Month: April 2013

THERE was been a heavy visible Garda presence in a Clarecastle estate over the the Easter weekend as armed units from Limerick monitored the troublespot.

The gardaí were responding to the latest incident that involves one house in the estate, which culminated in a fire early on Good Friday morning. No-one was injured in the fire which was attended by local fire services and no real damage was reported.

The suspicious fire, which gardaí are investigating is the latest in a series of incidents that has greatly concerned local residents, incidents that have seen a house and car damaged on more than one occasion. There have also been reports of men armed with slash hooks and other weapons around the house in question on different occasions over the past four weeks.

“It is ridiculous what’s going on,” a concerned resident who called the offices of The Clare People , told us: “One or two nights cars have driven into this lovely quiet estate with the lights off and men with balaclavas got out and smashed windows and attacked a car,” she said.

Gardaí have acknowledged there is an ongoing issue in the estate and have confirmed that they are keeping a presence in the area to ensure the situation doesn’t escalate.

“The windows of this house have been smashed in a couple of times now and windscreens of cars have been done as well. There are children in the house and someone is going to be seriously hurt if this is allowed to go on,” the caller told us.

One neighbour who also didn’t want to be identified said that the house has been subject to a number of late night attacks over the past few months.

“There are children in this house and on more than one occasion we have all been woken up by screaming as a group of men arrived to the house. They are in and out in minutes, breaking windows and shouting and roaring. We’ve called the Guards and in fairness they are here in no time, but the men are gone as quick,” she said.

“The windows in this house and the door is no sooner replaced than there’s another incident, always at night. I’ve seen the weapons. We are definitely frightened this doesn’t get rightly out of hand, someone could be killed,” she added.

Over the Easter weekend there were a number of Garda cars parked in the estate at various times and an emergency response unit from Limerick also parked at the entrance to the estate.

The incidents are not thought to be related to another ongoing feud within the town of Ennis.

DELAYS in processing social welfare payments are causing major hardship for Clare families, a meeting has heard.

The Clare Citizen’s Advice Centre has said that many people seeking making social welfare claims have to wait up to nine months before receiving payments.

Ann Marie O’Reilly, Advisor for the Citizens Information Centre, was speaking last month at a seminar hosted by Citizen Information Centre and Alliance of Social Protection of Recipients.

The event at the Temple Gate hotel highlighted the impact debt is having on Clare households.

The meeting heard that the centre raised the issue with the Government in a pre-budget submission last year.

Ms O’Reilly said, “Everyone knows the waiting list for all benefits are extensive. There is no quick fix for a benefit. No matter what benefit you go for, you’re going to be waiting. Carers allowance, disability allowance, invalidity pension, you’re talking possibly nine months plus. It’s going to be at least six to eight weeks before you even get a text or a letter stating that. We’ve people coming in after six or eight weeks asking, ‘Will you ring them?’, ‘How long more will it take?’. You just have to wait. The delays in processing benefits are causing major hardship.”

Ms O’Reilly said the majority of queries to the centre in Clare relate to social welfare payments.

She continued, “In 2007 the majority of our queries were social welfare. That was it. In 2010 we had a significant increase in queries about redundancies, constructive dismissal, minimum wage, everything. It was a complete change for us. It’s been changing over the years. The main thing I find in particular in Clare is that it is all social welfare queries at the moment. You might get one or two queries about something else but at the moment it’s social welfare, employment and debt. That seems to be a major factor. We seem to be referring a lot more people to MABS.”

The meeting, chaired by Ennis man Dermot Hayes, also heard from Professor Kathleen Lynch, University College Dublin, and Siobhan O’Donghue, Director of Migrant Rights Centre.

THE pressure of household and personal debt is creating major mental health problems for people, a meeting in Ennis has heard.

Denis Corbett, co-ordinator of the Clare Money and Advice Budgeting Service (MABS), said the service is observing first hand the impact debt of having on families and individuals. He said, “I have seen the stresses and strains that indebtedness and the lack of money has on a person’s mental health. We are going to have to start putting resources into this. It is a problem.”

He was speaking last month at a seminar hosted by Citizen Information Centre and Alliance of Social Protection of Recipients.

The event at the Temple Gate hotel highlighted the impact debt is having on Clare households.

Mr Corbett also said that there has to be an emphasis in education on responsible budgeting

He explained, “In MABS we are talking about people drowning in a river of debt and we are there at the very end pulling people out. But somewhere upstream there’s been a hole in the ditch and people have been falling into it. What we need from an educational aspect is to block that hole in the ditch.”

Mr Corbett told the meeting that the profile of people seeking help from MABS has changed drastically over the past 10 years.

