Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3486Contempt of court (breach of undertakings) · Co. Meath · 9 Mar 2026

Couple found in contempt over illegally built Meath house demolished by council

Michael and Rose Murray, whose five-bedroom 588 sq m house at Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Co Meath, was built without planning permission, were found in contempt of court by Judge Richard Humphreys on 9 March 2026 for breaching their 2020 undertakings to deliver vacant possession. The house was demolished in mid-March 2026, and the couple is due before the High Court on Monday to respond to the contempt finding.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 Mar
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
29 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatOn all three occasions the gates were locked. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIn September 2025 the officer pressed both intercoms, identified himself but got no response, and noted a robot lawn motor cutting the grass. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA summons server served documents on Rose Murray on 9 June 2025, who said her husband was not there or in the vicinity. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOn 21 November 2025, a woman who said she was Shauna Murray, adult daughter of the couple, told a summons server her father was abroad. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIn July 2025, two adult children of the Murrays told a summons server their parents were away. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMichael Murray is a plumber by trade who was raised in the Bohermeen area. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe couple built a house extending to 588 sq m (6,220 sq ft), substantially larger than that for which the original permission was sought. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe couple had five failed bids for retention permission. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRose Murray is a nurse originally from Co Kilkenny. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe couple's illegally built home in Co Meath has been demolished (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe house is a five-bedroom 588 sq m (6,220 sq ft) home (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí were unable to locate the couple and access to the house was impeded by large steel containers on 16 March (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe house is at Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Co Meath (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe council refused planning permission in June 2006 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe undertakings to deliver vacant possession were provided in 2020 with a stay to September 2020 (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí were unable to locate Rose and Michael Murray at their home in Bohermeen. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA council planning enforcement officer attended the property three times to seek possession, twice during 2025 and on 19 February. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Richard Humphreys made attachment orders on 9 March requiring Gardaí to bring the couple before the court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtOn 16 March the judge made further orders to facilitate the council in taking possession of the property. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe orders permitted removal of large steel container trucks blocking access to the property. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAfter being told of reports of Doberman dogs, the judge directed any other obstacles could also be removed. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge permitted the council to serve orders by attaching them to the chained entrance gates and posting them. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe council initiated a High Court case against the couple in 2007 seeking to have them remove unauthorised development. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtIn May 2017 the Supreme Court upheld High Court orders for them to remove unauthorised development from their land. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtContempt proceedings settled in 2020 on terms including their undertaking to vacate the house by September 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtTheir appeal against that decision was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Richard Humphreys found the couple in contempt and made attachment orders on 9 March 2026 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Murrays' solicitor asked the judge to stall demolition pending an ECHR application initiated in February (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRose Murray is in remission from cancer (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Mar2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Couple to attend court on Monday after demolition of illegally built Meath house

    Reports the demolition of the Murrays' house and their upcoming High Court appearance to respond to the contempt finding, including arguments from both sides and the judge's characterisation of the contempt process as coercive rather than criminal.

    accused, male, irish (judged from name)accused, Rose Murray, female, named, irish (judged from name)Rose Murray
  2. 18 Mar2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Gardaí unable to locate couple whose Meath home was built without permission, judge told

    Reports on the 16 March 2026 High Court hearing where the judge made further orders to facilitate council possession after Gardaí could not locate the Murrays; steel containers and other obstacles removed from the property; council confirmed the property had been 'secured'.

    suspect, Michael Murray, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Murraysuspect, Rose Murray, female, named, irish (judged from name)Rose Murray