Month: October 2007

A MAN has been convicted of ex- posing himself as he sat in his car on the outskirts of Ennis.

Patrick Nono Unshevla (39) of O’Connell Street, Ennis, was con- victed of exposing his penis in such a way as to offend modesty at Gort Road, Ennis, on September 6 last.

A 30-year-old woman told Ennis District Court last Wednesday that she was walking along with her young son at 4pm when she saw a white car parked outsider River House.

As they walked by the car she saw man who was sitting in the car with his trousers open. He had his hand down his trousers. She immediately rang Ennis Garda Station.

Defending solicitor William Cahir said his client would say he was re- siding in his car and was washing himself at the time.

‘He is homeless and he was at-

tending to his hygiene… At no stage did he expose his penis,’ said Mr Cahir.

Garda Shane O’Connell said he went to the scene. “I saw a black man sitting in the car masturbating. I asked him to step out of the car. He stepped out of the car. I noticed he had an erection,’ said the garda.

Mr Cahir said the car was parked in a “discreet” area and wasn’t on the side of a main road. He said his client “wasn’t in an aroused state”’.

Garda O’Connell replied, “I wouldn’t call it discreet. The whole road can see.”

The accused, who has lived in Ire- land for the past eight years told the court his penis was not on display when the gardai arrived.

Judge Eamonn O’Brien said he had considered the evidence. He convicted the accused and also con- victed him of engaging in threaten- ing, insulting or abusive behaviour. He fined him €200.

AN BORD Pleanala has overturned Clare County Council’s “locals only” rule to allow a German couple build anew home and organic herb farm in east Clare.

Earlier this year, the council re- fused planning permission to Tobias and Agnes Oertel to develop a herb farm and a home near Tuamgraney.

Permission was refused on the basis that the site is located in an area that is under pressure from urban devel- opment where it is council policy to limit single rural houses for perma- nent occupation of rural people with a genuine requirement for housing.

The planner’s report concluded that as the Oertels had not lived in the area for the requisite 10 years, their appli- cation could not be permitted. They had also been operating the farm at this location for a number of years without needing to live on the farm.

In their submission to the council, the Oertels stated that for the past three and a half years they found the separation of their farming work from their rented living accommo- dation increasingly difficult as the more the business developed, the more challenging their home situa- tion became.

But the council refused permis- sion on the grounds that the proposal would be contrary to proper planning as the Oertels had failed to satisfy

criteria for local rural housing need with regard to the length of time that they have resided in Tuamgraney and the small scale of the farm on which

their justification for housing need was based.

However, the appeals board over- turned the council’s decision because the applicants had demonstrated lo- cal housing need and the proposal would not constitute urban generated development. Neither would it ma- terially contravene the development plan nor would it seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity.

The board noted that the plan- ning authority refused permission because the proposed development would constitute a material contra- vention of the Development Plan but having regard to the provisions of the Planning and Development Act, the board considered that planning permission should be granted for the proposed development.

“In deciding not to accept the in- spector’s recommendation to refuse permission, the board considered the rural based need for a dwelling at this location had been demonstrated by the applicants in the planning ap- plication and appeal documentation, ’ the board ruling concluded.

EAST Clare firm, Finsa Forest Prod- ucts more than quadrupled its profits last year, but is facing large costs to meet new environmental require- ments at its plant.

According to accounts returned to the Companies Office, the Span- ish-owned firm recorded a profit of €601,000 last year, increasing from a €141,000 profit in 2005. The size of the company’s business increased from €35.8 million in 2005 to €39.6 million last year.

The cost of sales also increased

from €31 million to €34 million, while the company’s retained profit now stands at €4.1 million.

The principal activity of the com- pany is the sale of timber. A geo- graphical breakdown shows _ that sales of €27 million in Ireland and €12 million in the EU.

Underlining the importance of the company to the east Clare economy, the accounts show that 156 people were employed at the firm with a wage bill last year of €5.9 million.

According to the documents, “turn- over has increased considerably in 2006 to €39 million as against €35

million in 2005 due primarily to in- creases in prices during the year.

‘Margins available continue to be very tight due to supply constraints and rising fuel and electricity costs. Other factors impacting on margins are the increased cost of staff, re- CSmUNLOeatoselmrcDeOMbe-DDODeSloomeEm

“The main challenge facing the company in the immediate future will be to improve current margins.”

