More caravans arrive in the Curragh, court hears

More Travellers' caravans have parked on Department of Defence lands in the Curragh, Co Kildare, the High Court heard.

The department believes the presence of three other caravans already on the lands is attracting the newcomers, the court was also told.

And a barrister for the occupants of one of those three has asked for time to respond to the department's injunction moves against his client, saying the case may involve an issue of discrimination, as he said caravans have parked on these lands for many decades.

Last month, the Minister for Defence was given permission by the court to serve injunction proceedings on the three caravans requiring them to leave. The minister's counsel Kelley Smith said some 30 other caravans which had been on the lands had left, but the three that were still there were an encouragement to newcomers to do the same thing.

On Tuesday, Ms Smith said another eight caravans had since arrived, and she may have to bring an additional application next week seeking that they leave. She also wanted an early hearing of her application against the occupants of the first three caravans.

The court heard the only one of the three caravan dwellers who has been identified, Nicole O'Brien, was now represented by a barrister who sought time to put in a replying affidavit to the minister's application.

Counsel said he was very familiar with the area, had grown up around there, and Travellers had been camping there since before he was born, from the 1960s to the 2000s. There might therefore be an issue of discrimination in this case, he said.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan adjourned the matter until next month and also said the minister could come into court next week if it is decided to seek an injunction against the eight new caravan dwellers.

The minister claims there has been a history over the decades of caravans coming from England or France and parking on the lands over the summer.

Apart from interference with normal racecourse-related activities and the use of a firing range there by the Defence Forces, there was the attendant problem of serious dumping on the lands, which costs tens of thousands to clean up with the bill in 2024 coming in at €185,000.

There is also concern that a large number of caravans will turn up to attend a prayer meeting in nearby Monasterevin in June, the minister says.