Vico Road an unlikely setting for protest against eviction

Vico Road, the quietly wealthy road above the sea in Killiney, is an unlikely setting for repossession stakeouts and New Land League protests.

Early in the day, electronic gates opened and a security man waved a Maserati car out of the home of U2 frontman Bono. A little farther along the road a 00-registered Volkswagen Bora car pulled in and blocked the wide gateway of Gorse Hill, the large home of the family of Dublin solicitor and property developer Brian O’Donnell. Already behind the high wooden gate was a silver Renault car blocking the driveway.

Sitting in the Volkswagen car, John Martin confirmed that he and others inside the gate with yellow jackets were members of the New Land League, who had come to “protect” Gorse Hill from repossession by a receiver appointed by the Bank of Ireland.

Mr Martin said the New Land League, which styles itself as the successor to the 19th-century movement that prevented landlords from evicting tenants, was there at the invitation of Mr O’Donnell, who Mr Martin confirmed was inside the house. Last month the adult children of Mr O’Donnell – Blaise, Blake, Bruce and Alexandra – lost a Supreme Court appeal against repossession of the house by Bank of Ireland. They were ordered to vacate the house by March 1st, which was last Sunday.

As a reported deadline of midday yesterday for the bank’s receiver to take possession of the house approached, a large number of photographers and reporters gathered along the narrow, twisting road.

Garda car

A brief flurry of excitement spread through the media group as a Garda car, which reporters thought might be accompanying the bailiffs, made its way up the hill, edging past an RTÉ broadcast van. But as the Garda car stopped, the officer driving it inquired what was the occasion, and who lived at Gorse Hill.

As the media members stamped their feet to keep warm, Mr Martin was seen to take a phone call, after which he said that Mr O’Donnell was determined to speak but was constrained by a last-minute court application for a stay of the eviction order. Mr O’Donnell would speak to the media “after today”, he confirmed, dashing hopes of an immediate gateway question-and-answer session.

Speaking by phone, Jerry Beades of the New Land League said Mr O’Donnell would contend he had been “beaten up” by the banks, which had “treated him disgracefully”. Mr Beades said the family would argue that money was lent by Bank of Ireland Private Banking, which was a separate entity to the arm of the bank that now sought repayment of loans amounting to about €70 million.

Allegations

He made a number of allegations of unfair practice against the bank, the judiciary and the Revenue Commissioners and claimed Mr O’Donnell’s investment properties had been sold below market value.

As evening fell, news came through to the media from the Four Courts that the legal proceedings had been adjourned until Tuesday afternoon.