An injunction preventing a number of Travellers and their vehicles from remaining on a roadway beside Howth Junction railway station and an adjacent industrial estate was issued by the High Court yesterday.
Ms Justice Macken granted the order to Fingal County Council after being told that about 70 adults and children in a number of caravans and mobile homes were causing problems at Kilbarrack Way, which is a public roadway.
It was stated some of the Travellers had been accommodated in two houses provided by Dublin Corporation until late 1997 when they vacated them. Another group was also normally accommodated in the administrative area of Dublin Corporation.
Two others had been resident in an address in Rathfarnham, in the functional area of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
In an affidavit, a staff officer with Fingal County Council, Mr Michael Carroll, said that about November 23rd last the defendants and their families had taken up occupation of the road at Kilbarrack Way. Since their arrival, serious difficulties had been encountered by neighbouring owners and occupiers and people going about their daily business.
The defendants had permitted rubbish and scrap to accumulate in the area where they were encamped. As of January 19th, there were 20 mobile homes on the site, 12 motor vehicles, a horsebox, a damaged car and numerous wandering dogs, together with refuse. The Travellers had been requested to leave, but had failed to do so.
Mr Carroll said he had been informed that a number of the defendants had made illegal connections to lighting columns. He had been told by an electrician that this posed a serious safety hazard.