Top floor of Clare hospital evacuated amid fears of roof damage

Aer Lingus Regional plane blown over in high winds at Shannon

An Aer Lingus Regional commuter plane rests on its left wingtip after being lifted off the ground in 150km/h winds at Shannon Airport. Photograph: Press 22
An Aer Lingus Regional commuter plane rests on its left wingtip after being lifted off the ground in 150km/h winds at Shannon Airport. Photograph: Press 22

Patients had to be evacuated from the top floor of Ennis General Hospital yesterday due to fears the roof had been damaged by strong winds.

Twenty-five patients were moved to another part of the building while an inspection of the roof was carried out. Engineers found no signs of damage and the patients were able to return to the floor.

Also in Ennis, the garden shed of a house at Ballybeg burst into flames after power cables fell on it. Two units of the fire brigade brought the fire under control.

Clare County Council, An Garda Síochána, the Fire Service and Clare Civil Defence responded to more than 150 weather-related incidents in the county yesterday.

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Fallen trees were reported across the county, particularly in the Ennis area which appeared to have been one of the worst affected. Dozens of trees were knocked down at St Flannan’s College in Ennis, leaving a busy road closed for several hours.

Trees on the Ennis Golf Club course were toppled, some on to the main Ennis to Miltown Malbay road.

The southeast of the county was badly affected, particularly in Killaloe and around Sixmilebridge, with fallen trees reported on many routes.

A small commuter aircraft was left resting on its left wing tip after it was lifted off the ground in high winds at Shannon Airport.

The ATR-42 commuter plane was parked at the terminal building at about 1.40pm when it was lifted off the ground and slammed back down again, narrowly missing an air bridge. There was no one on board at the time.

Winds at Shannon reached 80 knots (148km/h) at times and the airport was forced to close until mid-afternoon.