The court in Sicily ordered the parish of St Teresa in Palermo to pay EUR 45 000 for compensation to the close residential community for sound caused by children playing ball on the court at the church.
The dispute lasted more than a decade and concerned, as the residents argued, a prolonged disturbance of peace, besides in the evening and night hours.
As early as 2019, the court introduced restrictions on the usage of the field, including a shortening of classes hours, a ban on games in August and the work to install sound-taking barriers. However, the residents felt that these measures had no effect by presenting treatment and therapy bills. They besides rejected the arguments of the parish, which emphasized the social function of the dayroom.
After the community rejected the settlement of EUR 5 000, the court importantly increased the amount of compensation. The Archdiocese of Palermo announced the execution of the sentence, while not covering the bitterness. In her statement, she recalled the educational and educational function of the church hall, especially crucial in districts without akin places for children and young people.
