6 ms·

Seems pretty clear cut to me. Outsider buys property on tiny island community, then disappears for 8 years. Islander gets annoyed about the vacant property blo

Seems pretty clear cut to me. Outsider buys property on tiny island community, then disappears for 8 years. Islander gets annoyed about the vacant property blocking their view so decides to remove it. Other islanders refuse to rat them out due to being a tight community End of mystery

tobltobs 5y ago
This tight community also did have to accept a high loss to the value of their properties as their houses became unsaleable. It is a mystery to me how all property owner would accept this, when only one or two have an improved view.
- Freak_NL 5y ago
  The article mentions that the damages awarded by the judge wouldn't suffice to even buy a chicken coop on the island. My guess is that property prices are quite unaffected by this stunt.
  - tobltobs 5y ago
    I don't get how you draw the connection between a not satisfying damage award and unaffected house prices. Maybe the real reason why nobody spoke out was the fact that the guy flattening the house was Tory’s biggest employer. The hotel Óstan Thóraigh has been at the centre of island life since the late 1800s. The hotel and general store was supplying everything from salted fish to marine chandlery to the island. The hotel is for sale now. It didn't survived Covid. See https://www.irishpost.com/news/irelands-stunning-tory-island-hotel-put-market-just-e400000-166346 https://www.irishpost.com/news/irelands-stunning-tory-island...
    - ash 5y ago
      The article is from May 01, 2019. Covid didn't exist yet.
- ThePadawan 5y ago
  Imagine you're retired, you own a house on an island where you like life. Why do you care if your house is "worth" $50k or $1m? Maybe you don't have kids to inherit it. Maybe you consider yourself at home where you're living, so you wouldn't want to sell it anyway.
  - maccard 5y ago
    Have you had that conversation with many people who are retired in comfortable positions? I've had it with many family members (Apparently I'm the one who is "good with money things"), and they all _do_ care, despite the fact they will never realize that value.
    - ThePadawan 5y ago
      No, I don't know anyone in that position.
    - hnlmorg 5y ago
      You only care if your kids aren't planning to live there. In small, isolated communities it's common to hand property down (much like farmland) rather than sell. In those cases the cost of the property is more academic as the real value is the community and any sentimental elements (eg "my grandfather built this"/"5 generations of kids were born in this house", etc)
  - Angostura 5y ago
    If you're in the UK, that house is probably the main way you are going to fund decent care in a care home in the last 5 years or s of life. You'll care
- hnlmorg 5y ago
  Places like these are usually populated with people who have lived there their whole lives and plan to spend the rest of their lives there. The cost of the house, to them, isn't a monetary one, it's more a matter of community and sentimental ownership.
jfoutz 5y ago
I'll go you one further. Outsider visits island for a few months and enjoys their time there, makes some great friends. Outsider's friend has a hotel, and wants to attract more clients. Outsider has a knack for storytelling, but hasn't been successful for a few years. Outsider spins yarn, friend fills up his hotel, both walk away happy. End of mystery. There are a million ways to fill in the blanks. We can't know _the truth_. I find this upsetting, and it'll bug me for days. but then I'll forget and it's ok. Your pat story is fine too. I REALLY want to know the truth, which is a fantastic hook. so I'm stuck with this story longer than you are.
- dmix 5y ago
  There’s probably some lessons here about good headlines to draw you into a story via social media. Or if you go deeper the value of stories/fiction that were entirely invented in the first place, or documentaries about real things combined with the limitations of an hour and a half plus the biases and editing of the creator, or the podcast medium which lets you go even deeper into a topic, etc. There’s plenty of angles here in a meta way beyond the sum of the real story itself. But I do agree this is most likely going to be an unrewarding investment with a likely simple explanation like the hotel wanting views + very old basically vacant building in the way.
- rsynnott 5y ago
  Given that he won in court, he was presumably at least able to establish that the house existed at one time, and he owned it, so it’s unlikely to be totally fictitious.
  - TheOtherHobbes 5y ago
    There would be a record in the land registry, with a map. Even if the house disappeared he would still own the land. Given that it was a very basic house it's likely the land was worth at least as much as the building.
    - phkahler 5y ago
      >> Even if the house disappeared he would still own the land. Given that it was a very basic house it's likely the land was worth at least as much as the building. Don't underestimate the cost of building stuff on an island like that. Everything needs to be brought in by boat, including labor.
scandox 5y ago
Yes I'm afraid they're trying to Wicker Man this up to 11. Basically some bollocks half knocked down his house. "The House that got partially knocked down by someone with small regard for abstract property rights".
- da39a3ee 5y ago
  That's not how to use the word "bollocks".
  - stormdennis 5y ago
    Maybe it is in Ireland.
  - jamiethompson 5y ago
    Not in England, no. But it is in Ireland or Scotland.
    - da39a3ee 5y ago
      OK thanks I didn't know and deserve my downvotes!
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - scandox 5y ago
    In Ireland we do say bollocks or Bollix meaning a person who broadly speaking is difficult to deal with.
    - da39a3ee 5y ago
      Ah OK thanks I had no idea. I gladly accept my downvotes!
arethuza 5y ago
"Islander gets annoyed about the vacant property blocking their view" Could well have been a vacant ruin after 8 years without any maintenance - we live in an exposed site half way up a hill in Scotland and I wouldn't leave our house for 8 weeks without arranging for someone to keep and eye on it and potentially getting repairs done.
- soneil 5y ago
  That was my thoughts too. Go look up Tory Island on google maps - most of us would very quickly redefine our understanding of 'exposed'.
  - silvestrov 5y ago
    everything is within "walking distance", it's approx 2 miles long. Photos from Tory Island: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tory+Island,+Co.+Donegal,+Irland/@55.2663733,-8.2288592,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipNUjTuQRZDvc1zyIRgOCCwLootOq7bh2wnnzC-I!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNUjTuQRZDvc1zyIRgOCCwLootOq7bh2wnnzC-I%3Dw203-h152-k-no!7i4096!8i3072!4m5!3m4!1s0x48f57e8bf39fc4f1:0x1800c7a937dfa470!8m2!3d55.2663733!4d-8.2288592 https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tory+Island,+Co.+Donegal,+...
    - rbanffy 5y ago
      Moved to Ireland about 5 years ago. The western coast is reputed as being hit by the worst weather and I assume an island in the northwest would be the worst possible place in terms of weather.
uCantCauseUCant 5y ago
Usually its a story of continued decline. House has rain water damage (roof caves in), village teenager break into house, one of them sets it on fire. Ruin ruins next door neighbours view, nobody willing to clean it up, so he does the work for free.
- sjg007 5y ago
  Ok but you have to start civil proceedings to do so.
  - uCantCauseUCant 5y ago
    On a small island, usually far away from the mainland? Where even government mail arrives late or never? How to say it, the rule of law, while neatly painted on the maps, does usually not uphold well in remote places. Afghanistan is governed from kabul, we were told, right? But its not. Its a thousand villages, each being there own little "Afghanistan" in their minds. The nation state and the emotional investment in it, is a very recent western invention. Same might go for some island. Whatever the outsiders say goes, "when its police show and tell, else, we keep to ourselves and thats that".
thatguy0900 5y ago
It even says he got a letter about storm damage. If the roof got messed up in a storm and noone came to fix it in two or three years why not just knock it down.

