Month: December 2009

A COURT HAS heard allegations that a gate was thrown at a woman as part of an ongoing dispute in north ETc

Arising out of an alleged incident, Joe Scales, of Callura, Ennistymon, is accused of assaulting Anne Ma- digan causing her harm at Callura West, Ennistymon, on May 14 last.

Solicitor Jim Finnegan, represent- ing Mr Scales, told Ennistymon District Court that the case would be defended.

Superintendent Declan Mulcahy

told the court it would be alleged that gardai went to Callura West as a re- sult of a call.

He said they met the husband and a son of Mrs Madigan. He said it was alleged that the accused threw a gate at Mrs Madigan.

Supt Mulcahy said Mrs Madigan sustained injuries and was taken to hospital.

The Supt explained that this was part of an “ongoing dispute.”

Judge Joseph Mangan accepted ju- risdiction of the case in the district court. The case was adjourned until early in 2010.

A MAN made phone calls of a sex- ual nature to a woman in the wake of a relationship breakdown, a court heard yesterday.

Floriano De Faricus (23), of Fer- gus Park, Ennis, pleaded guilty to sending a message or other matter which was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character by means of the telecom- munications system, between Feb- ruary 13 and 27 last.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told Ennis District Court that a woman complained to gardai that she was receiving regular phone calls of a sexual nature from an unknown number.

He said there were five phone calls in total, over a period of a month. After gardai were alerted, an inves- tigation was set up and the defend- ant was traced and subsequently charged.

“I think it was something to do with a relationship,’ said Inspector GPU ET aoe

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey

said the recipient of the phone calls had been in a relationship with the accused’s brother-in-law.

“That relationship had ended. My client was concerned by the attitude adopted by the recipient of the phone calls, to his brother-in-law. It had created terrible upset,’ she said.

‘He, in very poor judgment, made telephone calls to this lady. He was acting out of concern for his wife and her family. He had no right to make those phone calls and he ac- cepts that,’ she added.

“He acted out of extreme emo- tional strain of he and his family,” SI NTomT BOR

Ms Godfrey said her client has lived in Ireland for the past two years “without having committed any offence”.

Judge Eamon O’Brien ordered the accused to pay ©200 to the court poor box and said if this is done the matter will be struck out.

‘The State can re-enter it if there are any other problems,” he said.

AN EAST Clare woman who was a passenger in a stolen car was “in the wrong place at the wrong time,’ a court has heard.

Carmel O’Donnell (23), of Curra- kyle, Caher, was charged arising out of an incident on February 28 last.

Inspector John Galvin told Ennis District Court that a car was spotted driving through Ennis with no reg- istration plates.

He said it was travelling at high speed and it turned out that the car

had been stolen. “The accused was a passenger in the car,” he said.

Defending solicitor John Casey said his client was collected at her home and was driven in to Ennis. He said that after a chase began, the accused begged with the others to stop and said she co-operated fully elses NuOr ne

“She has distanced herself entirely from the other three involved. At the time she was hanging around with people who wouldn’t have led her down a correct path.

“She knows nothing about the situ-

ation of the other three parties in- volved. A criminal conviction will pose difficulties for her,” he said.

Inspector Galvin agreed that the accused was very co-operative and said she has no previous convic- tions.

He said it appeared she was “in the wrong place at the wrong time and took the wrong option.”

Judge Joseph Mangan ordered the defendant to pay €100 to the court poor box and dismissed the charge under the Probation of Offenders Xam

A MAN who admitted assaulting another man in Killaloe has been or- dered to compensate his victim.

Timothy Morris (21), of Bridget- own, O’Briensbridge, pleaded guilty to assault, arising out of a late night incident in Killaloe.

Inspector John Galvin told Killaloe District Court that Michael Carey was crossing a road in Killaloe in the early hours of the morning when he was approached by the accused.

He said that words were spoken and Mr Carey was assaulted.

“He caught him and pushed him,’ he said.

Mr Carey told the court that he had been to a nightclub that night. He said he approached a taxi, with a view to getting a lift home. The taxi

driver told him he would meet him outside the AIB bank 20 minutes later and he and others were halfway across the bridge when they met the RYO Isol6 ms

He told the court that the accused hit another man “a jostle.”

“We told him to stop and he kept walking. He did the same thing again. .. Then he grabbed me by the throat. I tried to shove him off. I was aware that the Shannon was on the other side of the bridge,” he said.

The witness said he blacked out and people came to his assistance.

Asked by defending solicitor Chris Lynch had there been history be- tween him and the accused, the wit- ness replied, “None whatsoever.”

