Travellers encamped illegally in the car park of Cabinteely Park, Co Dublin, yesterday vowed they would not move until they were given an alternative site. There are some 25 caravans in the car park at the entrance to the park. The park's entrance gates were padlocked yesterday to ensure that the travellers could not enter. The 10 caravans parked on the roads leading to the car park have left.
Five gardai were yesterday on duty in the area. Large boulders and debris were dumped at the filter roads into the car park to ensure that no more caravans could get into the area. Even if the roads were not blocked, it would be hard to fit more caravans into the car park.
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council says it is having discussions with its legal advisers today and it would make a decision on "what way we will go".
It is expected to apply to the courts for an order to have the travellers removed.
A spokesman said the census they had carried out on Wednesday was now useless as there had been such movement by travellers. They would carry out another census early this morning. For legal proceedings they needed all the occupants' names and addresses.
One traveller, Mr Thomas O'Brien, said they were waiting to see the outcome of the court case. Up until now, they had been on private sites. They were now on council property and it was the duty of the council to provide sites for them. The situation had changed.
"If we were provided with sites we would be out of here in minutes and it would be totally tidied up and left in good condition when we go."
When asked what would happen if the court ordered them to leave, another traveller said they would appeal. They did not intend leaving until they were provided with proper sites. He said most of the travellers in the car park were local and had been living in the area for a long time.