tobltobs 5y ago

This tight community also did have to accept a high loss to the value of their properties as their houses became unsaleable. It is a mystery to me how all property owner would accept this, when only one or two have an improved view.

Freak_NL 5y ago
The article mentions that the damages awarded by the judge wouldn't suffice to even buy a chicken coop on the island. My guess is that property prices are quite unaffected by this stunt.
- tobltobs 5y ago
  I don't get how you draw the connection between a not satisfying damage award and unaffected house prices. Maybe the real reason why nobody spoke out was the fact that the guy flattening the house was Tory’s biggest employer. The hotel Óstan Thóraigh has been at the centre of island life since the late 1800s. The hotel and general store was supplying everything from salted fish to marine chandlery to the island. The hotel is for sale now. It didn't survived Covid. See https://www.irishpost.com/news/irelands-stunning-tory-island-hotel-put-market-just-e400000-166346 https://www.irishpost.com/news/irelands-stunning-tory-island...
  - ash 5y ago
    The article is from May 01, 2019. Covid didn't exist yet.
ThePadawan 5y ago
Imagine you're retired, you own a house on an island where you like life. Why do you care if your house is "worth" $50k or $1m? Maybe you don't have kids to inherit it. Maybe you consider yourself at home where you're living, so you wouldn't want to sell it anyway.
- maccard 5y ago
  Have you had that conversation with many people who are retired in comfortable positions? I've had it with many family members (Apparently I'm the one who is "good with money things"), and they all _do_ care, despite the fact they will never realize that value.
  - ThePadawan 5y ago
    No, I don't know anyone in that position.
  - hnlmorg 5y ago
    You only care if your kids aren't planning to live there. In small, isolated communities it's common to hand property down (much like farmland) rather than sell. In those cases the cost of the property is more academic as the real value is the community and any sentimental elements (eg "my grandfather built this"/"5 generations of kids were born in this house", etc)
- Angostura 5y ago
  If you're in the UK, that house is probably the main way you are going to fund decent care in a care home in the last 5 years or s of life. You'll care
hnlmorg 5y ago
Places like these are usually populated with people who have lived there their whole lives and plan to spend the rest of their lives there. The cost of the house, to them, isn't a monetary one, it's more a matter of community and sentimental ownership.

