Cork County Council has reached an agreement with a landowner who had taken High Court proceedings in a bid to prevent council lands adjoining his own being used as a halting site for members of the Travelling community.
Patrick Mulcahy, a farmer, of Ballinwillin House, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, had gone to the court seeking an injunction restraining the council from using its lands beside his home as a halting site or causing or permitting a nuisance on the lands.
He was further seeking orders preventing the council from depositing vehicles, caravans and waste material other than those associated with a single family dwelling at the same lands.
At the High Court yesterday, Colm Condon SC, for the council, told Mr Justice John Hedigan his clients were prepared to give certain undertakings which had been agreed between the parties and, on that basis, the motion for an injunction brought by Mr Mulcahy could now be struck out. The undertakings included a commitment by the council to erect barriers which would prevent caravans or other such vehicles from getting on the properties.
The council is also to take measures to ensure that the area would be kept clean and that no business is carried on at the locations. There would be regular inspections and a council official would be appointed to act as a liaison officer between the respective parties, the court was told.
Mr Mulcahy may reapply to the court if the undertakings are not adhered to. In 2004 the council bought three houses on land adjoining Mr Mulcahy's for social accommodation purposes.