Month: October 2005

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put in place addi- tional safeguards in a bid to prevent a re-occurrence of pharmaceutical plant Schwarz Pharma polluting the Shannon area.

This follows the EPA issuing a draft license to the German-owned com- pany, imposing increased controls on the company to ensure that it does not breach its Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence.

The company was one of the first fa- cilities in Ireland to secure an IPC li- cense in 1996 and a significant breach of the licence caused a dank odour to spread across Shannon for a number

of months in 2002 and 2003, prompt- ing the EPA to demand a review of its IPC licence.

The company pleaded guilty to various breaches of its [PC license in the distrist court in 2003 and the li- cence review has now culminated in the Agency giving the green-light for a new license for the company, which has spent in excess of €6 million this year on increased environmental safe- guards at the plant, where bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients are pro- duced.

The EPA has ruled that the new li- cense shall have effect for four years, having regard to the nature of the works and arrangements necessary in connection with the installation

and upgrading of plant environmental abatement and protection infrastruc- ture and plant environmental proce- elt Kee

As part of the new license, the EPA has instructed Schwarz Pharma to employ an experienced installation manager who shall be responsible for the management of the wastewa- ter treatment plant and air emission abatement equipment. The EPA has also instructed the company to estab- lish and maintain a Public Awareness and Communications Programme to ensure that members of the public are informed about the environmental performance of the installation.

In its decision, the EPA refused none of the proposed activities sought by

Schwarz Pharma — which employs 176 people — in its application.

The interim Managing Director of Schwarz Pharma, Peter Brunk, this week said that the company was still studying the licence and would prefer to comment when that process was complete.

Shannon Town Mayor, Cllr Tony Mulcahy this week welcomed the tighter controls contained in the new 36-page licence. Cllr Mulcahy told

A CLARE group is currently looking for a warehouse to store thousands of Christmas presents donated to less well off children overseas.

The local Operation Christmas Child campaign is appealing for anyone with an unused warehouse to come forward.

Almost 6,000 children in Eastern Eu- rope and Mozambique received Christmas presents last year from Clare people of all none

Approximately 5,700 of the 273,143 Christmas shoeboxes sent from Ireland to developing countries as part of Operation Christmas Child came from the Banner County.

“We receive shoe boxes from créches up to youth clubs, schools and Regina House

Kilrush to Carrigoran,’ said June O’Neill, who assists in co-ordinating the operation locally.

Operation Christmas Child began in Wales in the early 1990s when people be- gan sending shoeboxes filled with gifts and toys to orphanages in Romania. Since then, the projects, which is run by the Samaritan Purse Charity, has gone from strength-to- strength.

The shoebox appeal reached Clare in 2001, when 1,000 people sent gifts to children liv- ing in poverty throughout the world.

By 2004, the number had multiplied al- most six times, as the people of Clare re- cycled good quality, almost-new toys and bought out discount stores so that children across the world could have a present at Steinke

This year, people have until November 10

to find a shoebox, cover it with Christmas paper and fill it with gifts for children living in impoverished conditions.

Ms O’Neill recommends that anyone who cannot decide which of the six age groups to choose for a gift, to choose boys in the ten to 14 category who are often forgotten.

Participants are also reminded to consult the Operation Christmas Child leaflet when packing, as some items such as toy guns and liquid products such as bubbles are banned from the boxes.

A charge of €3 is also required to cover the transportation of the boxes. People can then drop off their gifts at the AXA offices in Ennis or Moyasta National School.

People looking for a leaflet for their boxes or further information can contact June on O86 1981591 or Margaret 6843075 or check the website www.samaritanspurse.ie.

THE issue of a 24-hour ambulance service for East Clare is to be raised in the Seanad this Vorb tee

The purpose-built, state-of-the art station in Scarriff was opened in 2003, but is open for only 19 hours a day.

Senator Timmy Dooley is to claim this evening that there is no justifiable reason why East Clare should be the only ambulance base in the Midwest region without 24-hour ambu- lance.

‘There has been a spate of accidents recent- ly in the area and many of them have taken place between 7pm and 12 midnights, a time when no staff were roster to operate the lo- cal fleet of two ambulances. Critically injured

people have had to lie on the roadside for an unacceptable length of time for ambulances to come from Limerick and Ennis while two ambulances lie idle a couple of hundred yards away, the senator said.

“This can not be allowed to continue as lives are being put at an unnecessary risk. It will only be a matter of time before a delay in the arrival of an ambulance will lead to the unnecessary loss of life. I will continue to put pressure on the Minister until the funding is put in place.”

According to figures contained in the Mid Western Health Board Ambulance Service Development Plan which was sent to the De- partment of Health just over 12 months ago, Scariff is the only purpose-built station in the Mid-West area.

