Irish authorities have evicted a Dublin family due to planning issues around their family cabin whilst housing 200 male migrants 3 minutes away in identical cabins.
Look, it's not often that we here at Sidestream News are shocked but this is one of the worst housing stories in recent Irish State history. The McDonagh family from south County Dublin has been kicked out on their ear because south Dublin County Council took issue with their small cabin built on family land in Glenaraneen.
The council claimed the small living space was not in keeping with its development plans for the area as it "does not adhere to regional planning guidelines" and that "granting retrospective planning permission would set an undesirable precedent" as well as leading to a "demand for uneconomical provision of services in the area."
However, three minutes drive away in Crooksling, 200 men from far flung parts of the world are being housed in identical cabins, which have been given a planning exemption.
You couldn't make it up. Here is an image of the McDonagh family cabin:
Ms McDonagh has been told there may be accommodation for her and her kids on Gardiner Street in Dublin City Centre. Anybody who knows Dublin knows that Gardiner Street's many hostels are completely unsuitable for children and are drug ravaged, to be blunt.
Ms McDonagh is now suffering from anxiety and is requiring medical intervention to deal with the stress of the situation. Photos courtesy of Gript :
Here we can see images of the cabins where 200 men are being housed by the Irish Government in Crooksling, 3 minutes away:
(Image: Irish Independent)
The Minister for Housing, Darragh O'Brien told the Dail on April 9 that these cabin type facilities for migrants have a planning exemption until 2028.
"as part of the response to the ongoing unprecedented demand for the accommodation of those seeking international protection, the Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No 4) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 376 of 2023) - the "2023 Regulations" - extended the exemption provided by S.I. 605 of 2022, from 31 December 2024 to 31 December 2028," he said.
So, there you have it: a local family evicted from a field among thousands of fields over planning, only to see hundreds of Middle Eastern men allowed into the same fields in the same cabins in a planning exemption....3 minutes away.
It is interesting the way people call 'replacement migration' (as it is referred to by the UN) as a conspiracy theory, isn't it?
A GoFund Me has been set up to help the stricken Irish family. The page states:
'Brendan and Ewelina are heartbroken with the removal of their family home.
A home that their children Mia (10) & Colin (6) have ever known.
The modest log cabin they lived in was instructed by SDCC through the courts to be removed.
Brendan and Ewelina put up a strong costly legal fight however had no choice but to remove the structure due to a court order.
"The SDCC have stated that the modest dwelling would set an undesirable precedent” as well as leading to a “demand for uneconomical provision of services in the area”.
"With heavy hearts the log cabin was dismantled over the weekend of the 10th & 11th Jan 2025
Last November 2024, Brendan was told by his then legal representative to “pack a bag” and prepare to be jailed for his failure to remove the cabin as per the instructions of SDCC.
"A decision then was made to take the cabin down or appeal the decision of the District Court to the High Court.
"Brendan’s legal team had walked away from his case.
The pressure of the case and not having enough time to pursue a High Court appeal, find new legal representatives placed a significant strain on the mental health of all the family, left with nowhere to live and placed in debt also.
"8 years later have resulted with Brendan and Ewelina, with no home they can call their own and significant costs on dismantling their home and legal costs.
All Brendan ever wanted to do was provide a secure family unit over his young family’s head and create the same cherished memories of growing up where he was born and reared.
We ask you kindly to donate what you can so we can assist Brendan and Ewelina helping them back on their feet and clearing their legal costs."
Evelina previously told Gript that the stress of seven years of fighting to save her home had led her to be prescribed anti-anxiety medication.
“She’s physically not able for it,” said McDonagh.
“I don’t blame her; her mental health is more important than a cabin even though we were left with nowhere to live and debt as well.
“We have no money and nowhere to live.” he added.
Donations to help the family can be made here.
Darragh O'Brien can be contacted here: darragh.obrien@oireachtas.ie
South Dublin County Council can be contacted here: planenforcement@sdublincoco.ie
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