High Court Orders Removal of 29 Modular Homes Near Brittas, €150,000 Bond

The High Court has ordered the removal of 29 modular homes built without planning permission near Brittas, Co Dublin, within 13 weeks. The site owners and developer must also lodge a €150,000 bond pending remediation.

Judge Richard Humphreys ruled earlier this month that the houses must be removed and the «highly sensitive site» remediated. A detailed remediation plan, including the 13-week timeline, was set out in a separate judgment. Branach Developments Ltd, Mullnassa Limited, and Threshford Limited had sought a 29-week removal period.

The judge stated the financial hardship of the €150,000 bond, which the defendants resisted, was «on them.» He noted they could have avoided serious financial implications by stopping work after receiving multiple warnings and legal actions. The bond provides assurance that remediation will be carried out, despite likely covering only a fraction of the total costs.

The court will address the defendants’ application for a stay on orders next month, pending a potential appeal to the Supreme Court.