In relation to the company’s envi- ronmental obligations, the company is currently using an old chimney that needs to be replaced with one fitted with suitable filters to limit

emissions to levels specified in the operating licence.

The company 1s currently consid- ering a number of options identified and has submitted a preliminary re- port to the EPA.

“The technology involved is com- plex, specialised and evolving, and as aresult the company will continue to consider its options in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“Planning permission needs to be obtained for the construction of the new generator and chimney,’ the documents confirm.

ZRE Katowicz, a subcontractor that worked on the €384 million environ- mental retro-fit in Moneypoint, has been reported to the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, following successful moves to avert industrial action at the ESB power station. Following four days of negotiations at the Labour Relations Commis- sion, an agreement was reached be- tween the ESB, its contractor Lenjtes and sub contractor ZRE Katowicz. The proposal negotiated will now be

considered and voted upon by the ag- grieved workers, which are members of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU).

A dispute arose over pay arrears and security of employment for the 200 Polish workers employed by ZRE Katowicz, after the subcontrac- tors contract was cancelled.

The workers lost their jobs and are owed up to six weeks wages, holiday pay and payment in lieu of notice.

The TEEU said the proposed solu- tion found at the LRC goes “a sig- nificant way towards addressing the

erievances”

The main contractor at Money- point, Lentjes, has agreed to make an ex-gratia payment of €600,000 to the workers.

Under the deal ZRE Katowicz (Ire- land) has gone into liquidation. This will ensure the remaining pay owed to the workers will come from the State insolvency fund.

The workers have been given for- mal job offers with ZRE Katowicz in Poland by way of a letter signed by the company’s chairman. The com- pany will also pay for flights home.

THE future of the Clare surfing in- dustry is in jeopardy today follow- ing a landmark decision by British Airways (BA) to ban all surfboards on its flights from next Tuesday, No- vember 6.

The airline, which previously had no charge for transporting surf- boards, has decided to ban all hang gliders, windsurfing boards and sails, surfboards, kayaks and canoes from flights and concerns are now build- ing that other airlines will follow this example.

Thousands of surfers travel between the UK and Ireland to go surfing each year and local business people believe the decision will have a ma- jor impact on surfing 1n the county.

‘This could have a big effect on the surf industry in Clare. A lot of peo- ple fly from Gatwick or Heathrow in to Ireland to go surfing in Lahinch or whereever. There is an awful lot of surfing traffic back and forth be- tween Clare and Britain,” said Deb- bie Green of the Green Room Surf School in Lahinch.

‘IT don’t know what these people are

going to have to do now. They might be able to make alternative arrange- ments and maybe come by ferry but there is no guarentee that they will continue to come here.

“This decision is definitely going to affect surfers; it’s already affect- ing us. We have flights booked with BA and we are still waiting for con- firmation from them as to whether we can bring our boards or not.”

Almost 5,000 surfers, including hundreds from Ireland, have already signed an international petition re- questing that BA reverse their deci- sion. The petition, which was started by the British Surfing Association, 1s available from www.gopetition.com/ online/14891.html.

“T really can’t understand why BA is making this decision. There are lots of other airlines who charge for transporting boards; why BA has de- cided to ban them altogether is a bit beyond me,’ continued Mrs Green.

“We are going to try and do some- thing ourselves to help the situa- tion. We are looking at having more boards available for rent for people who are forced to travel without their own boards.”

IMMIGRANT workers brought into this county through rogue recruit- ment agencies are being underpaid and ripped off for accommodation.

And the practice is commonplace, according to the findings of a new report on the needs and experiences of ethnic minorities in Clare.

The report indicates that some

recruitment companies are paying their immigrant workers well below the proper rate.

Other rip-off practices include pro- viding accommodation and charg- ing far more than the workers would pay if they made their own arrange- ments.

Sky-high accommodation charges, often for sub-standard barren rooms, is deducted from the workers’ wages

so they have no opportunity to com- eenbee

Poor language skills and a lack of understanding of rights and entitle- ments leaves some groups highly vulnerable.

Polish workers are among the eth- nic groups affected by the scam and the construction industry is one area Where pockets of exploitation were sKo)bn nen

TWO separate accidents, one on the roads and another at sea, have taken two lives during a tragic bank holi- day weekend in Clare.

It could well have been a triple tragedy weekend as nothing short of a miracle saved the life of an 18- month baby girl, who was struck by a car in the driveway of a family home in Kilkee yesterday.

