A spokesman for Galway county council confirmed it had issued the enforcement order jointly last week to a local woman and Teresa O'Buachalla, who lives with her husband, Judge Donnchadh O'Buachalla, in south Dublin.

Judge O'Buachalla hit the headlines six years ago when a public inquiry was ordered after he issued Catherine Nevin with a pub licence in his private rooms.

Nevin was convicted of her husband Tom's murder in 2000 and is still in prison. Justice Murphy concluded in the inquiry that while O'Buachalla had made errors of judgment, he did not abuse the legal process.

The county council could not say why the enforcement order was issued but it is understood locals objected to the development after it became clear the O'Buachallas had no intention of living permanently in the house, as required under the council's planning regulations.

These rules are designed to prevent 'outsiders' building holiday homes around the scenic coastline. Current planning restrictions require that only people with an attachment to the area and who have a housing need will get planning permission to build. The applicant must also live in the house full-time.

It is understood that the local woman initially got permission to build a house in the Bunowen area close to Clifden, and Mrs O'Buachalla's name was then appended to the commencement order . . . the last step required before building can begin. It was not until after the build had been given the go-ahead, and local objections followed, that the council ordered a stop.

A source close to Judge O'Buachalla said that, following discussions between Mrs O'Buachalla's architects and Galway county council, the judge's wife had been given permission to proceed with the build. But the source acknowledged that a planning issue had arisen in the last few weeks and confirmed that Mrs O'Buachalla had been told to stop building. The source said the issue only concerned the location of the foundations of the house. He added that O'Buachalla's architect was in discussion with the council to address the problem.