A family have been told they can stay in their home for Christmas but must make huge changes to its structure or it could be demolished by Donegal County Council.
Joe Lynch and his family are facing a demolition order for the home at Carrickmore, St Johnston on the shores of Lough Foyle which they built in 2003.
Mr Lynch, a 46 year old truck-driver, admits he built the home a number of metres from where he was originally granted planning permission.
He claimed he had tried everything in his power to resolve the situation but the authorities will not listen to him.
He says the land where he had originally been told to build his house is now flooded on a regular basis.
The father of two appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court yesterday (MON) pleading with the authorities to give him more time to carry out work on the house.
A previous court siting had ordered the family to lower the height of the house.
Barrister Peter Nolan told the court that some work had been done to do this but more substantial work needed to be carried out.
He said his client had run into financial difficulties in trying to carry out the extensive works so he could save the family home from demolition.
Judge John O’Hagan said he had to act on the case.
“I understand the pressure he is under but he should not have done what he did.
“This case will have to be brought to its conclusion in some form or another. I don’t want to do anything draconian but it has to finish somewhere,” he said.
The case was adjourned until February 2012 at Buncrana Circuit Court.
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