A pensioner in the Republic of Ireland was given a four month jail sentence after he built a log cabin without gaining planning permission from the council.

By Conor Wilson, News Reporter

14:01, Fri, Mar 7, 2025 | UPDATED: 14:07, Fri, Mar 7, 2025

An elderly man in a brown jacket

The pensioner from Ireland was given a four month jail sentence (Image: Mick O'Neill/Irish Daily Star)

A man from Ireland has been handed a prison sentence after building a garden log cabin without permission. Pensioner Sean Meehan, 67, was given a four-month custodial sentence, suspended pending an appeal and ordered to pay a cash bond of €1,000 after building on his land following a long-standing dispute with the local council.

Mr Meehan exited Cashel District Court to rapturous applause from dozens of supporters who turned out to show their support for the pensioner following his sentencing. Cashel District Court Judge Brian O’Shea found that the pensioner had failed to comply with an order from the council in December 2022 to pull down the cabin which had been built without the necessary approval. Mr Meehan was also hit with costs of €9,941 to be paid to Tipperary County Council, who he had been in dispute with for several years.

A log cabin in a green garden

The log cabin in question which was built without planning permission (Image: )

Mr Meehan’s solicitor had handed the judge a letter, signed by several county councillors in support of Mr Meehan, as he urged him to take into consideration that plans to change planning laws are currently being discussed.

The law change would allow log cabins such as the one in question to be built without approval from the local authority.

In sentencing, Judge O’Shea said: "Politics and law are two completely different things… It is a criminal offence that I am dealing with."

The solicitor also argued that Mr Meehan had attempted to gain retrospective planning permission, which was refused.

A elderly man in a brown jacket

Mr Meehan left court to applause from supporters (Image: Mick O'Neill/Irish Daily Star)

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Whilst he acknowledged that the support being shown for Mr Meehan outside court was unusual, he explained that he was unable to take it into consideration.

He added: "I do not think I have seen so many people outside the court in quite some time.

“I cannot decide cases on sentiment. There is a process. I am satisfied that his culpability was high. He made a conscious decision to build the property without planning permission. He has to have regard for the law as it is today."

Mr Meehan is expected to appeal his sentence. It is expected that the appeal will be heard later this year.