Liberties pub occupiers have continued activities unabated despite court order, judge told

High Court Reporter

The occupiers of a former pub in Dublin's Liberties have continued their activities unabated despite a High Court order last week that they leave within three days, a judge was told on Thursday.

A week ago, the trespassers on the Ardee House, Chamber Street, were given three days to leave by Judge Brian Cregan.

Those three days expired on Sunday. The court has heard that the premises have been used as a café and a social centre since it was broken into around Christmas.

Lyndon MacCann, for the pub owners Black Sheep Investments Ltd, told the court on Thursday: "Notwithstanding the orders, the activities remained unchecked and continued unabated".

In those circumstances, counsel said he had no other option than to seek an order for short service of attachment and committal to prison for contempt against the defendants.

Judge Cregan said he was satisfied to grant short service to MacCann and said the case could come back next week.

The court previously heard that Eoghan Lynch and Sean Doyle, who claim to be part of the Revolutionary Housing League, as well as unknown persons, were in occupation.

Both men were in court when the order to vacate the premises was made.

Doyle claimed their action was a response to the homelessness crisis in which people were "dying on doorsteps" and they would not comply with the order to leave.