A 75-year-old widow has been "a virtual prisoner" in her home because of nearby excavation works for a new road, the High Court was told yesterday.
Ms May Carey, Flynn's Terrace, Sligo, has brought proceedings against Sligo Borough Council and Ascon Contractors, who are building the Sligo inner relief road.
The properties on either side of Ms Carey's premises were demolished in May 2001 as part of the construction of the roadway. An injunction was granted to Ms Carey yesterday restraining the defendants from continuing any further excavation works in the vicinity of her premises in such a manner as to constitute a nuisance.
Ms Justice Laffoy also noted an undertaking from the council that it would use its best endeavours to establish whether a house at St Mary's Terrace, Sligo, could be made available to Ms Carey by way of temporary accommodation, and, in default of that, to try to find temporary suitable accommodation.
Seeking an injunction against the defendants pending a full hearing of the action, Mr Gerard Hogan SC, for Ms Carey, said she had been a virtual prisoner in her house for a number of months because of the works.
Mr Michael O'Scanaill, for the council, said it had always been anxious to accommodate Ms Carey's needs. A number of addresses had been proposed as temporary accommodation, but these were not satisfactory.
