Man who was threatened with eviction ordered to take roof off his house

A man has been ordered to take the roof off his two storey luxury house and turn it into a wall plate dormer  – to prevent it from being demolished.
Joe Lynch had been given until this week to comply with a court order to bulldoze his €250,000 home after he built it a number of metres from the original planning map in 2003.
Despite getting retaining planning permission from Donegal County Council, An Bord Pleanala upheld a local objection to the house and in 2008 Joe was ordered to tumble the property at Carrickmore, St.Johnston.
A number of stays have been put on the demolition and in between Mr. Joe Lynch has carried out works in a bid to keep the roof over his head.
As well as planting more than €15,000 worth of trees and blocking up windows, he also spent more than €50,000 on planning appeals and engineer’s reports.
Donegal County Council, directed by An Bord Pleanala, told the truck driver and potato salesman that no more stays were being put on the house.
Last week father of two Mr.Lynch, admitted he was suicidal at the thought of being booted out of his home but said he would be “taken out in a box” rather than allowed it to be demolished.
However when Mr.Lynch appeared at Buncrana Circuit Court this week, he was told he could stay in his house until next April – providing he follow a number of conditions.
The main condition is that he lower the height of his house which will mean he will have to take off the roof and turn it into a dormer bungalow.
He has also been ordered to get a full Environmental Impact Study as well as a flood report and also plants more trees around his site.
Judge John O’Hagan was also unhappy that Mr.Lynch had gone to the press with his story and advised him he would be better off following the proper procedures.
When contacted Mr.Lynch said he would prefer not to speak about the case other than to confirm he had been granted another stay in his house until next April.