Property developer in row with brother over new driveway

A BITTER dispute has erupted between two brothers -- one of whom is one of the biggest property developers in the country -- over a driveway.

Michael O'Flynn, Managing Director of O'Flynn Construction, is accused by his brother Laurence of building a driveway which breaches the planning permission given and which obscures his vision of the countryside.

Both Michael and Laurence O'Flynn live on land at Kilcrea in Ovens, Co Cork, which was originally the family farm.

Ciaran O'Loughlin, counsel for Laurence, told Cork Circuit Civil Court that his client lives in a house on the farmland with the rest of the property belonging to Michael.

Mr O'Loughlin said Michael applied for and obtained planning permission to build a "substantial house" on the property.

However Laurence contends that a new driveway is in breach of the planning given and obscures his view of the surrounding countryside from his home.

Mr O'Loughlin said there is a large mound of earth on the driveway that "obscures the hinterland" for his client.

Counsel claimed Michael's driveway was "a flagrant abuse of planning permission".

Mr O'Loughlin added that the driveway had been laid out in an entirely different way from what was specified in the planning permission.

He said the driveway was not terribly significant in the overall scheme of things other than in the negative impact it had on the view from Laurence O'Flynn's house.

Judge Moran said he needed to make a visit to the properties in Ovens in order to decide the case.

The case continues today.

Olivia Kelleher
Irish Independent

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