Local Fine Gael Councillor, John Dolan, has called upon Westmeath County Council to serve a CPO order on the old shop in Castledaly.
Speaking at the most recent sitting of the Athlone-Moate Municipal District, Cllr Dolan stated that the shop, the scene of a harrowing family murder in 2001, is a “long-term blight” on the community.
“The community has been continuously engaging with solicitors in this regard but as no progress is being made I am now calling upon our local authority to purchase and demolish this building. The community needs the Council support and hence my motion today.
“Those living in Castledaly have no alternative option at this stage of the process and we owe it to this community to try and do what is necessary to have this building removed from our sight as it is a shocking reminder of the tragic circumstances which occurred in 2001.
“Yes, it is a delicate subject but it needs addressing as the community of Castledaly must move on - a CPO can be a laborious process, but as I have stated, I believe that the Council owe it to the locals to make progress in this particular instance,” Cllr Dolan asserted.
Concurring, Cllr Vinny McCormack stated that all which the Council can do to expedite the CPO process “must be done”.
In response, the Council executive noted that a decision to initiate a CPO in respect of this or any other property requires careful consideration and would be a last resort, in terms of achieving particular local authority objectives, having exhausted other options.
“However, the matter can be considered in the context of the village and its future development,” director of services, Mr Barry Kehoe commented.
