A car dealer who allowed Traveller families to park caravans illegally on a site along one of Dublin's main roads was yesterday ordered to pay €2,460 in costs.
The costs relate to the investigation and legal action taken against him.
Mr Brian Downes, Kingswood View, Tallaght, Dublin, failed to obey a notice served on him last year requiring the removal of 13 caravans and other vehicles from the rear garden of a house he owns.
The house, at St Brigid's Cottages, is in a prominent area along a slip road running parallel with the Naas Road dual carriageway, near its junction with the M50 roundabout.
When he came before Dublin District Court last week, he said he had removed all but one of the caravans and undertook to remove the last one and any other vehicles by yesterday when the case was relisted again. He claimed the Travellers who had been staying on his land had nowhere else to live.
Judge John Coughlan was told all the vehicles had been removed but South Dublin Council, which had taken the case, still wanted to proceed with the failure to obey the enforcement notice requiring removal.
The court heard the notice had been served on his wife at his home on July 29th last but Mr Downes said he had not received it as he had separated from his wife. He had previously removed containers from the same site when he received a request from the council to do so.
Judge Coughlan said he was satisfied that the notice had been properly served and that Mr Downes was liable for the costs. He imposed a fine of €300 euro and ordered him to pay the full costs of €2,460.