The rise and fall of a family home at the foot of Faughan Hill

‘Things happen slowly then all at once’...

That was a theme articulated by Ernest Hemingway in his 1926 novel ‘The Sun Also Rises’. The book explores how gradual change leads to sudden transformation, a long, gradual build-up followed by a sudden and dramatic tipping point.

Exactly 100 years later Hemingway’s premise played out in real time and to devastating effect in rural Co Meath.

Less than one week after this newspaper led with the photo of the beautiful country home that was built without planning permission by Chris and Rose Murray in Bohermeen in 2006 and the couple’s pleas for the dwelling to be at least preserved for a charitable purpose, the 6,000 square foot home had been reduced to rubble. A family home of 20 years smashed to the ground by diggers in a matter of hours, a lifetime of memories erased with brutal, ruthless efficiency. 

The Background...

Chris (also known as Michael) and Rose Murray were determined to build a house in Chris' home parish of Bohermeen having returned from living and working in England in the early 2000s.

Planning applications on sites around one of Ireland's biggest parishes were made by the couple yet for reasons they couldn't quite fathom, so did refusals. Subsequent approvals on those same sites for new homes by different applicants, including one nephew, left them exasperated as Chris explained to this writer in 2017 when he showed me the various locations he had hoped to build his family home.

The pertinent planning application setback came in 2006 when the couple failed to secure permission to build on lands at the foot of Faughan Hill, Bohermeen for a 280 sq metre dormer bungalow.

The Murray's have always questioned the council's refusal which included a disputed sterilisation status on the land. For reasons the Murray's have lived with to this day and beyond, they decided to build, and build big. A five bedroomed house more than double what they were refused permission for complete with spacious garage/carport mushroomed on the nine acre property.

Ultimately, Meath County Council would be alerted to the development by a member of the public. Legal wheels would be slowly set in motion.

There is little to be achieved now in re-litigating the last two decades. Essentially, Meath County Council took proceedings in 2007 under section 160 of the Planning Act 2000 and the Supreme Court in 2017 upheld High Court orders for them to remove any unauthorised development from their land.

They were given one year to vacate the property and, when that was not complied with, the council issued contempt proceedings in 2019 that settled in 2020 on terms involving the Murrays agreeing to vacate the property within two years to facilitate the council demolishing it.

Three days before they were to vacate, the Murrays issued a case against the council, claiming there was new evidence relating to the land sterilisation agreements made by the previous owners of the land that they claimed invalidated the council’s planning refusals.

The High Court last year granted a council application to strike out that case as “frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of process” and refused injunctions restraining further action or proceedings by the council pending a further hearing concerning their new evidence.

Among its findings, the High Court concluded the new evidence would not have affected the outcome of the planning refusals. It also held their challenge to the constitutionality of Section 160 could not succeed.

After they lost their appeal to the Court of Appeal against the High Court decision, they asked the Supreme Court to hear a further appeal.

Once the The Supreme Court rejected the Murray's application for a further appeal aimed at preventing the demolition of their home built in “wilful breach” of planning law back in November, the writing was on the wall.

MONDAY 16th March 2026

On the eve of St Patrick's Day the day the Murray family must have dreaded came to pass. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys granted an order giving Meath County Council the authority to “remove and detain any and all vehicles and/or animals and/or moveable property at the premises the subject of the within proceedings or obstructing access thereto and retain them pending further order of the court and the applicant is authorised to change any locks”.

A statement was released to this newspaper by Meath County Council which confirmed: “The Court directed that An Garda Síochána assist the Council in taking possession of the property, which has now been secured.”

When council staff and Gardai arrived at the property, three HGV trailers were found to be parked across the entrance of the home. Security guards did gain access to the property and told the youngest member of the family present there to leave, a move that caused deep upset to the family and neighbours. It's understood that locks were changed and family members told to provide lists of belongings they wanted retrieved which further angered locals who blasted the heavy handed nature adopted by the council and security personnel. That evening a number of people assembled at the top of the lane that provides access the property while there was also a Garda presence there for a time.

