CoCituny Editioty Editionn Mid-West Newspaper of the Year LEADER Saturday, June 19, 2010 BECAUSE LIFE IS LOCAL PRICE: J2.20 LIMERICK LEADER DINE IN LIMERICK WEEK – NOW ON! Respite SOS Enjoy fantastic food at great prices PAGE 3 Families fight for return of care service Leader2

Double take: window model McLoughlin sells a dummy to city shoppers

Roxboro roundabout: John Carew Link Road will be out of to challenge bounds for incoming traffic from next Monday Carew Park Link for Road to close to facilitate tunnel David Hurley ing the concerns of people living and working in the mayoralty CONTROVERSIAL pro- area. “Our concerns were posals to close the Carew raised more than four Park Link Road to years ago and they did not ■ Rugby legend would ‘put his heart and soul into job’ inbound traffic are to be listen. The NRA are a law implemented from Mon- into themselves and they day to facilitate the open- simply don’t care,” he ■ But Mayor Kiely claims: ‘It’s there for me if I want it’ ing of the Limerick Tunnel said. at the end of this month. Sean O’Neill of the NRA The link road, which rejected the criticism, say- Nick Rabbitts councillor not to have been opened in 2001, currently ing the decision was taken mayor, following Cllr Joe Led- provides access to the city following a public consul- LABOUR looks set to run a can- din’s term in 2006-07. from the Rosbrien Inter- tation process, which was didate in the upcoming mayoral Cllr McLoughlin told the Spot the dummy: Dan Mooney in the window of Connolly Man, Patrick Street, this Thursday change for motorists trav- initiated by Limerick City election, with former rugby star Leader: “I would put my heart elling from Croom, Adare, Council. “This was done at Gerry McLoughlin likely to and soul into the job. It is a Newcastle West and Cork the request of the local make a challenge for the chain. tremendous honour. I would be who have not taken the authority and there was a But current Mayor Kevin involved in many civic groups, Mooney’s the mannequin for the job Raheen or Dooradoyle public process. Kiely has not given up on secur- representing different people, exits off the motorway. “If they want to call it a ing a second term in office, crit- and I think I would give a fair A spokesperson for the dark day then they should icising his Fine Gael colleagues Cllr Gerry McLoughlin: ‘We need representation. We need some- Suzanne O’Brien work to home, from work to roads department at Lim- look in the mirror,” he told for making an issue of it, and someone in the chair who can one in the chair who can repre- home, everyday. Meanwhile erick City Council con- the Limerick Leader. claiming: “It is there for me if I represent everyone’ sent everyone.” SHOPPERS did a double take my friends were going here, firmed the changes will Cllr Ger Fahy said he is want it.” Cllr McLoughlin argued that as they passed a window dis- there and everywhere. come into effect on Mon- disappointed a compro- Although Labour is not due to To secure a term as mayor, under Fine Gael’s five-year plan, play with a twist on Patrick “The best thing I could come day. Outbound traffic will mise could not be found. meet until Monday, party leader Cllr McLoughlin would have to there would be no representa- Street this Thursday – which up with was to experience one not be affected but “This is an insult to local Joe Leddin has indicated his win the support of at least one tive from the City East con- was home to a living a man- new thing everyday so I began motorists travelling on the people and I’m concerned party will run a candidate member of the Fine Gael group stituency. He does not think this nequin for the day. to make a list of possibilities in M20 will have to take the that a lot of motorists will against southside councillor - which holds a majority at City is fair. The living mannequin in January,” said Dan. Raheen exit and enter the opt to use the Greenfields Maria Byrne, Fine Gael’s official Hall - as well as the two inde- “City East is a huge part of question, who surprised ‘Project 366’ then began on city via the Dock Road and Road which will not be candidate. pendent councillors, Sinn Fein Limerick. It’s important people passers-by with an occasional the day of Mooney’s 26th birth- Raheen, or leave the M20 able to cope,” he said. City East councillor McLough- and Fianna Fail. realise one person from each twitch and a wink, was Limer- day, April 14, and sees him at the Dooradoyle exit and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 lin said he would put his “heart But with rumours that Mayor area of the city should have the ickman Dan Mooney, posing as completing one brand new come through Dooradoyle and soul” into the job, if he won Kiely may seek a second term in opportunity [to be mayor]. It’s a dummy for the day in the Aine Madigan and Aija Dovgale activity each day until he turns or Greenfields Road by election as Mayor next Monday, office, it is not inconceivable that not good for democracy for five window of Connolly Man as of Connolly Man on Patrick 27. Yo ung Munster RFC. while northside councillor Tom he will come to a deal with the mayors to come from the same part of his self-set challenge Street checking out their new The Limerick Leader joined “This is a dark day for ISSN 1649-8992 Shortt said he thinks Labour opposition groups, which could party. Fine Gael could still have entitled ‘Project 366’. live mannequin, Dan Mooney Mooney on day 65 of the chal- the southside of the city 24 supporters would “expect” the secure Labour a mayoralty at three mayoralties, but it should After securing a permanent PICTURE: ADRIAN BUTLER lenge where he was getting set and it will have disastrous party to take advantage of a least once during this council’s be spread around. Fine Gael job in the public sector early to pose as a live mannequin in consequences,” said Cllr divide in Fine Gael to secure the term. having its arms around every- this year – around the same self a personal challenge to the window of the Connolly Jim Long, who has mayoralty. Elsewhere, Cllr Joe A former Shannon, Munster thing smacks of a dictatorship,” time many of his friends were complete one new experience Man store on Patrick Street. accused the National Leddin confirmed his support for and Ireland prop, Cllr McLough- Cllr McLoughlin said. planning their round-the-world a day for a year. Roads Authority of ignor- Cllr McLoughlin. lin is the longest serving Labour CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 trips – Dan decided to set him- “I found myself going from CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 9771649 899027

