Cork woman must purge contempt or return to jail

Cork woman Claire Knowles has to purge her contempt by 7pm tonight or she will be returned to Limerick Prison, a High Court judge has said.

Mr Justice Richard Humphreys yesterday rejected claims by Claire Knowles, who is fighting the repossession of her Glanmire home by a bank, that her detention is unlawful.

The judge told Ms Knowles she may remain on bail until 7pm today, after which time she will return to Limerick Prison unless she has purged her contempt in the interim.

Ms Knowles was jailed by a judge at Cork Circuit Court on December 8 for contempt of a court order of January 2014 requiring her hand over possession of her home near Glanmire, Co Cork, to Bank of Ireland.

She was freed on conditional bail on December 10 pending the outcome of the inquiry, under Article 40 of the Constitution, into the legality of her detention.

Giving his decision, Mr Justice Humphreys said he was bound by other court decisions concerning Article 40 inquiries and, in all the circumstances, must rule the detention is lawful. He will give a written judgment at a later stage.

The contempt application was brought by solicitors representing Bank of Ireland arising from a mortgage taken out with ICS Building Society on Ms Knowles home at The Pines, Castlejayne Woods, Glanmire.

Mr Justice Humphreys commended Ms Knowles for the manner in which she presented her case.