Council wants to knock OAPs’ home

A county council wants to bulldoze two disabled pensioners’ home to make way for a new road to the Cliffs of Moher.

However, a defiant Judith Donoghue, 77, yesterday pledged: “I’m not going to budge.”

She revealed council officials arrived “out of the blue” on Monday last and showed her and husband Peter, also 77, plans for the demolition of their council-owned home in Ennistymon.

The council opted to demolish the couple’s home to safeguard a derelict, heritage protected building known as Blake’s Corner.

The proposed new tourist route will service Lahinch and the landmark Cliffs of Moher attraction.

Mother-of-three Ms O’Donoghue requires a scooter to be mobile outside her home.

She said: “I’m devastated about this. It is unbelievable what is happening.

“I’m not going to budge. I’m going to stay put. There must be another way.”

Peter O’Donoghue is paralysed since 2004 as a result of suffering a stroke.

His wife believes the council places a higher value on the derelict property “than on our lives”.

The privately-owned family home of John and Sheena Clancy who have a son, Jamie, aged 4, also faces demolition.

Ms Clancy said: “We want the council to reconsider. If there was only one option and the road was being built on safety grounds, we would say ‘fine’, but there is the other option that hasn’t been fully considered.”

A public meeting will be held locally tonight.

“Our lives have been torn asunder by this,” said Ms Clancy.

Local FG senator Martin Conway said: “You just can’t shove people out of their homes when 99.9% of people here would favour demolishing Blake’s Corner. What is needed is a proper by-pass of Ennistymon.”

Senior council engineer, Tom Tiernan said that Blake Corner’s protected status was “a significant factor” in the consultants recommending the new road option.

He said: “It is absolutely regrettable that people could be impacted upon by this current proposal. It is at concept stage and may not affect people to the extent that it is being presented.”

Lahinch man Donogh O’Loghlin, who has campaigned for the retention of the protected structures at Blake’s Corner said: “What is being proposed is insane. An inner by-pass is an absolute joke. No one should be forced out of their own homes. The council should set back Blake’s Corner or build a by-pass of the town.”

Mr Tiernan said a planning application for the road is to be lodged later this year.