Month: January 2008

A CHANGING society that sees more single or separated men on the Clare housing list must be reflected in future council budgets.

This is according to Clare County Councillor Brian Meaney (GP), who says that the increase in the number of marriage break-ups sees more and more men looking for accommoda- tion.

“We have a significant number of single men on the register looking for houses due to the breakdown of marriages and relationships,” Coun- cillor Meaney said.

‘These are not priority and this is something the budget of Clare Coun- ty Council is going to have to reflect Ved sCom RU LAU NK ones

The councillor said in many cases the men were required to leave the family home after the break-up and

continue to pay maintenance.

He said while it was only right that they paid maintenance, the financial pressure saw them on the housing list and requiring distance.

This is a growing sector on the list and a group that he has become more aware of in recent times.

Nora Kaye, from Clare County Council’s housing section, said that there are currently 1,/00 people re- corded on the housing list.

This number, however, also makes provision for the number of people receiving rental supplement who are required to be including on the same iS a

“I would say the actual need 1s clos- er to 800,” said Ms Kaye.

She said that while there were no special provisions made for single men, they could apply for housing, rental supplement and other schemes through the council.

WEST Clare locals have been count- ing the cost of the destruction of part of the sea wall at Cloughauninchy Beach near Quilty which has virtu- ally drained Lough Donnell.

A number of campaigns have taken place over the last two decades for minor works to be carried out to safeguard the model, or salmon weir, which formed part of the sea wall. According to locals, these essential repairs would have cost less than €100,000, while the cost of rebuild- ing the seawall and model could now run into millions.

In environmental terms, Lough Donnell, which is usually the home for wild salmon and trout, is almost totally dry with the Annageragh Riv- er now running directly into the sea. It is yet unclear what impact this will have on wild salmon reaching their natural spawning ground up river.

The lake is also a major feeding ground for thousands of wild birds.

“We have been trying to get this fixed for years. We first tried to get a new model built in the early 80s. Over the past 10 years, we have been consistently on about this,” said local man Bill McNamara.

‘The whole sea wall is now in dan-

ger of going. The tide 1s going straight back into that lake now. What was a 10 feet gap just two week ago is now about 70 metres wide. More and more is being ripped down each time the tide comes in.”

The destruction of the sea wall will also have a major impact on local tourism, with Cloughauninchy Beach being divided in two by the fast-mov- ing water and stones.

“We had a nice bit of work done with the road to the beach last year. Clare County Council tarred and had also agreed to build steps down to the beach when the model was fixed,” said local man Michael Shannon.

‘“T’m concerned primarily about the wildlife in Lough Donnell and the habitats which have been developed there over the last 100 years but from a tourist point of view it 1s very sig- nificant. The beach 1s totally distort- ed now. It’s gone from a lovely beach to a wreck with rocks all over it.

“It used to be a mile long but it has been cut in half. We need the OPW to take responsibility for this now. The longer they wait the bigger the cost will be.”

POOR load factors on the new Shan- non-Dublin route have prompted Ry- anair to pull the service less than six weeks after it was launched.

The new route was launched on No- vember 28 last but passengers were yesterday informed that the service is to be abandoned from February 4 next.

All passengers who have booked tickets on or after that date are to be fully refunded, with a brief Ryanair

statement confirming that the route has been pulled following “an opera- tional review”.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Patricia Mc- Carthy (Ind) said, “The decision is not unexpected as the load factors on the flights were low.”

She added, “One wonders about all the talk from people wanting the route as it was not supported. Ryanair doesn’t hang around when routes are making losses.”

Fianna Fail TD, Timmy Dooley said, “It is a blow at one level but I

understand that it hasn’t been utilised in any real way. This has happened with every other carrier who has tried to make a success of the route.

“There is a good train network in place now and people obviously fac- tor in the time spent in the airport at either end and I’m not sure that the flight times were convenient to peo- ple.”

Passengers are now greeted by a large billboard erected by Ryanair saying ‘Welcome to Ryanair coun- try’ and on Sunday, Ryanair chief ex-

ecutive, Michael O’Leary denied that Shannon was becoming over-reliant on Ryanair.

In place of the Dublin route, Rya- nair has launched a_ three-times weekly service to Palma in Majorca, ensuring that the number of Ryanair routes served from Shannon remains at 31. Two million people are expect- ed to fly on Ryanair services out of Shannon this year.

At the airport on Sunday to give out free flights to all passengers on the final Aer Lingus Heathrow flight

out of Shannon, Mr O’Leary said, “If you look at some of the coverage of the Shannon issue, you would swear that Shannon is closing today. It is not. In six months time, no one will even notice that Aer Lingus is gone.”

He added, “Shannon is going to finish up with more routes and more traffic after the Aer Lingus pull-out and we have to get that message aCrOSS.””

He said, “Closing a profitable route from Shannon at a time when the air- line is losing money 1s nuts.”

THE Director of Shannon Airport, Martin Moroney was upbeat and optimistic on Sunday despite a Lon- don-bound Aer Lingus flight leaving the airport for the last time.

