Courts / Roscommon / Report

Strokestown eviction pair released from prison

Date
2021-04-16

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Strokestown

Summary

Two men imprisoned for contempt of court in connection with interference at a disputed farm in County Roscommon have been released from custody. Michael Anthony McGann, who owned the property at Falsk, Strokestown, and Kevin Taylor, a retired garda from Longford, were held in Mountjoy Prison for nearly five months following their arrest for obstructing KBC Bank's agents during enforcement of a repossession order. On Friday, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds directed their release after both men provided undertakings to the court to remain away from the property. The judge warned that any breach would result in their immediate return to prison. A cost order against McGann, described as the "puppet master" in the matter, was estimated at well into six figures. A third man, Colm Granahan from Ballina, Mayo, was previously released after purging his contempt. The underlying dispute concerns a farm that was the subject of a controversial 2018 eviction following KBC's €431,000 loan recovery action. The full hearing of the case is scheduled for June.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Strokestown eviction pair released from prison. Charges or matters: contempt of court. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

October 2019 Incident
Christmas Other
2021-04-16 Publication

Case subjects

Colm Granahan

Accused

Charges: contempt of court (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: A third man, Colm Granahan from Ballina in Mayo, had also been jailed for contempt, however he purged his contempt and was released shortly before Christmas.