Month: October 2008

highlighted the situation on the Laghtagoona Housing Development in Corofin where a number of houses were left with crumbling exterior plaster as well as dangerous road surfaces.

Last week the company behind the development, Cronan Nagle Con- Struction, announced that it was to go into liquidation. Company direc- tors called a meeting of creditors for later month when the company 1s ex- pected to be wound up.

Residents in the estate now have no way of having their houses complet- ed to a Satisfactory standard.

‘Nothing has been been done what- soever to resolve this situation. We are still in the exact same situation at we were six months ago except not it

appears that Cronan Nagle have gone out of business which means that we have no real chance now of getting the houses that we paid for,’ said one Laghtagoona resident.

“In fact the situation is actually worse now than it was back then as we have also discover a problem with our water pipes in the estate which

burst a number of weeks ago.

“It does seem at the moment that all of this is going to be left to the residents to fix. I believe that Cro- nan Nagle have paid a bond to Clare County Council in respect to this de- velopment so maybe they may come out and finish the work. We really have no idea.

“I haven’t had any communication from Cronan Nagle in the last six months what so ever. All the issues are still as bad or worse as they were before. The roadway is still is a very dangerous condition and the plaster is still peeling off the wall in a lot of the houses.

‘According to the insurance com- pany the damage with the plaster is cosmetic and not structural, which means that they will not cover it.”

In June of this year, residents of the Laghtagoona housing estate in Corofin formed an action group to lobby estate developer Cronan Nagle Construction over alleged non-com- pletion of work on the 100-house de- velopment.

THE East Clare Chernobyl Chil- dren’s’ group has moved to ensure that all of the children they invited here for Christmas will be able to come, despite a risk that the Belarus- sian authorities will enforce a ban on visits.

The group have taken the route of inviting children as the private guests of families in Clare and so far, have not met with resistance from the au- thorities in Belarus.

“What we are doing is writing to the families of children, inviting them to come here as guests for Christ- mas and so far we have not come up against obstacles so we would be very optimistic that they are com-

ing,’ said group chairwoman, Geral- dine O’Driscoll.

A Belarussian woman who came her erepeatedly as a child is helping with interpretations and form-filling on the other end. The authorities in Belarus had said they were clamping down on the children being brought to Ireland for recuperation time by voluntary groups here.

Following a harrowing documen- tary several weeks ago, which in- cluded scenes of a small Belarussian boy being tied to a chair and having his tonsils taken out without any an- aesthetic, an online petition to the Minister for Foreign Affairs drew thousands of signatures, asking that he intercede with the Belarussian government to allow the children’s

visits to continue.

Everyone who signed the online pe- tition got a reply recently from Min- ister Michael Martin’s department, outlining what diplomatic efforts are being made to try to secure the Steines ihe

In the email, the ministers’ spokes- man said that a number of represen- tations have led to agreement that formal negotiations are to take place between the Irish and Belarussian Governments with regard to future visits by Belarussian children to Ire- land. The negotiations are expected to begin later this month, the spokes- man said.

“In addition, Ireland’s Ambassador to Belarus, based in Moscow, trav- elled to the Belarus capital of Minsk

on September 9 for meetings with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs in order to underline Ireland’s concern about the issue and our wish that any travel restrictions be lifted.

Since then, two officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs had a meeting with the Ministry for Hu- manitarian Affairs on September 30 to further discuss the issue.

“We hope to find a satisfactory conclusion to this issue in the near future, so that children from Belarus will be able to travel to Ireland in time for Christmas, and I can assure you Minister Martin will continue to ensure that every effort is made to achieve this outcome,’ the spokes- man said.

INCREASED numbers of burgla- ries in a rural part of north Clare has prompted the community alert scheme to increase its profile locally.

The community alert programme in the Turlough/Belharbour/Newquay area was set up 20 years ago. Over the years it had lost its impetus but it

regrouped almost 10 years ago.

There is significant concern that elderly people living alone are being targeted by travelling criminals who prey on them and take their money and any valuables they own. Con- men also call to their hopes, under the pretence that they are carrying out work, but their only interest is robbing them.

Secretary of the group, Margaret Healy said the increased number of break-ins prompted the scheme to 1n- crease its profile in the local area.

“There was a lot of break-ins; peo- ple going around to elderly people. It started from there. We have it both ways – burglaries and conmen call- ing,” she said.

“Everyone in the community has

wised up a lot. If a strange car is seen, the local guards will be called. It is a full community-based thing,’ said Ms Healy.

