Reprieve for mum jailed over home row

A High Court judge has directed an inquiry into the legality of the detention, in Limerick Prison, of a Cork mother for contempt of a Circuit Court order directing she hand over possession of her home to a bank.

Ben Gilroy, of Direct Democracy Ireland, applied yesterday to Mr Justice Max Barrett for the inquiry following the imprisonment the previous day of Claire Knowles, aged 56, who lives with her son at Castlejayne, Glanmire, Cork.

Mr Gilroy said there was “huge confusion” over possession orders made by the Circuit Court, an apparent reference to conflicting High Court decisions of November and May last concerning the Circuit Court’s jurisdiction to hear certain repossession cases.