Judge refuses to jail pensioners

A judge has refused to jail pensioners Martin and Violet Coyne, who faced prison for contempt of court by defying a judge’s order to have left their home by midnight on Tuesday.

Following pleas in the circuit civil court by and on behalf of the Coynes, Judge Jacqueline Linnane adjourned an application to commit both of the Coynes to prison until August 27.

The judge warned the Coynes they were still in contempt of court orders and told Mr Coyne he had also breached a sworn undertaking that they would be out of the house by yesterday’s hearing.