Month: September 2008

that she had made

up her mind to “call it a day” some time ago.

Her career with the PAUL Partner-

ship in Limerick has become even

more demanding and she has also decided to study for a Master’s de- gree in Partnership Studies.

“IT had put off study at different times due to council commitments,” she added.

At the time of the next local election Cllr Lambert will have dedicated 24 years to the council.

She believes that it is now time to “move on and let new fresh blood into the council”.

od Bobet lam se(oKcme-DiomR (om Mme OT DE (ote ing times ahead for Shannon. There have always been challenges but new ones are coming and I think that new blood may be able to meet them with fresh ideas and enthusiasm.

“The council has changed over the years and there is a lot more de- mands. I feel I can’t adequately meet those demands and keep the day job,’ said the woman who served as chair- person of Shannon Town Council a record breaking four times.

Cllr Lambert said that although she will miss life as an elected rep- resentative she would remain active in politics and continue to support Fianna Fail.

“It has been a privilege and honour to represent Fianna Fail and Shannon for 23 years to date,” she said.

“I would hope that I have contrib- uted and represented the people of Shannon to the best of my ability.”

The Sean Lemass Cumann met last night to discuss its nominations for the town council and county council elections.

Meanwhile, Sixmilebridge Cu- mann has already nominated former council candidate PJ Ryan and new candidate Pascal Lenihan to contest the newly expanded Shannon Elec- toral area.

Sitting Fianna Fail County Coun- cillor Pat McMahon and Robert Frost have been nominated by New- market-on-Fergus.

Former County Councillor Pat O’Gorman has been nominated by the Cratloe Cumann to contest the Shannon area.

THE HSE have remained steadfast that an independent investigation is not necessary into the case of a woman who was diagnosed with ter- minal cancer, just days after she was discharged from Ennis General Hos- pital for the second time her cancer having gone undiagnosed.

Ann Moriarty, who died in April, was misdiagnosed at least twice at the county Clare hospital and was not informed of blood test results that indicated tumours in her system.

Within two months the mother of

one had two chests x-rays at the hos- pital, both of which were declared to be free from cancer.

Last week the HSE issued a state- ment stating that it had “carefully considered the issue of a retrospec- tive review of the wider radiology service in light of the concerns that have been raised in this case.

‘Based on the review process and the wide range of expert opinion, in- cluding the Faculty of Radiology, the HSE has concluded that a retrospec- tive review is not warranted in this instance.”

Management at Ennis General Hos-

pital and the HSE confirmed that the hospital carried out a review of the care provided to Ms Moriarty at the hospital during the period April to August 2007.

‘When the issues were first brought to the attention of the Hospital Man- ager, he commissioned a review of the patient’s care at the hospital. A preliminary review was completed in December 2007 and following this a full Systems Analysis Review was conducted.

“These reviews made recommen- dations concerning patient care and organisational issues. All of the rec-

ommendations have now been im- plemented with the exception of the provision of a dedicated local CT scanning service.

“Accommodation for CT scanning facility 1s currently under construc- tion on the site of the Hospital and is due to be completed by the end of PAU eree

“The implementation of the rec- ommendations will be audited on a regular basis,’ said a spokesperson for the HSE.

“The HSE has apologised to the husband and family of this patient for the distress caused to them. Hospital

management and the HSE’s Head of Consumer Affairs have met with the family on a number of occasions and support services have been offered to the family,” a spokesperson for the HSE said.

“The hospital and the HSE are committed to providing the family with all of the information relating to this review and to maintaining com- munication with them.

“A further invitation to meet with the clinical and management team has been offered and the hospital and the HSE once again wish to apolo- gise to Mr Henry and his family.”

KILKEE Strand Races are not just a nod to local history, but an insight into the future of horse racing in Ire- land.

What started out as a duel over a woman almost 130 years ago is now the event where world-renowned jockeys learn the trade.

On Sunday next these traditional races will take place as usual across the Kilkee dunes from 2pm.

The eight races, four ponies and four horses, will begin at the upper side of the beach.

The race is part of the Kerry and Cork circuit and was particularly popular from the 1930s to the 1950s.

In later years the races have become the breaking ground for a number of top jockeys.

“Itis the perfect training ground for young lads to get some race ridding experience,’ said committee member Pat Russell.

Last year top apprentice flat jockey Danny Mullins won three races.

Charlie Swan, Tommy Carberry, Norman Wilson, Alan O Keeffe, Jack Doyle and Wayne Lardan are just some of the famous jockeys that started their career in Kilkee.

For spectators the sight of the hors- es racing through the sand is a rare experience.

“It is unique for spectatiors as it is a natural amphitheatre looking down from the strandline,’ said Mr Rus- sell

The course is also distinctive as it is

determined by the tide, which means the organising committee have no choice but to hold the event on All- Ireland Sunday.

“T rang the GAA but they wouldn’t move the match,” laughed Mr Rus- sell.

