This article is from page 19 of the 2008-06-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
THE standoff between a Crusheen farmer and the National Roads Au- thority (NRA) deepened yesterday when Pat Fogarty refused to hand over keys to his house which is the subject of a compulsory purchase eKeloe
A section of Mr Fogarty land, in- cluding his house, 1s required for the construction of the Gort/Crusheen bypass.
Two NRA agents were refused ac- cess to Mr Fogarty’s property and were met with a protest organised by the Fogarty family and Clare IFA.
The elderly farmer declined to comment on yesterday’s actions but confirmed that negotiations were ongoing and that he hoped the situa- tion would be resolved in a peaceful nat-Nevelole
‘He has today refused to hand over keys to the NRA which means that they may well take out a court or- der against him and enforce it,” said Clare IFA president Michael Lynch who took part in yesterday’s protest.
“We would be hopeful that that wouldn’t happen and an agreement can be reached,” he said.
“He is waiting for a decision for planning permission for a replace- ment house on his land to be given by Clare County Council. If he gets that I think he will be satisfied.
“The IFA are hoping for a solution. The last thing we want is for a court order to be issued and him forcibly evicted from the house. The IFA will support Mr Fogarty as far as we can, within the law.”
A spokesman from the NRA told