The couple, through their solicitor, reiterated their appeal to the council for the 578sqm house not to be demolished, and had offered the property and land it sits on to a charity on the proviso that they be allowed remain in the house for three years while paying rent to the council. The couple had appealed to the council that, after three years, they would transfer ownership of the property to a charitable organisation such as Pieta House, Barrettstown, Down Syndrome Ireland, the Hope Foundation or as a respite facility for carers or women’s aid refuge. These suggestions had already been dismissed by the council and courts.

WEDNESDAY 18th March 2026

The High Court order of Monday saw possession secured and security put in place arriving where they remained at the property until 10am on Wednesday morning by which time the council had been notified of threats to security personnel who were withdrawn. Locals and family supporters had regained access to the home and began removing possessions for the family. By lunchtime on Wednesday, Judge Richard Humphreys who had released the Monday order, grew impatient following notification by the council's legal team of the situation on the ground and ordered the property be secured and the demolition of the house commence within 48 hours. He also issued orders for the Murray's to come before the court on contempt charges. Judge Humphreys wanted a speedy demolition because he was concerned the situation might escalate if the matter dragged on.

By 7pm on Wednesday, a call via social media for locals to meet at the entrance to the lane to 'peacefully protest' the actions of the council saw over 40 people gather.

Senior council officials arrived on site to speak to family liaisons about resolving the situation. The question was not of saving the house but of the family helpers being allowed room to remove the family's belongings. As darkness descended and in the flickering light of a burning barrel, handshakes were exchanged between senior council executives and family spokespersons. With the threat of arrest hanging over them, Chris and Rose were nowhere to be found. Security personnel stayed away overnight to allow all removals take place with a 10.30am Thursday deadline agreed for everyone and everything to be out.

THURSDAY 19th March 2026

At 11am and less than one hour after friends and relatives of Rose and Chris Murray removed the last possessions from the house, a 13-vehicle convoy swept up the narrow lane leading to the now surrendered property. The vehicles were mostly for security personnel who covered their faces on seeing the media assembled at the gates.

There was a Garda presence at the property, but bar those clearing the final belongings on a teleporter and members of the media, the scene was quiet. ESB trucks would arrive a short time later.

In a statement Meath County Council said: “The Council, with the assistance of An Garda Síochána, engaged on site with family and community representatives to facilitate the removal of personal belongings and household items, in line with the Court’s direction. The Council acknowledges the cooperation of those involved in this process.”

One family supporter clearing some potted plants and garden ornaments before the agreed exit time of 10.30am said the situation was “heartbreaking” and criticised the council for their actions on Monday morning when they moved on a High Court Order and arrived to take possession of the property.

“They came in, told a family member to leave, changed the locks and then asked the family for a list of things they wanted taken from the house. It was just brutal the way they went about it.”

FRIDAY 20th March 2026

On Friday, heavy machinery arrived at the property shortly before 6am to begin the demolition. Beginning with the gable end, large mechanical diggers set about demolition. A council spokesperson said that as legally required everything was to be removed, including the driveway, tarmac, septic tank, entrance pillars and landscaping.

The cost of the operation is expected to exceed a quarter of a million euro.

SATURDAY 22nd March 2026

The Murray home, by teatime on Saturday was gone, it's 578sqm footprint and rubble visible only from the air.

MONDAY 23rd March 2026

Chris and Rose Murray finally came before Judge Humphreys to answer the judge’s March 9th finding of contempt against them. Chris and Rose gave an undertaking not to interfere with the council’s works at the site, and also gave sworn undertakings to assist a Garda investigation into alleged threats made by unidentified third parties to a subcontractor and a security firm earlier this month. Murray said he did not make any contact with a security company that had worked on the site.

Effectively, with the house now razed to the ground, there was no interest in punishing the Murray's further, once they comply with orders not to engage with security and construction workers on the site.

“I just want the mess gone,” Chris told the court before he left with wife Rose, to rebuild a new life away from the ruins of the place they called home for 20 years.