A NINETY-YEAR-OLD Dublin woman whose initial court appearance made headlines after she was prosecuted for having a satellite dish on her house has had her case dismissed.
Anne Rudd, from Terenure, has been speaking of the support she received from her family and from well-wishers overseas in the weeks since the story first came to light.
“I have had my family around me. There are women and men who have nobody,” she said outside court in Dublin today.
Asked whether she thought justice had been done at today’s hearing she replied:
“I do indeed. I really do.”
The judge ruled that the pensioner would not have to pay costs, and dismissed the case.
Anne – who is also known as ‘Peg’ – initially appeared at Dublin District Court at the end of September and was ordered to pay €1,500 towards Dublin City Council’s legal fees for failing to remove the dish within the required time, after an enforcement notice was sent to her.
Anne told Joe Duffy on Liveline that she had misunderstood the initial letter, which was sent in February. The letter warned that the satellite dish could not be on the front of her home in Terenure without planning permission.
A second letter was sent in June, at which point her family became involved.
The satellite dish – which was a 90th birthday present – was subsequently taken down but after the deadline set by the council.
Planning laws require that satellite dishes must be placed at the side or rear of a home if there is no permission granted.
Speaking today, the Dubliner said she had received wishes from England, Wales, the US and Australia in the last few weeks.
Bunches of flowers were sent to her, she said, adding:
“Money was sent. I gave it to charity.”
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