Fromund Le Brun

[4] His duties included performing numerous administrative tasks: his first recorded assignment was to deliver treasure to the King's Wardrobe (this was a Department of the Royal Household, not simply a room) at Marlborough.

Pope Nicholas III declared his election void, but also passed over William in favour of a compromise candidate, John de Derlington, who as a royal confessor also enjoyed the confidence of the English Crown (in the event Derlington, detained by official business in England, died the year after Fromund without ever setting foot in Ireland).

In 1275 Le Brun, like the rest of the Dublin administration, became involved in a bitter quarrel with the formidable Archbishop of Cashel, David Mac Cerbaill (or MacCarwell).

He took grave offence at the suggestion that he should not have exclusive possession of the prison, arguing that Crown control of it was prejudicial to his rights, and fuelled the controversy by excommunicating his opponents.

The outraged Le Brun wrote to Robert Burnell, the Lord Chancellor of England, complaining of the Archbishop's conduct in the strongest terms.

The matter dragged on for several years, and the Archbishop was successful in obtaining control of the prison, but in 1282 Le Brun was found to be blameless, and in recompense, the English Crown ordered that he receive either a prebend or some other benefice.

Sir Fromund le Brun, Nigel's son, sold his interest in Knocktopher to Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick, in 1314.