Interim Possession Order Granted to Keens
“MPs expenses are not a matter for this court” said judge
Judge Plaskow granted an Interim Possession Order (IPO) to Ann and Alan Keen for the premises at 38 Brook Road South at 3.00pm today, Friday 10th July.
Once the IPO has been served - stuck on the front door and posted through the letterbox - the ‘occupiers’ will have to vacate the premises within 24 hours.
The costs of the proceedings have been reserved to the main possession hearing which will be fixed at the 'earliest possible court date'.
Around twenty bystanders, eleven defendants and various members of the press crowded into the small Brentford County Court room to hear the proceedings.
The Keens were not present however, their solicitor received a round of applause upon his return to the court room having made a swift exit to don his wig and gown before proceedings commenced.
Spirits were high as defendants sang, “We all live where the Keens have never been” to the tune of Yellow Submarine whilst waiting.
Initially the order was against 'person or persons unknown residing at 38 Brook Road South'.
Part of the defendants' claim to the property rested on the fact that the possession order had been made against 'person or persons unknown' whereas six of the defendants stated they had given their names when the police first became involved.
They argued that the police had been in communication with the Keens so names were not unknown however there was no evidence to support this.
The squatters took a press call outside the court following the hearing and invited everyone to party that evening in the few days they have remaining.
July 11, 2009