Judge to question council on efforts to house Travellers

A senior official with Ennis Town Council has been ordered to address a District Court judge next month on the council's efforts to house Travellers in Ennis.

This follows Judge Joseph Mangan adjourning cases against three Travellers who set up an illegal encampment in the grounds of the council's HQ over a five-month period last year.

One of the Travellers involved, Mr Kevin Maughan (19), told Ennis District Court that the families moved into the grounds of the HQ "to make a statement" over the council's failure to provide the families with homes.

The Travellers' solicitor, Mr Joseph Chambers, told the court on Friday night that the three moved on to the council property "out of a sense of desperation".

Mr Maughan said: "When the gardaí came to remove us, we asked them where could we go and they couldn't answer us. We were not disturbing anyone there. We just wanted a place to stay."

Sgt Séamus Ruane told the court that the Travellers moved on to the council property in June and did not move until November when gardaí prosecuted them under the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2002. He said the maximum penalties if convicted are a €3,000 fine and/or a month in jail.

Sgt Ruane said gardaí did not act until they had received instructions from the Attorney General's office and the Director of Public Prosecutions. He said a constitutional challenge to the housing legislation is currently being taken by a number of Travellers.

Sgt Ruane said the Travellers failed to comply with an order to move and the caravans were seized and towed away by gardaí.

He told the court that the presence of the Travellers forced the council to employ 24-hour security at the council HQ.

The council has already confirmed that it has spent €33,000 on security in response to the presence of the illegal halting site.

Sgt Ruane told the court: "The Travellers being in the council headquarters caused considerable inconvenience, cost and expense to the council."

Mr Chambers said the Travellers' move was a statement to provoke the council into providing them with a home.

After hearing both sides, Judge Mangan adjourned the case until February 20th to hear evidence from a senior official with Ennis Town Council on the council's legal obligations in the area and its efforts to house the Travellers.