A TOWN has been gripped by a moving statue saga that has led to heated exchanges between politicians, clergy and hospital managers.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has applied for planning permission to retain a life-size statue of the Sacred Heart in the grounds of a local hospital. But angry local councillors and senior clergy want the monument returned to a perch above the main door of Killarney Community Hospital where it had been in situ for over 70 years.
The row dates back to March of last year when the HSE removed the statue from above the entrance and relocated it to the grounds of the hospital.
A spokesman said the decision was made on health and safety grounds and denied claims it was part of a plan to remove all religious artifacts from the hospital.
But the move sparked a public outcry in Killarney with councillors backing a call from the Bishop of Kerry for the statue to be returned to its original site.
And Bord Pleanála later ruled that planning permission should have been sought for the relocation of the statue and council officials warned the HSE it would be issued with court proceedings if it failed to formally respond to a formal warning.
It is understood the HSE is still determined that the statue should remain on a plinth on the grounds of the hospital and an application for retention has now been submitted to the planning authorities in Killarney.
Killarney Town Council’s planning section expects to make a decision on the application by late November.
Irish Examiner
www.bpsplanningconsultants.ie
Showing posts with label Killarney Town Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Killarney Town Council. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Developers defend Killarney tower
KILLARNEY’S answer to the spectacular viewing platform on the Grand Canyon, in the US, will not affect the livelihoods of traditional jarveys and boatmen, the developers insisted yesterday.
Killarney Town Council has given planning permission for a 270ft (82m) viewing tower, part of a major shopping/tourism development in the 14-acre Malton Hotel site for which planning was granted, last month.
But two Independent town councillors, Donal Grady and Michael Courtney, said they would be appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
Mr Grady claimed: “Who would want to view Killarney from Aghadoe if they can get a quick trip up a tower? I believe tour operators and people giving boat trips on the lakes will be affected if the tower goes ahead.”
He also said a tower would not be in keeping with the physical environment of Killarney.
Killarney was a town of low structures and something almost 90m height would “desecrate” the town, he argued.
Mr Grady, whose family are in the jarvey business, said a tower would be totally out of place and a “disgrace on the skyline”.
But, Michael O’Shea, a director of Beara BL, the company behind the project, said it would enhance visitors’ experience of Killarney, just as a dramatic viewing area was doing on the Grand Canyon.
It would be a showpiece and a shop window for the area’s beauty spots, he maintained.
“I believe people who go up on the tower will be so ‘wowed’ that they will be encouraged to go out there and see the beauty spots,” said Mr O’Shea who also rejected claims it would intrude on the privacy of people’s homes.
“One of the main jarvey companies in Killarney have told us they are very much in favour of the tower.”
Mr O’Shea has stated his company’s ambitious €200 million shopping and tourism development is going ahead in Killarney.
Beara BL has planning permission for 18,000 square metres of retail space, a new hotel block, an underground car park with 1,200 spaces, a courthouse and an eight-screen cinema.
Some of the buildings will be up to five storeys with an entrance plaza onto East Avenue Road.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Killarney Town Council has given planning permission for a 270ft (82m) viewing tower, part of a major shopping/tourism development in the 14-acre Malton Hotel site for which planning was granted, last month.
But two Independent town councillors, Donal Grady and Michael Courtney, said they would be appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
Mr Grady claimed: “Who would want to view Killarney from Aghadoe if they can get a quick trip up a tower? I believe tour operators and people giving boat trips on the lakes will be affected if the tower goes ahead.”
He also said a tower would not be in keeping with the physical environment of Killarney.
Killarney was a town of low structures and something almost 90m height would “desecrate” the town, he argued.
Mr Grady, whose family are in the jarvey business, said a tower would be totally out of place and a “disgrace on the skyline”.
But, Michael O’Shea, a director of Beara BL, the company behind the project, said it would enhance visitors’ experience of Killarney, just as a dramatic viewing area was doing on the Grand Canyon.
