Brothers jailed for contempt

TWO brothers were ordered to be jailed for contempt in the High Court yesterday for continuing to breach undertakings that they…

TWO brothers were ordered to be jailed for contempt in the High Court yesterday for continuing to breach undertakings that they would not trespass and interfere with neighbouring lands at Akip, Co Laois.

The President of the High Court, Mr Justice Costello, said Mr William Delaney and Mr Patrick Delaney, of Feereigh, Donaghmore, Portlaoise, Co Laois, had shown complete disregard for the court. He ordered that they be taken to the Bridewell Garda station and when the warrant was issued that they be committed to Mountjoy Prison.

The judge said he had no doubt there was a campaign of intimidation against the owner of the neighbouring lands, Mr Walter Murphy, a farmer, and his family, with an address at Kirkpatrick Drive, Castleknock, Dublin.

He ordered that the two brothers be committed to prison for an indefinite period until they had purged their contempt. As they had shown complete disregard for the court, he proposed to impose conditions.

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If they wished to purge their contempt by an undertaking, he would not accept that unless they signed a document prepared by Mr Murphy's solicitor by which they would agree not to interfere with or trespass on the lands or intimidate Mr Murphy, his wife or his family.

If they signed and were then in default of this undertaking Mr William Delaney would pay £10,000 to Mr Murphy. The proposed deed would include a charge on Mr Delaney's land for the payment of the sum.