He said, “What we saw happening in the last number of years in this country was that it was indeed a financial tsunami that hit us. The thing about being hit with tsunami is that by the time it arrived at our doorstep and hit our homes, it started way back and way out at sea.”

He added, “At the start typically the profile of the person we would see coming into us would be someone with a difficulty with a loan, a credit card or a moneylender. That was the sort of profile of that we were dealing with. That all changed and the next thing we were dealing with people with mortgage problems.”

Mr Corbett said that while new personal insolvency legislation “isn’t ideal, it is a start”.

He added, “At least we have this now. We didn’t have anything like this in Ireland before. I’m hopeful that it will start to provide solutions and make things much clearer because what we need is stability.”

Liam O’Connell, a solicitor now working with MABS, said 10 years ago it was “virtually unheard” of that a person would have their home repossessed.

He added, “In 2007 there was only 50 houses in the entire country repossessed. That went up again in 2008. It went up to 96 properties from the mainstream lenders. Since then we know it’s gotten worse. It’s deteriorated. In the last quarter of 2012 there were 238 cases issued as regards repossessions. There were 178 cases concluded and 11 orders granted. That’s part of the mortgage crisis. It is a very, very significant problem.”

THE manager of the St Francis Credit Union in Ennis has warned that financial pressures are driving people into the arms of moneylenders.

Louie Fay says people are being “pushed to extremes” and forced to pay exorbitant borrowing rates.

Mr Fay was speaking last month at a seminar hosted by Citizens Information Centre and Alliance of Social Protection of Recipients.

The event at the Temple Gate hotel highlighted the impact debt is having on Clare households.

Mr Fay said, “For me the push is to push people towards moneylenders. I use the word legal but I would use it with a question mark because I don’t believe there is such a thing as a legal moneylender. For example, € 500 over six months, a person will pay € 150 interest. Whereas if they go up to the Credit Union they pay € 15 interest. And that’s what happening. MABS will verify this. People are being pushed out to extremes.”

He also critcised the lending practices of some banks. Mr Fay said, “I had somebody come in to me lately. This lady had a job and wasn’t earning big money. She was saving € 500 a month. When I looked at her pay packet, I asked her how she could save € 500 a month. She said, “What I do is, I save first and then I live.” I thought that’s pretty serious. She had been saving € 500 for 60 months. That works out at € 30,000 saved over five-year period. She needed to get some work done on her house that was going to cost € 55,000. She went to the bank and said I need to borrow € 25,000 on top of my € 30,000. They took the application. She nev- er thought about this idea that she would be refused. It never crossed her mind. When she went back to pick up the money, she found that the bank had approved € 5,000.” He continued, “I thought about it afterwards, the bank didn’t refuse the loan. They offered her € 5,000. So in the stats that the banks are throwing at us saying they are lending, that (situation) did not come under refusal, it came under the customer not taking the money.” Mr Fay told the seminar that tough new regulations and the consolidation of smaller credit unions would have a big impact on the sector. The meeting heard that lending at St Francis Credit Union has fallen from € 20.3m in 2008 to € 11.8m in 2012. He said, “2013 is probably going to be worse than that. The issue is demand for lending has dropped. People have lost confidence. People are not confident about their jobs, they are not secure in doing what they want to do. Mr Fay said credit unions also had to shoulder some of the burden for fueling a lending market that caused the economy to crash. He said, “We’ve got to put up our hands because we were part of the problem, as credit unions we were part of the problem. We bought into some of that bad lending. Some credit unions did, some credit unions didn’t. We need to learn from what has happened in the last five years.”

A TEENAGER who suffered years of horrific neglect hopes her “voice will finally be heard” after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) last week decided to appeal the leniency of a sentence imposed on her mother.

In February, the 38-year-old woman was given a suspended four-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to eight counts of neglect.

That prompted her eldest daughter to urge the DPP to appeal the sentence handed down by the Circuit Criminal Court.

Last week the DPP signaled its intent to appeal the sentence at the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Clare-based solicitor Patrick Moylan, who was instructed by the 17 year old to write a submission to the DPP, says the girl is happy with the decision.

Mr Moylan says, “She is very pleased that the DPP have taken into account her appeal and that the submission has been successful. She felt she wasn’t heard in the Circuit Court and she hopes now that, in the Court of Criminal Appeal, her voice will finally be heard.”

Last month Mr Moylan sent a letter to the Office of the DPP requesting that the case be appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeal “on the basis that the sentence handed down by Judge Carroll Moran was unduly lenient given the horrific nature of the neglect in this case”.

