Court action against political activist over stud farm protest

Political activist Ben Gilroy is one of three people facing the prospect of jail for breaching court orders by allegedly trespassing and occupying a Kildare stud farm.

It is claimed by joint receivers over lands at Brannockstown, Naas, that Mr Gilroy, with Charlie Allen and landowner Eugene McDermott, were involved with "a mob" that forced the receiver's agents off the lands.

Mr Justice Brian McGovern warned yesterday that people were subject to the rule of law and there would be consequences for anyone found to be in deliberate breach of the law.

Joint receivers Mark Reynolds and Glenn Crann, who were appointed by IBRC in November 2011 over Mr McDermott's lands, intend selling the 120-acre property from which they are being excluded.

They alleged that since late August, the three were preventing them from taking possession of the lands and were trespassers, breaching orders granted by the High Court last year.

The receivers are seeking to have Mr Gilroy, Mr Allen and Mr McDermott brought before the High Court to explain their alleged contempt. The court heard there had been difficulties in serving Mr Allen, Mr Gilroy and Mr McDermott with notice of the proceeding.