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Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Trump front and centre as Chelsea win Club World Cup
Family members of children believed to be buried at the former mother and baby institution in Tuam have spoken to the media ahead of the excavation of the site.
Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Irish Times
I'm worried the roots of my neighbour's roses will damage the foundation of my side wall. What can I do?
My house is semidetached and extends approximately 6ft beyond the rear wall of the adjoining house. My neighbour planted a large rose bush against my side wall a few years ago. This rose now climbs up to a height of almost 5m against my side wall. I understand roses can have deep root systems. My house was built in 1850 and has foundation walls only. I am concerned that the root system of this rose bush is going to damage the wall foundation right beside it. I would prefer to – excuse the pun – 'nip things in the bud' rather than wait for foundation problems, presumably subsidence, to develop. While I appreciate that my neighbours have the right to plant whatever they choose, what are my rights when it comes to their planting right beside my house's side wall/foundation? You have a right to protect your property, but demonstrating that the rose bush is a risk may be necessary. As the root system is not accessible for inspection, the potential damage, if any, is unknown. In addition to exerting pressure on the foundation, the growing root system would absorb moisture and cause shrinkage in a clay type soil, thereby weakening the underlying support to the foundation. To deal with it, I suggest you consider a three-stage approach. The first stage is to have an amicable conversation with your neighbour, outline your concerns, including the nature of the foundation and the possible risk of damage from growing roots. Your objective should be to bring the issue to their attention and assess their reaction. You may suggest relocation of the rose bush. [ Surely our neighbours are responsible for maintaining their old and dangerous oak tree? Opens in new window ] If you believe your neighbours will co-operate and remove the rose bush, you should monitor the situation and have follow-up conversations if necessary. However, if you detect reluctance to co-operate, you can assume that the issue is likely to become adversarial. Patrick Shine, chartered geomatics surveyor and chartered civil engineer The second stage involves building your case. There may not be any obvious indications of damage by the roots, but it is advisable to engage a chartered building surveyor to carry out an inspection and give you a written assessment. The foundation will be a key factor in the assessment. As you do not have access to it at the location of the roots, you should, if possible, excavate an opening in the ground at the external rear wall of your house close to the boundary to facilitate an inspection of the depth and condition of the foundation by your surveyor. This will enable the surveyor to form an opinion on the nature and depth of the foundation at the location of the roots. Your surveyor will also inspect and photograph the internal surface of the wall at which the rose bush is located to ascertain if cracks or dampness are evident. If your surveyor's assessment states that there is evidence of damage and that the roots are the likely cause, this will give you a strong case against your neighbour. If there is no evidence of damage, it will be necessary for your surveyor to monitor the situation periodically over several months, or more if necessary. Without evidence, you are dependent on your neighbour's goodwill and co-operation to deal with the issue. [ I'm worried about our home being devalued because our neighbour's trees block light. What can we do? Opens in new window ] However, if there is evidence of damage, or if damage becomes obvious during subsequent monitoring, you should engage again with your neighbour and offer them a copy of your surveyor's report and ask them to co-operate in resolving the issue. If your neighbour continues to refuse, you should tell them that you have little choice but to consider getting legal advice on how to protect your property. If there is still no positive response, the third stage will require a consultation with your solicitor who will consider various options. The first option may be to write to your neighbour requesting them to co-operate. Alternatively, your solicitor may consider if your neighbour is liable under nuisance law. If the damage is significant, or in the opinion of your surveyor, is potentially significant, your solicitor may apply to the District Court for a Works Order which is provided for under Sections 43 to 47 of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009. This legal provision covers a wide range of boundary-related issues that need to be rectified, and provides for access to adjoining property if necessary. The details contained in your surveyor's report will be essential for your solicitor to assess your case and advise if it is sufficient to persuade the court to grant a works order. Provided a sufficiently strong case is made, the District Court will grant a works order if an adjoining property owner refuses consent to grant access for inspections or necessary maintenance work, on or close to the boundary between the respective properties, to protect the applicant's property. Hopefully, by means of persuasion and patience on your behalf, and goodwill and co-operation on your neighbour's behalf, you will resolve the issue without getting to the third stage and thereby maintain good neighbourly relations. Patrick Shine is a chartered geomatics surveyor, a chartered civil engineer and a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. Do you have a query? Email propertyquestions@ This column is a readers' service. The content of the Property Clinic is provided for general information only. It is not intended as advice on which readers should rely. Professional or specialist advice should be obtained before persons take or refrain from any action on the basis of the content. The Irish Times and it contributors will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on any content
Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Irish Times
Veterans brave blazing heat for National Day of Commemoration at RHK
'We've all lost someone, either at home or on overseas service, so it's important that we remember them on a daily basis, not just once a year,' says Paul Fagan. Sitting in the back row in the sun-soaked courtyard of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on Military Road in Dublin, Mr Fagan sits beside three other veterans in decorated uniform. All four served from Post 11 at the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare, he says. Their missions abroad over the decades included time spent in Lebanon, Kosovo, Liberia and the Congo. They were among about 1,000 people to attend the annual National Day of Commemoration ceremony on Sunday. At the other end of the courtyard, queues formed for a cold water and SPF station before the ceremony to honour Irish men and women who died in past wars or on peacekeeping missions abroad. READ MORE 'We attend it every year – we try and get out to as many functions as we possibly can,' the 63-year-old, originally from Co Waterford, says, adding that those who have lost their lives 'served their country with pride and distinction'. 'We're here to represent them because they can't be here.' The deaths of friends throughout his service, he says, 'never leave you'. Sitting beside him is Joe Guidera, who joined the Defence Forces in 1960 and served until 1998 before working as a clerical officer for a further 13 years. Tom Sheedy (83), Tony O'Reilly (71), Joe Guidera (80) and Paul Fagan (63) He notes that he went to the Congo as a teenager. 'We learned a lot. We went out as schoolkids and came back as men,' he says. Pointing to a man in the distance, with whom the 80-year-old served in Cyprus and who he has not seen for years, he says the ceremony 'means everything to me'. 'It's a great opportunity to come back and meet the lads,' he says, adding: 'I met a guy the last time I was here and I hadn't seen him for 40 years.' The ceremony, attended by President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and several members of Government, was one of several held across the country. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris said it was an opportunity to commemorate and thank those who have served the country over the years. In particular, he said, he was thinking of peacekeepers currently based in Lebanon under the Unifil mandate. Noting that there will be a 'big moment of decision' in August when the mandate's renewal is up for consideration by the UN Security Council, Mr Harris said the people of Lebanon need peacekeepers 'now more than ever'. [ Ireland issues formal protest letter to Israel over shots fired towards Unifil unit in Lebanon Opens in new window ] 'We're living in extraordinarily uncertain times,' he said, adding that he is beginning an Irish diplomatic campaign to try to 'build alliances' to ensure the mandate can be renewed. 'So while we're here today commemorating, I'm thinking of the diplomatic battles ahead to try and make sure Irish peacekeepers continue to serve in Lebanon,' he said.