The people of west Clare will have their sights firmly on the local inter-

est, which will be the McGrath fam- ily from Kilkee, who have a number OM eurewe-lerbeee

The event also has an impact on the local economy with local businesses paying out for sponsorship and the bookies hoping not to be paying out too much on the strand that day.

With the long-term weather fore-

cast promising good weather, organ- isers are hoping to see up to 2,000 people at the races.

Presentation of prizes will take places in the Stella Marris Hotel.

FIVE people arrested in connection with the death of Richard ‘Happy’ Kelly, whose body was found in Clare last year, were subsequently released from garda custody.

The five were arrested last Tues- day in Limerick in connection with the abduction and murder of the 17- year-old. His body was discovered in Lough Brigid, close to O’Callaghan’s Mills, in November 2007. His body had been weighed down by blocks.

He was last seen alive in April 2006.

The five arrested – four men and a woman, aged between 20 and 36 – were detained at Ennis, Killaloe and Shannon garda stations.

Three were released on Wednesday and the remaining two the following day.

A file is being prepared for the Di- rector of Public Prosecutions.

These were the first arrests in the investigation which is being led by gardai in the Killaloe district.

AN APPEAL by two cousins who were caught with stolen sawn-off shotguns in Kilrush last year is to be heard at the Court of Criminal Ap- peal in November.

James Kelly (27), of Leadmore, Kilrush, and Richard Kelly (21), of The Meadows, Watergrass Hill, Cork, were given sentences of four and five years respectively, at Ennis Circuit Court last November.

Both pleaded guilty to possession of stolen sawn-off shotguns, in Kil- rush, on April 8, 2007.

Both men have appealed the sever- ity of the sentences handed down. Those appeals will be heard on No- vember 24, at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Dublin.

At the sentencing hearing, the court

was told that gardai noticed activity on the monitor from CCTV cameras. Gardai saw the two accused go up the drive towards Cragg House in OTS

Richard Kelly was carrying two implements under the sleeve of his jacket.

The two went to a derelict building and came out again, each carrying a gun, which they wiped clean, before hiding the weapons in the flower bed to the back of the house. Gardai found the guns in a subsequent search.

In handing down sentence, Judge Michael White said he was taking into account the admissions and guilty pleas entered by both. How- ever he said there was a serious con- cern about the proliferation of weap- ons, of which the court took a very Serious view.

A MOTORIST who was under the influence of alcohol panicked when he saw a garda patrol car and hit it, a court has heard.

Gary O’Donnell (20), of Cross- roads, Thomondgate, Limerick, pleaded guilty to a number of mo- toring offences, including dangerous driving and drink driving, in Shan- non, at 3am on May 12 last.

Inspector John Galvin told Shannon District Court that gardai followed a car from Limerick and it drove dan- gerously through a roundabout at Tullyglass, Shannon, before striking an unmarked garda patrol car.

He said the driver was arrested and analysis of a specimen of breath pro- vided showed a reading of 55 mgms of alcohol per 1OOmls of breath.

O’Donnell’s solicitor said her cli- ent had been in town on the night in

question and “for no particular rea- son, he drove the car. When he saw the garda van he panicked. It was a case of blind panic.

‘He was under the influence of al- cohol.”

She said that only minor damage had been done to the patrol car. “It was a once-off thing. He will not be before the court again,” she said.

Judge Joseph Mangan disquali- fied O’Donnell from driving for two years and fined him €600.

He adjourned the case for payment of compensation of €953.62 and im- posed several bail conditions.

These included that the accused abide by a curfew, between 11pm and 6am; report to a garda station four times a week; abstain from alcohol and stay out of licensed premises.

He ordered that a probation report be carried out in advance of the next court hearing.

A COURT has heard allegations that a young woman tried to assault a bouncer during a late night incident in Ennis.

However, the allegation against C1- ara Mahony was disputed in court and the case was adjourned for fur- ther evidence to be presented.

Mahony (22), of Waterpark Heights, Drumbiggle, Ennis, was accused of public order offences at Abbey Street, Ennis, on September 7 last.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told Ennis District Court that gardai ob- served her attempting to hit a bounc- er at 2.35am.

The court was told that she was convicted of assaulting a garda in Kilkenny three years ago, for which 150 hours community service was handed down. She was also convict- ed of a public order offence, on that CF Kee

Defending solicitor Siobhan Mc- Mahon said the previous convictions all related to one incident, when the

defendant was aged 18.

“She is now 22. She has not come to the notice of gardai since that time,” she said.

She said the accused was in a night- Clem sls Welo mole seu (NOM ss RSCORWETS approached by a gentleman.

“The bouncers came and removed the accused and her boyfriend and not the other gentleman,” said the solicitor.

“She was trying to remove her boy- friend from the area. She was trying to prevent an incident,” she added.

Judge Joseph Mangan said, “I’ve been told by the inspector she tried to assault a bouncer. Does she accept or not she tried to assault a bouncer?”

Ms McMahon said her client did not accept that allegation.

Inspector Gallagher then told the court that the bouncers did not make a complaint about the incident. The case was adjourned for further evi- dence to be presented.

