Month: March 2013

A DUBLIN man alleged to have stolen money from a shop on the Gort Road near Ennis is due to have his case heard next month.

Adam Cornel (23), with an address at 25, The Garth, Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, Dublin 24, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Cornel is alleged to have stolen € 100 from Hogan Motor’s Gort Road, Ennis on May 21 (2011).

The accused was represented in court by barrister Brendan Glynn. Mr Glynn told the judge that his client would be contesting the robbery charge.

Mr Glynn made an application for legal aid.

He also requested that legal aid be backdated to include Mr Cornel’s earlier court appearance.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he wanted proof that Mr Cornel’s legal representative were in court on the previous date.

The case was adjourned for hearing until April 11.

TWO friends who engaged in what a Judge described as “intolerable behaviour” on a main street in Kilrush last year have received prison sentences. John Keenan (31) and Martin O’Brien (31) were involved in a fight on Henry Street, Kilrush on July 6 (2012).

Both men appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Mr Keenan, with an address at Waterpark Heights, Ennis and Mr O’Brien, with an address at the Bungalow, Wood Road, Kilrush, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the scuffle between the pair led to the window of a nearby pharmacy being broken.

Mr O’Brien has 35 previous convictions and Mr Keenan has 72 previous convictions, the court heard.

Solicitor for Mr O’Brien, Daragh Hassett said the pair had fallen out “over something so stupid they can’t even remember.”

He said Mr O’Brien immediately had the window replaced after the incident.

Solicitor for Mr Keenan, William Cahir, said this was an incident between two friends that would not normally occur.

The court heard the men, who are both currently serving prison sentences, pleaded guilty to the offence at the first possible occasion.

Judge Patrick Durcan said this was a row that occurred at 12.15pm while people in Kilrush were going about their business.

He added, “This kind of behaviour on a street in daytime is intolerable.”

Noting their guilty pleas, he imposed a two-month sentence on each accused, consecutive to the sentences currently being served.

Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

Judge Durcan remarked he had observed both accused during proceedings. He said they seemed to be enjoying their day in court.

He added, “It seems (they got) as much enjoyment as sitting down for the day watching Cheltenham.” A T EEN A GER who admitted damaging and stealing fromcars in areas of Sixmilebridge last year has been told he must abide by the directions of the Probation Services. Last December Mark Burke (19), with an address at 26 Beechwood Grove, Sixmilebridge, admitted to the theft of Sat Nav systems fromcars in O’Garney Heights and Oakwood and to the theft a wallet and portable cd player fromcars in Oakwood and O’Garney Heights. He also pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal damage at Beechwood Grove and O’Garney Heights.All of the charges relate to September 9 (2012).The court heard Mr Burke forcibly entered two cars and took items fromthem.The court heard Mr Burke was intoxicated on the night having consumed 20 Xanax tablets and vodka.The accused co-operated with gardaí and paid compensation. Mr Burke has no previous convictions. Sentence was adjourned pending a report from the Probation Services. At Ennis District Court onWednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said he was concerned that the report stated that Mr Burke had been reluctant to engage with the services. Defence solicitor Stiofan Fitzpatrick acknowledged issues had arisen but said the report ended on a positive note for his client. He said Mr Burke had commenced a training course and is currently abstaining fromalcohol and other substances. Mr Fitzpatrick added,“I believe he is on the cusp of turning a corner.” Judge Durcan noted the accused’s difficulties, good record and the support provided by his family. He also acknowledged the traumatic effect of the death of the Mr Burke’s father. However, Judge Durcan said these were serious offences and the Probation report had indicated a high risk of re-offending. Directing Mr Burke to remain under the supervision of the Probation Services, Judge Durcan adjourned the case until April 10. Judge Durcan said if he was happy that progress was made, he would adjourn the case after that for a further two months. T W O MEN have been ordered to pay a contribution to charity after pleading guilty to their roles in a “serious public order incident” that occured in Shannon on NewYear’s Day The incident, which Ennis District Court heard, involved as many as 14 people, occurred at the Cluann Alainn estate near Hurler’s Cross on January 1 (2013). Two Sixmilebridge men John Cahill (21) and David Aherne (21) appeared in court onWednesday charged in connection with the incident. Mr Cahill, with an address at 32 Cluain Driochead, Sixmilebridge, pleaded guilty to a charge of trespass. Mr Aherne, with an address at Riverview, Ballysheen, Sixmilebridge, pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Inspector TomKennedy said this was a “serious public order incident” that occurred in the estate at around 4.45amon the morning in question. The court heard Mr Aherne and Mr Cahill travelled to the area fromShannon town centre in a taxi. The court heard the accused went to the house of a person alleged to have been involved in a dispute with their friend. Inspector Kennedy said between 12 and 14 people arrived at the house in three taxis, two fromShannon and one fromEnnis. A married couple, their two children and one grandchild were in the house on the night. In total, seven people have been charged in connection with the incident. The court heard that on the night, David Aherne was shouting and roaring while John Cahill trespassed on the property. Inspector Kennedy said the accused’s invovlement “forms part of a bigger issue” alleged to have occurred on the night. Addressing Judge Patrick Durcan, Insp Kennedy said,“It is a very unusual public order incident and you will hear more about it.” Neither man has any previous convictions. Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his clients had been on the way home to Sixmilebridge and were brought by taxi to the house. “They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he added. He said there had been a “herd mentality” on the night in question. Mr Hassett said he was confident his clients would not be before the court again. He said,“This was an unsavory incident but they were at the very edge of it.” Judge Patrick Durcan said it was obvious that alcohol had played an involvement, a point accepted by Mr Hassett. Judge Durcan said,“They were souped to the gills and didn’t knowwhether they were coming or going.” Judge Durcan noted the accused’s good record and early guilty pleas. He said that while he wished to emphasise his revulsion at what happened on the night, he was not going to criminalise the pair. He said that if each man paid of sumof €600 to the court poor box by April 17, he would strike out the charges.

