'A free man until next Thursday,' says Tipp's Seán Meehan as he battles to save log cabin

Tipperary resident Seán Meehan has been granted bail after a bench warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in Cashel District Court last Thursday morning.

Sean, who hails from New Inn outside Cashel, was not in court in Cashel on the date in question for his court hearing in respect of a planning enforcement case which has been taken by Tipperary County Council in relation to his log cabin. 

The New Inn man is being prosecuted over the log cabin style mobile home he built without planning permission and the case has been before Cashel District Court for some time. 

READ MORE: LIVE: Bench warrant issued for Tipperary man who built a log cabin without permission

Tipperary County Council's prosecution against Mr Meehan is for alleged non-compliance with a planning enforcement notice served on him in 2023 for failing to remove the structure. 

Last week, Judge Brian O'Shea opted to issue a bench warrant for Mr Meehan's arrest due to his failure to appear when the case was called. 

Speaking outside the courthouse on Thursday of this week, after the bench warrant had been issued for his arrest, Seán said: "I'm just out...I'm out on bail until next Thursday to Cashel District Court, so thank God for that.

"I have my bail bond here, so I'm a free man until next Thursday and how it goes after that I don't know."

READ MORE: Hearing for Tipperary man living in log cabin pushed to later date

Mr Meehan is being prosecuted for not taking down the house on his land at Woodinstown near Cahir.

Despite efforts he has not been able to secure retention or full planning permission from Tipperary County Council or An Bord Pleanála.

Mr Meehan previously applied for "permission for retention" for a mobile home (presently cladded in timber as to appear as a log cabin), as well as two outbuildings and the use of same as a domestic storage (see below).

A post on the Save Sean's Cabin Facebook group said: "I was proud to have attended court with Seán. I hope now the Irish nation and especially Tipperary people take a few hours off next Thursday and show their support for this man.

"We all have bills to pay and places to be, but this is not just Seán Meehan's fight! This is all our fight!

"It cannot be okay to have one set of rules for some while our own are dragged in and out of court and have the worry of being made homeless hanging over them!

READ MORE: New Inn log cabin case raised at Tipperary council meeting in wake of court adjournment

"Here in a county like Tipperary we have a proud history of standing up against injustice and it is time now again to stand together and peacefully say "No leave Seán alone"!

"So next Thursday please make the effort for a few hours and stand in solidarity with an Irish man! We have inherited a proud history and tradition here in Tipperary, let's continue it and remember we owe it our ancestors and future generations."