While politicians and commenta- tors predicted devastating conse- quence for the mid-west airport, Mr Moroney was taking a more positive approach.

“We are quite happy with the Air France (City Jet) service starting up

in February. I think we will go from strength to strength,” he said.

“We also have very strong trans- atlantic services which we are very happy with, having come through the open skies challenge – a major challenge for Shannon, when many said we would have no transatlantic services. We see Aer Lingus as being very important for Shannon – crucial for Shannon in the future of transat- lantic and we support them fully and its business.

“It was a commercial decision and

we accept that,” he said of the air- line’s decision to pull the Heathrow slots from Shannon in favour of Bel- eRe

‘Heathrow broke down into three main areas. One-third of the traffic connected on to Europe and global locations and two-thirds to London. We have increased flights to London with Ryanair.

“We have the Air France service to Paris so we believe we haven’t lost any connectivity. In fact, we hope that in the near future City

Jet could begin a service to London City which is right in the middle of London’s financial centre, probably better than Heathrow for business connections to London itself. Once we get that, I believe we will have a superior product for business peo- ple,” he said. Mr Moroney admitted that a link into London City was not imminent, however. “It is unlikely to happen this year,” he said.

While he would not reveal the economic loss of the link, as it was “commercially sensitive’, he said that the loss of 320,000 passengers was a “commercial challenge’. He said, however, that the new service to Charles de Gaulle and added serv- ices from Ryanair would counteract the loss.

“Obviously it is a blow and we would prefer if it did not happen but certainly it is not a major issue for the airport. And our strength in terms of financial contribution is coming from the fact that we restructured our cost base. We have saved 10 million off the cost base. We will expand our commercial activities. You will see improvements in retail and catering this year in Shannon and you will see additional car parks so we have no problem facing the future despite this loss,’ he said.

The airport director said while there will be no Heathrow service from Shannon in 2008, the airport would continue to work to restore it.

NINETY-YEAR old Tom Casey from Sixmilebridge loaded the first piece of luggage on to the first Shan- non Heathrow flight fifty years ago.

Tom – who worked even before that laying drains on the site where the airport was to be built – was in Shan- non on Sunday to say goodbye to the Heathrow slots.

“It’s a very sad day but this airport could never close,’ an emotional

Tom said.

Among passengers checking in for the last flight, feelings were also run- uubereaseuhcaaw

Sharon McGann from London was a regular traveller on the route.

“Tm from Gort originally. I like to come home as often as I can. My fa- ther was ill recently and at the age my parents are, I want to be at home as much as possible. I live ten min- utes from Heathrow so it was very handy. I don’t know how often I’ll be

able to make it now,” she said.

Peggy Owers from Hampshire has a house in Clare and flies regularly. “It’s disgusting the flight is always fully subscribed. TV’ fly to Dublin now and travel down but I won’t fly Aer Lingus.”

Aideen Goggin from Shannon was flying out to Heathrow but will have to return from another airport. “And Pll have to stay an extra day. The course I’m doing finishes Friday but I can’t get a flight till Saturday.”

Bernadette Marren for London flew regularly to visit relatives in Clare and the west.

‘This is cutting off the west of Ire- land for everyone. Aer Lingus must have have got loads of money to move to Belfast but they shouldn’t have been allowed to leave Shannon Stranded,” she said.

Theresa and Tom Madden from North Tipperary say the loss of the flight means many lost family days.

Tom has to travel on business and

connect to a flight from Heathrow several times a month.

“IT could fly from here late Sunday or even early Monday – now I’II have to add the most of two days travel- ling to every trip,’ he said.

Thersa is angry that the move will mean more time away for Tom.

“Sundays are important days when you have small children – weekends are important. This is robbing us of time with our children growing up,” ORO KeKy Mr HUCe

THE chairman of the Shannon Air- port Authority (SAA), Pat Shanahan is expected to advance the case for an independent Shannon Aijrport when he appears before a high level Oireachtas Committee tomorrow.

Mr Shanahan’s appearance before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport on Wednesday follows on the SAA lodging with the DAA the 10-year business plan for an inde- pendent Shannon Airport.

Mr Shanahan resigned from his role as executive chairman of the SAA last October in protest at the failure of the DAA to inform the SAA of Aer Lingus proposals to transfer the Heathrow slots to Belfast.

Remaining as chairman, Mr Shana- han said that he would concentrate all his energies in securing autonomy for Shannon.

The State Airports Act 2004 envis- ages Shannon having full financial independence.

However, talks on a €36 million restructuring deal that went on for over 18 months were only complete last year involving the voluntary re- dundancy of 200 workers.

The restructuring plan allowed the SAA to formally lodge the business plan with the DAA last November.

The plan envisages Shannon’s €67 million debt being assumed by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and an injection of capital for a new US customs clearance facility and works to the airfield and other infra- Seg eCel ab cen

The business plan envisages just 20 per cent of the current level of US troop movements through the air- port.

Clare TD, Timmy Dooley (FF) is a member of the committee and said yesterday that he is looking forward to the SAA’s proposals being put for- ward in a very public way before the Loynabasblaneron

He said: “The critical focus will be on the business plan.”

