asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the grounds on which he is claiming damages from the Limerick County Council amounting to £44,000, under the Malicious Injuries Act, for damages caused to property in the Croom district by the action of members of the Defence Forces; and if he is aware of the uneasiness that this claim has caused in the minds of the ratepayers in County Limerick, as they feel it unjust to saddle them with the responsibility for this outrage.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Limerick Claim.
The claim lodged on my behalf with the Limerick County Council was for the sum of £10,000 and not for £44,000 as mentioned by the Deputy. As immediately after the explosion of the magazine at Croom it was not possible definitely to fix responsibility, the claim under the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, and the Damage to Property (Compensation) Act, 1923, was lodged as a precautionary measure. Though I am now advised that the claim is sustainable at law, I propose to withdraw it.
Apart from representations which have been made recently by the county manager on behalf of the county council, I am not aware of the uneasiness referred to by the Deputy.
The Minister may be withdrawing his claim for £10,000 on behalf of the Department of Defence, but are there not a number of other claims on behalf of other Departments which make up the £44,000?
I am not concerned with other claims.
There are claims for £44,000 over which the Minister has apparently no control.
Is the Minister aware that the damage in regard to which these claims arose was caused by persons under the control of the Minister and in the service of the State? Is it fair that the ratepayers should be mulcted for damage caused in that way?
The matter is sub judice at the moment.