A temporary order directing a number of Travellers to leave lands at Mount Merrion in Dublin was granted by the High Court yesterday.
Mr Martin Hayden, for four local residents stated to be owners of the lands at North Avenue/Wilson Road, Mount Merrion, told Mr Justice Budd the gates to a field were padlocked but the locks were broken open and caravans were moved in.
The four plaintiffs are Mr Gerard Cosgrave, Mr James Keane, Mr Eamonn O'Kennedy and Mr Patrick Cremmin. In an affidavit, Mr Cosgrave, a solicitor, from North Avenue, said the gateway to the lands in question was permanently locked and secured. Last Tuesday, he was at home and heard a bang outside. When he looked out, he saw the defendants towing caravans on to the lands. He went to the gate and attempted to prevent them entering.
The drivers refused to stop and drove at speed into the field. He had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. Some individuals threw stones and missiles at those attempting to prevent them entering the property.
Mr Cosgrave claimed one member of the encampment, who refused to identify himself, said it would take him six weeks to get them out and cost him £20,000 and that he could avoid all that by paying them.
On a number of nights, fires were lit at the boundary fence to the rear of his home. The fence is made of timber and surrounded by trees.
Mr Cosgrave said the property is not serviced The lands were now becoming filthy and extremely unhygienic.
He had contacted gardai at Black rock. They informed him they were unable to take action as, although it appeared the gate was forced open, there were no witnesses to the actual forcing open by the defendants or their associates and there was nothing the gardai could or would do.
The judge granted an order directing the defendants to leave the lands and returned the matter to Tuesday.