O'Donnells ordered to pay all costs in legal case

Solicitor Brian O'Donnell and his wife Mary Patricia have been given two weeks to leave the Gorse Hill mansion in South Dublin.

He has also been ordered to pay costs in his long running legal battle.

The Court of Appeal has dismissed the couple's attempt to overturn a High Court decision, which granted a trespass order against them to leave the house.

Mr O’Donnell - who owes the Bank of Ireland over €70m - intends to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Delivering the Court of Appeal’s 40-minute judgment, Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan said the O’Donnells do not own Gorse Hill, live permanently in the UK and there was an "inevitable inference" that they had flown in at the end of February to prevent receivers taking possession of the Killiney property.

Solicitor Brian O’Donnell, who represented himself in court again today, indicated that he intends to appeal that ruling to the Supreme Court on a point of public importance.

Lawyers for the Bank of Ireland had argued against granting the O’Donnells any further stay at the property, saying they have already had two bites at the cherry.

However, the Court has allowed them two weeks to vacate - with the deadline at noon on April 29.