29-year-old young farmer, Patrick Murphy, was killed when his car hit an ESB pole near Tulla in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Hours later, a Polish fisherman lost his life after he was swept to sea in Kilkee at lunchtime on Sunday.

The 18-month-old baby girl was struck after she walked into the path of a car being driven by her grandfa- ther in Kilkee, yesterday morning.

The baby was knocked down and sustained serious head injuries and oe) slow Be-LOLADNKOKE

She was rushed to Ennis General Hospital, where her condition stabi- lised. She was later moved to Lim- erick Regional Hospital where hopes are high that she will make a full recovery.

The matter was not reported to gardai in Kilkee. It happened in the private driveway of a house and is not a matter for a Garda probe.

Gardai are, however, investigating the cause of the road crash which claimed the life of Patrick Murphy at around 2.45am on Sunday.

He was on his way home from so- cialising when his jeep struck an ESB pole and overturned at Cloonaleary, approximately one mile from Tulla. The overturned vehicle was seen by a passer-by and the alarm was raised at 2.55am. He was removed to En- nis General Hospital where he was

pronounced dead at 4.10am.

RYANAIR, Aer Lingus’s largest shareholder, has confirmed that it has submitted a formal complaint to the Irish Financial Regulatory Services Authority (IFSRA) concerning the alleged breach by Aer Lingus of Irish Company Law and Stock Exchange Rules.

The low-cost airline says the breach was in the Aer Lingus “*’selec- tive briefings to one shareholder (the Department of Transport) of market sensitive information (the closure of the Shannon-Heathrow route) some eight weeks prior to the announce- ment through the Stock Exchange

notice.”

A Ryanair spokesman said it is of grave concern “that one shareholder (the Department of Transport) which only holds a 25 per cent interest in Aer Lingus was repeatedly briefed on this market-sensitive informa- tion…before the Stock Exchange an- nouncement of this route closure on August 7.

“This repeated and selective dis- semination of market sensitive in- formation to one shareholder up to eight weeks prior to making all oth- er shareholders aware of the facts is a clear violation of Stock Exchange rules and Irish Company Law,” he claimed.

AS THE success starved Tulla fans flooded the field to greet the players, it was easy to mistake Jim McInerney for the politican who stood before the people in the 2004 local elections. Everyone wanted his hand.

Young kids took photos and asked for autographs and there was no doubting who they believed was the chief architect of this victory. In es- sence, Jim McInerney is the epitome of Tulla hurling. He manages the team how he played the game him- self, throwing everything into it. As he stormed up and down the sideline,

hitting every ball in his mind during the game, his raw emotions came to the fore.

He longed for this day – when Tulla could take their place amongst the club’s great teams of the past. He has always believed in his players and they have equally responded this year. But, he was still in disbelief that it had finally happened.

“It is a proud day, there is no doubt and it’s great to finally win it. That’s what we have always strived for and now we have it, it is hard to believe we have it.”

But he is also quick to remember the other side of the coin too, deem-

ing it rather unfair that Crusheen had to lose such a close final.

“VL tell you, my feelings are with Crusheen too. They gave us a great battle. There was nothing in it in the end, they were very unlucky not to score a goal at the end and I hope someday, they will go on and win the senior title because they are there a long time without it and they have a lot of great work done for hurling. They have been knocking on the door for the last four or five years and hopefully their day will come as well.”

McInerney could certainly feel the tension on the sideline as the game

hung in the balance. He looked as exhausted as any player who played in the decider but felt that despite in- juries to key players, his squad lived up to expectation.

“Andrew Quinn was a huge loss to us and I think it upset our team prob- ably for the last 20 minutes of the first half. But we regrouped at half-time and we played the kind of passion- ate hurling that took us through the quarter and semi finals. Sean Torpey in fairness to him, he got man of the match there. He caught some massive ball inside in the square where it was most dangerous. He dominated that area and came away with the ball.

“But it was a tremendous display by all our backs. Mark Quinn had a great game at centre-back again and our two corners were massive as were the two wing-backs.

“It was a great performance defen- sivewise. But Crusheen have great backs too and they made life awful hard for us and our forwards. As a result, with two great sets of backs, it was a low scoring game. It was a very tight battle right to the end and we just got through it in the end. Just about!”’

But justified as well. A one point victory and McInerney is on top of the pile.

THE bottom line? Tulla hit harder, scored easier and devoured posses- sion when it mattered.

