Couple Ordered to Demolish House - any update?

bladespin · 05-12-2025 05:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124044907#Comment_124044907

He has quite a few avid supporters in that area - not sure about this couple but certainly nearby.

Hotblack Desiato · 17-12-2025 04:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124045106#Comment_124045106

Yeah we keep being told that…

bladespin · 18-12-2025 12:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124077321#Comment_124077321

He's quite popular over there, lots of supporting posts in the local FB groups raving about the decline of society, standing up for values etc etc etc

Hotblack Desiato · 18-12-2025 03:19PM

Some guy ranting in a local FB group, lol

bladespin · 18-12-2025 04:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124079748#Comment_124079748

Nope, dozens of posts/shares etc, honesltly it's a bit Deliverance esque, dualing banjos wouldn't be a massive surprise in that part of the world.

RockOrBog · 18-12-2025 04:11PM

I remember coming across this thread ages ago but not again until today, had the house been demolished

18-12-2025 06:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124079183#Comment_124079183

How many of the members of the local FB groups are local though, and how many are raving MAGA yanks and Russian bots?

Pat734 · 18-12-2025 06:54PM

My cousins in that area tell me the gentle demise of the building has commenced. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the council and courts never put a time limit on when it should be completed. Now the owners can say they've begun to do it. A bit like the pub with a huge sign up announcing, there'll be, "free drink here tomorrow" . There's always a way

Mellor · 19-12-2025 01:01AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124080411#Comment_124080411

That sounds like a sort of loophole you hear down the pub. "If you dig a hole and pour concrete it in, it counts as starting the foundation and the planning permission can't run out".

In reality, that's not how it works. They were ordered to demolish the house, not to start to demolish it. Thoguh they may be doing something else, partial etc. Don't want to encourage.
Also not suggesting your cousin is lying. But I'll believe it when I see it evidence. Rumours spread rapidly in local area. And everyone passing it on sounds credible as they are local.

Pat734 · 19-12-2025 11:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124081305#Comment_124081305

Sure why not go down and have a look, that should convince you. Oh, I can safely say that YES, they have partially taken down some of the structure of the house. Will they continue? Haven't a clue. I've no pictures, no video, no evidence but wouldn't put it in a public domain even if I had. Big family homecoming there over the Xmas and into the new year as well. Fair play to them.

Penn · 19-12-2025 12:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124080411#Comment_124080411

It won't matter to the Council or the Courts if the owners can say they've begun to do it, it will only matter when it's fully done. And if they don't get it done, a time limit will be put on them. Your cousins in that area are fools for believing such nonsense.

If the Court fines you €5,000 and you give them 1p, you can't say you've begun to pay it and then walk off. All it would take is one signature from a judge on a piece of paper with a date that the full amount must be paid by.

As far as potential loopholes go, this idea would be the equivalent of putting a disco ball in the Hall and saying "You said we had to demolish our house, but you never said anything about our disco!"

muffler · 19-12-2025 12:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124081869#Comment_124081869

"Structure" = roof and walls. So what part of the roof and / or walls have they began removing and what volume of same has been removed? A quick phone call to your cousins will garnish that info.

Hotblack Desiato · 19-12-2025 03:59PM

"I wouldn't put that in a public domain" yet you just did.

Mellor · 20-12-2025 04:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124081869#Comment_124081869

Your cousin has seen it, or you have seen it?

Big family homecoming there over the Xmas and into the new year as well. Fair play to them.

Not sure if this is sincere or sarcasm

chooseusername · 20-12-2025 09:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124083975#Comment_124083975

Shur it’s a meitheal gathering to help with “the gentle demise” of the thing ,don’t you know.

Mellor · 21-12-2025 10:09AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124084058#Comment_124084058

I’ve witnessed a lot of demolition in my life. In my life, and I’ve never seen any that I’d describe as gentle.

Peregrinus · 22-12-2025 02:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124081869#Comment_124081869

Pat is distinctly coy about what exactly has been done to "start the demolition" of the property. But if it's in a fit condition to house a "big family homecoming" over Christmas then whatever has been done is not something that is likely to count as "starting the demolition".

There's two possibilities here:

First, somebody is telling Pat a naughty fib, and the poor sap is too dim to see it. Nothing has been done to start the demolition.

