The demolition of Britain’s wonkiest Midland pub, known as ‘The Crooked House’, situated at Coppice Mill, Himley, Staffordshire, U.K.; following a suspected arson attack, which ripped through the building on August 5th last, has been greeted by angry outrage. The building was also known as “Siden House”, (siden” meaning “crooked” in Black Country dialect.)
The historic dwelling was erected in 1765 as an 18th-century farmhouse, before it was converted into a pub in the 1830s. It was sold in July 2023, and on August 5th was gutted by fire, before two days later it was totally demolished. Police are treating the fire as arson, and investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances of the fire itself and also the lawfulness of the demolition.
The director of a company that hired a digger to demolish The Crooked House has now been identified as convicted Tipperary drug smuggler, Mr Morgan McGrath.
Mr McGrath, aged 51, formerly from Breansha, Co. Tipperary, was jailed for 12 years in 2004, for his part in a £20 million international drug smuggling operation, and on being released from prison, moved to reside in the UK.
Mr McGrath together with Mr Michael Howard of Knocktoran, Elton, Co Limerick, had previously both pleaded guilty to charges relating to their attempt to import, into Ireland, 591,180 Ecstasy tablets, 198kg of Cannabis resin, 48kg of Heroin, 602,000 Temazepam tablets and 132kg of Amphetamine (speed); latter hidden underneath the false lead-lined floor of trailers carrying vegetables. Both men had pleaded guilty before Monaghan Circuit Court to charges of conspiring to import the drugs, which then had an estimated street value of some €22.5m, between the dates August 1st and August 31st, 2002.
In July 2005, both men were both jailed for 12 years, for their involvement in one of the biggest drug hauls to be intercepted by police in Europe, and who later had their sentences reduced to 8 years by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Just like the destruction of the Great Famine ‘Double Ditch’ here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary; the destruction of this red brick built, landmark pub, which owed its name due to its lopsidedness, (latter caused by a subsidence linked to certain mining activities), has now brought 258 years of history to an abrupt end. However, unlike the historic Thurles ‘Double Ditch’, in the case of ‘The Crooked House’, latter has been greeted nationally by an angry public meeting, supported by local politicians demonstrating utter outrage at its demolition.
The fire occurred just 9 days after being purchased by ATE Farms, a company controlled by Mrs Carly Taylor, whose husband, Mr Adam Taylor is a former director of the company that runs the landfill site adjacent to the historic pub which also mysteriously caught fire .
Mr McGrath is the director of AT Contracting & Plant Hire, which hired a digger to destroy the remains of the pub, without permission, just two days after it was destroyed in the mystery blaze. The owner of the digger has confirmed that he rented the same vehicle to the firm, prior to the fire destroying the historic building. Mr McGrath and Mr Adam Taylor are the only two active directors of AT Contracting & Plant Hire, which provides the diggers, excavators and other heavy machinery used in the quarries and landfill sites linked to the Taylors across the country.
Fire crews from Staffordshire and West Midlands which raced to the fire scene, found making access extremely difficult, due to the 8-foot (2.4m) mounds of dirt, blocking the only access lane way to the burning building.
It should be noted that Mr McGrath has denied any knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the destruction of the historic landmark pub, and neither the Taylors nor Mr McGrath are suspected of acting illegally.
So why, for the past 9 weeks, is the signpost offering directions to the town of Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, pointing in the opposite direction; now today continuing to remain angled, pointing down towards Wolfe Tone Place, latter situated at the junction of Westgate and Liberty Square.
Yesterday, in a survey, we asked a few of the locals for their views on this nine week old phenomenon and were offered the following explanations:-
(1) It is an political effort by Fianna Fáil to highlight the annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration, due to take place on the Sunday nearest June 20th 2024, next year in Bodenstown graveyard, Co. Kildare; latter date in June the birthdate of Wolfe Tone, known as the Father of Republicanism.
(2) It’s an effort to avoid the multitude of potholes on every road driving into and driving out of Thurles.
(3) A concerted effort by those who consistently fail to attract tourism to Thurles, to delay visitors, by sending them up a short road that is blocked off at one end; better known by the French word ‘cul-de-sac’ or translated into English ‘bottom of the bag’.
(4) A deliberate attempt by public representatives, including TDs to increase their motor milage, when asked to attend meetings in Nenagh Co. Council offices and Dáil Éireann.
What do I think, you ask? Well now that you do ask, and having viewed all the other signposts pointing in the wrong direction in Thurles, [e.g. to name but one, the Thurles carpark sign supposedly directing motorists to the new carpark off Liberty Square, ]; other issues, such as the weeds now growing actively up through our pavements; the state of our river Suir, and the overall dowdy appearance of what was once a hive of industry; I would put it down to simply just poor town administration.
Explain for what are we paying Property Tax annually?
Pre-deceased by her brother Michael and sister Statia; Mrs Mackey passed away peacefully at her place of residence, surrounded by her loving family.
The passing of Mrs Mackey is most deeply regretted by her loving husband Wally, sons Michael, Wally and Johnny, daughters-in-law Lorraine and Angela, grandchildren Cian, Kaitlyn and Charlotte, brother Christy, sisters Mary, Nonie, Kate and Lilly, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mrs Mackey, same can be viewed, streamed live online HERE.
The extended Mackey family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Pedestrians beware. Over two weeks ago the Thurles pedestrian crossing lights on the North side of Lidl Supermarket were adjusted by a high sided motor vehicle. The issue continues to be unattended too, with the lights now facing south instead of due west.
Once again, as can be seen in picture two, as a result of poor engineering skills, the standards holding the lighting system, have been positioned too close to the edge of the road, same carrying fast moving traffic as drivers attempt to beat the traffic light system.
This brings to five the number of currently damaged pedestrian traffic light systems partially repaired, having been damaged by high sided vehicles.
The waste of taxpayers’ money, by Tipperary Co. Council engineers, continues unabated.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Thursday 17th August 2023, of Mr Derek O’Brien, Main Street, Killenaule, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Richmond, Templemore, Co. Tipperary.
Mr O’Brien passed away peacefully, following a short illness, most bravely borne.
His passing is most deeply regretted by his heartbroken wife Jacinta, parents Margaret and Richard, brother Richard, sister Alison, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.
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