The Court of Appeal has heard that Brian O’Donnell’s appeal against a trespass order ‘must be’ finished tomorrow.

The solicitor - who owes the Bank of Ireland over €70m - and his wife appeared in court this afternoon.

Mr O’Donnell argued that he has a contractual right to stay at the Gorse Hill mansion and that the Bank has used ‘brutal tactics’ against him.

Both Brian O’Donnell and Mary Patricia O’Donnell appeared before the Court of Appeal this afternoon, with Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan telling the solicitor’s wife that she must be aware there are consequences if their appeal against the trespass order fails.

Brian O’Donnell set out his argument against the order in court today, saying he has a contractual right to live at the house and that the Bank of Ireland has pursued ‘brutal tactics’ in the courts.

He told the court that he and his wife’s borrowings are not from BOI but from Bank of Ireland private banking - which he says is a separate entity.

He says the notion that he and his wife were barricaded inside Gorse Hill is not true and that invitees could come and go. Mr O’Donnell said that there were no tanks on the lawn.

The court will return to the matter at two o’clock tomorrow afternoon.

Mr O’Donnell has also highlighted the media spotlight on the case - and says there were three satellite trucks and 64 reporters outside the house when legal papers were nailed to the gate.

Recap the day in court as it happened with our live-blog