Attempts to prevent statement on floods

EFFORTS were made yesterday to block a damning statement on the Newcastle West floods being read out at a special meeting of Limerick County Council.

The statement by Newcastle West Flood Committee contained a withering attack on the council for failing to activate the county’s major emergency plan to cope with the crisis deluge on August 1.

A council-commissioned report said the floods were of such a scale that they could only happen once in 650 years.