Fencing at Murphy's Rock was put up without planning permission

Large fencing that has been installed around the beloved Murphy’s Rock area of Cork’s northside was put up without planning permission.

It is understood that Cork City Council has opened an enforcement file in relation to the recent installation of roughly 500m of steel industrial fencing around the popular amenity site at Kilbarry.

A spokesperson told The Echo: “Cork City Council is engaging with the landowner as part of the enforcement process.”

Tricia O’Mahony, who lives beside the area, told The Echo: “They’ve effectively locked people out of Murphy’s Rock without any consultation.”

The Land Development Agency (LDA) acquired the land earlier this year, and there are long-term plans for housing on the site, though an LDA spokesperson said they “share the ambition of delivering publicly accessible open space as part of the development”.

The spokesperson told The Echo that the lands are not currently suitable for unrestricted public access, owing to challenging ground conditions and topography.

The fencing follows the installation of steel gates earlier this year.

The agency said the fencing and gates were proactive steps to secure the site in response to a number of unauthorised activities, including the placement of horses and the use of scrambler motorcycles, as well as damage to adjoining properties, noise, antisocial behaviour, and safety concerns which led to gardaí advising them to secure the site.

The spokesperson acknowledged that there were complaints about the scale and appearance of the fencing and said it was a “temporary measure”.

When queried why planning permission had not been applied for, the spokesperson declined to comment.

She acknowledged that the land was owned by the LDA, but said that the fencing was “entirely disproportionate”, as she has not seen horses, scramblers, or antisocial behaviour on the site since the gates were installed.

Independent Ireland councillor Noel O’Flynn told The Echo: “A Government agency doing something without proper planning is not right. The rest of the country, private citizens, are expected to abide by planning laws, so why not the LDA?”