The level of community support for local man Sean Meehan continues to gather momentum following a public meeting in New Inn on Monday March 4th.
Mr Meehan is facing a court date on April 4th in respect of planning infringements in regard to a mobile home, now covered in log cabin type cladding, which has been his home on land he owns near New Inn since 2019.
A peaceful protest march is scheduled for Clonmel from the West Gate to the Tipperary council office on Friday March 15th beginning at 11.30am.
Over 4,500 people have signed an online petition to show support and a Go Fund Me campaign to assist with costs has raised over €5,000 since it began a week ago.
Councillors speaking at the meeting on Monday March 4th in New Inn are hopeful that the situation can be resolved with Mr Meehan retaining his home and avoiding a custodial sentence.
It is understood that Mr Meehan is engaging with Tipperary County Council’s Housing Section.
In December 2023 he was ordered to restore the site to green field status by March 14th. Planning enforcement proceedings were commenced on foot of a complaint made by a member of the public. It is understood that the planning application could have more clearly established Mr Meehan’s link to the area which was one of the grounds on which permission was refused.
In a statement to Tipp Mid West Radio Tipperary county Council says “This Council takes every effort to work with applicants to progress applications in compliance with the formal planning process while being aware of and sensitive to individual circumstances.”
The Council statement concludes “The Council does not comment on individual applications or cases.”
