O’ Donnell home ‘bog standard’, says New Land League chief

The leader of the New Land League Jerry Beades has described the luxury house at the centre of a legal dispute as “bog standard” and “simplistic” on TV3’s Vincent Browne show.

The New Land League has said it intends to front a constitutional challenge against the State to prevent the eviction of the O’Donnell family from their house, Gorse Hill, on Vico Road, Killiney.

It said a collective case will also be brought to the European Court of Justice to prevent banks repossessing homes.

The league’s Tom Darcy said a London-based firm of solicitors, Duffy, Fowler and Gabby, would take the case to Europe.

Jerry Beades of the New Land League said the court proceedings expected to take place in Dublin against the O’Donnells on Thursday should not be going ahead. He called on Mr Justice Brian McGovern to recuse himself from the proceedings in the High Court.

Mr Beades said the O’Donnells had filed paperwork on Wednesday evening to cross-examine receiver Tom Kavanagh at Thursday’s anticipated court hearing. Mr Kavanagh has been appointed by Bank of Ireland to take possession of the house.

Mr Beades said he “presumes” Brian O’Donnell would be in court on Thursday.

He said Mr O’Donnell was “determined” to see the case through to the European court.

At a press conference in a hotel in Dublin, Mr Beades said Mr O’Donnell and his wife, Mary Patricia, were lawfully present in the Gorse Hill property.

The New Land League said members of the group remained in the house with the O’Donnells.

On Tuesday the High Court rejected an application by the O’Donnell children for an injunction to stop the repossession of the property.

Mr Beades defended the New Land League’s decision to assist the O’Donnell family and said it had put the issue of home repossession “centre stage”.

“We’re going to have thousands of Gorse Hills coming down the track and the past few days will make the Government wake up.”

Mr Beades said the O’Donnell family were “drained” and “battered by the process” following events in recent days.

“Mrs O’Donnell is battered following the whole thing. They have been dragged through the courts,” he said.

He said journalist and broadcaster Vincent Browne had “trespassed on private property” when he entered the grounds of Gorse Hill with a number of reporters yesterday.