Court orders Anglo protesters Achill Stonghenge to be demolished - VIDEO

Joe McNamara refuses to stop construction on his relaxation site

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A modern replica of Stonehenge, which has been dubbed “Achill-henge”

Photo by Michael Mc Laughlin, The Mayo News

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After attempting to officially label his "Stonhenge-like structure" as a place of exempted development, Joe McNamara, 41, must now face the opposite task of demolishing the structure.

The Mayo County Council is seeking a High Court order to force property developer McNamara to completely demolish the structure that he has thus far built without permission.

The structure itself is composed of an outer ring of 30 columns with stones on top, and McNamara claims that it was built as a "place of reflection" for those who wished to use it.

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The main problem with labeling the structure on Achill Island as virtually untouchable is that, "we still don’t know what it [the structure] is”, Pat Butler SC, for the council, said. From the council's perspective, the structure is an "unauthorised development built without permission close to a protected archaeological site," according to the Irish Times.

Also adding to the court's reluctance to leave the structure alone is Mr. McNamara's poor standing with the council. McNamara was just freed from prison this past Monday after spending the weekend there for refusing to stop work on the site, despite court orders demanding immediate cessation.

However, McNamara is claiming that by law, he doesn't have to stop working. According to the Planning and Development Regulations of 2001, he has contended that building his structure does not require the council's permission, because it qualifies as an exempted development - that is, if it is approved as one.

The case is unlikely to be heard before Christmas, and as of now McNamara has agreed that he will not work on his site until the case in over.

Here’s some raw footage of the Achill Henge:

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