Family at centre of Meath home slated for demolition to be allowed retrieve belongings

The family at the centre of a 20 year battle to save their 6,220 sq ft home, built without planning permission, have been allowed access to the property to retrieve their possessions after a fresh High Court Order demanded the five-bedroom home be demolished within 48 hours.

Dozens of concerned locals gathered at the top of the narrow lane that leads down to the Murray house in Bohermeen this evening after Judge Richard Humphreys in the High Court today (Wednesday 18th March) ordered that the house built by Chris and Rose Murray be immediately cleared of the family's possessions. It's understood that while the family have left the property, their belongings still remain inside.

This followed Monday's High Court Order granting Meath County Council possession of the house.

This evening, an understanding between senior Meath County Council staff and family representatives was reached where belongings will be gathered up overnight with family members allowed in under supervision of Gardai to assess the house in the morning (Thursday) and ensure remaining belongings are removed.

It's understood that Meath County Council returned to the High Court today to seek a second order to expedite the possession and removal of possessions after security staff on site (since Monday morning) were allegedly subjected to harassment and obstruction.

Locals claim family representatives were prevented from retrieving their belongings including medicines and personal items by security.

Rose Murray, speaking to the Irish Independent said her family were being treated "worse than the Kinahans".

“My son is 19 years of age and he was at home on his own when a man from the council came in (Monday) and gave him an order and told him to leave the house,” she said.

“You would think we were the Kinahans [the organised crime group] ... with the amount of the security that was at the house. There were around 30 men in balaclavas watching the place the other night. We are being treated like animals turfed out on the street with nowhere to go. I’m disgusted.

“We have applied to the European courts to try to stop our house being demolished and are still awaiting a decision there, so how can they do this while that is ongoing?

Meath County Council secured the High Court order from Judge Humphreys today (Wednesday) at 2pm who insisted the house be cleared and the demolition commence immediately.

At 7.30pm this evening (Wednesday) with discussions between senior council staff and family liaisons, it was agreed to allow family representatives, without the presence of security contractors, to clear belongings, with Murray family members themselves allowed on site between 9 and 10.30am tomorrow (Thursday) for final removals under the supervision of gardai.

It's understood that only after the family members and supporters have left the scene that security teams and contractors will move on site to begin demolition works.

A Council official explained: "The High Court order issued on Monday basically gave the council authority to take possession of the house.

"By extension, there was, as far back as 2020, court orders given regarding demolition. So, the order on Monday was effectively to secure possession with security put in place arriving on site on Monday morning and they remained at the property until 10am on Wednesday morning by which time the council had been notified of threats to security."

"We returned to the High Court on Wednesday and at 2pm a new order was issued from Justice Richard Humphreys which effectively, gave us 48 hours to proceed with the demolition of the house. And its also, the order included that we would be provided with Garda assistance in carrying that into effect."

Judge Richard Humphreys whp had issued the initial possession order on Monday and hearing of the events that followed and harassment of security personnel and contractors "lost patience" ruled that the house be secured and demolition undertaken within 48 hours.

"So we set about doing all of that and putting contractors in place to do removals.

"We were going to take as much of the family's belongings out as we could in a short number of hours and we had new security lined up and we had demolition contractors in place. That security was to go in this evening and they informed us that they were being blocked at the head of the lane where we were tonight. So they had to go away."

While a rallying call was then sent out via social media urging members of the community to join a peaceful protest at the top of the lane leading down to the house, it's understood that access was gained to the house by locals supporting the family with the purpose of retrieving belongings.

"So the people then set about removing belongings from the house and the Gardaí in conjunction with the council made a practical call not to obstruct what was happening. It was only going to exasperate matters on the ground.

"So that's where the discussion went, that that would be allowed to continue. And then the request that the son and daughter would be allowed access in the morning (Thursday) at 9.30am to check on any last items in daylight that needs to be removed."

The council source said there could have been mixed messaging around events leading up to a second court order being sought but ultimately the conversation rested on 'where to now'?

There was agreement at the site between council officials and family liasions that the demolition of the house was no longer the issue and that security or contractors wouldn't be hindered after possessions had been retireved.

"Hopefully when that's all done and everyone's satisfied, then we'll call the contractors with the assistance of the Gardaí and hopefully that that can go smoothly."

More to follow...