Conneely slammed for water stunt

Date Published: 17-Aug-2007

A senior official with Galway City Council has criticised a move by a city Councillor to ignore public health warnings and drink tap water — despite there still being a boil water notice in place.

Annoyed with the length of time it has taken to restore a clean, safe water supply to the city and its western environs after an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis five months ago (when a boil water notice was
put into effect), Councillor Padraig Conneely started drinking water straight from the tap on Tuesday — and says he will continue to do so.

“I’m feeling fine,” the Fine Gael Councillor said. “I’m still drinking it and will continue to drink it.”

However, he said that he’s not recommending anyone else follow suit. “I am not recommending
anyone do what I am doing, and I will suffer the consequences myself,” he said.

The West Ward councillor explained he was taking a public stand against the “inefficiency and incompetency” of Galway City Council management,“ who have failed for five months to deliver water to the people of Galway City”.

Councillor Conneely said he hoped his actions will inject “a bit of urgency” into the situation. “I am not prepared to bury my head in the sand. I will continue to take a public stand,” he said.

Yesterday Director of Services forTransport and Infrastructure, Ciarán Hayes expressed his “severe disappointment” that a member of the council would ignore public health advice at this time.

“I would…..