Judge rejects O’Donnell family bid to stop home repossession

A solicitor turned billion euro property investor is facing eviction from a mansion on one of Ireland’s most exclusive addresses after a judge refused a last minute plea from his family to halt a repossession.

Judge rejects O’Donnell family bid to stop home repossession

A solicitor turned billion euro property investor is facing eviction from a mansion on one of Ireland’s most exclusive addresses after a judge refused a last minute plea from his family to halt a repossession.

Brian O’Donnell has been holed up in the palatial spread in Killiney, overlooking Dublin bay, since yesterday afternoon when receivers were due to take the property from the family.

The luxury house, worth in the region of €34m in the boom years but now valued at up to 7m euro, is Gorse Hill, off Vico Road, where the neighbours include the likes of Bono.

It was due to be handed over after Bank of Ireland secured a €71m euro judgment against the O’Donnells.

Judge Brian McGovern was asked by some of the O’Donnells’ adult children to stop the repossession yesterday but refused in a ruling this afternoon.

The High Court judge said the application was a device to frustrate previous orders of the courts, including the Supreme Court.

“We can do this the easy way, or make it more difficult,” Judge McGovern told one of the sons.

Blake O’Donnell, also a solicitor, had said in the court that it was “ridiculous” that he has to phone his father and his mother Dr Mary Patricia, who remain in Gorse Hill, and tell them the ruling went against the family.

“I have informed my father of the ruling and he has indicated he is not party to the proceedings,” Mr O’Donnell junior told the court.

Cian Ferriter, senior counsel for Bank of Ireland and the receiver, had told the court the only way it had of contacting Mr O’Donnell senior was by email.

The barrister said Mr and Mrs O’Donnell had adopted a “shocking approach” which he had anticipated and that the bank and receiver had brought a lawsuit for alleged trespass against the couple.

The court was told there is no longer a post box at the property and the bank’s lawyers sought the judge’s permission to fix the repossession order to the gates of the mansion.

Mr Ferriter said his clients had no phone number for the O’Donnells and only had one email address.

Judge McGovern gave the bank and receiver permission to fix a repossession notice to the gate and notify the O’Donnells by the intercom system “if there’s one still working”.

The court rose to allow the parents to be contacted.

The O’Donnells are being supported by members of the Land League, a campaign group set up to oppose repossessions. It somewhat ironically takes its name from Michael Davitt’s 19th century fight against absentee landlords in Ireland who were evicting smallholders from homes and cottages.

Jerry Beades, a spokesman for the group, said the issues are the same for the O’Donnells in Killiney as “Mrs Murphy in Tipperary”.

The O’Donnells fought a four year legal battle over a one billion euro property empire and to keep the luxury pile in Killiney.

They claimed the Gorse Hill mansion was held in trust for their four adult children, Alexandra, Blaise, Blake and Bruce and that it should not have been taken as security on other loans.

Claiming to speak on behalf of the O'Donnells outside the Four Courts, Mr Beades, of the New Land League, said the case was no different to every other bank repossession in the country.

“The injunction proceedings have failed but the case still goes on,” he said.

“The judge hasn’t struck out the proceedings and an appeal will be lodged.”

Mr Beades said there remained “huge irregularities” around the proceedings and the O’Donnells were entitled to due process.

An appeal is to be heard at a fast tracked hearing on Thursday.

Asked if Mr and Mrs O’Donnell intended to remain on in Gorse Hill, Mr Beades said: “The situation at the moment will have to be reviewed and depending on what decisions the O’Donnells make proceedings on Thursday will determine what happens going forward.

“They will be putting up a vigorous defence to these proceedings.”

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