Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0738Breach of court orders, attachment and committal · Co. Dublin · 24 Jun 2026

High Court orders arrest of two men breaching leave order at former pub in Dublin's Liberties

The High Court ordered the arrest of two men, Eoghan Lynch and Seán Doyle, who are occupying Ardee House, a former pub on Chamber Street in Dublin's Liberties, after they failed to comply with a court order to leave. The property, owned by Black Sheep Investments Ltd, was broken into around Christmas and has since been used as a cafe and social centre by the men, who say they are acting for the Revolutionary Housing League. A three-day deadline to vacate the property expired on Sunday in mid-June 2026, but activities continued. On 18 June, Judge Brian Cregan granted short service of attachment and committal to prison for contempt, and on 24 June the court ordered the two men's arrest, with the judge saying gardaí could attach them wherever found.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 Jun
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Ardee House, a former pub on Chamber Street in Dublin's Liberties, was broken into around Christmas and has been used as a cafe and social centre.
  • Eoghan Lynch and Seán Doyle, who say they are acting for the Revolutionary Housing League, occupied the property.
  • Despite a three-day leave order, activities including running a cafe and social functions continued at the property.
Where
The property is owned by Black Sheep Investments Ltd, which is seeking permission to build apartments at the site.
When
The three-day deadline to leave the property, set by Judge Brian Cregan around 11 June 2026, expired on Sunday.
In court
  • On 18 June 2026, Judge Brian Cregan granted short service of attachment and committal to prison for contempt against Lynch and Doyle.
  • On 24 June 2026, the High Court ordered the arrest of Lynch and Doyle so they could be brought before a judge to explain why they breached the court orders.
  • Judge Cregan said gardaí could attach the two men wherever they found them and suggested the owners consider using a security firm, changing the locks, and putting in security guards.
Other details
  • The two men did not appear in court on 24 June, and Black Sheep did not have any addresses for them other than an email address.
  • The gardaí left the scene saying it was a civil matter.
  • On 24 June 2026, High Court president Judge David Barniville struck off solicitor Ian McSweeney, who previously practised at McSweeney Solicitors in Balbriggan and was suspended from practice in 2024, after a disciplinary tribunal found he misappropriated €49,990.89 from a client account.
Sentence
McSweeney was ordered to pay €3,254 in costs of the Law Society's strike-off application, €10,000 to the society's compensation fund, and €4,524 for tribunal costs.
32 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe premises has been used as a cafe and social centre since it was broken into around Christmas (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCounsel sought an order for short service of attachment and committal to prison for contempt against the defendants (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe solicitor was struck off the roll of solicitors by the High Court (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA disciplinary tribunal made findings against the solicitor including misappropriation of client funds (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe withdrew €49,990.89 from a client account on a piecemeal basis for personal use (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe tribunal found the misappropriation allegation was proven and amounted to misconduct (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe tribunal found he breached various regulations in failing to prepare certain documentation and accounts (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe judge was satisfied to adopt the sanctions recommended by the tribunal (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDespite the leave order, activities including running a cafe and social functions continued at the property. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAfter the site notice went up, several people broke into the building. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe premises is Ardee House on Chamber Street in Dublin's Liberties (irishtimes.com)
  • whereHe previously practised at McSweeney Solicitors, Dublin Street, Balbriggan (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe property is Ardee House on Chamber Street in Dublin's Liberties. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe three-day deadline to leave expired on Sunday (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe was previously suspended from practice in 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal considered the allegations in February (irishtimes.com)
  • whenA site notice went up in May at the property. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Brian Cregan granted short service of attachment and committal (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHigh Court president Judge David Barniville made the orders (irishtimes.com)
  • courtEoghan Lynch and Seán Doyle were given three days by the court to leave the property two weeks before the hearing. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Brian Cregan said he was willing to grant attachment orders against Doyle and Lynch but would adjourn applications against others. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge suggested the owners consider using a security firm to take possession, changing the locks, and putting in security guards. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said gardaí could attach the two men wherever they found them. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceHe was ordered to pay €3,254 in costs of the Law Society's strike-off application (irishtimes.com)
  • otherLyndon MacCann is counsel for property owners Black Sheep Investments Ltd (irishtimes.com)
  • otherEoghan Lynch and Sean Doyle claim to be part of the Revolutionary Housing League (irishtimes.com)
  • otherUnknown people were also in occupation of the premises (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe owners of the property are Black Sheep Investments Ltd. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDoyle and Lynch say they are acting for the Revolutionary Housing League. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBlack Sheep is seeking permission to build apartments at the site. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe gardaí left the scene saying it was a civil matter. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBlack Sheep did not have any addresses for Doyle and Lynch other than an email address. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Jun2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Arrest of duo occupying former pub in Liberties ordered by High Court

    First report of the High Court ordering the arrest of the two men occupying the former pub. The court hearing took place on 24 June 2026 before Judge Brian Cregan.

    suspect, Eoghan Lynch, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eoghan Lynchsuspect, Seán Doyle, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seán Doyle
  2. 24 Jun2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Solicitor with ‘extensive and appalling’ disciplinary record struck off by High Court

    Reports the High Court striking off solicitor Ian McSweeney for professional misconduct, including misappropriation of €49,990.89 from a client account, with Judge David Barniville adopting the tribunal's recommended sanctions.

    convicted, Ian McSweeney, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ian McSweeney
  3. 18 Jun2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Occupiers of former Liberties pub remain in situ despite order to leave, court hears

    Reports that the occupiers continued their activities after the three-day deadline expired, and that Judge Cregan granted short service of attachment and committal to prison for contempt, with the case to return the following week.

    suspect, Eoghan Lynch, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eoghan Lynchsuspect, Sean Doyle, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Doyle