Rail delays due to illegal encampment

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AUTHORITIES have been “held to ransom” by the presence of an illegal encampment at Sixmilebridge railway station, a county councillor has claimed. Since February 2021, three Traveller families have been residing in the car park of the Sixmilebridge train station on lands that are owned by Clare County Council.

Iarnród Éireann have in recent weeks instructed drivers to proceed at caution through Sixmilebridge due to the encampment which is causing five minute delays on services in the county.

Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) told The Clare Echo, “We can’t put up with this any longer, we’ve been held to ransom”. He added, “They are there over two years, it boils my blood that they can break the law to use it as a lever to be housed”.

He claimed that Clare County Council “have done everything in their power to accommodate these people”.

Bridgie Casey of Ennis Traveller CDP refuted these claims. “The three families are on the housing list for several years, living without no facilities. The families do not want to be there, but they have no choice or option as they were never offered any type of accommodation from Clare County Council”.

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