A friend of three men who are facing Christmas in jail for contempt of court in connection with a Roscommon farmhouse says they are prepared "for the long haul"
Kevin Taylor, Colm Granahan and Anthony McGann were jailed in late November for failing to agree to stay away from a property which was re-possessed by KBC Bank last month.
KBC Bank brought contempt of court proceedings against the three men after they failed to give undertaking to stay away from the McGann property in Falsk.
Earlier this month Ms Justice Reynolds said that she was "making an order for the indefinite detention of the three men, until such time that they purge their contempt."
At a press conference this morning, Donal Hanley, who is a friend of the McGann family, said that Geraldine and David McGann, Anthony's brother and sister, who used to live at the home in Falsk, are now staying at two different homes since leaving the house in October and they were "refugees in their own country".
Mr Hanley also claimed that reports that Anthony McGann owed over €400,000 on the property are incorrect and he called on all politicians, locally and nationally, to ask hard questions about the circumstances of the case.
An online petition and Facebook page called "Free the Strokestown Three" have also been established and Mr Hanley said the men are very grateful for having received cards and messages from the public since being jailed in late November.
He explained that the men believe they have done nothing wrong and have no current plans to purge their contempt.
The matter is due to return before the court in the New Year when Judge Leonie Reynolds said she would review matters.
