IN SHORT

A round-up of today's other regional news in brief.

A round-up of today's other regional news in brief.

Pothole damage liability denied

Local authorities are not liable for damage done to cars by the country's large potholes – as long as they do not try to repair them.

Wexford County Council representative Adrian Doyle said the relevant 1961 law had been challenged, up to the High Court and Supreme Court, and was incontrovertible.

"I didn't make it up. If weather conditions cause a pothole in the road, and we do not repair it, then the council has no liability," he said.

Sinn Féin councillor John Dwyer raised the issue at a council meeting yesterday and said a constituent was put off the road when serious damage was done to his car after it went into a large pothole.

Mr Doyle said the man was unlikely to succeed if he lodged a claim against the council for the cost of the damage to his vehicle. "Even if a local authority is notified about a pothole, and does nothing about it, there is still no liability."

Wexford county manager Eddie Breen said the council would continue to try to repair as many potholes, especially large and dangerous ones, as it could.

However, he said it would be "foolish to say every pothole is going to be filled".

Muslim burial ground for Wexford urged

A Wexford County councillor believes the Muslim community in Co Wexford should provide their own burial ground in line with other religions there.

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The Muslim Public Affairs Committee in Ireland had recently written to the county council asking that a burial ground be provided for its members. Cllr John Dwyer asked were there any plans to provide a specific burial ground for Muslim people.

Niall McGuigan, director of environment services, said the council proposed “to design a graveyard for all faiths, not specifically Muslims or Christians or any particular faith”. However, Gorey councillor Lorcan Allen felt that the Muslim community could follow the lead of other religions and provide their own burial site.

Former Leitrim councillor dies, aged 87

The death has occurred of Eve Mooney, a former member of Leitrim County Council. Mrs Mooney, mother of former senator and chairman of Fáilte Ireland northwest Paschal Mooney, was 87.

She was co-opted on to Leitrim County Council in 1988 following the death of her husband, Joseph Mary Mooney, a long-standing member of the council and also a former Fianna Fáil senator. The annual Joe Mooney traditional music summer school in Drumshanbo was established in memory of her husband in 1989.

Mrs Mooney is survived by three sons, Paschal, Andrew, Harry and by her daughter, Clare.