Up to 100 Travellers are seeking High Court orders restraining Offaly County Council from moving them from an unofficial halting site.
The action has been brought on behalf of the group by Patrick McInerney and his wife Bridget – who have lived at the halting site at Kilmucklin, Ashfield, Clara, since 2003 – and by Mary McInerney, a primary healthcare worker with the Tullamore Travellers Movement, who also lives on the site with her family.
The three applied to Mr Justice Michael Peart on an ex parte basis (one side only) yesterday for leave to bring the judicial review proceedings. The judge said he would give his decision later this week.
The court was told the council, after receiving complaints from the public about the site, had decided to take an action under section 160 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 aimed at moving the group from the site.
The site is an abandoned piece of land located away from the nearest main road and about half a mile from the nearest residence.
The three say facilities there are non-existent and the site has no running water, sanitation or toilet facilities.
They also say they have never received any complaints regarding their behaviour nor have any complaints about anti-social behaviour been made by the council.
More than 20 families, about 100 people, live in caravans and mobile homes on the site.