A woman is ‘refusing food’ in the Dochas Centre since being taken into custody last Friday for contempt of court.

Yvonne Walsh, who was arrested on Friday after an appearance in the High Court, has been in a long-running battle with courts over the repossession of her house.

Ms Walsh, who has two teenage daughters, has been refusing food until she is released, as she is adamant that she is ‘not purging her contempt’, according to Jerry Beades, who submitted a habeas corpus on her behalf.

Is is understood by Extra.ie that Ms Walsh is in a cell on her own, and is ‘good spirits’. Her family, including her daughters, visited her yesterday.

On Wednesday, Ms Walsh’s case was raised in the Dail by Independent TD Mattie McGrath.

He said: ‘A mother was jailed on Friday last for alleged contempt of court for failing to surrender her family home and other properties. This is day six and she is refusing food.

‘The receiver’s actions come at the end of last week when by agreement valuers for vulture funds and Grant Thornton receivers and owners were in discussion to resolve the issues.

Late on Friday evening a judge of the High Court ordered her detention.

‘European law does not allow the judges to jail citizens in this way. The Supreme Court actually in April heard an appeal this year on this very issue where the Human Rights Organisation [IRHO] also joined in to highlight this unlawful behaviour of the State in the manner how people are jailed at the request of banks and vulture funds and the Irish State.

‘That decision is awaited from the Supreme Court so what is going on? In the meantime this person is still in jail and she has two young teenage daughters being minded by family.’

A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service told Extra.ie it ‘does not comment on individual prisoners or cases’.

They added: ‘However no prisoners in the Dochas Centre have indicated that they are on hunger strike.

‘If a prisoner does go on hunger strike the prison service have contingency plans in place to deal with same, taking into account the medical needs of the person concerned.’