This article is from page 6 of the 2006-02-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
A CLARE Garda, currently serving the longest suspension from the force, faces being rendered homeless.
Garda Ciarán Sheehan this week lashed out at the planning process, after An Bord Pleanala upheld a decision of Clare County Council to refuse him planning permission to build a house near the east Clare village of Ogonnelloe, because the board considered Garda Sheehan to be ‘non-local’ to the area.
Over the past 13 years, Garda Sheehan has lived at Scariff Garda Station, paying rent to the Minister for Justice.
Garda Sheehan’s agent told the appeals board that, “Garda Sheehan will be due to retire from the Garda shortly and will be then homeless” if planning permission wasn’t granted.
However, the appeals board refused planning permission due to the “locals only” rule, stating that the proposed house would set an unwelcome precedent for similar development in an area identified as being under pressure from urban generated housing.
Garda Sheehan said: “It is very sad that someone who has lived in the county for the past 14 years is not considered a local. I am very disappointed that I could have nowhere to live, in spite of owning 12 acres of land at Ogonnelloe and every Tom, Dick and Harry is getting planning around you.
“If I have no job tomorrow, I will have no house to live in, as the job is attached to the house. I won’t be allowed live there if I lose the job. I don’t know what I’ll do. Go on the housing list, or live in a tent, or a caravan.
“I have done everything I can to get planning permission, but I have been knocked back at every opportunity.”
Asked what housing options he now had, Garda Sheehan said: “I have no options. Go on the housing list, or leave Clare, or go some place where I was appreciated. All I want is to be treated the same as everyone else.”
The Garda cited the example of a foreign national securing planning permission in close proximity to him.
He said: “I am all in favour of foreign people working and living in Clare, but there must be fairness applied across the system for everyone.
Currently, Garda Sheehan has appealed to the Supreme Court, a High Court ruling upholding a decision by the Garda Complaints Tribunal requiring him to resign from the force in 1998 A final ruling may not be made until 2008, it emerged this week.
Solicitor for Garda Sheehan, Michael Hegarty, confirmed to The Clare People that the waiting period for appeals to go to the Supreme Court was up to 14 months.
Garda Sheehan’s counsel argued in the High Court that the tribunal held was “tainted with illegality” and had no jurisdiction to act as it had.
Mr Hegarty said that as Garda Sheehan was a member of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, limited funding towards was provided, but the balance would rest with the individual taking the case. He confirmed that the costs of the High Court case were awarded to the Garda Complaints Tribunal.