Travellers face jail if they don’t move caravans at site of €31m Limerick road

LIMERICK City and County Council has taken legal action against a number of Travellers to move their caravans to allow contractors commence work on the "transformative" €31m Limerick Northern Distributor Road.

Christina Faulkner, Lisa Crawford, Chloe Kennedy and Patrick O’Halloran, all with separate addresses c/o The Caravan, Coonagh, Co Limerick, were before Limerick District Court for breaching enforcement notices over unauthorised caravans.

A bench warrant was issued for a fifth person who didn't attend court on Friday.

Will Leahy, solicitor for the local authority, told the court the council have spent €16,000 clearing up rubbish at the site in Coonagh Cross. Mr Leahy said there were a total of 11 caravans in situ.

Joe Cahill, senior executive technician at Limerick City and County Council, gave evidence of inspecting the Traveller encampment last November. The court heard Mr Cahill recorded the unauthorised caravans and served enforcement notices to move the caravans.

Mr Cahill said follow-up inspections showed the caravans still on site in Coonagh.

Judge Adrian Harris ordered Ms Faulkner, Ms Crawford, Ms Kennedy and Mr O’Halloran to move their caravans on or before Monday, February 24.

“You have to be out by Monday because the council has contractors coming on site,” said Judge Harris.

Mr Leahy said the contractors are due to start this week.

Judge Harris said the council needs a vacant site and no impediment to entry and access for the contractors to carry out the works. 

The judge imposed two weeks imprisonment on each of the four defendants, which he suspended for one year subject to conditions.

“You must remove the caravan on or before Monday, February 24, 2025. Once you have removed it, you don’t return and place another caravan or MPV at Coonagh Cross, Link Road, Coonagh as is happening at the moment,” said Judge Harris.

The judge added: “If you don’t comply with those conditions the matter will likely come back before the court and the court will be asked to find you in breach of those conditions. The court will then have the option of imposing the sentence of two weeks in prison.” 

Judge Harris said “none of us wants it to come to that point”.

Joe McDonald, manager of the council’s Homeless Action Team, said they have a suite of options available. 

“We have some contracted hotel rooms which are full at the moment unfortunately due to the demand. Self accommodation is a process where a person would source their own accommodation and we would pay for it,” said Mr McDonald.

Ms Kennedy, one of those before the court, said she had rang four hotels in Limerick who told her they were full and the fifth said to check online but she would need a bank card which she doesn’t have.

Mr McDonald said they will engage and offer any support they can.

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The council announced the official signing of the €31 million construction contract with Wills Brothers Ltd for the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road Scheme last month.

The works will include the construction of a 2.1 km new urban dual carriageway, major improvements to existing roads, and the development of pedestrian and cyclist facilities. The project will be delivered in phases, with the dual carriageway between Coonagh and Knockalisheen scheduled to open after the first 12 months. The entire project is expected to be completed in 24 months.

The council say the “transformative" project is set to unlock significant economic and social opportunities for Moyross and the wider area.