FG crisis could be city’s gain Green bus lane

Mike Dwane ton, he told the Limerick Leader it ‘will cope with would be "inappropriate as a for- FINE Gael's leadership crisis has mer party leader" to voice an split loyalties in Limerick this opinion in public. He did tell parking needs’ week among TDs and councillors reporters outside the Dail this but party members are in agree- week that the heave had not come Nick Rabbitts ment it presents an opportunity to as a surprise as there had been promote a city TD to the front concern in the party over the lead- LIMERICK City Council has said it bench. ership for some time. will be able to accommodate the Members are hopeful this will But as the parliamentary party “existing parking demand” on the lead to one of Michael Noonan or remained locked indoors at the route of a proposed new green bus Kieran O'Donnell holding an time of going to press, one source lane from O’Connell Avenue to the important economic portfolio in Michael Noonan: remained silent said "that doesn't necessarily boundary. the next government if the party on FG leadership battle mean Michael will vote no confi- But local councillor Maria Byrne is returned to power. dence in , even people says 98 per cent of the community is In a dramatic development on And while both Limerick West who are very close to him don't still against the revised plan - and pre- Wednesday, Deputy O'Donnell TD and Sean Kelly know how he will go". dicted the j2.4m scheme could came out in favour of Richard Bru- MEP are backing Enda Kenny, There has been speculation become a “waste of money”, once the ton – less than 48 hours after Michael Noonan this week Enda Kenny could cut a deal with Limerick Tunnel opens. Enda Kenny appointed the Limer- refused to discuss the leadership the Limerick TD he replaced as This week, proposals for Limerick ick TD as the party's acting question.While sources earlier party leader to return to the front city’s third green bus route - stretch- finance spokesman to replace the this week said Deputy Noonan bench as finance spokesman. ing over 2.2km between the Mallow leader of the rebel camp. was likely to support Richard Bru- CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Street/O’Connell Street junction to the county boundary at the end of the South Circular Road - were placed on display at City Hall. These show that the bus lanes will only operate between 7.30-9.30am, and Gun victim out of intensive care 4.30-6.30pm, with engineer Rory McDermott stating: “The existing David Hurley he is no longer on life support parking demand is accommodated in and that his condition has the design.” A YOUNG Limerick man who improved from critical to stable. Parking is available all the way was critically injured when he A major garda investigation is down the proposed priority bus route, sustained gunshot wounds to the continuing and one man is cur- in some cases on both sides, after res- head and body almost a month rently before the courts after he idents expressed fears over a loss of ago was this week transferred was charged in connection with parking amenity. out of intensive care following an the shooting. And although the bus lanes will ini- improvement in his condition. Shane Mason, 28, with an tially only operate at peak traffic Daniel Phillips, 20, from Crec- address at Sean Heuston Place in times, Mr McDermott said they could ora Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston Shooting victim Daniel Philips has the city is accused of possession also be opened up for day-long use was injured when the car he was shown some improvement on his of a firearm and ammunition after a trial period. Fine Gael council- driving was targeted by a gun- condition this week with intent to endanger life on lor Byrne - who lives along the route - man at John’s Square at around May 24 last contrary to section 15 says the community is still very much 9.30pm on May 24 last. A number Mr Phillips underwent emer- of the Firearms Act. Detectives against the proposals, fearing a reduc- of shots were fired at the car gency surgery at the Mid-West- have viewed over 200 hours of tion in car parking spaces, as well as shortly after it pulled into John’s ern Regional Hospital in cctv footage and dozens of wit- having concerns over the safety of Square, near St John’s Cathedral. Dooradoyle within an hour of the nesses have been interviewed as elderly residents. A second volley of shots was shooting and he was later trans- part of the investigation. A file is She confirmed the O’Connell discharged as the black Volkswa- ferred to Cork University Hospi- expected to be forwarded to the Avenue/Ballinacurra Residents Associ- gen Passat sped away from the tal for further treatment. Initial Director of Public Prosecutions ation - which set up a special sub-com- area. The other occupants of the reports that he had died from his shortly. A special incident room mittee to deal with the bus lanes issue - car were not injured in the shoot- injuries proved incorrect and this has been established at Henry has sought a meeting with city hall ing and the gunman escaped Thursday a spokesman for the Street garda station which can be management, but are yet to hear back. from the area on a pedal bicycle. HSE Southern Region confirmed contacted at (061) 212400. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2