Be afraid …

Posted on Tuesday 19 February 2013 | 3 Comments

The Irish Times reports that the High Court has permitted Fingal [North Dublin] County Council to scrap the former wooden minesweeper Portisham on which Mr Shane Kennedy lives in Balbriggan Harbour, which is run by the council. It maintained that the boat suffered from “rotting timbers, water being taken on, lack of electrical and radio services, lack of working sanitation and generally unsafe conditions aboard”. The court permitted the council to have the boat towed to Howth to be broken up; it awarded costs against Mr Kennedy, who says that he intends to appeal.

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3 responses to “Be afraid …”

  1. Pingback: Be afraid … | Tourism Information for the Canals of Dublin & Ireland

  2. Shane Kennedy | Tuesday 21 May 2013 at 12:55 |

    As the victim of this ..
    1) The surveyors report failed to note that the rot is in the rubbing strakes, and one plank which is soft for about 1/4″ from an abraded end, the “sprung plank” is sacrificial(as are the rubbing strakes), water being taken in … to one of the 7 compartment, and the boats sits about 3 inches lower when that is full to the waterline, and that was reduced by 95% in one afternoon, with caulking ! Now, almost all the water that does get into the ship is rainwater.
    He also estimated that she would take .75 – €1M to get seaworthy. That, possibly, would be to commercial passenger carrying standards, but our Dep’t against the Marine wouldn’t even consider a ship of that age, regardless of condition. He would probably have estimated €100,000 to re-engine her, a job that cost me €10,000.
    Re: Electrical and other services … the ship is being refitted, what did he expect !
    That was over 2 years ago, and I am close to having her ready for sea.

  3. Shane Kennedy | Friday 12 July 2013 at 22:18 |

    I finally got a Supreme Court appeal accepted by their office. One solicitor was warned off, and I believe 2 others were too.
    This appeal was never meant to go in.
    I maintain that my boat, while remaining basically functional, is not a development under planning regulations, nor are the tidal waters under the jurisdiction of the county.
    I also maintain that the action against me is not in the public interest, public interest being the only reason that the law should be invoked. Indeed, the law IS ONLY PUBLIC INTEREST, but muted so as to not excessively intrude on the individual.

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