The accused was remanded on continuing bail to re-appear in court jater.q ip esleyniaee

A POLISH man has been charged in connection with the discovery of a haul of €30,000 worth of cannabis near Sixmilebridge earlier this year.

Dariusz Ziontkowski (24), of Brack- voan, Bruff, County Limerick, is ac- cused of possession of cannabis and possession for the purpose of sale or supply, at Cloontra, Sixmilebridge, last February. |

Garda Sean O Murcht told Shan- non District Court last Thursday that he arrested the accused the previous day. He applied to the court to re- mand the accused in custody.

Defending solicitor Daragh Hassett applied for bail for his client. Howev- er the garda said there were a number of reasons for the application to re- mand the defendant in custody.

These included the seriousness of the charges and that there may be a flight risk. He said the accused is a Polish national with a temporary ad- dress in Bruff.

“These charges follow a search of a property last February. The accused fled to Poland three days after the incident and only returned in recent weeks,” he said.

Garda O Murchu said the quantity of the drugs discovered was two-and- a-half kilos, with an estimated value of €30,000.

However, Mr Hassett said his client has lived in Ireland for the past four years and has no previous convic- tions.

‘He can give his passport to the State and is prepared to sign on three times a day. He is prepared to have a cash surety brought before the court,” said Mr Hassett.

Judge Joseph Mangan then asked the garda did he observe the drugs being found on the premises and the garda said he had. The judge refused bail and remanded the accused in custody to appear again in court later this month.

Asked to clarify his reasons for re- fusing bail, he said, “Based on the gravity of the charges and the evi- dence given to the effect the accused was caught red-handed, caught in the act, and the reasonable apprehension of the State that the accused will not avbuemey one

has learned that the track is likely to be ready ahead of this.

“We are fairly confident at the mo- ment that unless something goes really badly wrong that we will op- eration in May. At this point it looks likely that it will be early May rather WTO E-IKom\U ENYA

“In fact we are working to a dead- line even before that and if we finish ahead of time we will use to extra time to undertake some shadow run- nings of the train,” said Jim Gallivan from larnrod Eireann.

‘‘At the moment we have some infra- stural work left to complete and a few bridges still to work on. The weather this winter is unlikely to delay us, we have all the heavy work completed and what is left to do should not be held up by the weather.”

Work on the track restoration has been ongoing this year and some 18 miles of track has been relayed.

Construction work is also under- way on a number of the reopening

stations. It has been more than 30 years since the last scheduled service on the line.

The new trains will serve Limerick, Ennis, Athenry, and Galway, as well as new stations at Gort, Ardrahan, Craughwell, and Oranmore.

Meanwhile, Iarnr6dd Eireann have confirmed a time and location for a public meeting on issues relating to the general operation of the Western Rail Corridor.

The meeting will take place next Tuesday, September 23, from 5pm to 8pm in the Old Ground Hotel in En- nis. The meeting has been organised to allow local people to have input OBE BE Tan em rOm dM Leics Ot BASED Corridor. Iarnr6d Eireann have com- mitted to running eight services a day but it is as yet unclear when these will take place.

FOR a team that has been on the brink of All-Ireland success so many times this decade, finally winning the title was understandable a flood of emotion for all involved. Howev- er, the dramatic manner of the win brought a mixed bag of both relief and elation as the players attempted to take in the achievement.

After the heartbreak of last year’s defeat to Derry, another defeat would have been almost unthinkable but fortunately Clare persevered and fi- nally got their hands on the elusive New Ireland Cup after a intermina- ble gap of twenty two years.

And there was no-one more re- lieved than manager Colm Hanley.

“Tt’s unbelievable. After all that has happened over the last couple of years, the fact that it’s done now and

we have achieved what we set out to do is fantastic and full credit to the girls, they were absolutely amazing so I’m delighted.”

Despite being behind for the major- ity, Clare never gave up the ghost and kept chipping away at Offaly’s lead but even near the death, Hanley nev- er felt that the game was lost.

“No. To be honest with you, we kind of felt that we always stuck in WeKeEoe

“They didn’t really pull away from us at any point. They went four points up and five points up but we stayed hanging in there and got the few important scores. They never got away from us so as long as that was the case, there was always a chance. I suppose with two minutes to go, It was more out of hope than anything else that we were thinking but we did feel they were capable of pulling it

out of the bag and thankfully they did.”

Tactically, Clare’s switches were all important with Shonagh Enright and Fiona Lafferty playing an important role in the decisive goal and Kate Lynch dominating from centre-back but Hanley feels that it was the whole side’s second half effort that earned Oca heulaoay

“At the end of the day, you make decisions and thankfully they went right yesterday but there is no guar- antee of anything.

‘“Shonagh in fairness to her obvi- ously made a massive impact, Kate Lynch moving to centre-back really turned the tide and deserved to get the player of the game award but the whole team really put their shoulder to the wheel for the second half and pulled out the result so we are de- lighted.”