Pender bridge motion withdrawn

Tullamore town councillor Brendan Killeavy had to withdraw a motion he planned to move at yesterday’s council meeting after he received indications that no seconder for the motion had been secured.

Cllr Killeavy’s proposed motion called on the council to name a new bridge planned for Convent View in honour of Fiona Pender. It’s now expected council management will outline criteria regarding naming three new canal bridges at next month’s meeting of the council.

'I am extremely disappointed and bewildered that none of the other councillors supported this motion but that is for them to answer,' Cllr Killeavy told the Offaly Independent this morning (Friday). 'I have every intention of re-submitting my motion and I am calling on all councillors to support it. There is already great support and enthusiasm for this idea and I am now calling on all Tullamore people to get behind this worthwhile campaign.'

In the withdrawn motion that wasn’t brought before councillors yesterday evening, Cllr Killeavy had said naming the Convent View bridge in Fiona Pender’s honour would be a fitting tribute to both Fiona and her family, given that she has been missing for over 16 years and used the old footbridge on a daily basis during her lifetime.