A farmer who claims he has had an agreement since 1978 with the Oblate Fathers to farm 150 acres of lands in Co Dublin has taken High Court proceedings against the Order.
Mr Justice Kelly was told that, despite legal proceedings initiated by Mr Kevin Kilmurray, it appeared the lands had been sold to Gannon Homes property developers late last year and Mr Kilmurray was now being refused access to them.
The judge granted an order providing for Mr Murray to be allowed access the lands for the purpose of spraying crops which he had sown there.
The judge said the order reflected no determination of the issues between the parties. He also made directions aimed at ensuring an early hearing of the full legal proceedings.
Mr Kilmurray said the damages he would suffer from the loss of his grain harvest was "of little concern" to the Order, "particularly now that it appears that they are backed by the financial and actual muscle of Mr [Gerard] Gannon".
Mr Kilmurray said the Order had granted him the right to farm the lands in return for half of the annual profits from his cereal farming there.