TWO Galway men have received prison sentences after pleading guilty to the burglary of a house in Druncliffe last March.

Christopher Morrison (25) and Michael Flaherty (26) were discovered attempting to enter the building at Drumcliffe on March 23 (2012).

Passing sentence at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said this was an “appalling offence because it damages rural Ireland”, creating suspicion and fear.

He said, “This is the kind of offence that is becoming all too prevalent in rural Ireland.”

Mr Morrison, with an address 117 Slí Geal, Ballymoneen, Road, and Mr Flaherty, with an address at 11 Lismoor, Cappagh Road, Barna, Galway, were found to have engaged in a joint enterprise.

Mr Morrison was discovered by the property owner’s father on the curtilage of the building. A window at the rear of the house had been forced open, the court heard.

Mr Flaherty was in a car in which both men fled the scene. The men were later stopped outside Gort.

Two laser lights were taken and subsequently recovered, the court heard.

Outlining the facts of the case, Inspector Tom Kennedy said the house owner’s father noticed the car parked outside his daughter’s house.

Insp Kennedy said burglaries of this type in rural areas are on the rise. He said it was “lucky” that the owner’s father was in the area at the time. The court heard Mr Morrison has 53 previous convictions and is currently serving a sentence for burglary. Mr Flaherty has a previous conviction for a road traffic offence.

A charge brought last year against Mr Flaherty for the offence was dismissed due to a “breakdown in the State’s case”, the court heard.

Solicitor for both accused, Daragh Hassett said Mr Morrison, a father of two, had turned to crime after coming under “severe financial pressure.”

Mr Hassett said, “There were a number of options open to him but he took the unlawful option.”

The court heard Mr Morrison met Mr Flaherty while they both worked in a hostel.

They had come to Ennis to buy car parts before committing the offence.

Both men admitted their roles to gardaí and cooperated fully, the court heard. Mr Hassett said the pair admitted they were part of a joint enterprise.

Mr Flaherty, the court heard, is still in employment and well regarded.

Mr Hassett said, “He’s come back, manned up to the charges and pleaded guilty almost 12 months later.”

Mr Hassett urged the court to impose suspended sentences in both cases.

Judge Patrick Durcan said it was obvious that the accused had “cased the joint knowing it would be empty.”