The nearest town to Turlough – which has been hit over the summer – is Gort and that is 15 miles away, while Ennistymon is 18 miles away. Given their rural location, it 1s cru- cial that residents are in regular con- tact, with a particular focus on those UaiauetcareDleyatee

“There are a lot of elderly people living in the area. It is gone to the stage you are not safe living on your own. It is seriously important to keep an eye out on your neighbours. Eve- rybody needs to be alert. The guards have no power unless the people in the village help out,” said Ms Healy.

The community alert meetings take place regularly, where issues of con- cern in the locality are discussed.

‘People can’t be as trustworthy as they were one time. All we can do is thrash out what we know. There is no solution,’ she added.

The secretary of the community alert group in the area Fergal Lang- ley said there is huge concern that the burglaries are occurring during the daytime and criminals are watching their targets.

has learned that garda management have pledged to put additional garda resources in place in an effort to tackle the prob- lem and clamp down on travelling om enebett vice Conmen, posing as businessmen, are pushing their way into people’s

homes and getting their hands on THON oA

They are especially targeting eld- erly men or women living alone in rural areas in the Turlough/Belhar- bour/Newquay area.

In one incident, an elderly man was robbed of thousands of euro after a man pretending to be a television re- pair man called to his home.

A Dublin man in his 40s was ar- rested and questioned in connection with this incident. A file has been sent to the DPP.

In another incident, a man in his 60s was struck twice by a conman who called to his house and demand-

ed money from him. He claimed he was a medical doctor.

That matter is actively being inves- tigated. No-one has been arrested in connection with that incident.

Ennistymon Superintendent Gabri- el O’Gara is warning that conmen are travelling around the area. He said while the problem “is not rampant”, there have been worrying incidents in recent weeks.

“It is very isolated up there. No doubt about it, it is because of the ge- ographic location. They are looking for isolated places. They are picking their targets. We are trying to get more patrols up there,” he said.

“If anybody is calling around pre- tending to be a doctor or health of- ficial, don’t let them pass the front door until they show identification. Do not entertain any of these peo- ple,” said Supt O’Gara.

He is encouraging people living in rural areas to engage in community alert programmes.

“Report anything suspicious. If you are unsure about someone, pick up the phone and ring your local garda,” he said.

Gardai in north Clare are also in- vestigating a spate of thefts from cars and break-ins to holiday homes in the Ballyvaughan area in recent weeks.

CONCERNS have been raised about the proposed format of a joint polic- ing committee for Ennis.

According to the Department of Justice, the committees, proposed for 114 local authority areas, are being established to provide a forum for Gardai, local authorities, Oireacthas members, and community interests to meet and address issues related to crime locally and to make recom- mendations.

However, at last week’s meeting of

Ennis Town Council, councilors dis- missed the 19-person structure of the committee as unworkable.

Accepting that the committee al- lowed for broad representation of different stakeholders, Mayor of Ennis Peter Considine (FF) said it was unlikely, given the size of the committee, that consensus could be achieved on crime related matters.

Councilor Tom Glynn (FF) echoed these concerns saying “you couldn’t get a whole lot done with a commit- tee of 19 people”.

Councillor Joe Reidy (FF) said,

“the last thing we need is more meet- ings and more talking shops. At the end of the say we have to know what effect it will have for the general pub- lic.

Town Clerk Eddie Power told the meeting that pilot schemes had al- ready been launched in Ballinasloe, Naas and Galway City and that the committee presented an opportunity to examine the reasons for anti-social behaviour and social disorder.

“I think they want to avoid as much as possible is it becoming another talking shop,” added Mr Power.

CUlr Johnny Flynn (FG) said that any measure which looks at “ad- dressing the anti-social behaviour in this town deserves to be given as good a run as possible”’.

Cllr Tommy Brennan called for meetings to be arranged with partici- pants from the pilot schemes before any decision is taken on the matter.

‘We should look for a meeting with the delegation from Naas. I’d like to go behind the scenes and see what is happening on the ground with this thing. Then you’ll get the right re- sponse.”

CLARE dairy farmers turned out in force for two farm walks last week held on the farms of Paddy Harvey, Brisla, Cooraclare and Patrick Mur- phy, Cornmallow, Quin. The two farmers were selected as new moni- tor farms this year, and serve an es- sential role in recording production data and costs trends on farms as part of the Teagasc/Kerry Agribusiness focus on farm profit programme.

