Most caravans parked around Curragh have left, court hears
High Court reporters
Around 30 caravans parked on Department of Defence and racecourse lands in the Curragh, Co Kildare, have left the area, but three remain and are an encouragement to others to camp there, the High Court heard.
The Minister for Defence is seeking an injunction requiring the occupants of the caravans - believed to be members of the Traveller community - to vacate the lands. The Department believes their continued presence will encourage others to camp there with all the attendant dumping and problems that go with that.
There is also concern that a large number of caravans will turn up to attend a prayer meeting in nearby Monasterevin in June.
There has been a history over decades of caravans, which have usually come from England or France, parking on the Department of Defence and Curragh Racecourse lands, usually between May and August.
There has been a corresponding history of court orders having to be obtained for their removal, with six separate non-trespass orders granted between 1992 and 2000, usually eventually resulting in them eventually moving on.
Last year, the number of caravans which turned up hit a record 89 before an order that they leave was obtained, the court heard previously.
Apart from the fact that caravans were parked on gallops areas for training horses or near army firing ranges, preventing army training exercises from taking place, the court has also heard that one of the biggest problems caused were the "mountains of rubbish" which the caravan users left behind.
It cost more than €64,000 to clean up the rubbish after they left last year and some €185,000 the previous year, according to the Department of Defence.
Sarah Kelly, assistant principal officer in the department's property management branch, said in an affidavit seeking the latest injunction that while most of the caravan dwellers camped there last year left voluntarily, one occupied by Nicole O'Brien was allowed to remain as she was heavily pregnant and had four children.
She claimed she could not leave the Brownstown, Curragh, location because she had given that as an address to gardai as part of bail she had been granted.
This month, more caravans arrived, with numbers initially standing at 18 and later another 15 arrived.
Following engagement between some of the caravan occupants and the department’s lands team, most of the caravans had gone by April 27, Ms Kelly said.
However, Ms O'Brien's caravan that she occupies, along with a second she said she owns, remain. Her partner, who was recently released from prison, is also living at the site.
A third caravan, occupied by an unidentified man who arrived last January, is also still there.
The department believes historic experience has shown the presence of caravans and related vehicles and machinery encourages others to think they can trespass free of consequence.
Ms Kelly said the department is also aware members of the Travelling Community will likely travel from abroad to attend an annual prayer meeting in Monasterevin in or around June 2026.
On Wednesday, Kelley Smith SC, for the Minister for Defence, was granted permission to serve proceedings seeking to prevent trespass against the caravan occupants still on the lands. The application was made on an ex-parte (only minister's side represented) basis.
Mr Justice Brian Cregan said he was satisfied to grant short service of the proceedings on Ms O'Brien and the persons unknown in the three caravans. The matter comes back on May 12th.