Secondly, the misbegotten couple who've sunk so much money into this financial disaster are throwing good money after bad by deluding themselves that removing the front door knocker, or something of the kind, will count as starting the demolition and will keep them out of court.

The first physical step in any property demolition is the disconnection of water, power and sewage. Proceeding with any other aspect of demolition if you haven't done this is plainly mad, and quite possibly dangerous. If they have done this, the property is now unfit for habitation and will not be hosting any big family homecoming. If they haven't, then any steps they may have taken are not steps that will persuade either the local authority or the courts that the demolition of the structure is under way.

Caquas · 16-03-2026 04:35PM

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/council-takes-possession-of-meath-house-at-centre-of-20-year-planning-dispute/a690924687.html

Council is tight-lipped. No sign of demolition, however "gentle".

Did the Council pay the Murrays?

Allinall · 16-03-2026 04:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317335#Comment_124317335

Doubt if they paid them a cent. Why would they?

House will be demolished now and that will be that.

Penn · 16-03-2026 04:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317335#Comment_124317335

If it was only seized this morning, it'll still be a while before demolition is arranged. They'll likely have to arrange access for the Murray's belongings to be removed (either the Council removes them and stores them elsewhere, or they allow the Murrays access to clear the place over a few days while hopefully ensuring they can't just chain themselves to the stairs or something). Chances are the Council won't want to take liability for any damage the Murrays may claim happened their goods if the Council remove them, so they may allow them access to remove their own stuff and anything not removed by a certain date is going in the skip.

Also, what payment do you think the Council have to give the Murrays? The Council aren't buying the house off them. They're demolishing it because the Murrays have refused to. No money is owed (bar whatever cost of legal fees may have been awarded but I don't think anything has).

L1011 · 16-03-2026 05:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317335#Comment_124317335

Garda would not have been involved if it was purchased / financially smoothed over otherwise

zell12 · 16-03-2026 05:09PM

We should all get a piece of memento mortar for putting up with this soap opera for two decades

MrRigsby · 16-03-2026 06:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317335#Comment_124317335

The council won’t give them a cent . The Murray’s will be very lucky if the council doesn't pursue them for their legal costs which must be around 400k by now and the substantial cost of demolition and site restoration

magicbastarder · 16-03-2026 06:31PM

would the high court order which facilitated the seizure be a matter of public record?

Oscar_Madison · 16-03-2026 07:14PM

Delighted to see this-a long time coming-given its notoriety maybe the family could claw some money back by selling tickets to watch the demolition 😀

Caquas · 16-03-2026 09:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317342#Comment_124317342

At this stage, they have no right to anything but I notice that the Murrays made no scene, no weeping with babes in arms as they are evicted. We have heard nothing from them althouhgh they were very willing to talk to the media when it suited them

Perhaps they have finally come to accept the court orders that they resisted incessantly for 20 years. I would be very glad if this battle has ended and the house will now be demolished as a demonstration that the law can't be flouted, or at least not so deliberately and brazenly, even if the legal system frustrated its enforcement for decades.

But maybe we don't know the whole story yet. The Council was very tight-lipped but the phrase "ongoing legal matter" may mean there's more to this story.

deandean · 16-03-2026 10:50PM

There's 100% only one way this can pan out: demolition of the house and restore the site to an agricultural field. With all costs charged to the wrong-doers.

Anything less will lead to anarchy.

Novice Self-Build · 17-03-2026 12:32AM

Sad to see any family lose their home. Lots of hate from curtain twitchers who hide behind anomouus profiles.

I wish the family the best of luck with the next chapter and a new beginning.

Planning and housing are not fit for purpose and this will not be an isolated event in years to come.

Seth Brundle · 17-03-2026 12:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124318516#Comment_124318516

Yeah, youre right - isn't it awful to see all the haters out there celebrating that people who spent two decades giving the two fingers to everyone who abides by the rules is now finally seeing what FAFO means 🙄

blackvalley · 17-03-2026 01:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124318516#Comment_124318516

Oh the irony. “ lots of hate from curtain twitchers who hide behind anonymous profiles “ says ! . Wait for it . “ Novice self built “ 🙄

Couple Ordered to Demolish House - any update?

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