A DUBLIN man who imported a haul of cannabis resin from Brus- sels, via Shannon airport, to pay off a drug debt has been jailed for four years.

Paul Hand (22), from Malahide in Dublin, admitted possession of drugs with a market value of €13,000 or more.

He was caught with cannabis resin, valued at €21,000, at Shannon air- port, on August 28, 2006.

Ennis Circuit Court heard yester- day that Hand had flown to Brussels on August 25 that year. On his return three days later, he was apprehended by Customs and when his suitcase was searched, the drugs were found.

The court heard that his own drug habit cost him up to €500 per week and he had imported the drugs to pay off a debt.

Hand’s barrister David Sutton, SC, said the accused had co-operated fully with gardai and had expressed remorse. He had since given up drugs, he said.

He pleaded guilty to the charge, which he said was at the lower end of the scale in terms of value.

He said it did seem to be a very “foolish enterprise” carried out for another individual and his client had

been naive.

Judge Carroll Moran said the im- portation of drugs was a serious mat- ter.

“Even though the value is small and the illicit drug is cannabis resin, which is not as poisonous as other substances, it’s still a Misuse of Drugs Offence,’ said the judge.

“You have to be living on another planet not to know that the legisla- ture expects and demands heavy sen- tences (for drugs offences),” he said.

The judge told Hand that investigat- ing Garda Michelle Holian had been fair to him and said “I hope you are appreciative of that.”

Noting that the accused was a pleasant individual, the judge said, “It is very difficult to send such a man to prison,’ and imposed a four- year term.

A l7-YEAR-OLD who refused to co-operate with the welfare services after being in court on 12 charges re- solved to follow instructions after a stint in custody.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was before Ennis

District Court on charges including stealing a car, theft of a generator and fraud.

Judge Joseph Mangan heard that the boy had been in custody since the be- ginning of November and read a re- port from the probation and welfare service which said he was not engag- ing with the after-care services.

But his solicitor, Marina Keane said the boy had been in custody since November 4 “and does not want to go back there. He knows now what he has to do and is willing to do a FAS course and co-operate with the Services.”

Judge Mangan said that the charges were of a Serious nature and he did

not want to see the accused go out of the hands of the court entirely.

He fined him €100 and disquali- fied him from driving for five years on the car theft charge.

On other charges he placed him on probation for two years and remand- ed him on bail on the two remaining charges to April 11.

A JUDGE said yesterday that ‘deal- ing in drugs is a pernicious activity’ and the State expects judges to 1m- pose tough sentences for drugs of- fences.

Judge Carroll Moran made the comment as he imposed a two-year jail term on an Ennis man, who ad- mitted possession of amphetamine and cannabis resin, for the purpose of sale or supply, at his home in En- nis in August 2002.

However the sentence imposed on Cathal Brohan (28), of 142 Hermit- age, Ennis, has been suspended for three years, on condition that he does not re-offend and co-operate with the Probation services.

Ennis Circuit Court heard that cannabis resin, valued at more than €5,500, was found, along with 90 ecstasy tablets, when gardai carried

out a search of the house. €2,200 cash was also seized in the

accused’s bedroom, which gardai believed was the proceeds of drug

dealing. Brohan denied this, saying it was money he had gathered to pay back a loan.

His barrister Pat Whyms said his client was “not a threat to society. He is a threat to himself. He needs to ad- dress his problems.”

Judge Carroll Moran noted that Brohan had stayed out of trouble since the offence, over five years ago.

“Dealing in drugs is a pernicious activity. The State expects judges to react and impose substantial sen- tences. It may well be that this ac- cused deserves a prison sentence,’ said the judge.

In suspending the jail term, he said he was “satisfied beyond reasonable doubt” the State’s suspicions about the money seized were correct.

AN undercover garda bought ecstacy tablets at an Ennis nightclub, as sev- eral premises were targeted as part of a planned operation.

Ennis Circuit Court heard yes- terday that a female garda bought eight ecstacy tablets for €70 at Mae Kearney’s, Lifford, Ennis, in March 2006.

She bought the tablets from an un-

named individual. That individual was later seen interacting with Dub- lin man Patrick Anderson.

Anderson (41), with an address of 72 Springdale Road, Raheny, Dub- lin 5, was arrested and charged with possession of ecstacy for sale or sup- ply. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Garda Stephen Hession told the court that following a briefing, a number of premises were under ob- servation by gardai, in March 2006.

One of those was Mae Kearney’s, Lifford, Ennis and several undercov- er gardai visited the premises on the night in question.

He said that the undercover garda who bought the drugs used a ‘marked’ €50. This note was later found on the accused.

He was arrested and 36-and-a-half white tablets were found on him. Analysis concluded that these were ecstacy tablets.

The court heard Anderson had been suffering from a “very serious addi- tion” at the time and travelled to En- nis for a rave which had been organ- ised at Mae Kearney’s. His barrister Mark Nicholas said the accused is now drug-free.

Judge Carroll Moran imposed a two-year jail term and suspended it on condition that he not commit any criminal offence and not take or deal any illicit drugs in the next two