Women left with two black eyes amid safety concerns over Limerick town square

URGENT calls have been made for a safety audit of a busy Limerick town square following reports of serious injuries on its footpaths, including a woman who broke her shoulder and “split her forehead”.

Fine Gael councillor John Sheahan raised the issue at the April meeting of the Newcastle West Municipal District (MD), where he tabled a motion “that a safety audit for pedestrian use be taken of the cobbled area of The Square in Newcastle West town and that the area be upgraded forthwith.”

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Along with his motion, Cllr Sheahan also asked the local authority how many personal injury claims have been made to Limerick City and County Council over the past five years relating to the surface in the same area.

Cllr Sheahan told the MD of a woman who fell on loose cobblestones in the town square, adding that “someone decided years ago lumps of stones were a good way to pave Newcastle West.”

Fellow Fine Gael councillor Tom Ruddle supported the motion, noting that the “loose stones” in the town square had previously “been brought up before,” highlighting that the issue has been raised previously. He also raised concerns about reports of loose stones being thrown at a window.

Cllr Liam Galvin echoed concerns about injuries, referencing a woman who also fell on the cobbled pavement, resulting in “two black eyes” and her glasses breaking, saying he was “surprised there wasn't more damage done.”

In response to Cllr Sheahan’s question, Ben Noonan, Senior Executive Engineer for the district, replied: “There have been no personal injury claims made to Limerick City and County Council over the last five years due to the surface of the cobbled area in The Square in Newcastle West town.”

Cllr Galvin said he found it “surprising” that there have been no claims.

Independent councillor Jerome Scanlan asked whether cement could be used to secure the cobblestones and prevent them from becoming loose.

Cathaoirleach for the district, Michael Collins, said that the square was included as a public realm project “a number of years ago” and asked if this could be “brought back onto the table.” Cllr Ruddle expressed concerns that, if they were to proceed, the town centre should “not lose parking.”

Cllr Collins said the loss of parking spaces in the town centre would “not be a problem” so long as the MD provided the lost spaces elsewhere.

In a written reply to the motion, Mr Noonan confirmed that the council’s roads department will “examine the area that has been highlighted.”