County Court Rules (Northern Ireland) 1981

Actions relating to land

10.  In actions brought under Article 12 of the Order, any person not named as a defendant—

(a) may appear and defend, on sending by post to the chief clerk and to each plaintiff and defendant before the entry day a notice claiming that he has an estate or interest in the land to which the action relates or a part thereof;

(b) may, by leave of the judge, appear and defend at the hearing, and the judge may, if he thinks fit, add the name of such person as a defendant in the action;

and the judge may deal with such person; both as to costs and allowances, as if he had been originally named as a defendant and served with the civil bill.