The action by the Abbey House of Prayer Group is as a result of a High Court action taken by the Franciscan Order to remove those staging a sit-in at the church on Abbey Street.
They had been allowed to hold prayer services in the church since mid-2023 under a temporary caretakers agreement after friars left Clonmel due to falling vocations.
The Franciscans then decided to fully close the Friary on December 31st last – however the prayer group have since continued to occupy the church.
Mr Justice David Nolan yesterday granted permission to serve proceedings over alleged trespass on prayer group chairman Patrick O’Gorman and secretary Joseph McCormack.
Patrick O’Gorman told Tipp Today earlier that the group was disappointed at this move which he feels doesn’t reflect well on the Franciscans.
“All we want is them to come and talk to us. They’re saying that we’re illegally occupying their building and they want us out – as simple as that.
“But I mean they could have done it another way rather than going to the High Court. It looks very bad I think – it doesn’t put the Franciscans in a good light. The people back over the generations had great regard for the Franciscans. They looked after them, they fed them and they clothed them. Local business and local people and then this is the thanks they get.”