COUNCIL OFFICIALS TO CONSIDER BY-LAW TO PREVENT CITY OCCUPATIONS

Date Published: 22-May-2012

Council Officials are to consider whether a by-law can be introduced to prevent future camping in public areas in the city.

It follows a query raised at this week's meeting of the City Joint Policing Committee by Garda Superintendent Marie Skehill.

The Occupy Galway camp which had been in the city for seven months was removed in the early hours of last Wednesday morning by a team of 40 Gardai and council officials.

Superintendent Skehill says the camp was moved using discretionary powers due to "new information" that cannot be disclosed for operational reasons.

Gardai are continuing to monitor the area this week.

City Manager Joe O'Neill says the possibility of introducing a by-law to prevent such occupations will be investigated.

Meanwhile, Senator Trevor O'Clochartaigh has questioned whether Gardai were forced to move on the camp due to political pressure - a claim which has been strongly rejected by Gardai