By Cianna McNally

MONAGHAN town is not a safe town for pedestrians to live in, it was claimed this week.

This comes only two months after four people were killed or injured in Monaghan Town in a black week on the roads. 

The claim was made by Fine Gael Councillor, Mary Carroll. Her comment came at a Monaghan Town Council meeting on Monday night when the issue of pedestrian safety was being discussed.

Cllr Carroll put the question to the members of whether or not the council had any role in deciding where speed limits and speed cameras go in the town because, in her opinion, the traffic is moving faster through the town due to the bypass.

County Manager, Declan Nelson replied that although Monaghan Co. Council had adopted “a raft” of new speed limits, the implementation of speed cameras is a matter for the Gardaí. He proposed that a letter be written to the Gardaí expressing the concerns of Monaghan Town Council.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Padraigín Uí Mhurachadha supported Cllr Carroll and said that she was in favour of ramps being implemented as a deterrent to those speeding, wherever they could be.

Cllr Uí Mhurachadha also added that the pedestrian lights crossing in the town from Dinkins to Wilson Bros was a real success.

Other councillors including Fianna Fail’s Robbie Gallagher and Sheila Connolly and Sinn Fèin’s Malachy Toal called for pedestrian crossings from Black’s Chemist to the Post Office and a crossing at Lidl.