Chris and Rose Murray’s home in Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, was seized this morning on foot of a High Court order.
A spokesperson for Meath County Council said: “The court directed that An Garda Síochána assist the council in taking possession of the property, which has now been secured.
“As this is an ongoing legal matter, Meath County Council is unable to comment further at this time.”
After being refused planning permission for a dormer house on the site back in 2006, the Murrays responded by building a house almost twice the size. The couple have applied for retention permission on numerous occasions and have also issued court proceedings in a bid to keep their 526 sq m home.
The Murrays failed in a last-ditch attempt to prevent the demolition of the property last November after the Supreme Court rejected an application for a further appeal.
The house owned by Chris and Rose Murray at Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Co Meath
News in 90 Seconds – Monday, March 16 2026
They issued High Court proceedings against Meath County Council in 2022, seeking an injunction that would have halted the demolition of their home after alleging there were procedural and substantive irregularities by the council.
However, Mr Justice Conor Dignam concluded that the claim should be struck out because he agreed with the council’s argument that it was “frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of process”.
When the matter came before the Court of Appeal, it ruled that there was “no merit” to their appeal.
On September 19 last, Mr and Ms Murray then applied to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal the case once again.
In a determination published last November, the Supreme Court rejected the application.
The couple said their decision to build without planning was born out of frustration after being refused planning permission on two separate sites prior to buying the land in Faughan Hill.
The Supreme Court determination noted how the couple did not comply with a previous order to allow the demolition of the property.
Meath County Council took proceedings in 2007 seeking to remove the unauthorised development under section 160 of the Planning Act 2000.
The High Court granted the order, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2017.
Numerous applications for retention permission to Meath County Council and subsequent appeals to An Coimisiún Pleanála have also been refused.