Following the move of Occupy Galway to facilitate the Christmas Market, the Galway City Council now plans to take legal action against the camp.
Fears that the camp would interfere with the contracts between the city council and the market were quashed in the last few weeks when the camp’s inhabitants agreed to move from their original pitch.
Councillors have criticised, what they believe to be City Hall’s inaction over moving the camp, however council officials outlined their position at Monday’s city council meeting.
Director of Services Ciarán Hayes told councillors that he was united with the city manager Joe O’Neill in his wishes to see the camp removed. “The camp contravenes the Criminal Justice Public order act 1994,” he said and he pledged that he will work on the issue.
The city manager said: “There are no bylaws specifically covering Eyre Square. The position at the moment is to meet with Gardaí and our solicitors. There was a focus on market operating successfully, and now I believe there are options.”
The council’s previous relationship with the camp was unknown, however a number of questions submitted by Independent councillor Terry O’Flaherty to Ciarán Hayes revealed that the council had no meetings with the Occupy Galway group or their representatives in advance of the Christmas Market.
Mr Hayes informed councillors that on November 19, “I went to Eyre Square and observed their move to the current location and challenged some of the members on the condition and scale of the encampment”; he also pointed out that “they were defacing public property”.
It has also been noted that the group do not have public liability insurance and that in the event of a claim, it is likely it would be made against the Galway City Council.
