Jailed farmers agree to sign paper and purge contempt

TWO brothers who spent the night in Mountjoy Prison were released by the High Court yesterday when they undertook to purge their…

TWO brothers who spent the night in Mountjoy Prison were released by the High Court yesterday when they undertook to purge their contempt of court.

The farmers, Mr William Delaney and Mr Patrick Delaney, of Feereigh, Donaghmore, Portlaoise, Co Laois, were jailed on the order of the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Costello, on Tuesday.

They were committed for contempt of court after the judge said they had breached undertakings to the court that they would not trespass on and interfere with neighbouring lands in Co Laois owned by Mr Walter Murphy, a farmer with an address at Kirkpatrick Drive, Castleknock, Dublin.

In the High Court yesterday Mr Justice Costello said he had been told the men wished to purge their contempt.

He asked each of them if they would sign a document which was drawn up by Mr Murphy's solicitor. The men said they would.

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