Supreme Court decision due this week to see if mega company can force Leixlip farmer out of his own home

A landmark case is due to be decided in the Supreme Court this Thursday when 54-year-old Leixlip farmer Thomas Reid finds out whether or not he will be forced to leave his home by the IDA.

The single farmer has lived in the house all his life, but chipmaker Intel have a 72-acre site right beside his land and the IDA are seeking to purchase the property by compulsory order. The house was built in 1760 and was part of the Carton House estate, and according to Reid, his family have been living there from around 1910 or 1911.

The worried farmer labelled the whole case as evil as it rumbles into its fifth year. "These Americans think they can come in and do as they want. My belief is, if this case is won, a lot of heads will roll, and I mean roll."

"They don't know where to stop. If it is not money, it is basically wealth they are after. Nothing more," he said.

Reid will face a considerable legal bill if he were to lose his case after losing a high court battle with the organisation in 2013 and being told he would have to pay his own legal costs.