Latest news with #BrianCregan
BreakingNews.ie
8 hours ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Most of carvans camped on Curragh plain still there, court hears
The majority of more than 80 caravans camping on Department of Defence-owned lands in the Curragh, Co Kildare, were still there on Friday morning despite a High Court order that they leave by 1pm, a judge was told. As a result, Mr Justice Brian Cregan ordered that interim injunctions he granted on Tuesday over the alleged trespass should remain in place until further order. Advertisement More than 80 caravans, believed to be occupied by members of the Traveller Community who come over from England and France for the summer, had parked at a number of different locations on the Curragh plain since March, the court heard earlier this week. Their presence has resulted in "mountains of rubbish" having to be removed at a cost so far of €31,700. Some €186,000 was spent on similar clean ups last year in what has become an annual problem for land owners, residents, and horse trainers in the Curragh, the Minister for Defence has claimed in proceedings seeking to remove the caravans. There have also been problems with noise nuisance, scramblers and quad bikes causing damage to greens on a golf course, dogs running around horses being trained and animals being left to graze on the plain. Advertisement The Defence Forces have been prevented from carrying out training on a firing range on the lands. The case was returned to Friday when there was no appearance for any of the caravan dwellers, including 21 named individuals who it had been possible to identify. The court heard the injunction notices were either handed to the occupants or pinned by bailiffs to the caravan doors and included a "plain English" version of them ordered by the court. Kelley Smith SC, for the minister, said that as of 10.10am on Friday, there were 60 caravans at four different locations on the lands. One slightly troubling aspect was that one group of caravans had moved from one location within the lands to another, she said. Advertisement She applied to make the interim injunctions interlocutory which means they stay in place pending the full hearing of the minister's case against the defendants. Mr Justice Cregan said he was satisfied to grant the orders sought and said in notifying the defendants about the orders they should be informed, again in plain English, that further applications may be brought against them. Ms Smith said in event of failure to comply with the orders, it may be necessary to apply for attachment and committal orders seeking the jailing of the defendants for contempt. ends
Irish Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Up to 60 caravans on Dept of Defence land in the Curragh despite order to leave
The majority of more than 80 caravans camping on Department of Defence-owned lands in the Curragh, Co Kildare, were still there on Friday morning despite a High Court order that they leave by 1pm, a judge was told. As a result, Mr Justice Brian Cregan ordered that interim injunctions he granted on Tuesday over the alleged trespass should remain in place until further order. More than 80 caravans, believed to be occupied by members of the Traveller Community who come over from England and France for the summer, had parked at a number of different locations on the Curragh plain since March, the court heard earlier this week. Their presence has resulted in "mountains of rubbish" having to be removed at a cost so far of €31,700. Some €186,000 was spent on similar clean ups last year in what has become an annual problem for land owners, residents, and horse trainers in the Curragh, the Minister for Defence has claimed in proceedings seeking to remove the caravans. There have also been problems with noise nuisance, scramblers and quad bikes causing damage to greens on a golf course, dogs running around horses being trained and animals being left to graze on the plain. The Defence Forces have been prevented from carrying out training on a firing range on the lands. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week The case was returned to Friday when there was no appearance for any of the caravan dwellers, including 21 named individuals who it had been possible to identify. The court heard the injunction notices were either handed to the occupants or pinned by bailiffs to the caravan doors and included a "plain English" version of them ordered by the court. Kelley Smith SC, for the minister, said that as of 10.10am on Friday, there were 60 caravans at four different locations on the lands. One slightly troubling aspect was that one group of caravans had moved from one location within the lands to another, she said. She applied to make the interim injunctions interlocutory which means they stay in place pending the full hearing of the minister's case against the defendants. Mr Justice Cregan said he was satisfied to grant the orders sought and said in notifying the defendants about the orders they should be informed, again in plain English, that further applications may be brought against them. Ms Smith said in event of failure to comply with the orders, it may be necessary to apply for attachment and committal orders seeking the jailing of the defendants for contempt.
