current

Sligo Travellers Scupper Developer's Plans

Sligo-based travellers living at the Connaughton Road Council car-park have put a successful Sligo firm to unnecessary expense by blocking access to the firm's site.

The Commercial Court in Dublin this week heard an application from two Sligo brothers, Martin O'Connor from Calry Road, Sligo and James O'Connor with an address in the United Kingdom.

The application was to overturn a personal guarantee given on a €3.2m loan secured from the ACC Bank. The brothers had sought time to try and arrange and secure refinancing from Allied Irish Bank to progress the development of their site in Sligo town.

The project has experienced further problems as access to the site has been blocked, and continues to be, by the encamped traveller families. Gardai were called last summer when the brothers tried to bring heavy equipment onto the site.

They were blocked by jeeps and vans belonging to the travellers claiming the safety of their children would be at risk. Gardai refused to intervene as they believed it was a civil matter and their presence there was to ensure that no breach of the peace occurred.

The impasse ended when a Sligo solicitor, Gerry McGovern was requested to intervene by the travellers. However, all subsequent talks have failed to reach an amicable solution.

The O'Connor brothers are now faced with the problem of having to demolish two houses on Holborn Street to gain access to their valuable asset.

The project, if progressing as normal, would not only provide hundreds of extra car-parking spaces, including a public toilet site, needed for the development of Sligo but would also provide several jobs in the hard-hit local construction industry.

Mr. Justice Kelly at the Commercial Court granting an order for ACC Bank for €3.2m against the Sligo brothers arising from personal guarantees. Mr.O'Connor (Martin) agreed that the money was owed, but that the loans made in 2007 and 2008 were granted on the understanding that the planned Sligo development would be completed. The ACC agreed to assist in the brother's efforts to refinance the scheme.

The traveller’s encampment at the Connaughton Road car-park has caused controversy over the years with the question of ownership and squatter’s rights at the centre of most debates.

Your comments are welcome to editor@sligotoday.ie