Mr Lynch said it was his instruc- tions that there had been a previous incident and that Mr Carey had ver-

bally abused his client on the night. He denied this.

Mr Lynch said, “There was more than a bit of history between the par- Weal

Garda Edel Crowley told the court she attended the scene that night and saw Mr Carey bleeding from the eye- KOA

Judge Joseph Mangan ordered the accused to pay €500 in compensa- tion and adjourned the case for two months.

“If that is paid, I will not impose a custodial sentence, full stop”’.

“That is not to say I will not talk about community service,’ said the judge.

Murray’s resignation will be ‘a devalued currency’

KILMURRY Ibrickane last played in Croke Park in 2000 — they’re now planning to mark the ten-year anni- versary of their All-Ireland Féile na nOg triumph by winning the All-Ire- land Club title on St Patrick’s Day.

No sooner had Kilmurry Ibrick- ane scaled the peak of Munster club football in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday with their dramatic Q-7 to 0-6 provincial final win over Kerins O’Rahillys and manager Micheal McDermott was looking ahead to greater things.

“We want to get to Croke Park and win an All-Ireland,” said McDermott in the first flush of victory. “Every- thing from here on in is a bonus for this team, because winning a Mun- ster title is what we wanted all year, but having said that we will be deter-

mined not to leave it here.

‘“T have to go home now to my wife to tell her that she probably won’t see me between now and the middle of February and hopefully March, be- cause I’ll be double-jobbing it until then,’ added the new Clare senior football boss.

“This is fantastic for Clare football. Anytime a small team from the west of Clare comes out and beats a Kerry team in a Munster final is a superb day for football in the county. Clare football can be up there with the best of them and we’re well able to com- pete with the best of them.

‘We said to ourselves all year that we really wanted to get back into a Munster final and win it. We’re going to enjoy this win for a good while, but then we’re going to have a real go at the All-Ireland. We’re not just there to make up the numbers. Why

not give it a lash. I’d love to be in Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day. I’d love it for the players, because peo- ple outside the club do not realise the effort that these guys put in over the last couple of years.

“They’ve done it without complaint — an odd whinge here and there, but they’ve given everything that they could possibly give. That’s what brings success. Hard work and effort is the key to success and they give it in abundance.”

It’s the new blueprint for Clare football.

MARK Fitzgerald, Karuna O’Rahilly’s trainer, is lamenting a season just passed. Lamenting the referee too.

“It’s gut-wrenching,” he says, “and we were hit with a dubious decision. I just hope that they were the right decisions because players put their lives on the line.

“David Moran came back two weeks earlier from Australia. Mike Quirke cut a honeymoon short. I just hope the decisions were right and if so fair enough, but Barry John Keane was not given any protection.”

However, then Fitzgerald puts his hand up. “We did have enough pos- session and we did have enough chances. The nine wides in the first half killed us.

“We thought if we won the toss and had the wind that David [Moran] would be best utilised at full-for- ward, he is a good fielder and a good kicker but it did not work out. We did not get quality ball into him.

He said he was pleased with how his side applied themselves in the second-half.

“We upped it after the sending off because we had to, we possibly had chances but took the wrong options rm Ob estoy

“It was hard playing into the breeze with 14 men. You think you might nick it in with a goal chance.”

Then there’s the red card. “I did not see what happened with the incident that led the first yellow card, but the leg was raised for the second one.

“Then again the Kilmurry players were grabbing fellows around the neck and there was no recourse to them. It is tough to take again.

“The free count at half-time was something like 16 to six in their fa- vour and we said that to the referee at half time. We were not asking for any favours but a fair crack at this den eetcaae

GAA 125 year. What better way to celebrate Michael Cusack, who founded the GAA back in 1884 than by bringing an All-Ireland title to his home county.

It’s why this was a lavish affair from the moment a Tulla piper led captain Ciaran O’Doherty into the Liam McCarthy Suite with Munster and All-Ireland trophies in hand.

“It’s an honour to be here tonight in your company representing the views of the people of Clare. I salute you all and your marvellous achievement,’

said county board chairman, Michael O’Neill by way of introduction.

Others had plenty to say too, like broadcasting legend Micheal O Muircheartaigh, who also had a year to remember when clocking up 60 years commentating for RTE.

“I was passing through Ennis and decided to spend the night in the West County Hotel,’ O Muirc- heartaigh revealed. “I thought it was a big wedding but then when I saw my good friend Pat O’Donnell I re- alised something special was taking place. Before I knew it he had a ticket out of his pocket and I accepted his

invitation gratefully. ;

“We all need each other,’ added O Muircheartaigh. “The players need WM aLomnar-Nercbexesee (ole LMmNeloaTmoLeOMNeloMeCOlelete ty board. John Minogue spoke of the players from the year before carrying the hurleys this year — everyone com- ing together and working together. Everyone rallied together and that brought success.”