He said Mr Flaherty had shown a total disregard for the law of the land while Mr Morrison has a “record as long as your arm”.

Judge Durcan sentenced Mr Flaherty to eight months in prison with the final three months suspended.

Mr Morrison was sentenced to 10 months in prison; consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving. The new sentence is to begin on August 25

Both men were also disqualified from holding a license for five years.

Judge Durcan said he was of the view that both defendants used the car as an aid in the commission of a serious offence. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

A TEENAGER allowed stolen property to be stored in his home in Ennis earlier this year because he “risked serious harm” if he refused, a court has heard. Dara Maloney (19), with an address at 32 Morrissey Avenue, Cloughleigh, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to two charges of handling a stolen Dell laptop and a black Samsung flat screen TV at 32 Morrissey Avenue, Cloughleigh, Ennis on January 23 (2013).

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the items were discovered following a garda search of the house at 8am on the morning in question.

Insp Kennedy said the accused told gardaí that he bought the goods of a man whom he did not identify.

The court heard the laptop was stolen from a house in Kilnamona last December. The television was stolen during a separate house burglary.

Mr Maloney is not charged in connection with the burglaries.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client had been pressured into storing the stolen items in his home. Mr Hassett said a person known to the gardaí had taken advantage of his client, warning Mr Maloney he “risked serious harm” if he did not co-operate.

In reply, Insp Kennedy said the accused had been “less than co-operative” in telling guards where the goods came from.

Mr Hassett said his client had not been forthcoming to gardaí because he “feared for his life.”

The court heard the accused had been a good soccer player who obtained his leaving cert and is now hoping to secure work in London.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he appreciated that Mr Maloney had potential. However, he added that anyone who “plays a role in the supply of capacity to thugs” who break into homes is as guilty as they are.

Judge Durcan commented that the fact that thieves and robbers now required storage facilities adds a new dimension to the crime of burglary in Clare. He imposed a three-month sentence on each charge, suspending the sentences for 12 months. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

CLARE’S six TDs and Senators declared a variety of commercial interests to the Dáil last year, including eight rental properties, two farms and a trip to France paid for by the Alternative Iranian Government in Exile.

North Clare Senator Martin Conway (FG) listed a trip to an international conference in Paris, paid for by the Iranian group, in the official list of interests submitted to the Dáil for 2012.

The conference, which cost € 395 between hotels and flights, was attended by former Taoiseach John Briton (FG) as well as members of former US president John F Kennedy’s family.

“It was an informative and important event but it didn’t cost the Irish taxpayers, high up or low down, for me to attend,” Senator Conway told The Clare People yesterday.

“We stayed in extremely basic accommodation. We flew in on Friday night, spent all day Saturday at the conference, and flew home early on Sunday. So it certainly wasn’t a holiday.”

Senator Conway also declared his interests in Conway’s Shop in Ennistymon, in addition to four rental properties in Quin, Tobertascain in Ennis, Woodview in Ennistymon and Ard Donagh in Ennistymon as well as his family home in Ennistymon.

Fellow senator Tony Mulcahy (FG) lists two rental properties in Shannon and a property for sale in Ballycasey among his commercial interests. Senator Mulcahy also listed his business property in Smithstown Industrial Estate in Shannon and his directorship of Clare School Meals and Catering Ltd among his assets.

Senator Mulcahy also amended his declaration in November of this year to include statutory gratuity payment received from his time as a member of Shannon Town Council and Clare County Council.

Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley listed two rental properties in Dublin among his declared interests. The properties are located in Charlotte Quay in Dublin 4 and Moyville in Rathfarnham. Deputy Dooley did not list any Clare properties among his interests.

East Clare Deputy Michael McNamara (LAB) declared income from occupation as a barrister at law and from his farm in Tuamgraney amongst his declared interests.

Deputy Pat Breen (FG) listed the income from his farm in Lisduff, Ballynacally amongst his assets while Deputy Joe Carey (FG) listed no commercial or property interests besides his family home at “the Land” in Clarecastle.

W o r k in g o r t o o b u s y t o d r o p
in y o u r ve h ic le ? We will collect your vehicle from your home/wor kplace and deliver it back t o you free of char ge wit hin a five mile radius of Ennis.