A MEMBER of the travelling community with 25 previous convictions has been jailed for nine months for stealing two ham joints from a truck in Shannon.

Father-of-eight Timothy Joyce, of Bal- lymurtagh halting site in Shannon denied stealing the hams – valued at €35 each – at Smithstown Industrial Estate in Shannon on May 31 of this year.

He also denied stealing 48 yoghurts, 15 packets of rashers, 10lbs of sausages and 24 bottles of Yop yoghurt.

Witness Tony Mulcahy told Ennis district court he returned to his business premises at around 9pm on the night in question. He noticed a red van parked in a cul de sac and pulled in behind the van. He said he saw a “young fella” jumping out of a truck, carry- ing two trays of yoghurt. The accused, Tim- othy Joyce, he said, was sitting in the van.

“Mr [Timothy] Joyce asked me to move. He said he was after catching a young fella stealing yoghurts,’ said Mr Mulcahy.

Gerard Shanahan told the court he ran a cold meats business in Shannon. He was alerted to some activity at his premises

on the night in question. When he arrived there, he found the back door of his truck forced open and goods, including sausages, bacon and yoghurt, lying close to the truck.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client was collecting waste chipboard, from a unit. Garda Stephen Elvins said he re- ceived a call to go to Smithstown.. He said Timothy Joyce, a teenager and two children were at the scene. Products were strewn on the floor, between the truck and Mr Joyce’s Web

Mr Joyce’s vehicle was seized and two large hams were found in the back of it. In

reply to caution, Mr Joyce, said, “I don’t know a thing about it.”

Ms Godfrey said she was applying for direction, pointing out that evidence was heard that a young person stole some of the items and that the State had not proved it was the accused.

Judge Mangan said he was amending the charge, to exclude the rashers, sausages, yo- ghurts and Yops, but said the accused had a case to answer, relating to the ham joints.

He found him guilty and imposed a nine month jail term. The judge fixed recogni- sances, totalling €3,000.

that An Post admitted the service was “not satisfactory”’ when he presented his findings to the com- ee veNA ‘Despite the fact that the new sorting ar- rangement in Cork has been up and running for several weeks, the slow pace of mail de- livery continues,’ Deputy Breen said.

“T decided to post letters to my constituen- cy office in Ennis from 20 locations around the county over the weekend or on Monday morning. By Tuesday, only five letters, or

one in every four, had been delivered.”

The letters, which made it through with- in 24 hours, were posted in Ballyvaughan, Scariff, Ardnacrusha, Broadford, and Kil- FW eyer

But letters posted in Kilrush, Ennistymon, Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna, Lissycasey, Killa- loe, Kildysart, Ballynacally, Cratloe, Sixmi- lebridge, Shannon, O’Callaghan’s Mills, Tulla, Miltown Malbay and Ennis failed to be delivered by Tuesday morning even though they had all been posted by 10am on Monday, with the exception of the Ennis let- ter which was posted at 5.20 pm.

“This has nothing to do with the post of- fices who play a vital role in delivering an essential service every day. This has to do with the new sorting arrangement in Cork,’ said Deputy Breen.

“It falls far short of An Post’s actual rate

of a 76 per cent next day delivery, accord- ing to their regulator, Comreg, and a target of achieving 94 per cent,” he added.

By Wednesday, a further 13 letters were delivered, giving a 90 per cent 48-hour de- livery service, but the Shannon and Miltown Malbay postings had failed to arrive.

An Post issued a statement to the Deputy stating that this week’s operational reports do highlight mail arriving into Ennis too late in the morning to be processed and delivered that same day. This results in a portion of Ennis mail being delivered a day late. This confirms the nine per cent figure for 48-hour delivery.

“We sincerely apologise to customers who are being affected by late delivery. we are working around the clock to improve the Service,’ the statement said.

A NEW group for people who have suffered strokes is being set up in the mid-west.

A Killaloe couple who are establishing the group say younger sufferers particularly find it difficult to access services or get help towards rehabilitation.

Hazel Ross, who suffered a stroke eight years ago when she was 48 years old and her husband, Tom Clifford, found that getting the services she needed was “extremely difficult.

“There just aren’t enough professionals to deal with the number of people who have strokes and those there are, are largely con- centrated in the geriatric services,’ said Tom.

While 120 people have strokes in Clare eve- ry year, younger victims can get rehab care in

Dublin.

“People as young as seven have had strokes and medical advice is that rehabilitation should begin as soon as 48 hours after a stroke.

“People can regain a lot of their abilities but if there are delays, then damage can be per- manent.

“Information and support for carers is very poor and there is no central source of infor- mation on issues such as funding for aids or housing,” said Tom.

