Stud in Brannockstown — has been at the centre of a legal battle between its former owner Eugene McDermott and financial institutions.

Last month, Bank of Scotland secured judgment orders for almost €7m in the Commercial Court arising from loans dating back to 2005.