THERE are serious anomalies between the value the Revenue Commissioners is placing on Clare properties and their market value.

That is according to Diarmuid McMahon of Sherry FitzGerald Ennis who said it is using wide brush strokes to value houses, which make little of no sense in reality.

He explained that the Revenue is valuing all semi-detached properties in an area in the same price range irrespective of size.

Likewise detached modest rural family homes are being placed in the same price category as large houses or mansions.

The Ennis estate agent warned the onus is on the homeowner however to ensure that the value price is correct, even if the State under values it. The owner is liable for any underpayment of the new tax.

The Revenue Commissioners launched its website to help home owners to calculate how much they will have to pay in property tax from the second half of this year.

A letter indicating the same is expected in the coming days.

Meanwhile the property tax is prompting a director of a Clare based voluntary housing scheme to resign.

The inclusion of voluntary housing along with private landlords and local authorities as being liable for Property Tax (on family housing) has precipitated a crisis for Rural Resettlement Ireland, according to its chairman Jim Connolly.

“The Government has radically moved the goalposts. Neither I nor any other director over the years signed up to become tax collectors. The onerous responsibilities of being directors of charitable Companies Limited by Guarantee under the Companies Act make it almost impossible nowadays to recruit new directors. The latest addition of shouldering the responsibility for paying property tax on large numbers of social houses is the last straw,” he said.

“I have publicly declared my intention of resigning as a director of RRI if the situation described above is confirmed in the Finance Act. I cannot speak for other directors or other Voluntary Housing associations.”

THE Clare County Council delegation’s trip to New York this St Patrick’s Day is estimated to cost one third of last year’s cost.

In 2012, a six-person delegation to the Big Apple cost in the region of € 12,000, with the council cutting costs by staying in the residence of the Consul General of Ireland in New York.

According to a spokesperson for the council, this year’s trip is estimated to cost € 3,000 as Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) and the County Manager, Tom Coughlan, travel to New York and Chicago. However, the St Patrick’s Day trips are not limited to the leader of the council chamber and council executive.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) will deputise for the Mayor of Ennis and travel to New York; Kilrush mayor, Cllr Mairead O’Brien (Ind) will represent the West Clare town in New York; and Shannon’s mayor, Cllr Michael Fleming (FG), will continue a 16year Shannon tradition by jetting off to New Jersey.

Mayor of Kilkee, Claire Haugh (FF) will not be going abroad this St Patrick’s Day.

Each mayor said that they would be representing the interest of the local people and encouraging investment in Clare during the trips.

Cllr Meaney will be in New York on the invitation of the Clareman’s Association. The Ennis councillor said that he does not use his town council expenses during the year, and believes that this would be a good use of those recourses.

“We didn’t send anyone last year, as we were afraid how it would look from a financial point of view. To me, that was a mistake,” he said. “It is important that we use every opportunity to ensure links with the Diaspora are maintained. It is important to encourage inward investment.”

Kilrush Mayor Mairead O’Brien’s expenses for flight and accommodation are set at € 1,177. Anne Haugh, Town Manager, will also be in attendance but the cost of sending the council official is not yet known.

The trip of the Shannon mayor, Cllr Fleming, to New Jersey on the invitation of the Union County Emerald Society is not known but last year the cost came to € 1,917.26. It is expected to be similar this year, according to Shannon Town Clerk Liam O’Connor who will accompany him on the trip.

Mr O’Connor said the Shannon delegation would promote the town to various investors and dignitaries.

During their trip to New York and Chicago, Mayor Daly and Mr Coughlan will meet with the wider Irish community representatives, United Airlines and city officials/representatives, enterprise agencies, Clare Association Chicago, Clare Association New York, Consul Generals of Ireland in Chicago and New York.

They will also take part in the St Patrick’s Day parade.

DOOLIN is set to become the centre of the Clare construction industry over the next two years as more than 100 jobs set to be created on two long-awaited projects on Doolin Pier.

As the Office of Public Works (OPW) prepare to start the tender process for the new Irish Coastguard Rescue Centre next week, an Bord Pleanála also gave the green light for the € 6 million Doolin Pier.

