Political activist faces jail threat for trespass

A threat of jail continues to hang over Ben Gilroy, a founder of the political movement Direct Democracy Ireland, over alleged contempt of court orders restraining trespass and interference with receivers appointed over a stud farm lands in Co Kildare.

The lands, excluding the family home of the stud farm’s former owner, Eugene McDermott, were finally sold last month by Mark Reynolds and Glenn Crann, joint receivers appointed by Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in late 2011 arising from default on a €814,000 debt secured on the lands.

The 120-acre Kennycourt Stud in Brannockstown, Naas, was the scene of angry anti-repossession demonstrations in August, when it is alleged fences and barriers erected by the receivers were torn down and signs declaring the lands subject to Brehon law were erected.