Council looking into ‘forged’ letter claim

LIMERICK County Council is to conduct an investigation into the lodging of a “forged” letter, which contains derogatory comments about a well-known community activist in O’Briensbridge.

 

Acting director of services Gerry Sheeran has confirmed the council will initiate its own investigation about a submission supporting a planning application for the extension of an existing sand and gravel business in Montpelier, which was recently approved by the council.

In fact, two separate investigations may be conducted into an alleged “personal and unwarranted attack” on O’Briensbridge Community Group chairman Mick Murtagh, after he asked gardaí to conduct an investigation.

Mr Sheeran stated the authority did not check the bona fides of letters submitted by the public on planning files and generally do not attempt to verify information that they believe is submitted in good faith, unless the letter is challenged by another observer or prescribed body.

Mr Murtagh visited Killaloe Garda Station on Wednesday where he lodged a written complaint concerning what he believes  is a possible “forged” letter.

The subject of his complaint is a letter submitted in support of Dereen Concrete’s planning application with Limerick County Council, which lists the incorrect name of the chairman of the Montpelier Community Development Association as a TJ Byrnes instead of the correct TJ Burns.

In his complaint to gardaí, Mr Murtagh said this letter has been accessible to the general public for a considerable amount of time and based on some of its contents appears to be “forged”.

The community activist claimed the letter was an attempt to “discredit” him and the work of the O’Briensbridge Community Group, which he says has played a key role in the provision of numerous amenities and environmental projects throughout the area.

In the letter written by a TJ Byrnes, Mr Murtagh was described as “an habitual objector, constantly objecting to anything and everything without any consideration of community opinion here in Montpelier”.

Mr Byrnes claimed in the letter that to the best of the Montpelier Development Association’s knowledge, the O’Briensbridge Community Group does not exist and if it does, it is not located in or representative of Montpelier.

Mr Murtagh has asked the council to establish how the name TJ Byrnes was printed at the bottom of this letter when the name of the chairman is a TJ Burns.

“The incorrect address of Montpelier, Castleconnell instead of Montpelier, O’Briensbridge was also a sinister attempt to disassociate the village of Montpelier from O’Briensbridge and the rights of both villages to have combined concerns on environmental issues.

“It was also written in ignorance of the close bond between both villages. We need to know why this letter was on the council planning file without having any signature. We also need to know why this letter was highlighted by Gary Rowan of HRA Planning under further information and other matters as a reason to object to the O’Briensbridge submission.

“We would seriously challenge the assertion that the O’Briensbridge Community Group doesn’t exist and so would the community of Montpelier, who enjoy the amenities we have provided for them such as the community playground or the national loop riverside walks.

“The letter also stated the application had the full support of the community in Montpelier is both false and untrue. Proposals contained in the Montpelier Area Plan ‘that no new sand and gravel exploration facility be allowed either now or in the future and that a preservation order be placed on the Montpelier Hills’ was adopted at a packed public meeting held on August 2, 2008,” he claimed.

When contacted by The Clare Champion, Mr Burns refused to be drawn on whether or not he had written the letter.

He pointed out Pat Kelly of Dereen Concrete had got a petition signed by the majority of residents in Montpelier supporting the quarry extension, which he believes is a case of democracy in action.

He acknowledged that Mr Murtagh and the O’Briensbridge Group had done some excellent work in the area and stressed the Montpelier Development Association simply want to improve Montpelier.

As reported last week, Dereen Concrete has obtained planning approval from Limerick County Council for the extension of its sand and gravel quarry, previously permitted under planning permissions in 2010, 2008 and 2005 to facilitate an additional extraction area measuring about 8.87 hectares.