“In the early ‘90s apparently the county board got in touch with Pope John Paul IT saying they wanted to get rid of me and they were very success- ful,” said Bishop Willie Walsh when presenting the medals. “It worked

because Clare won the All-Ireland the following year,” he joked. “Compliments have to be paid to the whole team here tonight. The panel, the backroom team everyone was magnificent. In Thurles we saw an exhibition by these extraordinary hurlers. Galway hit back with goals but we showed great heart like no other team would have,” he added. “On behalf of the players I would like to thank the great men behind me, without them we would certainly not be here. They are John Minogue, Cyril Lyons, Sean O’Halloran and Alan Dunne,” said team captain Ci-

aran O’Doherty.

“T would like to thank ye all for coming to all the games during the year. The events at the homecoming in Ennis after the all Ireland really capped it all off,’ added O’Doherty.

CLARE All-Ireland Under 21 win- ning heroes have been challenged to move on to the next level with the county by stepping up to the senior plate and trying to bring the Munster and Liam McCarthy cups back to the reel ANe

It was a challenge thrown down by All-Ireland Under 21 winning man- ager John Minogue when addressing players and Clare County Board offi- cials at Friday night’s medal presen- tation in the West County Hotel.

“The players have been magnifi- cent,” said Minogue. “The effort and the commitment they have shown has been wonderful. They have all had hectic years being involved with their clubs while some were involved with the senior team. In addition to this many are working or else study- ing and it was very hard to travel from colleges and far away but they did and that’s why were here today with a title in our hands.”

For Minogue, however, this A\ll- Ireland cannot be the final stop on Clare’s journey to even greater suc-

cesses. He put the question to his players, where do we go from here? The simple answer, he volunteered, is that more hard work, and plenty of it, can yield even greater harvests.

“Have you the commitment to go forward?” he asked. “You have to,” he added defiantly.

“People of Clare need you to, the county team needs you, the county board as well, we all want you to progress and grow and to try and make us even happier than 2009.”

Minogue then turned to his back- room team. “I have to thank them for

their efforts,’ he said, “and for their commitment, their mentoring and every positive thing they carried out. We had a big panel of players and there was a lot to be done and con- trolled. The four of us worked well with one another and thankfully it all gelled together”.

Now to see if things can be gelled back together at senior inter-county level. Minogue has publicly stated that he doesn’t covet the job — he let that be known in the hours after Clare’s epic triumph over Kilkenny in September.

Who knows. That no could very well become a yes over the next few weeks. We’ll just have to wait and see.

A HIGH COURT challenge to the DPP’s decision to retry former Kil- laloe-based GP Paschal Carmody is due to open at the High Court today Gh er oF

Mr Carmody (60), of Ballycugga- ran, Killaloe, is accused of defraud- ing terminally ill cancer patients and WeCHUMBE-DOODUB (oe

However, he was granted leave to seek a judicial review of a DPP de- cision to proceed with a trial on 11 charges and that case is currently be- fore the High Court.

In July 2008, Mr Carmody went on trial at Ennis Circuit Court, ac- cused of 25 charges in total. At the end of a five-week trial, he was found not guilty by a jury of six charges. The trial judge, Judge Rory McCabe, directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts in relation to eight other Ont Nexone

However, the jury did not reach a decision on 11 other charges.

The judge and jury heard from 64 witnesses during the lengthy trial – 49 for the prosecution and 15 for the defence.

The outstanding 11 charges relate to more than €30,000 obtained from three terminally ill patients and their JEVOOVE BLE

The patients received photodynam- ic treatment at the East Clinic in Kil- laloe in 2001 and 2002.

He is facing seven deception charg- es relating to €9,610 obtained from

the family of a 14-year-old boy from Wexford, Conor O’Sullivan, who died in November 2002. There are two charges in relation to JJ Gallagh- er from Westmeath, who died in Sep- tember 2002 (relating to €14,300). There are two other charges relating to John Sheridan, of Kells, Kilkenny, who died in November 2002 (relat- ing to £6,944).

Following the trial, the DPP decid- ed that Mr Carmody be retried on the

11 charges. However, Mr Carmody’s legal team then applied for a judicial review of the DPP’s decision.

In September, the case was ad- journed at Ennis Circuit Court, pend- ing the outcome of the High Court challenge.