The pair will launch the group will be on Tuesday Oct 18 at 7.30 pm at the Greenhills Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick.

Speakers on the evening include, survivors, consultant physician, Prof Declan Lyons of St. Camillus’ Hospital, therapists and local politi- cians.

A CLARECASTLE man, who gardai de- scribed as “a nuisance” has been jailed for a month, for stealing alcohol from a shop in Srey ebEse

Father-of-one Alan Kerins (21) of 25 Church Drive, Clarecastle, pleaded guilty to stealing one slab of Heineken – valued at €45.60 – from Statoil, Limerick Road, Ennis on November 15, 2004.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Ennis District Court that the accused left the shop without paying for the cans, got into a taxi and went home to Clarecastle.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said Ker- ins had significant difficulties around drink and admitted he had a “bad record.”

Kerins told the court he had been in contact

with the probation service within the past two months. Judge Mangan said, “You waited un- til the court case was coming up,” to which Kerins replied, “I’ve been trying to see Mary King [probationer officer] for a long time be- fore this.”

Inspector Kennedy said, “I always like to say something positive about persons like Mr Kerins. In Mr Kerins’ case, I really can’t say anything positive about him and his behav- iour. He’s a constant offender. I’d love to be able to say, give him a chance. As far as the State is concerned, he 1s a nuisance, a rascal, a continuous offender and I have no confi- dence in what he says.”

The court heard no compensation had been paid for the stolen drink.

Judge Mangan imposed a one month sen- tence and fixed recognisances.

GARDAI say the seizure of 900 rounds of ammunition, a pistol and silencer at a house in Shannon is linked to dissident republicans.

The discovery was made at rented accommodation in the town last

Wednesday.

Among the haul were some 300 rounds suitable for AK47 assault ri- fles and the others were for use in a pistol.

“Because of the type of bullets found, we are happy the firearms and ammunition was in the posses-

sion of dissident republicans,” said a Garda spokesman.

Three people, two men in their 40s and a woman in her 30s, from the Shannon area were arrested in connection with the seizure.

They were detained at Ennis and Shannon Garda Stations, before be-

ing released without charge. A file is being prepared for the DPP.

“We cannot rule out the fact that a criminal element might have got hold of them from dissident repub- licans,” added the spokesman. who said investigating gardai were satis- fied the pistol was not used recently.

AN POST in Clare has been asked to explain reports that hospital leaflets it was con- tracted to distribute in the county never arrived.

The leaflets from the En- nis General Hospital Devel- opment Committee outlined concerns about the future of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital Ennis.

The committee contracted

An Post to deliver 44,000 leaflets, at what group mem- bers described as “consider- able cost.”

But reports have come in to the group of deliveries not happening in a large number of areas.

Their spokesman said, ““we were aware that there are parts of the county that are not covered in the contract, because of different adminis- trative areas in An Post. But

these areas did not include Ennis and West Clare and we are concerned with people re- porting no knowledge of the leaflet.”

The committee have set up a phone number in response to the reports.

They’re asking people to call, or text, to let them know if they have not received a eb ilem

The phone number to text or call is 086 8813232.

, Mr Ryan said, “A great many business people in West Clare will also be shocked at this outcome.

“Mr Marrinan is a very well respected member of the

community and he provides an essential service in rural West Clare where a lot of eld- erly people living in isolated homes depend on his business to provide them with oil.

“Mr Marrinan has also of- fered to Clare County Coun- cil to relocate his business to alternative locations, but these were turned down by the council.”

Mr Ryan added that Mr Marrinan had spent in excess of €20,000 in trying to meet the requirements of Clare County Council.

However, solicitor for the Council, Mairead Doyle, told Kilrush District Court, “Mr Marrinan has been playing the system”.

At Kilrush District Court in October 2003, Mr Marrinan was fined €1,500 and given a suspended sentence of three months after failing to com- ply with a Council Enforce- ment Notice to remove the unauthorized structure and cease carrying out business at his oil depot, built without

planning permission.

Mr Marrinan appealed the decision to Ennis Cir- cuit Court in February 2004 Where Mr Marrinan was given three months to remove the structure, or face prison.

However, Mr Marrinan failed to remove the unau- thorized structure and Clare County Council initiated a fresh prosecution as the oil depot was still in place, al- though Mr Ryan told last Wednesday’s court that Mr Marrinan had removed the tankers from the depot, ren- dering the facility inoper- able.

Mr Ryan also said that Mr Marrinan had lodged a plan- ning retention application with the council. This was re- fused and an appeal had been lodged by Mr Marrinan with An Bord Pleanala.

After hearing submissions from Mr Ryan and Ms Doyle, Judge Mangan imposed the three-month jail term and made no order for costs.