Injunction given after Cherry Orchard housing protests

By Maurice Garvey

THE High Court has granted a temporary injunction preventing interference with work on a new €15 million social housing project in Cherry Orchard.

Earlier this week, attempts to start a social housing project for 72 homes at Cherry Orchard Park were halted after residents blocked access to the site.

Shortly after the protest started, mothers on the housing list began what they said is “a vigil”, not 100 yards away, chanting ‘let them build.’

Co-operative Housing Ireland Society Ltd, who are developing the 72 homes, obtained the order against a number of residents from the Stone Soup Project, who are part of a protest which allegedly prevented workers from commencing construction.

The case came back before the court on Tuesday when Mr Justice Tony O’Connor was told by one of the Cherry Orchard residents, Edward Fitzpatrick, he wanted time to put in an affidavit and also to get legal advice.

A second resident, Matthew Kelly, also appeared and the judge urged him to get legal representation before the case returned to court.

The judge adjourned the matter until Friday, after counsel for Co-operative Housing wanted the matter to be dealt with as soon as possible.

The Stone Soup Project formed in 2013 to transform the site with planted flowerbeds, memorial trees, and a communal grotto.
The group say they believed planning had expired for a housing development at the site.

A member said their fight “was never to deny people housing but to make sure that people were housed in the best way.”