The appeal also highlighted a previous occasion that the woman had been before the courts.

The woman was initially sentenced to six months in prison but on appeal the presiding Circuit Court Judge gave the woman the benefit of the probation act.

Mr Moylan wrote that the “circumstances of this previous matter should have been brought to Judge Moran’s attention” prior to sentence.

The offences, which relate to seven children, took place on dates unknown between March 2001 and July 2010 in two areas of Clare. The eldest child is now 17 while the youngest child is now 4. The woman cannot be named for legal reasons. Her former partner has also pleaded guilty to eight counts of child neglect.

Harrowing details of the children’s “appalling” upbringing were heard as evidence against the woman was outlined in court in February.

The children often went without food and clean clothes. The court heard how a fridge and freezer in the family home were locked with a bun- gee cord.

In her victim impact statement, the eldest child recalled how she was left to look after her prematurely born baby sister when her parents went out drinking. She stated that she and her siblings were subjected to mental and physical abuse. The girl said she was beaten if the child cried at night. She described the couple as “vermin”.

Reports from HSE and Probation Services expressed the view that alcohol was a contributory factor to the abuse and neglect.

In sentencing Judge Moran said these same reports stressed the opinion that alcohol was not alone responsible.

In light of woman having stayed off alcohol and her guilty plea, Judge Moran said it would not be right to impose an immediate jail term. It could take up to 12 months before the appeal is heard.

THE legendary West Clare athlete Willie Keane was hailed as a hero of Clare and all Ireland on Easter Sunday night as the Stella Maris Hotel in Kilkee played host to a special tribute night in his honour.

Over 200 people turned out at the celebratory function staged in the Kilkee man’s honour that doubled up as a fundraising night for the West Clare Cancer Centre in the town.

On the night friends, former teammates and rivals from around the county and around the country joined together to pay homage to the Kilkee colossus Keane whose remarkable athletics career saw him win 56 AllIreland titles between 1969 and ’79.

“Willie Keane was the king,” said former international cross-country colleague Mick Priest from Meath, “and as far as I am concerned he still is the king who did so much for NACA athletics in his career,” he added.

Sixty-three-year-old Keane was interviewed on the night by RTÉ GAA correspondent Marty Morrissey and in a wideranging discussion that was interspersed with contributions from the floor he recalled a stellar career in which he landed national titles in every distance on the track from 1500 to 10,000 metres as well as being cross-country runners of his or any generation.

“Every organisation needs a hero,” said former rival Colm Rennicks. “We didn’t have to look any farther when we got Willie Keane. That man is a legend. When you’re in the presence of greatness, you should recognise it. I knew I was in the presence of greatness the first time I met him. I still think it – it hasn’t changed,” he added.

World renowned physical therapist, Gerard Hartman revealed how it was the Keane who inspired to get involved in athletics – a journey that saw him become a scholarship student in America, multiple triathlon champion and physio to such athletic luminaries such as Paul Radcliffe and Sonia O’Sullivan among others as he has treated 61 Olympic medal winners and 47 World Champions.

“I used to see this man on Kilkee beach in an An Clár vest going up down, up down, up down. I didn’t who he was,” revealed Hartmann. “Willie was professional even though he didn’t know he was – it was his application that helped him win 56 national titles.

“Willie Keane was a great inspiration to us all – when I saw him on the beach in 1972 and I was inspired. I started running and became national triathlon champion seven times and been to six Olympic Games as a physical therapist.

“I wonder how many people have been inspired by Willie Keane – I’m sure up the country they’re all around the country. You were an inspiration to me. It’s a phenomenal tribute when you’re acclaimed by your own people. The parish and the people around you who value what you did are here tonight to respect years and years of application, dedication and success,” he added.

Among the other contributors on the night included Willie Keane’s wife Marie, Laurance Larkin of St John’s AC, former Clare NACA chairman Tommy McCarthy, Ger Keane on behalf of the Keane family, Paddy McDonnell who co-hosted the event with Marty Morrissey, chief Kevin Shaloo and Willie McGrath of the West Clare Cancer Centre.

PLANS for the development of a community-owned pier is in stalemate, as a cash-strapped local authority does not have the funds to pay for a report that would allow the community to access Government funding.

Doonbeg Community Development and the Doonbeg Fisherman’s Association have spend years working on plans to develop Doonbeg Pier but have now been told a change in the planning process and the inability of the council to pay for a € 40,000 EPA report means their plans of developing tourism and the fishing industry can go no further.

The Doonbeg Pier was constructed in 1995, and was later extended by 35 metres.

