The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast: The Meath demolition drama and our troubled relationship with planning

Chris and Rose Murray built the house near Navan in 2006 despite being refused planning permission for a bungalow half that size on the site

Lorcan Sirr believes the Irish attitude to planning permission — sin first, seek forgiveness later — is a particular feature of Catholic countries

The demolition of a family home in Co Meath last week brought the idea of ‘build first, apply for retention later’ into the spotlight.

Chris and Rose Murray built the 588sq m (6,220sq ft) house near Navan in 2006 despite being refused planning permission for a bungalow half that size on the site. After five unsuccessful retention bids and three failed appeals to keep the home intact, it was eventually demolished last week.

While the house has now been demolished, the case divided public opinion enormously and it highlighted the tensions between the planning system, the public, and politicians.

From the developer who superglued himself to a County Council office to the 11 Dublin councillors who took payments in return for planning permission, our relationship with the rules in Ireland has always been questionable.

Housing lecturer Lorcan Sirr believes the Irish attitude to planning permission — sin first, seek forgiveness later — is a particular feature of Catholic countries, and that the disrespect shown to the rules by politicians filters down through the general population.

He’s the guest on today’s episode of The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast.