Ennis gardaí confirmed last night that they have ordered the removal of three of the five Traveller families who had been living until August 15th on the front lawn of the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh.
On Monday night, having earlier left the land at the bishop's residence, they moved to a site less than one mile away and across the road from Ennis Town Council headquarters.
Last night a spokesman at Ennis Garda station confirmed that the notices had been served on the three families.
The other two families who were living on the bishop's lawn have moved to a separate site in Ennis and have to date not been issued with any notice to move.
The Garda spokesman said that gardaí served the notices after being receiving complaints about the presence of the Travellers.
The families were served with notice under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 2002, to leave the area.
If they do not move on, gardaí can remove and impound their caravans, while the owners face a possible fine of €3,000 and/or one month in prison.
The families moved to the Lower Drumbiggle area of Ennis on Monday night after Dr Walsh requested them to vacate his front lawn. This was due to health concerns as his grounds have no sanitary facilities.
The Travellers moved on to the land while Bishop Walsh was on a pilgrimage in Rome and without his permission.
They moved on to the land to avoid prosecution after they were told they were in breach of a High Court order.
This foll0wed their moving on to a site at Clare County Council's new €33 million headquarters.
Before establishing an unofficial halting site at the council's HQ site, the Traveller families had been at the bishop's residence since mid-July, before moving on August 15th.