jfoutz 5y ago

I'll go you one further. Outsider visits island for a few months and enjoys their time there, makes some great friends. Outsider's friend has a hotel, and wants to attract more clients. Outsider has a knack for storytelling, but hasn't been successful for a few years. Outsider spins yarn, friend fills up his hotel, both walk away happy. End of mystery. There are a million ways to fill in the blanks. We can't know _the truth_. I find this upsetting, and it'll bug me for days. but then I'll forget and it's ok. Your pat story is fine too. I REALLY want to know the truth, which is a fantastic hook. so I'm stuck with this story longer than you are.

dmix 5y ago
There’s probably some lessons here about good headlines to draw you into a story via social media. Or if you go deeper the value of stories/fiction that were entirely invented in the first place, or documentaries about real things combined with the limitations of an hour and a half plus the biases and editing of the creator, or the podcast medium which lets you go even deeper into a topic, etc. There’s plenty of angles here in a meta way beyond the sum of the real story itself. But I do agree this is most likely going to be an unrewarding investment with a likely simple explanation like the hotel wanting views + very old basically vacant building in the way.
rsynnott 5y ago
Given that he won in court, he was presumably at least able to establish that the house existed at one time, and he owned it, so it’s unlikely to be totally fictitious.
- TheOtherHobbes 5y ago
  There would be a record in the land registry, with a map. Even if the house disappeared he would still own the land. Given that it was a very basic house it's likely the land was worth at least as much as the building.
  - phkahler 5y ago
    >> Even if the house disappeared he would still own the land. Given that it was a very basic house it's likely the land was worth at least as much as the building. Don't underestimate the cost of building stuff on an island like that. Everything needs to be brought in by boat, including labor.

scandox 5y ago

Yes I'm afraid they're trying to Wicker Man this up to 11. Basically some bollocks half knocked down his house. "The House that got partially knocked down by someone with small regard for abstract property rights".

da39a3ee 5y ago
That's not how to use the word "bollocks".
- stormdennis 5y ago
  Maybe it is in Ireland.
- jamiethompson 5y ago
  Not in England, no. But it is in Ireland or Scotland.
  - da39a3ee 5y ago
    OK thanks I didn't know and deserve my downvotes!
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- scandox 5y ago
  In Ireland we do say bollocks or Bollix meaning a person who broadly speaking is difficult to deal with.
  - da39a3ee 5y ago
    Ah OK thanks I had no idea. I gladly accept my downvotes!

arethuza 5y ago

"Islander gets annoyed about the vacant property blocking their view" Could well have been a vacant ruin after 8 years without any maintenance - we live in an exposed site half way up a hill in Scotland and I wouldn't leave our house for 8 weeks without arranging for someone to keep and eye on it and potentially getting repairs done.

soneil 5y ago
That was my thoughts too. Go look up Tory Island on google maps - most of us would very quickly redefine our understanding of 'exposed'.
- silvestrov 5y ago
  everything is within "walking distance", it's approx 2 miles long. Photos from Tory Island: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tory+Island,+Co.+Donegal,+Irland/@55.2663733,-8.2288592,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipNUjTuQRZDvc1zyIRgOCCwLootOq7bh2wnnzC-I!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipNUjTuQRZDvc1zyIRgOCCwLootOq7bh2wnnzC-I%3Dw203-h152-k-no!7i4096!8i3072!4m5!3m4!1s0x48f57e8bf39fc4f1:0x1800c7a937dfa470!8m2!3d55.2663733!4d-8.2288592 https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tory+Island,+Co.+Donegal,+...
  - rbanffy 5y ago
    Moved to Ireland about 5 years ago. The western coast is reputed as being hit by the worst weather and I assume an island in the northwest would be the worst possible place in terms of weather.

uCantCauseUCant 5y ago

Usually its a story of continued decline. House has rain water damage (roof caves in), village teenager break into house, one of them sets it on fire. Ruin ruins next door neighbours view, nobody willing to clean it up, so he does the work for free.

sjg007 5y ago
Ok but you have to start civil proceedings to do so.
- uCantCauseUCant 5y ago
  On a small island, usually far away from the mainland? Where even government mail arrives late or never? How to say it, the rule of law, while neatly painted on the maps, does usually not uphold well in remote places. Afghanistan is governed from kabul, we were told, right? But its not. Its a thousand villages, each being there own little "Afghanistan" in their minds. The nation state and the emotional investment in it, is a very recent western invention. Same might go for some island. Whatever the outsiders say goes, "when its police show and tell, else, we keep to ourselves and thats that".

thatguy0900 5y ago

It even says he got a letter about storm damage. If the roof got messed up in a storm and noone came to fix it in two or three years why not just knock it down.