Residents lose challenge for use of land earmarked for new school

Residents on the north side of Cork city who have campaigned for eight years against the building of a school on a greenfield…

Residents on the north side of Cork city who have campaigned for eight years against the building of a school on a greenfield area yesterday lost their bid to have use of the land as a right.

Locals in Mayfield and Montenotte had initiated court proceedings against Cork City Council to assert their right to the use of the land, known as the Tank Field, for a “saunter and wander”. Ruling yesterday at Cork Circuit Court, Judge Sean O’Donnabháin said the evidence suggested that the the disputed area had fallen into disuse in recent times from the point of view of recreation and said, “I believe the plaintiff’s case for customary right fails.”

A 292-pupil school has been housed in temporary prefabs next to the field.