A prosecution case brought by Roscommon County Council against a Ballaghaderreen couple for failing to comply with an enforcement notice served on them in August 2022 was struck out by Judge Vincent Deane at a recent sitting of Ballaghaderreen court when he was told that all required works had been completed.
The case against Malcolm and Michelle Farrell, of Tullaghanrock, Ballaghaderreen, was previously adjourned with Judge Deane saying at that time “everyone needs to work together.”
The court had previously heard that the couple were living off-grid in a caravan on the site, which they owned and on which they had built a self-sufficient living situation, which included solar panels, water butts for rain water harvesting, a vegetable garden and areas for goats.
Within a large shipping container on the site were seating areas, a flue and stove.
The couple were given time to engage properly with the council and to comply with the enforcement notice and, when Ms Farrell later appeared before Ballaghaderreen District Court, the court heard that the steel shipping container and the caravan had been removed from the site, but there was gravel that still needed to be collected, and a number of pipes that needed to be removed.
Following a number of court hearings since that time last week’s sitting heard that the site had been cleared and matters complied with. The matter was then struck out.
