Bishop visits school in bus service dispute

The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, yesterday intervened in the dispute in Ennis, Co Clare, which has stopped bus services…

The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, yesterday intervened in the dispute in Ennis, Co Clare, which has stopped bus services to a school for handicapped children. On Tuesday, Ennis gardai summonsed four travellers, who have been at an unofficial halting site near the school, to appear before Ennis District Court tomorrow. They are to be charged, under the Road Traffic Act, with causing obstruction. After visiting the travellers, and St Clare's School, where only 22 pupils were present, Dr Walsh said: "I would be tempted to offer the situation some breathing space by allowing the travellers move onto my front lawn, but I wouldn't rush into it. I will talk to various interest groups and will be in contact with Clare County Council."

Ennis has had no serviced halting site for travellers since last December.

A council spokesman said yesterday: "We are not in a position to provide a temporary halting site for travellers who do not respect the rights of the settled community."

The council is drawing up a programme to put in place accommodation for the travelling community, though any accommodation will not be ready until 1998, he added.