This article is from page 22 of the 2007-10-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 22 JPG
A SHORTAGE of staff in the proba- tion and welfare office in Clare has caught the attention of District Court Judge Joseph Mangan.
The judge made reference to the absence of a probation officer for Shannon on a number of occasions at Shannon District Court last Thurs-
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There has been no probation officer in Shannon for several months, since the officer in charge of that area va- cated his post.
According to the probation and wel- fare service, the post was advertised and an appointment is pending.
Probation reports were required in several cases at last Thursday’s court.
Although no probation officer was in court, reports were present in most of the cases.
During the case of a 19-year-old man who was in court on public order charges, the judge remarked that a probation report would not be available until December.
He adjourned the case, peremptory against the probation service.
In another case, the judge read out a note on an accused’s file, stating that the report was not ready due to staff shortages.
“The probation report is not avail- able due to staffing difficulties in the probation service,” he read out.
In a third case, in which a 20-year- old man was before the court on pub- lic order charges, the judge indicated
he would remand him on continuing bail for a probation report to be car- ried out.
However, when he learned that there was no probation officer in court he imposed a detention sen- tence, suspended.
In another case, he referred to the State not provifing “a proper proba- tion service in Shannon”.