The main theme of the walks was centered on performance and costs on the farms, as well as managing grass and grazing under difficult conditions as fodder budgeting for the coming winter.

Ger Courtney, Teagasc monitor farm programme coordinator, gave an in-depth run down on perform- ance of the farms in terms of milk supplied, costs of production and the breeding within the herds with particular attention to the herd’s EBI and calving patterns.

He also explained how farmers can estimate their own fodder situation and gave advice on how supplemen- tation can be used to ensure adequate feed is available for the upcoming winter period.

Aidan Bugler, Local Dairy Adviser covered the area of grass budgeting on each farm illustrating the impor- tance of having a plan for managing grass in the autumn with the aim of

keeping grass in the cows diet for as long as possible, while at the same time ensuring enough grass is car- ried over for next spring.

He acknowledged that the weather conditions this autumn have made building up grass very difficult. How- ever he was anxious to show how the two farms had taken corrective action early by feeding some silage and meal which will help maximize OF Acer Nimes ehh

Tom Gleeson, Local Dairy Advis- er, covered the area of soil fertility and stressed the need for regular soil sampling as a must if farmers are to have any chance of keeping costs un- der control. This he said is particu- larly true this year considering that

the costs of fertilizers have increased so dramatically in recent times. The need to keep soils limed and maxi- mizing the benefits of slurry were seen by Tom as an essential part of nutrient management on farms.

Rina Sayers, MVB Moorepark, covered the area of herd health with particular emphasis on BVD and IBR infections in herds. Her main message was prevention is better than cure and she stressed the need for on farm biosecurity measures as the best way to protect your herd from infection.

CLARE beef farmers will save hun- dreds of euro next year following the decision to introduce the new 48-month rule for BSE testing. The new approach to BSE testing was an- nounced by the Department of Ag- riculture last month but it was last week announced that the new testing regime would be introduced from January 1, 2009.

The news was welcomed by east Clare farmers and Chairperson of the ICMSA Beef and Cattle Com- mittee, Martin McMahon, who says that it will have a major impact on

ie Ve silo ae

“This definite commencement date brings to an end a period of regret- table uncertainty and false starts and we estimate that the savings to farm- ers could be of the order of €8 mil- lion per annum,” he said.

“The new 48-month rule is further concrete evidence that the BSE prob- lem is now firmly in the past and also represents full recognition by the Commission of the excellent system of cattle identification and tractabil- ity which operates in Ireland.

“The new rule removes an unnec- essary cost and irrelevant age cut- off point and provides farmers with

more flexibility regarding the mar- keting of their cattle.”

Speaking on the issue when it was initially announced, Clare TD, Tony Killeen, said that the move would deliver significant savings to farmers who currently pay to have healthy slaughtered animals over 30 months tested for BSE.

“The current testing requirements are unjustified when one considers the significant progress made in re- ducing the incidence of the disease in Ireland, from a high of 333 cases in 2003 to 25 last year and 12 to date in 2008,” he said.

“Tam confident, based on the reduc-

tion in the disease in Ireland and the extensive controls in place, that Ire- land’s application will be approved and that the new testing regime may even be in place from early 2009.

“From the outset of his appoint- ment Minister Brendan Smith has continually identified the increase in the age limit for BSE testing as a priority. One of the first things he did as minister was to write to the EU Commissioner and he has taken every opportunity since to press the Commissioner to increase the age limit, particularly when he had met Commissioner Vassiliou at meetings of the EU Agriculture Council.”

Dr Schranz said he was a permanent

radiologist assigned to Portiuncula General Hospital and Roscommon County Hospital at the time.

‘I was only requested to report, on an urgent basis, … by the manager of Ennis General Hospital … (on) a number of casualty and GP films which had been outstanding for four to five weeks, some of which (not Ms Moriarty’s) were labelled as “ur- gent”,” the letter read.

Dr Schranz said he was sure of the date of the incident as it was his 40th birthday and he had to cancel plans since the situation “with outstand- ing x-ray reporting in Ennis was de- scribed to me as critical.

“On the day, I found the x-ray of Ms Moriarty was a single film amongst a pile in one of the offices. The request form simply said “fever” with no mention of the patient’s past history of breast carcinoma and extensive left breast reconstruction.”

“This radiograph was dated June 11, but the first time I saw this radio- graph was in July.”

He went on to say the way Ms Mo- riarty was positioned for the x-ray was technically limiting.

