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. 3452Trespass (civil injunction) · Co. Galway · 26 Mar 2026

Tesco wins permanent injunction against couple trespassing on Galway development site

The High Court granted Tesco a permanent injunction preventing Martin and Kathleen Donovan from trespassing on an 8-acre site at Briarhill Junction, Galway city, which Tesco wants to develop. The couple had been keeping horses on the land and using buildings as makeshift stables, and had claimed 15 years of adverse possession.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court27 Mar
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
24 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe couple had been keeping horses on the land and using buildings as makeshift stables. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe Donovans claimed they had been on the site for 15 years and could claim adverse possession. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe Donovans had been keeping horses on the land and using buildings as makeshift stables. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whatFollowing the interim injunction, the horses had been removed and the site secured. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whereThe site is at Briarhill Junction, Galway city. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe site is at Briarhill Junction, Galway. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • courtThe High Court granted a permanent injunction to Tesco preventing the couple from trespassing on the site. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtIn July 2025, Tesco obtained an interim injunction pending full hearing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Donovans were served with the application for a permanent injunction but did not appear in court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Brian Cregan granted Tesco the permanent injunction. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe High Court granted a permanent injunction to Tesco preventing the couple from trespassing on an 8-acre site in Galway city. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • courtLast July, Tesco Ireland Ltd obtained an interim injunction pending full hearing. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • courtThe Donovans had been served with the application for the permanent injunction but did not appear in court. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Brian Cregan was satisfied the papers had been served and granted the injunction. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherFollowing the interim injunction, the horses were removed and the site was secured. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherTesco disputed the Donovans' adverse possession claim. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAt a pre-proceedings meeting, the Donovans offered to remove the horses if financially compensated to buy or rent new land. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherTesco refused the compensation offer. (irishmirror.ie, galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherGalway City Council notified Tesco it had to render part of the land other than derelict and the site was placed on the derelict sites register. (irishmirror.ie, galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherPart of the site has been compulsorily purchased for the N6 Galway Ring Road project. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe Donovans claimed they had been on the site for 15 years and could claim adverse possession (squatters rights). (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherTesco disputed the adverse possession claim. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherThe Donovans told Tesco at a pre-proceedings meeting they would remove the horses if financially compensated to buy or rent new land. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherPart of the site has been compulsorily purchased for part of the N6 Galway Ring Road project. (galwaybeo.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Mar2026
    In courtgalwaybeo.ie, follow-up
    Tesco win court bid stopping Galway halting site from trespassing on land

    First report of the permanent injunction being granted by Mr Justice Brian Cregan, following an interim injunction obtained the previous July.

    suspect, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, Kathleen Donovan, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kathleen Donovan
  2. 27 Mar2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Tesco win court bid to prevent couple in Galway halting site from trespassing

    High Court granted Tesco a permanent injunction against the Donovans for trespass; the Donovans were served but did not appear. The court noted the Donovans' claim of 15 years' adverse possession and a prior offer of financial compensation that Tesco refused.

    suspect, irish (judged from name)suspect, Kathleen Donovan, named, irish (judged from name)Kathleen Donovan