Council to look at demolishing second Breaffy house

Council may demolish second Breaffy house


Michael Duffy

MAYO County Council has committed to looking at a proposal that would see two houses in the Breaffy area demolished as part of the construction of the new N5 dual carriageway from Westport to Bohola.
A meeting of the Castlebar Electoral Area Committee last week heard that negotiations between the Murphy family, from Doogary near Breaffy village, had taken place and the family had told the Council that they would be more agreeable to a situation where the family homestead, and a family house located near door, would both be demolished and relocated together.
The Council’s original proposal was to just knock the family homestead and a report presented to last week’s meeting by the Council’s Roads Design Office explained the reason why the route was the preferred one.
While the number of landowners on the route was more than  on two other suggested routes, the Murphy household was the only property to be acquired. There are also less properties located within 100 metres of the route centreline and the route was also the shortest in length at 4.3kms.
The route will now go before the March meeting of Mayo County Council for official ratification. Mr Paul Hyland of the Roads Design Office said representatives from the Council had met with Murphy family and explained in detail the reason for the route selection.
Cllr Paddy McGuinness said the family wanted some guarantee that if one house had to be acquired, then both family homes would be acquired.
Mr Joe Beirne, County Engineer, said the full meeting of Mayo County Council was not until March 9 so they would look at the possibility of acquiring both houses. However, he said no guarantee could be given at this stage