'Village like Beirut after clay pigeon shooting' COURTS 2.

Byline: GORDON DEEGAN

CLAY pigeon shooting was yesterday blamed for turning a quiet Irish community into "Beirut".

And now residents have brought legal proceedings aimed at ending shooting by the Glenwood Clay Pigeon Club near the East Clare village of Sixmilebridge.

Homeowner Ian Chaplin told Judge Joseph Mangan, at Shannon District Court in Ennis: "It is like Beirut. The Clay Pigeon Club has no regard for any of the locals. The shooting takes place on random days. Last Saturday, there was shooting that continued for seven hours.

"The range is only 450 metres from my home and is is hard to go outside.

"There have been numerous complaints. We have tried to go through planning enforcement and through the Environment Protection Agency but going through the district court is the only avenue left to us."

Mr Chaplin said the activity normally takes place between April and October for six hours on a Sunday and three hours on a Wednesday evening but now can take place at any time.

Mr Chaplin said 26 homes were affected.

There was no appearance by any representative of the Glenwood Clay Pigeon Shooting Club Judge Mangan adjourned the case until next Thursday.