CONOR O’DWYER will move into a self constructed ‘cardboard villa’ outside the presidential palace in an attempt to highlight a state criminal case being brought against him for publishing his story on the internet.
It is the latest twist to the on-going saga which last week saw a developer from Paralimni, his son and an associate convicted of the assault and actual body harm of the British man in a dispute over property.
The new case against O’Dwyer was filed by the Paralimni Police Chief in connection to O’Dwyer uploading material, including phone calls and emails relating to his property dispute, to the internet in 2006.
O’Dwyer says he built his website to prevent and detect a crime, whilst highlighting his plight during his dispute with Karayiannas Developers.
It has been confirmed that the state will proceed with the extraordinary action, case 793/2010, which could raise significant issues concerning freedom of speech online in Cyprus.
O’Dwyer is set to appear in court in late November in relation to the case.
In a separate development, O’Dwyer will arrive on the island this weekend to witness the sentencing of the three men convicted of assaulting him outside the disputed property two-years ago. The controversy between the two parties began five years ago when O’Dwyer claimed he purchased a house in Frenaros that was then resold without his knowledge by the developers.
Developer Christoforos Karayiannas 55, his son Marios Karayiannas, 35, and Charalambous Ttigis, 31, will be sentenced on Monday morning following mitigation at Larnaca District Court.
The three men have been held in police custody since last Wednesday.
During the trial, the court heard how the men rammed O’Dwyer’s hire car at a busy junction in the eastern village of Frenaros, he was then subjected to a savage beating, including having his head stamped on – the attack left him in hospital for a week.
The assault resulted in O’Dwyer receiving deep tissue injuries near his kidneys, loss of balance from ear injuries and severe bruising to his body and face.
A letter presented to the court by his doctor stated that, “Since that time (the assault) he has suffered from severe vertigo which was worsened by movement. This had prevented him from performing normal daily activities.”
O’Dwyer, who lives with wife and two children in Surrey, will start the protest outside the presidential palace on Monday November 8.
The national ITV network is currently following the case and will be in Cyprus to film the palace protest for their prime-time programme “Homes From Hell”.
The palace protests will be indefinite and are planned to take place between court dates in regard to a civil case for breach of contract and a private criminal case of fraud in the unlawful selling of his house.
By Nathan Morley Published on October 30, 2010
To see comments from British expats read this article in the Cyprus Property News