Council takes action over alleged illegal trespass on site of Traveller housing scheme

Leitrim County Council has brought High Court injunction proceedings aimed at removing persons it claims are illegally trespassing on part of a Traveller group housing scheme.

The court heard that the alleged trespass commenced earlier this month when “a group of individuals wearing balaclavas cut open a locked barrier and placed their two caravans on an empty lot” of the site beside a playschool. The alleged actions, it is further claimed, “terrified staff and children” at the playschool, resulting in parents being called to come and collect their children and gardaí being contacted.

Lawyers for the council say the occupiers have parked their caravans in a derelict bay at the Shannonside View Traveller group housing scheme in Carrick-on-Shannon and have refused to leave. The court heard that some of the persons it claims are illegally occupying the site have identified themselves as John Mongan, John Mongan jnr and Margaret Mongan, who said they had moved from Dublin.

The council says it has approached those persons, who it says have no permission to be on the council-owned and operated site. However, the occupants have refused to vacate.

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The matter came before Mr Justice Brian O’Moore at the High Court on Wednesday who, on an ex-parte basis, said he was satisfied to make orders against the three named individuals and all other persons who are wrongfully in occupation of the site. The judge said he was prepared to grant orders restraining the occupants from interfering with or obstructing the council from taking possession of the property in question.

The court also made an order restraining the defendant from entering or placing any further structures on the land without the council’s consent. The matter will return before the High Court later this month.

Niall Flynn BL, for the council, said it is his client’s case that there are serious health and safety concerns regarding the bay, which is derelict, unsafe and not currently suitable for occupation.

The housing scheme contains 14 bays allocated on a contractual basis and is “not a transient site” which facilitates random occupation by travelling parties, the court heard.