Former boxing champion granted appeal in bid to save Wicklow home

By Darragh McCann, The Wicklow People

Former professional boxer James Rock and his wife have been granted leave to appeal a decision allowing Pepper Finance to repossess their Wicklow home.

James Rock and his wife, Esther, appeared at a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Civil Court to appeal the decision to repossess their home, located at The Grove, Greystones, Co Wicklow.

In May 2025, the County Registrar granted Pepper Finance Corporation (Ireland) Designated Activity Company trading as Pepper Asset Servicing’s application to repossess the family home.

Counsel for the applicants, Anne FitzGibbon, said a stay was placed on the order for six months, but her client informed Pepper in a letter that he was out of the country.

She said he also told Pepper that it was his intention to appeal the decision.

However, Mr Rock did not inform his wife due to her ongoing health issues and intercepted correspondence relating to the repossession proceedings, later apologising for his behaviour in a sworn affidavit.

Barrister for Pepper Finance, Sam Todd, argued that his client had issues “with the conduct before, during and after” the proceedings, including the applicant going on holiday during the proceedings.

Judge John Martin told Mr Todd to “save your breath to cool your porridge” before granting Mr Rock and his wife leave to appeal the decision of the County Registrar.

Mr Rock, better known by his ring name ‘The Pink Panther’, enjoyed a successful professional boxing career before retiring in 2009.

Since retiring from the sport, he has established a car business and has also worked as a celebrity boxing trainer.

His daughter, Kaci Rock, has followed in his footsteps and recently won a silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.