Construction work on both projects is likely to begin later this year with the rescue centre set to be completed by 2014 and and Doolin Pier expected to be operation for the beginning of the 2015 tourist season.

As well as pumping millions into the local economy during construction, the development of the completed pier is expected to drastically change the tourism industry in North Clare – making Doolin a major access point for the 70,000 plus tourists who travel to the Aran Islands each year.

“Clare County Council has invested considerable time and resources into ensuring that the Doolin Pier project is one that benefits all users of the existing pier. Once completed, this project will have significant, positive economic and social consequences for the people of North Clare and the wider region,” said county manager Tom Coughlan.

The Doolin Pier itself is expected to create more then 100 jobs locally, in the local tourism sector, once completed.

“It is regretable that this has taken as long as this to be decided upon. It is unfortuante that a project that was granted public funding around five years ago has had to wait until now to get the final go ahead, despite extensive public consultation,” said North Clare Senator, Martin Conway (FG).

“I am looking forward now to the construction of a new pier in Doolin which is going to create the bones of 100 jobs in the tourism industry – directly and indirectly.”

The pier was also welcomed be a large number of Clare politicians including Labour TD Michael McNamara, Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy and Mayor of Clare Pat Daly (FF).

THE Lahinch-based West Coast Surf Club (WCSC) say that they still have “serious reservation” about the impact that the constr uction of a new pier at Doolin will have on the local surfing waves around Crab Island.

The group, who along with the Irish Surfing Association (ISA) and a number of individual surfers, compelled Clare County Council to lodge a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with an Bord Pleanála, say they are still available to consult with the design team for the pier on ways that the impact on the waves could be minimised.

In a joint statement, the WCSC and the ISA also said that they had serious questions over safe access for surfers to the water once the new pier is completed.

“The WCSC and the ISA welcome the conclusion of the review by An Bord Pleanala which will now allow the pier development to proceed. However, serious reservations remain regarding the decision and it is unfor tunate that the board in finalising their decision have not taken on board the serious concerns and recommendations set out in sections 7.1, 9.7 and 11.0 of the An Bord Pleanala Inspector’s Report,” read the statement.

“The pier development will impact on the surf environment in the area with the wave at Ballaghaline Point destroyed and a potentially significant impact on the world famous Crab Island wave.

“The WCSC and ISA again reconfirm their availability and that of their exper t advisors to meet with Clare County Council to ensure that the impact of any design and constr uction works car ried out for the new pier facilities on the waves at Doolin can be minimised. The WCSC and the ISA further note that significant concerns remain regarding the surfer’s access as proposed.”

THE chairman and management of Shannon Airport Authority have welcomed the appointment of four new members to the board of the newly independent Shannon Airport Authority. The new appointees are US-based public policy consultant and transport expert Kathryn O’Leary Higgins, Managing Director of Clare FM and Tipp FM radio stations Liam O’Shea and Shannon Airport worker-directors Joe Buckley (Cargo & Technical Traffic Development Manager) and Kevin McCarthy (Airport Police Fire Officer).

The four new directors join existing board members, Chairman Rose Hynes, Airport Director Mary Considine and Pat Dalton, Chief Financial Officer of One51.

“I welcome these board appointments. The new directors provide us with the type of expertise and experience that is required to deliver the strategic vision for the airport, which is around achieving significant passenger growth and the development of the International Aviation Services Centre at Shannon over the next five years,” said Rose Hynes, the chairman of NewCo, the new company established to oversee the new independent Shannon Airport.

“I look forward to working with the new board members at this exciting and challenging time for Shannon Airport,” Ms Hynes added.

Shannon Chamber president Kevin Thompstone has described the new board appointments at Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) as a step nearer the completion of the change process at the airport.

“With a governance strategy now in place at SAA, plans underway to merge SAA and Shannon Development into a new entity, and the selection of a new CEO for the merged entity pending, the elements to drive the transformational change required at Shannon Airport are progressively being put in place,” he said.

“The SAA board’s complementary set of skills in public policy, transport, aviation, communications, change management, investment and planning, contributes the collective capability to chart a new future for Shannon,” the former chief executive of Shannon Development said.