Mountrath man defies eviction

Mountrath man, Lee Wellstead is still in his home this week after a high noon style showdown last Monday in which the county sheriff failed to evict him from his two storey detached home at Knockanina.

Mr Wellstead (47) faced eviction from his home after having lost a long running battle against Ulster Bank in the Commercial Court. He bought the three-bedroom property on four acres of land in Knockanina in 2003 for €80,000 and then acquired a top up loan on the mortgage of €30,000. Subsequently he failed to keep up with his repayments, and the bank was granted a repossession order last year.

On Monday deputy sheriff Pat Dunne, accompanied by gardai, confronted Mr Wellstead at the gates of his property where a large crowd had gathered. After a lengthy standoff, the deputy sheriff departed the property.