Irish Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Agent who allegedly let out 17 overcrowded properties to migrants disputes claims against him
A property agent who let out 17 Dublin properties, which are allegedly overcrowded with migrants and foreign students who were not given written leases, is disputing the claims, the High Court heard. Kevin O'Brien, otherwise Kevin Linehan O'Brien, of North Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, and his company Linehan O'Brien Investments Ltd with a registered address at Adelaide Road, Dublin, had entered into the arrangements without the knowledge of the property owners, who are three companies, and of their agent, it is claimed. The owners got permission last week from the court to serve the proceedings on Mr Linehan O'Brien and the company. The case returned to court on Tuesday when Mr Justice Brian Cregan was told the defendants will be disputing the vast majority of claims against them. READ MORE Brian Conroy SC, for the owners, said the defendants were continuing to trespass on the properties and telling the occupants it was his clients' agents who were trespassing. As a result, there is 'real confusion' for the occupants and his clients want to regularise their position, he said. Mr Conroy said that pending the hearing of the matter, his side was looking for undertakings that the defendants would not interfere with the properties or the occupants. James Daly BL, for the defendants, said he had only just received the papers, would be meeting his client this week and sought until next week to file a replying affidavit. He said the 'vast majority of issues are controverted' and his client's position was that he has tenancy and is in possession of the properties. The alleged confusion as to tenancies is not correct, he said. There was also correspondence from a former employee of the plaintiffs' agent consenting to the subletting, he said. A solicitor acting for an estate involving a property in Rathmines, separate from those in this case, asked to be heard by the court. Peter Boyle of Charles BW Boyle and Son said his clients were in a similar situation and their agent had been confronted by the same defendant in this case. Mr Boyle was told by the judge he would have to bring separate proceedings. The judge gave directions for the exchange of papers between the parties and said he would case manage the matter and give it an early hearing. 'I am very concerned about this situation for obvious reasons,' he said. He would put the matter in for Friday and he would deal with it on an interim basis after he heard there were concerns about the defendants approaching the occupants of the properties. The houses and apartments, in areas including Portobello, East Wall, Capel Street and Ranelagh, had been leased through QTX Services Ltd to Mr Linehan O'Brien or his company on behalf of the corporate owners of the properties, Blumay Ltd, Sunchulo Ltd, Maroon Zirconium Ltd and Harts Alexandra Ltd. The owners seek injunctions restraining the defendant from trespassing, representing themselves as being manager of the properties and from interfering with the owners' agent in taking back possession of the properties. Mr Linehan O'Brien, in response to communications from QTX, has claimed what the owners were doing was illegal and insisted that the matter falls under the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board, which the owners dispute because he is not in personal possession.
BreakingNews.ie
20-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Agent who let out 17 overcrowded properties to migrants disputes claims against him
A property agent who let out 17 Dublin properties, which are allegedly overcrowded with migrants and foreign students who were not given written leases, is disputing the claims, the High Court heard. Kevin O'Brien, otherwise Kevin Linehan O'Brien, and his company Linehan O'Brien Investments, with a registered address at Adelaide Road, Dublin, had entered into the arrangements without the knowledge of the property owners, who are three companies, and of their agent, it is claimed. Advertisement The owners got permission last week from the court to serve the proceedings on Mr Linehan O'Brien and the company. The case returned to court on Tuesday when Mr Justice Brian Cregan was told the defendants will be disputing the vast majority of claims against him. Brian Conroy SC, for the owners, said the defendants were continuing to trespass on the properties and telling the occupants it was his clients' agents who were trespassing. As a result there is "real confusion" for the occupants and his clients want to regularise their position, he said. Mr Conroy said that pending the hearing of the matter, his side was looking for undertakings that the defendants would not interfere with the properties or the occupants. Advertisement James Daly BL, for the defendants, said he had only just received the papers, would be meeting his client this week and sought until next week to file a replying affidavit. He said the "vast majority of issues are controverted" and his client's position was that he has tenancy and is in possession of the properties. The alleged confusion as to tenancies is not correct, he said. There was also correspondence from a former employee of the plaintiffs' agent consenting to the sub-letting, he said. A solicitor acting for an estate involving a property in Rathmines, separate from those in this case, asked to be heard by the court. Peter Boyle of Charles W Boyle and Sons said his clients were in a very similar situation and their agent had been confronted by the same defendant in this case. Mr Boyle was told by the judge he would have to bring separate proceedings. Advertisement The judge gave directions for the exchange of papers between the parties and said he would case manage the matter and give it an early hearing. "I am very concerned about this situation for obvious reasons," he said. He would put the matter in for Friday and he would deal with it on an interim basis after he heard there were concerns about the defendants approaching the occupants of the properties. The houses and apartments, in areas including Portobello, East Wall, Capel Street and Ranelagh, had been leased through QTX Services Ltd to Mr Linehan O'Brien or his company on behalf of the corporate owners of the properties, Blumay Ltd, Sunchulo Ltd, Maroon Zirconium Ltd and Harts Alexandra Ltd. QTX says it only became aware of the arrangements with Mr Linehan O'Brien after the employee who had dealt with him left her position and QTX carried out an inspection. Advertisement The owners seek injunctions restraining the defendant from trespassing, representing themselves as being manager of the properties and from interfering with the owners' agent in taking back possession of the properties. Mr Linehan O'Brien, in response to communications from QTX, has claimed what the owners were doing was illegal and insisted that the matter falls under the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board, which the owners dispute because he is not in personal possession.
