Rath drum trees cause concern

July 1998

A picturesque stand of trees along a main approach to Rathdrum village are to be examined following concerns by members of Wicklow County Council that they may be in an unsafe condition.

Cllr Noel Jacob told the meeting that one of the trees had fallen during a recent storm, and a tragedy was narrowly avoided. He said a number of them were in ‘a deplorable state’. Cllr Pat Doran said that he had first hand experience as his car had been written off on Christmas Eve last and he had spent Christmas Day in hospital as a result of an accident involving a falling tree. Cllr Jimmy O’Shaughnessy reminded the meeting that the landowner in question had been told by the council just a few years ago that he could not cut those trees down. County Engineer Michael Looby told the meeting that if the trees were found to be in a dangerous condition, the council could serve notice on the landowners and require that they deal with the problem.