It would be a showpiece and a shop window for the area’s beauty spots, he maintained.
“I believe people who go up on the tower will be so ‘wowed’ that they will be encouraged to go out there and see the beauty spots,” said Mr O’Shea who also rejected claims it would intrude on the privacy of people’s homes.
“One of the main jarvey companies in Killarney have told us they are very much in favour of the tower.”
Mr O’Shea has stated his company’s ambitious €200 million shopping and tourism development is going ahead in Killarney.
Beara BL has planning permission for 18,000 square metres of retail space, a new hotel block, an underground car park with 1,200 spaces, a courthouse and an eight-screen cinema.
Some of the buildings will be up to five storeys with an entrance plaza onto East Avenue Road.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Councillor censured for striking deal with developer
AN Independent Killarney councillor has been censured under the ethics in public office legislation after striking a deal with a local developer on condition that he withdrew an appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
However, an investigation found Cllr Donal Grady had no personal gain in the matter.
His activities were probed by Killarney Town Council manager John Breen and Killarney mayor Patrick O’Donoghue who is himself facing charges in the circuit criminal court under the ethics legislation.
The manager and mayor presented their investigation report to the council, on Monday night. The report was “noted” without any discussion taking place.
On November 14, 2006, Cllr Grady wrote to the council saying he had come to an agreement with Park Partnership Developers who would provide €20,000 for extra safety work at a junction in Pinewood Estate, Killarney.
He pointed out the payment was on condition that he withdrew his appeal to a commercial development being carried by the developers.
However, the council later refused to accept a cheque from the developers because of ethical concerns and referred the matter to its ethics officer, Brian Looney.
Denis Murphy and Mark Corkery, directors of Park Partnership, were among a number of people interviewed during the subsequent ethics investigation. Both directors said they did not feel pressurised to make a payment and saw it as a goodwill gesture to local residents.
In their investigation, Mr Breen and Mayor O’Donoghue found no evidence of personal gain to Cllr Grady.
But, they said his conduct was in breach of Section 168 of the Local Government Act 2001 and found Cllr Grady “seriously compromised” standards set down in the code of conduct.
Yesterday, Cllr Grady claimed it was ‘not a fair report’ and said he would be consulting his solicitor. He also claimed he was not advised by any official to seek advice in relation to ethics, but went to the council of his own accord.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
However, an investigation found Cllr Donal Grady had no personal gain in the matter.
His activities were probed by Killarney Town Council manager John Breen and Killarney mayor Patrick O’Donoghue who is himself facing charges in the circuit criminal court under the ethics legislation.
The manager and mayor presented their investigation report to the council, on Monday night. The report was “noted” without any discussion taking place.
On November 14, 2006, Cllr Grady wrote to the council saying he had come to an agreement with Park Partnership Developers who would provide €20,000 for extra safety work at a junction in Pinewood Estate, Killarney.
He pointed out the payment was on condition that he withdrew his appeal to a commercial development being carried by the developers.
However, the council later refused to accept a cheque from the developers because of ethical concerns and referred the matter to its ethics officer, Brian Looney.
Denis Murphy and Mark Corkery, directors of Park Partnership, were among a number of people interviewed during the subsequent ethics investigation. Both directors said they did not feel pressurised to make a payment and saw it as a goodwill gesture to local residents.
In their investigation, Mr Breen and Mayor O’Donoghue found no evidence of personal gain to Cllr Grady.
But, they said his conduct was in breach of Section 168 of the Local Government Act 2001 and found Cllr Grady “seriously compromised” standards set down in the code of conduct.
Yesterday, Cllr Grady claimed it was ‘not a fair report’ and said he would be consulting his solicitor. He also claimed he was not advised by any official to seek advice in relation to ethics, but went to the council of his own accord.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 11 May 2007
FF councillor breached ethics in family land rezoning bid
11 May 2007
FF councillor breached ethics in family land rezoning bid
By Donal Hickey
A LEADING hotelier and Fianna Fáil councillor tried to win the support of fellow councillors for the rezoning of his family property, according to the Standards in Public Office Commission, which described the incident as a “serious matter”.
