A COUPLE WHOSE home has been demolished by Meath County Council said the council sent 40 men, some of whom were wearing balaclavas, to remove them from the property.

Michael and Rose Murray, owners of the home which formerly stood at Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, gave evidence under oath at the High Court today after arriving in garda custody.

They appeared before Judge Richard Humphreys as part of contempt of court proceedings taken by Meath County Council, which were later discharged by the court after the couple agreed to several undertakings.

Back in 2006, the Murrays were denied planning permission for a dormer bungalow in Faughan Hill in Meath, close to Navan. Despite this, they built a property on the site that was twice the size of the proposed bungalow that was refused permission.

Today’s proceedings related to an allegation by the council that the couple did not carry out the undertaking they had given to vacate the property.

Neil McNelis, the solicitor representing the Murrays, said that whether the undertaking was breached is disputed. 

Michael Murray made submissions first, and claimed that Meath County Council sent men in balaclavas into his kitchen to remove the family as they had their breakfast, though he did not say when this happened.

“What you’ve done to my children is unbelievable,” he said.

‘Ball of rubble’

McNelis asked Murray if he was happy to give an undertaking “that as far as you are concerned from this day forward that you will abide by whatever orders are made by the court and this is your undertaking”.

“Yes I am,” Murray responded.

Counsel for Meath County Council, Deirdre Hughes, then began asking Murray questions to clarify his ownership and residency of the property.

Murray said he was living in the property until the week before last.

“It was my property,” he said when asked. “There’s no property there [now]. It’s just a ball of rubble,” he added.

The court heard earlier today of three separate threats made against workers demolishing the home. While on the stand, Murray said the “threats didn’t come from me”.

Hughes then asked Murray if he would undertake to cooperate with the work of the council to conclude the demolition, which he agreed to.

She then asked Murray if he would cooperate with gardaí relating to any persons who may interfere with the demolition, assist gardaí in identifying these persons and agree not to encourage any person to interfere from today until the completion of all demolition works at the property or until further order of the court.

Murray agreed to all of the conditions set out.

Rose Murray then took the stand.

She said she had been a resident of the property for “about 20 years” and resided there until the end of February.

She agreed to the same undertakings as put to her husband by Hughes. She added: “There is no property left, only a pile of rubble”.

McNelis, the solicitor for the Murrays, said these agreements are subject to a notice of motion that is currently before the court.

Judge Richard Humphreys discharged the contempt charge against the Murrays on the condition they abide by the undertakings furnished by oath.

The matter of costs and the motion before the courts is to come before the court again on 20 April.