Report Paul Murphy
A Meath County Council prosecution for an alleged unauthorised development at a house near the world-famous Newgrange monument five years ago was back in court for the 20 th time last Friday. In the case John McConville was alleged to failed to comply with an enforcement notice served on him by the county council in November 2020 under Section 154 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to 2021.
In one of the many hearings into the case held at Navan District Court Judge Eirinn McKiernan had given Mr McConville a chance to regularise his position. She had said that the last thing she wanted to do was to issue an enforcement order and suggested that the defendant apply for planning permission. The first steps in that process was the holding of a pre-planning meeting with council officials. In April this year when the case was listed at the Navan court the judge was told that “good progress” had been made in the case and the case was again adjourned to await the outcome of further moves.
When the case was mentioned on Friday the judge was told that a planning application had not been submitted. However, solicitor David McEntee prosecuting on behalf of the county council found that an online application had been made by Mr McConville. Mr McEntee then asked the judge to finalise the case on Friday.
However, Judge McKiernan said she would not finalise the case until she saw the outcome of the planning application. The application must now await validation by the council. The case was put back to 14 th November.
