Woman, 90, in Dublin court over satellite dish planning breach
A 90-year-old woman has appeared in court in Dublin for breaching planning laws by fixing a satellite dish to the front of her house.
Anne Rudd did not receive a criminal conviction, but she agreed to pay 1,500 euros towards Dublin City Council's legal costs.
She had been given the equipment as a birthday present.
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said the case should never have ended up in court.
After Ms Rudd put up the satellite dish at her home on St Enda's Road in Terenure, she received a letter from the council warning her to take it down by the end of June as she was in breach of planning laws.
When she realised the warnings were real she did take it down.
However, that was a month after the deadline and the council took her to court seeking 2,000 euros in costs.
The pensioner agreed in court on Tuesday to pay 1,500 euros.
However, her family have been extremely critical of the prosecution as a poor use of council resources.
In the Irish parliament, Ms Rudd received the backing of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who said: "Anyone dealing with an issue like that should be able to apply a measure of common sense and not have it end up in court."
