Stand-offasangryresidentsrail against mobile home at estate
A JUDGE adjourned a case taken by Cork County Council this week to seek an injunction forcing the removal of a large mobile home from a housing estate in Fermoy by a young Traveller family.
Judge Brian O’Callaghan told Cork Circuit Court it would not be fair to proceed given that only one of the parties, the council, were present for the hearing. He said it was important that the case be heard with representation from the family living in the mobile home at Beechfield in Fermoy.
The council brought the case seeking an injunction for the immediate removal of a large mobile home that was placed on a green area of the long-established Beechfield Estate in Fermoy last Thursday. That sparked a standoff with residents of the 122 house estate who warned that they will not allow their estate to be turned into a halting site.
Residents have protested on the old Dublin- Cork road to highlight the issue - and have prevented the removal of a lorry and crane which delivered the mobile home.
The council has argued that the land involved belongs to Cork County Council and, as such, Emma O’Driscoll and her partner, Jason O’Donoghue, are trespassing.
Donnacha McCarthy, for the council, said the family have been occupying the site in a smaller caravan for two years. However, the move to install a large mobile home on site caused the situation to escalate with residents and the Traveller family now involved in a stand-off.
Both have refused to back down - with residents demanding the immediate removal of the mobile home and the smaller caravan while the Traveller family, who have three children aged four years and under, said they will only move if they are given proper housing.
Mr McCarthy said the council is very concerned that the situation could lead to a disturbance if the impasse is not resolved as quickly as possible.
Judge Brian O’Callaghan said it was not fair to proceed with only one side in court, particularly in light of the length of time the family has been there. He adjourned the case until Friday with an order that the family be given formal notice to attend.