Father-of-four living in caravan on busy Limerick road facing jail if he doesn’t move away

A FATHER of four young children who is living in a caravan on the side of a busy road in Limerick city is facing jail if he doesn’t move away by the end of next week.

Calvin Moran was before Limerick District Court for breaching the terms of an enforcement notice which was served on him by Limerick City and County Council.

That notice, dating back to August 2022, required him to move his caravan away from Alandale Road, which is located just off Dock Road. It also required him not to return to the area.

Mr Moran lives in the caravan with his partner and four young children, who are aged between five and five months.

During the court hearing on Friday, solicitor Will Leahy, representing Limerick City and County Council, said that Mr Moran’s partner had appeared before the court last week and that Judge Patricia Harney had ordered that the caravan be moved within a week.

However, Mr Leahy told the court that while the caravan had been moved "by about 20 feet” it was still "within the red zone" and in breach of the enforcement notice.

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Addressing the court, Mr Moran argued that the caravan was “off the road” and no longer in the way. He then asked: “Where can we go?”

Giving evidence, a council official told the court that when the enforcement notice was first issued, Mr Moran complied and the caravan was removed from the site “within days”.

However, it has returned on a number of occasions since. When council officials visited the site on January 15, 2025, they found the caravan had once again returned and was occupied by Mr Moran and his family.

The proceedings returned to court on April 4, where Mr Moran was once again asked to move the caravan. He again complied with this order at first.

Then, on August 6, two caravans were spotted at the site, one of which was occupied by Mr Moran and his family.

While the second caravan, which was unoccupied, has since been moved, Judge John King was told the caravan Mr Moran resides in was still parked on the side of the road which is a busy thoroughfare.

Solicitor Tom Kiely, representing Mr Moran, told the court that his client is in an “awkward situation” and that there are limited options available to him.

The court heard that Mr Moran and his partner are on the council's social housing list and that they have been approved for a three-bed property but that no property "has become available".

The defendant, Judge King was told, has also been approved for support under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme but is finding it difficult to find suitable (private) housing.

Mr Leahy said "every available resource" has made available to assist Mr Moran and his family in their efforts to find accommodation.

He said the defendant has also been deemed eligible for emergency accommodation and that he and his family have been placed in four hotels and two holiday homes at various points over the past twelve months.

However, he added they were asked to leave all six premises for various reasons including as a result of complaints received regarding noise and damage.

In one instance, Mr Kiely said, his client had attempted to use an air fryer in a hotel room and was asked to leave as a result.

In relation to the matter before the court, Mr Leahy said the road in question had been closed for several years and had become “quite attractive” for caravan parking as a result.

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However, since the road was opened up, parked caravans have caused safety issues, particularly because of the width of the road and the amount of traffic.

Judge John King imposed a one month prison sentence which he suspended for two years on condition that the caravan is moved from the location by next Friday, October 10.

Mr Moran was also ordered to pay €500 towards the legal costs of the local authority, which must be paid within six months.

In finalising the case, Judge King said he was of the impression that Mr Moran "believes rules are for other people".