Nun given until June to move out of West Cork home after violating planning laws



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A Carmelite nun has been given until June to move out of the unauthorized compound where she settled, while the Cork County Council has been asked to investigate alternative accommodations for her and her colleague in the order.

Sister Irene Gibson, a Carmelite nun of the Holy Face of Jesus, had been found guilty of a violation of section 154 of the Planning and Development Act of 2000, as amended, last December in connection with unauthorized development in Corran South near the town of Leap. in West Cork.

That came after she first established the prayer retreat in 2016 and a year after the Cork County Council initiated enforcement proceedings against her, resulting in a prosecution before the District Court of Skibbereen in May 2019.

Last December, Sr. Irene and her younger colleague, New Zealander Sr. Anne Marie, had time to relocate and return the site to its original condition.

The matter was due to go to court in April, but was delayed due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Judge James McNulty heard today that while there had been a “significant” reduction at the site, the nuns still resided there and had had little success in their relocation plans.

Sister Irene said that since the last court hearing, she had removed several structures, leaving three pods, effectively garden sheds, two of which she and Sister Anne Marie used for sleeping and another that functioned as a kitchen.

He said a shipping container was also there and contained personal belongings, while other structures, including one that had acted as a chapel and offended “vacation home owners”, had been removed.

Last December, Sister Irene had indicated the possibility of accepting the offer of a house near Youghal in East Cork, but told the court that this had not been successful, as had her other efforts to find alternative accommodation.

The difficulties included finances (he said he was receiving social assistance and properties in the area range between 300,000 and 900,000 euros) and the fact that in order to register for social housing, he needed documentation such as a birth certificate, which he said he had. limited access due to Covid restrictions and utility bills, of which you didn’t have any because you haven’t been using electricity.

She also said that although she had full residence in Ireland, Sister Anne Marie did not.

Sister Irene Gibson leaves the Skibbereen District Court with Sister Anne Marie.  Image: Michael Mac Sweeney / Provision
Sister Irene Gibson leaves the Skibbereen District Court with Sister Anne Marie. Image: Michael Mac Sweeney / Provision

“We have looked around the area for a long time,” he told the judge. “I have found many empty houses.

“I have written to the owners to see if we could buy them cheaply and have received no response or negative responses; they were not selling.”

Sister Irene said that the religious community had some money in trust and that she was confident that she would find alternative accommodation if she was given another 12 months to do so.

Sister Irene said she had to stay in the area to attend Tridentine Mass in Latin only, as her community was not affiliated with the conventional church and a priest who lives 7 kilometers away celebrated a weekly mass.

“We are alone,” said Sr. Irene, having previously explained that efforts to raise sufficient funds through social media had not been successful.

Judge McNulty asked if she and Sister Anne Marie would not be better off moving to a place like Mayo or Leitrim with cheaper and more abundant accommodation.

He said that while the court respected his faith, it could not be “an excuse for you and your colleague to go and violate civil law.”

“We just need more time, sir,” Sister Irene said, adding that they had a property “in sight right now.”

Reviewing recent photos of the site provided by the Cork County Council, Judge McNulty said it appeared that there had been a significant reduction. Local authority planner Philip O’Sullivan agreed.

Sr. Irene Gibson and Sr. Anne Marie after today's audience.  Image: Michael Mac Sweeney / Provision
Sr. Irene Gibson and Sr. Anne Marie after today’s audience. Image: Michael Mac Sweeney / Provision

Judge McNulty referred to the complainants, who had been “very vociferous” in getting the local authority to file an accusation. Cork County Council Attorney Margaret Noelle O’Sullivan reiterated that the council had not taken the proceedings lightly.

The judge said the local authority could “take his word for it” when it came to Sister Irene’s date of birth.

“I suggest that the Cork County Council housing officials look into this and see if there is any place that may be available for the Sisters,” the judge said. “It could solve two problems.

“Winter is coming,” he said. “This is not a great place for two chaste women who have chosen religious life to live isolated in substandard accommodation.”

Judge McNulty said the council’s planning authority had a job to do, but so did the housing authority.

He requested that the Cork County Council Senior Housing Officer be contacted for assistance.

She said she would give the nuns “time and space” to consider their relocation options in light of the efforts they had made so far and asked Sister Irene to think about her advice on relocation elsewhere.

The judge explained that the minimum penalty open to the court was € 2,500 and the maximum fine of € 5,000, unless the convicted person can demonstrate that he does not have the necessary means to pay the fine.

He postponed the case until June 22, and the nuns left the court without comment.

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