The commission concluded that Patrick O’Donoghue, managing director of the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, and a member of Killarney Town Council, breached sections of the ethics legislation arising from a proposal to rezone the 20-acre Gleneagle property.
A report of an investigation by the commission into Mr O’Donoghue’s conduct, published yesterday, is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Click here to find out more!
Mr O’Donoghue, also a director of Fáilte Ireland, has strongly denied trying to influence other councillors to vote for the rezoning.
Also investigated in relation to the rezoning was Mayor Sheila Casey, a Fine Gael member of Killarney Town Council, and an employee of the Gleneagle group.
However, the commission is not taking any further action against her, saying it was “not satisfied on the evidence before it that she had actual knowledge that she had, as an employee of the O’Donoghue family, a beneficial interest in the motion to rezone the lands”. The probe arose from a motion which came before Killarney Town Council to rezone the O’Donoghue’s property, which includes the Gleneagle and Brehon Hotels, the National Events Centre (INEC) and a riverside pitch and putt course to town centre status.
The motion was passed at a council meeting, while Mr O’Donoghue and Ms Casey were both present, on March 6, 2006. Ms Casey voted for the motion, but Mr O’Donoghue abstained.
The commission found Mr O’Donoghue was in breach of the code of conduct for councilors, under the Local Government Act, by seeking the support of councilors for the motion and trying to influence their decision on it.
“The commission is satisfied these contraventions were committed intentionally and were, in all the circumstances, a serious matter,” the report stated.
It also found Mr O’Donoghue disregarded the code of conduct by not disclosing his interest in the Gleneagle property and by failing to withdraw from the meeting when the motion was being discussed.
The investigation arose from complaints by Killarney Town Council manager Tom Curran, who is acting county manager for Kerry.
Irish Examiner
FF councillor breached ethics in family land rezoning bid
By Donal Hickey
A LEADING hotelier and Fianna Fáil councillor tried to win the support of fellow councillors for the rezoning of his family property, according to the Standards in Public Office Commission, which described the incident as a “serious matter”.
The commission concluded that Patrick O’Donoghue, managing director of the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, and a member of Killarney Town Council, breached sections of the ethics legislation arising from a proposal to rezone the 20-acre Gleneagle property.
A report of an investigation by the commission into Mr O’Donoghue’s conduct, published yesterday, is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Click here to find out more!
Mr O’Donoghue, also a director of Fáilte Ireland, has strongly denied trying to influence other councillors to vote for the rezoning.
Also investigated in relation to the rezoning was Mayor Sheila Casey, a Fine Gael member of Killarney Town Council, and an employee of the Gleneagle group.
However, the commission is not taking any further action against her, saying it was “not satisfied on the evidence before it that she had actual knowledge that she had, as an employee of the O’Donoghue family, a beneficial interest in the motion to rezone the lands”. The probe arose from a motion which came before Killarney Town Council to rezone the O’Donoghue’s property, which includes the Gleneagle and Brehon Hotels, the National Events Centre (INEC) and a riverside pitch and putt course to town centre status.
The motion was passed at a council meeting, while Mr O’Donoghue and Ms Casey were both present, on March 6, 2006. Ms Casey voted for the motion, but Mr O’Donoghue abstained.
The commission found Mr O’Donoghue was in breach of the code of conduct for councilors, under the Local Government Act, by seeking the support of councilors for the motion and trying to influence their decision on it.
“The commission is satisfied these contraventions were committed intentionally and were, in all the circumstances, a serious matter,” the report stated.
It also found Mr O’Donoghue disregarded the code of conduct by not disclosing his interest in the Gleneagle property and by failing to withdraw from the meeting when the motion was being discussed.
The investigation arose from complaints by Killarney Town Council manager Tom Curran, who is acting county manager for Kerry.
Irish Examiner
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