Co Meath house demolished after proceeding without planning permission

[WitsEnd694]

Seems insane, but what choice did they have, could have been a free for all of they ignored it

www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0320/1564344-meath-house-demolition/

I live nearby. There was no other option as any other use of the property would need planning too. It had to go. I know they were wrong but I do feel bad for them seeing their home being knocked. Nightmare 20 years for them. Were they ever really living with that all going on? Maybe it’s a relief in some ways?

If they didn’t knock it, it would be forever used against every council to enable others to think they could too.

What gets me is… the size of it. It’s far bigger than the original plans they were refused planning.
Are they nice people? As this has serious neck written all over it. To build that mansion …. Brave.

saw the video of the demo. Heart wrenching.

Well the owners knew full well what they were doing and have just buried heir heads in the sand and are now running away to avoid what's going to happen.

"Why can't they give it to charity?" What charity wants to have an illegally constructed building... how would it make it not illegal.... If people could do that they'd just build whatever they like and set up a charity and donate it to themselves lol

I'm amazed at the brass neck of them, building a house that size with no permission and then messing their way through the courts for 20 years ... 20 years!! The cost to the taxpayer for all those years of the County Council's legal fees ... that couple are the very definition of cheeky fuckers.

Amen 🙏

No sympathy whatsoever. They knew what they were doing they'd been refused permission on a smaller property and then built a huge one illegally. No idea why people seem to think they can give the property to charity they're just trying to garner sympathy with that. It's an illegal property built on their land fgs. Once it's gone they still own the land. Maybe they can apply for planning for a caravan

I’m in Ireland and my aunt brought this up… thought it was a waste. Everyone else thought demolition was the only answer.

Exactly this. They’re clearly not short of a few bob and this has been going on and on through the courts for 20 years with all the associated costs! I’m afraid I don’t have a whole lot of sympathy for them.

What should the council do? Should they just roll over on this one and set a precedent for all the other brass necked people who think money means the law doesn’t apply and they can do as they wish? This isn’t some knee jerk, “computer says no” situation, they knew where they stood but big fat built it anyway and have disputed the issue through the courts for years. They lost because they broke the law, tough shit.

I only hope this gives others pause for thought.

I've no sympathy for the owners. They took a very big gamble and it didn't pay off. They applied for planning permission, were refused, and went ahead anyway. Oh, except they built a house twice as big as they'd originally planned. In short, they stuck two fingers up at the establishment and at the planning laws. Their sheer arrogance is just breath taking.

As for their offer to have the house used for charitable purposes - easy to make that offer when you know nobody is ever going to take you up on it. Because, you know, the house was built without planning permission. And then there's the not insignificant detail that the couple who built the house would still own the land. Would the charity be expected to pay rent for the use of the house? So the couple could profit from breaking the law?

It's a beautiful house and it's a shame it had to be demolished. But I think that Meath County Council (and the judge who made the demolition order) had no choice in the matter. If they had let it go, it would have set a terrible precedent.

I saw a clip of the owner complaining on a radio interview that they'd just ' made a mistake'. A mistake?!. You were refused pp to build a house and then went and built one at least 2 times bigger than what you'd already been denied! Then she complained that theyd offered to knock carport and front porch etc but the council would nt compromise.... The arrogance is just wild!
It looks like they thought by going so big no one would ever dare actually make them knock it, and they'd pay a fine - obviously plenty of money given they built a house that size with no mortgage-and get retention on it.

Brass neck indeed .

They were arrested this morning.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/0323/1564779-meath-house/

this is bananaramas! Are they complete cowboys?

They might be scouting for a book, a Netflix documentary, interviews (paid) in the papers about their lifestyles, reasons, sad sob story and so on. I wouldn't put it past them.

They still own the land. Be interesting to see if costs are awarded against them for any of this, then they might have to sell it. Council buys it, puts in the required infrastructure and builds an IPAS centre for the Gobberment.

Joke.

It crossed my mind too about the documentary. 😆🤣

2 entitled twits build house, refuse to leave and then cry 2 years after they were mandated to leave and act shocked and saddened after a 20 year battle that the house has turned to rubble.
sounds boring 😆 I wouldn’t watch it.

They should be sued for the time wasted and legal fees! It will
send a strong message to anyone else thinking they’d try the same.