A senior who was at odds with his municipality was sentenced to four months in jail for erecting a log cabin on his property without obtaining planning approval, reports The Mirror.
A district court judge in County Tipperary sentenced Sean Meehan, 67, to prison on Thursday morning, but he was quickly released.
A stay has been placed on the sentence because Mr. Meehan has appealed Cashel District Court Judge Brian O’Shea’s decision to impose it. He was freed pending the appeal on a €1.00 cash bond, reports The Mirror.
Mr. Meehan, who lives in Woodinstown, Cahir, Co Tipperary, was sentenced for not following a December 2022 council directive to demolish the cottage he had constructed without obtaining planning permission.
Judge O’Shea also imposed a costs order on Mr. Feehan, requiring him to pay €9,941 to Tipperary County Council, with whom he has been at odds over the log cabin for a number of years, reports The Mirror.
The hearing on Thursday was attended by dozens of supporters both inside and outside the court. Additionally, a letter from many county council members endorsing Mr. Meehan was presented before Judge O’Shea by his attorney, Colin Morrissey.
Additionally, he stated that Mr. Meehan’s attempt to obtain retrospective planning authorisation was denied. He had unsuccessfully appealed to An Bord Pleanala, reports The Mirror.
According to Mr. Morrisey, he is contesting the Bord Pleanala’s decision to deny his appeal in a case that will be tried in the High Court the following month.
Additionally, he asked Judge O’Shea to examine the fact that modifications to the planning legislation are currently being discussed that would permit the construction of such log houses without obtaining planning clearance, reports The Mirror.
However, Judge O’Shea stated when imposing the sentence: “Politics and law are two very distinct things. What I am dealing with is a criminal crime.
“I don’t think I have seen so many people outside the court in quite some time,” he said, acknowledging that Mr. Meehan had a lot of local support, reports The Mirror.
“I cannot decide cases on sentiment. There is a process. I am satisfied that his culpability was high. He made a conscious decision to build the property without planning permission. He has to have regard for the law as it is today,” reports The Mirror.
As Mr. Meehan exited the court, he was met with clapping and cheering. Later this year, his appeal is anticipated.
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