“The poorer sections of the community are treated unfairly where civil or quasi – civil matters in law arise,” these were the words of William Moloney who held the position of Clare County Secretary in 1987.
Mr. Moloney was interviewed following a rather contentious case concerning a man in Corbally who decided to build an extension on his house and failed to abide by the terms of the granted planning permission.
Pat Murphy, who felt his idea to follow through with an extension on his house was something which wouldn’t rouse the local community, termed his own actions as hasty. “I agree that I jumped the gun but the position I was in, I thought everything was okay. I’m very friendly with my neighbours. As it turns out, things went against me and I must suffer the consequences”.
Pat incurred a stipulation of 6,000 pounds. A gruelling sum for a husband and father of five who was unemployed at the time. Reports at the time said that Clare County Council wished to make an example out of Pat Murphy for those who dared to grip legal requirements with loose intentions.
