Woman jailed for contempt says her home ‘is gone’

A woman jailed for contempt of a court order requiring her to hand over possession of her home to a bank has told the High Court that her home "is gone" and she has "nothing to purge at this stage".

Claire Knowles is on bail pending the outcome of an inquiry into the legality of her detention in Limerick Prison.

She told Mr Justice Richard Humphreys that she is "a mother and grandmother" who was entitled to natural justice and fair procedures.

“I am not a criminal, I never did anything wrong in my life, I am forced into this position,” she said.

There was an issue about the title in the warrant for her detention, which was originally in the name of ICS Building Society but later amended to the governor and company of Bank of Ireland, she said.

She said the bank’s papers were incorrect, that her case involved a “non-statutory ad hoc process devoid of legal effect” and that there was widespread confusion about the possession orders being sought.

Mr Justice Humphreys told Ms Knowles that the banks were not involved in this inquiry into the legality of her detention.

The judge adjourned to Tuesday the hearing of the inquiry after a request by the solicitor for the prison governor to allow for production of a transcript of a digital recording of the December 8th, Cork Circuit Court proceedings concerning Ms Knowles.

Ms Knowles was detained in Limerick Prison from December 8th until December 10th, when Mr Justice Humphreys ordered her release on her own bail of €100, with a condition she stay away from her home, pending full determination of the Article 40 case.

Ms Knowles (56), representing herself, told the court she is appealing separately an order for possession of her home at The Pines, Castlejayne Woods, Glanmore, Co Cork.

‘Legal concoction’

Remy Farrell SC, for the prison governor, said a "legal concoction" had been come up with in this inquiry .

The repossession order was not an issue in the Article 40 inquiry and if Ms Knowles wanted to get a stay on that order, she would have to take different proceedings, he said.