‘Nightmare scenario’ in Carrigatoher as claims of fires being lit near gas pipeline

Fires are being lit just metres from the Limerick-Nenagh gas pipeline at Carrigatoher, posing fears of a major explosion, councillors were told at the October meeting of the Nenagh Municipal District authority.

Cllr John Carroll added that action needed to be taken to remove people who were living in caravans in the area.

Fires being lit beside the gas pipeline were leading to “a nightmare scenario”, he said.

He revealed that five to six caravans were parked on a site close to an attenuation pond that was designed to receive rainwater off the main M7 motorway.

Referring to risks posed by open fires that had been lit at the site, he said: “The main gas pipeline is there and this needs to be acted on.”

Cllr Carroll said he had raised the issue at a number of previous council meetings already, but the caravans were still on the site.

He said residents in the area felt intimidated, and some had moved to live elsewhere with relatives due to incidents of anti-social behaviour. “This is not fair on local residents who are trying to get on with their lives.”

Cllr Carroll felt there were two kinds of law in the country. Some people could get away with behaviour that was not acceptable.

CLEAN UP COSTS

Cllr Séamie Morris said it was going to cost “hundreds of thousands” of euro to eventually clean up the site occupied by the caravans. Those who caused the mess should be charged for the cleaning. A meeting of several agencies needed to be held to plan a course of action.

Cllr Pamela Quirke O’ Meara said she had received calls from distressed local residents. The council had issued an Enforcement Notice on the people in the caravans. That now needed to take effect.

She said carpets and furniture were being thrown on fires lit on the site.

District Administrator Rosemary Joyce said council management shared the concerns expressed. The local authority had taken legal advice and  enforcement proceedings were taking place.

“We have to follow the process of that, which is being done by our planning section.”