Goats on embankment ‘a risk to children playing below’

Goats gathering in growing numbers on an embankment are creating a risk of rocks falling on caravans and on children playing near them, it was claimed by Cork City Council yesterday.

Barrister Pearse Sreenan BL said on behalf of the local authority yesterday that the council wanted to bring an injunction against the owners and occupiers of four caravans at Ellis’s Yard, Blackpool, and the Spring Lane halting site.

Mr Sreenan said that a number of caravans were legitimately on the site but that four of the caravans were near an embankment.

“Four caravans are affected by what I am seeking,” said Mr Sreenan. “I am effectively asking them to move. [They are by] a piece of very steep embankment. There is a risk with the frost that debris will fall on the caravans. There is a history of rocks falling. There is a history of goats grazing and vegetation being removed from the embankment. There have been rocks falling.”

Judge David Riordan then asked: “How did it all come together as an urgent matter?”

Mr Sreenan explained that in October more rocks started to fall off, partly as a result of residents and others moving around the embankment.

“The number of goats has increased, resulting in the removal of vegetation causing a significant risk of rocks falling,” he added.

Mr Sreenan said the council would provide alternative accommodation in the area so that there would be no issue in relation to disruption of schooling or such matters. He accepted that the accommodation would be in the form of houses rather than a halting site, which might be an issue for some members of the Travelling community.

Judge Riordan gave Cork City Council the liberty to apply for their injunction on Friday at Cork City Council and to notify those living in the caravans in the meantime.

The injunction will seek to restrain them from having caravans on the lands mentioned, trespassing on the embankment, or allowing animals to graze or trespass on the embankment.

The council also intends to seek “an order by way of injunction directing the defendants to remove forthwith any vehicles, caravans, mobile homes, goods, animals or possessions from the said halting site” and relevant lands.