The consultant radiologist said that he dictated his report onto a tape and Sam Lm Comma gop batee

“IT was not asked to cross-check

the final typed report before it was sent out. I have no way of veritfy- ing whether what was typed into the report was what I actually said on Fe olen

“My report said that the x-ray was grossly abnormal with a large shad- ow seen in the left lung,” he said.

There was no reference to this in an internal investigation into Ms Mor1i- arty’s case, or if this report was re- layed to the physician’s team.

In his letter, Dr Schranz said there was no mention in the hospital re- port of a chest x-ray performed, or an investigation performed prior to her discharge from St James’ when

she was given the all clear in April, two months before she presented in Ennis with a fever. At the very least, these should have include an ultra- sound exam and CT scan. If these were clear then it is highly improba- ble that such a large metastatic lesion would have formed in a six week pe- riod between April and June 11.”

Dr Schranz also told the Minister that he was not informed of the inci- dent or the inquiry into it until it was over. “I fail to understand why I was never interviewed with regards to this inquiry, since I could have shed a lot of light into what actually hap- pened,’ he said.

THE husband of a woman who died from breast cancer after being given the all clear at Ennis General Hospital has appealed for people to speak to the HIQA investigation, as the number of misdiagnosis claims reaches six.

Karl Henry said that those con- cerned about cancer examinations and misdiagnosis at the Clare hosp1- tal should avail of the investigation by the state’s health service watchdog into the quality and safety of patient care at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Ennis.

Mr Henry made the appeal as more cases of misdiagnosis come to light. The latest case is a woman from north Clare who died in June last year.

The 50-year-old mother of two had two scans at Ennis General Hospital.

Last month Mr Henry highlighted the case of his late wife Ann Mor1- arty who died despite repeatedly be- ing told she was not ul.

Despite claims that this was an 1so- lated case, the case of 26-year-old Edel Kelly from Kilrush emerged days later. The young mother of two also died despite been given the all clear following a biopsy.

A third case of an unidentified woman emerged last month, while last week the fourth case involv- ing the late Eva Corry (66) came to light.

Mr Henry said that he is also aware of a Kilkee woman who lost her life in 2001, months after she was given the all clear.

‘There were tears running down her husband’s face as he told me. Seven years later, he is still distraught. It would go a long way with him com- ing to terms with his loss if he knew why his wife died.”

Mr Henry said there is a perception that the investigation is only looking into female cancers and breast can- Coe

Referring to mistakes made with his late wife’s blood tests, he said this was not true, as blood tests can be taken for many cancers.

‘This leaves the investigation open to all sorts of cancers,’ he added.

Meanwhile, a Clare man who was wrongly given the all-clear for breast cancer at Galway’s University Col- lege Hospital a number of years ago has now been told he will require surgery.

Following a review of tests carried out at the hospital the man, who does not wished to be identified, received a letter from the hospital explaining

the mistake.

Although rare, breast cancer also affects men. The man in question will now undergo a bilateral mastec- reyeene

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KILRUSH Town councillors were thinking votes and revenue as they considered the possibility of extend- ing the town boundary.

At Thursday’s monthly meet- ing of the local authority Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) proposed that the council call on the Minister for En- vironment, Heritage and Local Gov- ernment to establish an independent commission in the adequacy of ex- isting legislation to simplify the pro- cedures for extending town bounda- ries.

“All towns are expanding and in Kilrush we too have experienced a building a boom. New housing es- tates have grown up around the pe-

riphery of the town and we have new communities living there who do not come under the town council remit. If we are to build a sense of belong- ing for people who live in these es- tates, it behoves us to make them feel part of our community,” he said.

“The existing legislation exiles these people within the wider county council framework. We need amend- ed legislation to bring these periph- eral suburban areas under the urban remit. I call on the minister to pro- vide for this eventuality when he is drawing up his proposal on the Re- form of Local Government.”

Cllr Stephen O’Gorman (FF) told the meeting that his daughter who lives in Kilrush is just outside the town boundary.

Come June the young woman will not be able to vote for her father in the local election.

““T remember there was a candidate outside the area who ran in the elec- tion and couldn’t vote for himself,’ said Cllr Collie Sweeney (Ind).

The mayor of Kilrush Liam O’Looney believed that a boundary change would also have a positive af- fect on the revenue of the town.

“Tesco and a lot of these businesses are outside the town boundary and there are a lot of levies from these outside the town,’ he said.