Cabragh Bridge Unofficial Halting Site Ends In High Court Action

Halting Site and part of the new, modern, six unit group housing scheme now being provided.

Tipperary County Council have taken High Court proceedings in an effort to remove members of the Travelling Community from an unofficial halting site at Cabragh Bridge, Cabragh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The action has been taken against eight persons whose presence they claim constitute a public nuisance. These proceedings by the council, latter represented by Mr David Humphries Bl, are being taken against Mr William McCarthy, Ms Elizabeth McCarthy, Ms Mary Ellen McCarthy, Mr Jimmy McCarthy, Mr John McCarthy, Ms Winnie McCarthy, Ms Belinda O’Reilly and Mr Ned O’Reilly.

An injunction is being sought to now compel the defendants to remove their mobile homes and caravan type dwellings, together with all motor vehicles from the Cabragh Bridge area, thus removing any/all obstructions from the roadside, which the Council claim constitutes an inappropriate and unsuitable place in which to reside.

The High Court was today informed that some members of the McCarthy family have lived on this Bridge area for some 40 years; however Tipperary Council have since made provision for the long term members of this family to be accommodated in a modern six unit group housing scheme, which for some long period of time has remained ready for immediate occupation.

The defendants now currently before the Court, whom the council claim only moved to this Cabragh Bridge site, on various dates between 2015 and September 2018, will however not be accommodated in this new currently vacant scheme.

Tipperary County Council state that they have requested the defendants to leave the Cabragh site, but they have not done so; leaving the Council with no alternative but to take the necessary legal proceedings.

The Bridge itself was initially part of the R659 regional road that remained after the construction of a new section of that road many years ago.

In the High Court today Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds granted Tipperary County Council permission to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on the defendants. She acknowledged the urgency of this case together with health and safety concerns raised, before returning the matter back to the Court next week.