Crowe attempted to ‘hijack’ credit, claims community group

COUNCILLOR Cathal Crowe has found himself in hot water with a development group in O’Briensbridge amid disputed claims he attempted to “hijack” credit for the long-awaited approval for repairs to the local bridge.
This charge was levelled this week by O’Briensbridge Community Group chairman, Mick Murtagh, who believes Councillor Crowe attempted to give the impression in a statement issued last week that Clare County Council gave the go-ahead to repair damage to the crossing linking O’Briensbridge and Montpelier, on the basis of representations he made to the council.
However, Mr Murtagh insists senior executive engineer Hugh McGrath gave a commitment to repair the bridge in a letter dated November 25 to Deputy Michael McNamara, 10 days before Councillor Crowe sent him a text saying Mr McGrath would be in the village if he wanted to meet him.
Mr Murtagh recalled the group wrote to Deputy McNamara on October 19 asking that he visit the village and when he arrived on November 4, he was presented with a list of issues, including the bridge damage. Deputy McNamara subsequently wrote to Mr McGrath highlighting a number of issues on November 7 last.
Councillor Crowe, who refuted the “hijack” claim, told The Clare Champion that Mr Murtagh could have made him aware of representations put forward by Deputy McNamara during recent telephone conversations between the two parities.
In fact, the Meelick councillor argued that Mr Murtagh’s claim “didn’t add up” because he had previously praised him in private for his prompt representations to the council and couldn’t understand why he was now being criticised publicly.
“I made Mr Murtagh aware of my representations before they appeared in any newspaper. I am entitled to make representations and did so after the issue was raised by Fianna Fáil members at a recent meeting.
“It would be better if Mr Murtagh made me aware other politicians were involved instead of raising it with a newspaper [The Clare Champion].
“I am satisfied I did my best to resolve this situation and when I got back to local constituents, they were very pleased with the outcome.
“I informed Mr Murtagh that Mr McGrath would be in the village on December 5 if he wanted to meet him but he declined,” he recalled.
However, Mr Murtagh, who is standing over his claim, explained he contacted The Clare Champion to “set the record straight” following a statement issued by Councillor Crowe about the bridge repairs, which was published in last week’s edition.
He recalled he didn’t meet Mr McGrath because he was made aware that Councillor Crowe would be accompanied by people who allegedly had no community involvement for about14 years and would not be aware of previous discussions concerning the wall with council conservation officer, Dick Cronin and senior executive engineer, Seán Lenihan.
Senior executive engineer Hugh McGrath confirmed in a letter to Deputy McNamara on November 25 last the barrier and wall would be repaired in two stages, with the first stage to commence in the next few weeks, while the caps on the main bridge would be repaired at the next opportunity.
“I will examine further the option of restricting certain vehicles to protect the bridge. I agree that some restriction is preferable on certain heavy goods vehicles until the new Killaloe Crossing is open and I will examine this.
“I will be recommending to the council that once the Killaloe Bridge opens, heavy goods vehicles should be banned or at least restricted. The only active, new proposals for crossing the Shannon are at Killaloe and the Limerick North Inner Relief Road,” he said.
In a letter to Deputy McNamara, the group expressed concern about the lack of pedestrian access on the bridge and the failure of the council to replace the damaged section of the Heritage Guide Wall. The group also highlighted that capping stones on the main bridge were dislodged by heavy goods vehicles and are now in a dangerous condition overhanging the national loop walks.
It proposed plans for the new O’Briensbridge Crossing should be dropped in favour of the Northern Relief Road, which will serve the same purpose.
Once the new Killaloe Crossing is provided, the group is seeking a guarantee that a weight restriction limit should be placed on the O’Briensbridge Crossing.
On June 22, 2010, the group wrote to the council highlighting the bridge damage.
“The section, which in the past has been most prone to damage, are the stone pillars and mostly the two nearest to the bend and this damage is due to artic lories or low loaders trying to negotiate the bend because these pillars are not secured to the base the slightest tip from the tail board or tail barrier will cause these pillars to topple over,” the letter stated.
The group now want an environmentally friendly log-type crash barrier erected to prevent future bridge damage.