Couple whose home was demolished without knowledge settle action

A couple who discovered their house had been demolished when they went to pick up the post has settled a High Court action for damages.

Brian and Mary O'Shaughnessy have been living in rented accommodation since their farmhouse at Annaholty, Birdhill, Co Tipperary was razed to the ground to allow construction of a new dual carriageway.

The court heard Brian and Mary O'Shaughnessy were told by the National Roads Authority in 2003 that their old Irish farmhouse would not be affected by the construction of the dual carriageway between Limerick and Nenagh.

They had bought the house for IR £34,000 and had borrowed money to renovate and extend the property.

Slates had been removed from the roof and furniture had been taken out of the house in preparation for the works.

Mary O'Shaughnessy said on the evening of 6 September 2006 she went to the house to collect post but there was nothing there - she said she initially thought she was in the wrong place.

The couple sued a number of parties for damages including Limerick County Council and the National Roads Authority.

Their case has now been settled for an undisclosed sum. However the defendants for their parts all deny negligence and the court case to try establish liability continues.