Sunday 1 November 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. 3582Contempt of court · Co. Tipperary · 12 Mar 2026

Man in chains over Tipperary contempt of court case

Owen Ryan was evicted from his home at Moat Quarter, Kilfeacle, Co Tipperary after failing to pay a €402,000 mortgage, with Mars Capital Finance taking possession in July 2024. He was imprisoned for contempt of court after repeatedly refusing to obey orders not to return to the house, spending approximately 240 days in custody. Released by the High Court on 10 March 2026, Ryan appeared to be back in the house by 12 March 2026. He was brought before the High Court in chains, where Judge Brian Cregan proposed changing the locks with gardaí present to effect his arrest, after Ryan refused to give an undertaking not to re-enter the property.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court12 Mar
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Owen Ryan was evicted from a property at Moat Quarter, Kilfeacle, Co Tipperary after failing to keep up with mortgage payments.
  • On 12 March 2026, a lawyer for Mars informed the judge that someone appeared to be in the house refusing to answer the door.
Where
The property is at Moat Quarter, Kilfeacle, Co Tipperary.
When
Mars Capital Finance took possession of the house in July 2024 following a court order.
Cause
The house is now owned by Mars Capital Finance DAC following failure to pay a €402,000 mortgage debt.
Investigation
Ryan was imprisoned for contempt of court after repeatedly refusing to obey orders not to return to the house.
In court
  • Judge Brian Cregan gave Ryan opportunities to purge his contempt during numerous appearances, but Ryan refused to give an undertaking not to attempt to get back into the house.
  • Ryan was brought before the High Court in chains and repeated a number of "mantra" statements.
  • The judge proposed that the locks could be changed with gardaí present, and gardaí could then be invited into the house to effect the arrest of Ryan in compliance with the court order.
Sentence
Ryan was released by the High Court on 10 March 2026 after spending approximately 240 days in prison for contempt of court.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOwen Ryan was released by the High Court after spending approximately 240 days in prison for defiance of court orders over a home repossession. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOn Tuesday, a lawyer for Mars informed the judge that someone appeared to be in the house refusing to answer the door. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRyan was evicted from a property after he failed to keep up with mortgage payments. (gript.ie)
  • whenMars Capital Finance took possession of the house in July 2024 following a court order. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Brian Cregan gave Ryan opportunities to purge his contempt during numerous appearances, but Ryan refused to give an undertaking not to attempt to get back into the house. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said the locks could be changed with gardaí present, and gardaí could then be invited into the house to effect the arrest of Ryan in compliance with the court order. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtRyan was brought before the High Court in chains. (gript.ie)
  • courtRyan repeated a number of "mantra" statements in court. (gript.ie)
  • courtRyan appeared before Justice Brian Cregan. (gript.ie)
  • sentenceRyan had previously been released from prison after spending 240 days in custody for contempt of court. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe house is now owned by Mars Capital Finance DAC following failure to pay a €402,000 mortgage debt. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 3 Jun2026
    In courtgript.ie, first report
    "Mantra" man brought before courts in chains - Gript

    Article covers Ryan's High Court appearance before Justice Brian Cregan, which followed 240 days in custody for contempt of court.

    accused, Owen Ryan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Owen Ryan
  2. 12 Mar2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man jailed for 240 days for contempt of court orders returned to repossessed house on release

    Reports Ryan's release from 240 days in prison on 10 March 2026 after the house was sold, and that he appeared to be back in the house by 12 March 2026. The judge proposed changing locks with gardaí present to effect his arrest.

    convicted, Owen Ryan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Owen Ryan