Call for probe into swimming ban at beaches

The lifting of an unprecedented swimming and surfing ban imposed on three beaches in Co Clare has led to calls for a full investigation.

On Friday, Clare County Council and the HSE slapped a ban on entering the water at Lahinch, Kilkee, and Spanish Point after traces of E-coli were discovered during routine sampling.

While samples taken on Wednesday showed levels to be within mandatory safe limits, the council and HSE nonetheless decided to impose the ban, saying it would take 48 hours for the results of additional tests to be available.