It was raw, powerful hurling and if this game was ever to develop into an intense battle, it was clear where the advantage would fall.

Crusheen simply lost their way. For three quarters of the game, they played with ferocity but in the end, the wides added up and chipped away at their confidence. By the time Ger- ry O’Grady slotted their first score of the second half, 46 minutes into the game, Crusheen were already look- ing like wolves on the prairie who had lost their scent.

Tulla smelled strengthened.

Sean Torpey gathered a couple of raking balls in front of his goal, Ean- na Torpey sped around the midfield area like a cannonball, Michael Mur- phy broke every ball in his orbit and Mark Quinn was his now familiar self at centre-back, dependable and unflappable.

For a second, it looked like Paddy Meaney was about to crush Tulla’s slender lead but his kick skidded left and wide and Crusheen were left with nothing.

It was another tough dose to swal- low and another painful descent from the climb just as the peak was in sight.

This year they got closer than ever — a Stroke of a hurley — but when, in decades to come, last Sunday after- noon is dusted down and recalled, they will realise that Tulla simply out-fought them in the last quarter.

All year, the champions of 2007 have been strong of body and strong of character. Back in Scariff as the summer was ending, they lost to Smith O’Briens and it hurt. Last

the fear. They

week before the final, when they were asked where was the turning point of the season, a few Tulla men pointed their finger east and highlighted that game.

A couple of hundred people sat in the stands that day, looking on as Tulla struggled with minutes left to salvage something. They failed but since then momentum has been with them. They walked away from Scariff quietly and set about turning things around. One main theory has subsequently surrounded that day, that Jim McInerney, in a stroke of genius, over-trained the team before the game to set up a straight knock- out against Scariff.

But according to the Tulla boys, there were no special preparations against Smith O’Briens. They trained as normal and may have played an extra challenge game earlier in the week, but nothing to put lead in their

legs.

It doesn’t matters now, but the loss against Smith O’Briens and the win against Scariuff put them on the way WOR And on Sunday, in front of thou- sands, they followed through on the pace they had gathered, becoming the only team in the county to win championships in three centuries. History makers now live among the locals on the hill of the apostles.

All year, the approach to the sea- son has contrasted between the two. Crusheen sat down in the winter and mapped out their route. They said a final had to be reached and noth- ing else would matter. They were deliberate and steady in everything. On Sunday, they gathered and went to 11:45am mass together in the vil- lage. They stood together and they focused.

In Tulla, they’ve gone about things

the other way. Took each game as a single battle and didn’t look down the line. Before their games in Cu- sack Park, they travelled separately and met a little over half an hour be- fore each game. It’s worked.

With the drape of darkness sinking in above Ennis on Sunday, as they ac- quainted themselves with the Canon Hamilton for the first time, this band of Tulla men could reflect and take heart that simply and in the most ba- sic tradition of the game, they stood up when it counted.

The game was no classic. At one stage Crusheen averaged a wide eve- ry four minutes but as it played out, strangely and suddenly the quality of hurling hardly seemed to matter.

We expected a good old Western duel, back to back stuff and first to fall wouldn’t get to their feet.

It didn’t play out like that but it did eTocs DOA OTALMAY hs

Take this handful of sketches: It took nine seconds for the first hurley to break, 32 seconds for the game’s first moment on the edge when Alan Brigdale planted the boss of his stick into the gut of Brian Quinn.

Then, 55 seconds later, with just over two minutes on the clock, Quinn had dusted himself down and had the netting billowing.

He picked up the scrappy ball that fell before him, turned and over his Shoulder, lassoed the shotar into the net.

For the rest of half, when they could, Tulla looked to find Quinn with long, high ball and though the full-forward won most of what came his way, he didn’t create another clear-cut goal chance.

But just after his goal, the fuse was lit and we sat back and inhaled and waited for the explosion but the fire began to fizzle out.

Crusheen hit some terrible wides, O’Grady failed to get into the game but Tony Meaney and Paddy Vaughan were moving well in midfield.

If Tulla were to win, it looked like they’d have to score at least another goal to stay in contention. But those Crusheen’s wides just kept mount- ing.

Kieran Brennan bounded onto the field from the bench in the second half and within seconds, he had stretched Tulla’s lead to two. Murphy broke a ball on the half-forward line, Torpey picked it up and passed to Brennan and Tulla were away.

It was a simple, effective move and it summed up the champion’s sea- son.