Judge Stops Unauthorized Work at Ancient Burial Site in Dublin After Human Remains Found

A judge has permanently halted unauthorised development works at an ancient Christian burial ground dating back more than a thousand years at River Road, Castleknock, Dublin, after human bones had been unearthed.

Judge John O’Connor granted Fingal County Council an interlocutory injunction directing Jonathan Coyle and Conor Noone to immediately cease all earthworks at the site.

Site clearance works had been carried out by the defendants on a national monument where hundreds of human skeletal remains had been excavated in the late 1930s.

In 1937, the first finding of a skeleton and two skulls had been made in a field near the river Tolka and River Road Cottages. The National Museum led an excavation in 1938, uncovering almost 400 skeletons of men, women, and children along with various artifacts.

Recent works had unearthed more human bones, causing serious concern about irreparable harm to the monument. No consents had been provided for the new works.

The burial ground was an extensive Early Christian cemetery datable to the 10th century, with 383 skeletons discovered in regular formation.

Interlocutory restraints were granted, and the matter will be revisited on Thursday.

According to the source: The Journal.