A Fiasco, a Farce and Two Major Scandal

limerick | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Thursday June 22, 2006 14:01 by Seán Ryan and Elaine

The Bleach Lough Water Campaign in Court again.

Court, Two Scandals and Lunch.

Some major scandals in the making today. I'll get to one shortly, after I describe the fiasco in the Four Courts.

I arrived shortly before 10.30am. Unlike last Monday, the place was awash with bodies. Joe Higgins was there too. Joe informed me that the folks from the Bleach Lough campaign, were on the way, but that Orla wouldn't be coming - her baby was ill.

The folks from Kildimo and Pallaskenry arrived shortly before 11.00. Joe and the protesters broke out the placards and immediately the media oozed out of wherever they'd been congealed.

Martin Ferris showed up too, to lend his support.

We went into the High Court and wandered the building looking for information regarding the location and number of the courtroom we were looking for. Eventually we were told Court no.13.

Before anyone got into Court 13 we were informed that Limerick County Council had wasted everyone's time and that there would be no sitting today. The Judicial Review was put off for another three months. Orla's hearing was put off until next Thursday. And a motion to make the temporary injunction into a permanent injunction is happening on Monday next. Way to go folks, drain the people of Kildimo and Pallaskenry of money and they cannot oppose you.

Scandal no.1 Joe Higgins told me this morning, before we went into the court, that Cro-Bar Construction were not signed up to the national pension fund. Because of this they are being unlawfully employed by Limerick Co. Council.

Indy got invited to lunch...

In the members dining room in Leinster House, the bill footed by Mr. Joe Higgins. Two Indy heads, a Revolt Video head, a Woodlandleague Activist head and 10 or so Campaigner heads for the Bleach Lough Spring Water Retention group.

Imagine that, they let Indy into Leinster House!!

Amongst other pranks and japes, we hassled Conor Lenihan, Yelled at John Cregan from outside the gates (he refused to come out and greet his constituents from Limerick - coward), Michael Martin was stood on (sorry Mick ;o) and we drove demented a poor assistant to someone, after the bout with Lenihan - she told us not to ask questions. We were told we could not lobby the politicians. Finding ourselves at a loose end we adjourned to the Oireachtas Restaurant.

We ascertained that there were no Genetically Modified foodstuffs on the lovely Blue leatherbound menu.

I chose the Minute Steak. I asked for it to be well done. When asked how well done I answered, "cremated." It was lovely and had a smokey flavour, but looked rather lonely on the plate with a single roasted spud for company. I ask for chips to complete the portrait. I contemplated it for a while, before I devoured it. My lovely, (fellow indy reporter/photographer) dining companion, being of the vegetarian persuasion, had a limited choice. She does however reccomend the Leek and Potato Soup, followed by a rather poor, in her opinion, vegetarian Stir Fry. However the Fresh Fruit Salad with Cream, was to die for.

After goofing around for about an hour, hobnobbing with the bigknobs, we thanked Joe for his gracious hospitality. As we left we sent many's a raspberry at many a muppet.

When we got outside the House we all turned on our phones. Immediately there was a discordant toccata as everyone's phone went off. Cllr. Noreen Ryan had been frantically trying to reach us with news about Scandal no. 2.

Aughinish Aluminium behind Water Grab
Scandal no. 2 is worse if that's possible(?) For many years now the peoples of Kildimo and Pallaskenry have been told that the Bleach Lough is too small to sustain them. This is why the polluted river Deel is being forced upon them, the Deel, they have been told is more than ample to sustain them.

Aughinish Alumina have, for many years, allegedly polluted the country surrounding them. If one drives by the island in the estuary, it's like a scene out of a science fiction film, red earth. Anyway, they are now gearing up for a major expansion and they need water, lots of it. Here's where the scandal comes into it. The Deel doesn't have enough water for their needs; the Bleach Lough does.

Limerick County Council are liars.

And they've been lying for years.

The game's up, you soon to be losers.