O'Donnell wins right to stay in his mansion until Thursday

Solicitor Brian O’Donnell will be allowed to stay at the Gorse Hill mansion in South Dublin until next Thursday when his appeal will be heard.

The Court of Appeal granted him the stay after Mr O’Donnell - who owes Bank of Ireland more than €70m - argued that the deadline of pm this evening was “unlawful and unjust”.

Brian O’Donnell arrived late for this morning’s hearing at the Court of Appeal - apologising to Judge Sean Ryan.

The solicitor was looking for the 5pm deadline set by the High Court yesterday to be extended pending his appeal. He said the timeline was "impossible, unjust and unlawful".

Cian Ferriter for Bank of Ireland argued that there was no basis for extending the stay, and said Mr O’Donnell and his wife had orchestrated a blockade.

He also said they had artificially created an occupation of the property with the assistance of the "so-called Land League".

After rising for half an hour to consider their decision, the three-judge panel returned and told Mr O’Donnell that his stay would be granted until Thursday when his appeal will be heard.

That hearing has been set for 2pm on Thursday afternoon.