Falling trees damaged fencing in Merlin Woods last week while vandals torched park benches as a legal dispute continues at the High Court in Dublin.
Vast areas of the public park are fenced off to facilitate controversial clearfelling the Galway City Council says is necessary after catastrophic damage wreaked by Storm Éowyn in January 2025.
Works have been suspended after the Friends of Merlin Woods community group last week secured an interim injunction against Galway City Council in the High Court.
The court recommended both sides engage in mediation to agree on variations of the injunction this week. If not agreed, a date will be set for a full court hearing.
Separate sources close to both parties told the Advertiser a pressing issue was to determine exactly how much felling had been completed to date, and how much storm clearance may still be necessary.
The injunction was sought by Friends of Merlin Woods under Section 160 of the Planning and Development Act (2000 ) to prevent, pause or remedy unauthorised development.
Legal costs are likely to surpass €100,000 so far. If Galway City Council has costs awarded against it - as is the norm when court actions involve an environmental aspect - it has been confirmed that this will likely come from its €7.3m outdoor leisure budget used to fund public parks.
It had been hoped that the storm clearance would be cost neutral for the city, with its contractor taking timber estimated to be worth up to €160,000 as payment in lieu of fees.
As well as the removal of fallen and damaged forestry, this work includes controversial clearance of 3.5 hectares of healthy connifers, to be replaced by an as-yet-unfunded replanting scheme for native species allocated by the Department of Agriculture.
Opponents are concerned this clearfelling will adversely impact biodiversity in the area, especially in relation to red squirrels, a protected species.
Meanwhile, there have been several reports made to Galway Garda Station regarding damage done to park benches and fences in the Merlin Woods area last Friday Saturday and Sunday, October 9-12.
Benches have been torched, and some fencing removed in the area. Gardaí say they are keen to speak to anyone who may have been in or around the Merlin Woods area and observed any suspicious activity. Contact local gardaí on 091-538000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800666111 or any attend any Garda station.
Separately, windy conditions last Saturday night caused a number of trees to fall near Merlin Allotments, damaging fencing. There was no weather warning in place at this time.
