Protestors who were preventing construction of a seven-house development outside Macroom, Co Cork, in the belief that the houses were to be offered to Ukrainians fleeing the war, have ceased their "unlawful activity" after an urgent injunction was granted against them.
Last week at a sitting of Cork Circuit Court, Judge Rosemary Horgan was told that protestors - some of them wrapped in the Tricolour and waving flags - had been intimidating construction workers at a site on the Killarney Road, Lower Codrum in Macroom.
Barrister Stephen O'Donoghue, acting on behalf of developers Portlaw Development Ltd, had sought and was granted an interim injunction against the protestors carrying out certain actions at the site.
The injunctive relief prevents the defendants from obstructing the plaintiff, his servant or agents, in entering or exiting the property. They also cannot threaten, intimidate or insult people working on the site or prevent them from carrying out their duties.
Mr O'Donoghue previously told the court that gardaí had to be called to the scene arising out of the activities of protestors.
"One protestor lay behind a construction vehicle. Serious injury could have been caused to that protestor," Mr O'Donoghue said.
"Employees and contractors have been intimidated, threatened and abused on the presumption they are catering for future housing needs of Ukraine nationals," he said.
In the past there existed five houses which were not completed. It was referred to as a ghost estate. The plan is to complete those five houses and build two further houses - pre-fabricated concrete houses, constructed off-site and assembled on-site.
At Cork Circuit Court today, Mr O'Donoghue told Judge Horgan that the injunction has proved to be a success. All unlawful activity has come to a halt following the granting of the interim injunction.
However, he said that the position was that the first named defendant was taking issue with the order made against her. He stated that the woman plans to file a replying affidavit and asked that the matter be put back for a week.
The first named respondent was present and addressed the court. She said that she was shocked to be named as a person involved in unlawful activity.
"I wasn't present in the vicinity of Macroom. I wasn't present when any of the obstruction happened," she said.
The woman said, having viewed footage of the incident, there was a female present who was the "main agitator". She said the woman in the video had a tricolour around her neck and was "screaming and shouting".
"I am being used as a scapegoat. My name has been plucked from a magic hat."
She stated that she was "deeply offended and saddened" to be named as the instigator of such activity. She added that she had contacted three solicitors in relation to the case but that nobody had returned her calls.
When asked if she needed an adjournment of more than a week to facilitate the obtaining of legal representation, the woman said that she wanted to get the matter "over and done with".
"I am happy to go home and write my truth."
The injunction order remains in place pending the outcome of the interlocutory application.
The case will be back before the court in the Washington Street Courthouse in Cork again on 16 February.