Hundred thousand euro plans were then drawn up that would extend the capacity of the pier to allow boats to moor at high and low tide.

These plans to dredge the inner harbour, build a protective breakwater, which would protect Doonmore Tower House, reclaim the shore space and construct a larger slip way received planning approval from Clare County Council in 2007.

Shortly afterwards a foreshore lease application was submitted to the Department of the Environment but no conclusion was reached.

While the lease application gathered dust in government offices planning legislation changed, which meant that the planning permission granted in 2007 became null and void.

It was then recommended that the planning process would have to begin again.

In a letter to TDs senior engineer with Clare County Council Tom Tiernan said, “A new application would more than likely have to be submitted to An Bord Pleanala and there are significant costs involved with the preparation of such an application and the fee which would have to be paid in association with same – € 40,000 to € 50,000 is my best estimate. Clare County Council doesn’t have resources at its disposal to pursue this.”

An allocation in 2008 of € 525,000 from the Minister for Agriculture for the project also cannot be allocated until full planning permission is granted.

Tommy Commerford, PRO of the Doonbeg Fishermans Association, said that the current Minister or Agriculture, Simon Covney, has also reassured the community of his financial support for the project, but the council must first pay for the EPA report.

Michael Flanagan, Chairman of the Doonbeg Development Company, said the development of the pier would provide a new source of income for fishermen. There is currently just one fisherman working full time from the pier that once provided a livelihood for half a dozen local families.

The developed pier would also create extra jobs by stimulating the promotion of sea angling, leisure trips to view the cliff scenery off Doonbeg and help promote Doonbeg as an angling centre.

“In order for businesses like that to flourish we need to have the facilities,” said Mr Flanagan.

THOSE of us who have endured years of the “hilarious” comments of “You’re Claire and you are from Clare” or other derivatives of this hilarity, can now have our ultimate revenge; there is a full weekend dedicated to us and we get lots of free stuff and discounts for a week.

Claires and Clares from all over the world are to gather in the Banner County for the weekend of June 23 as part of the ‘Welcoming Claire to County Clare, Ireland’.

Not only will the Claire/Clares be welcomed to their name sake county with a special discount card for businesses around the county, they will also be part of a world record attempt – to gather the most people of the same name in the same area.

The Mohammads of Dubai currently hold the record of 1,096, but they have yet to gather in a place called Mohammad making the Clare record attempt unique.

The quirky Gathering event is not just about encouraging support in numbers for all the Claire’s who have endured years of unfunny amateur comments, it is also a chance to promote the county on a worldwide stage.

One family from North America have already been in touch with organisers to say they will be bringing their daughter Claire to the event.

They want her first trip on as plane to land on Clare ground.

A group from Manchester are also planning to travel to support their friend Clare and benefit from the many discounts being provided through Ennis Chamber of Com- merce.

Leading the project is the Clare Volunteer Centre.

“You don’t have to be from County Clare, you may not have even heard of County Clare but you may know someone whose name is synonymous with being ‘clear, bright and famous’”, explained Sharon Meaney, Manager of the Clare Volunteer Centre.

“We hope it will encourage people to come to Clare. It will showcase the county and all it has to offer,” she said.

A special Youtube video – featuring Clare Daly from Clare – was also launched last week to promote the event and can be seen on http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=MIyn2jCxw6 w&feature=youtu.be. Information is also available on facebook and twitter. Tue2April13

A MAN who head-butted a garda after an all night drinking session has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service.

Ennis Garda Colin Egan sustained a chipped tooth after he was assaulted by John Nihill (25) at the Hawthorns Estate at 9am on New Year’s Day.

Mr Nihill, with an address at 25 the Hawthorns, Limerick Road, Ennis pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court on Wednesday to assault causing harm.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of cannabis.

Inspector John Galvin told the court that gardai were called to a disturbance at the house on the morning of New Year’s Day.

He said Mr Nihill was very aggressive and appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant.

Insp Galvin said the accused jabbed his finger at Garda Egan, telling him, “I’ll do you if you come out from behind that uniform.”

Mr Nihill was arrested. As he was being led away from the house, the court heard, Mr Nihill lunged forward and head butted Garda Egan in the face.

Gardaí used pepper spray to restrain Mr Nihill.

Insp Galvin said Garda Egan suffered a chipped tooth but was back to work within a day or two of the incident.

Gardaí searched the house and found cannabis valued at € 40, that Mr Nihill said belonged to him.

Defence solicitor John Casey said his client had been drinking since 6pm on New Years Eve and had stayed up all night playing poker with friends.

An ambulance attended the house after Mr Nihill’s partner injured her foot in a fall, the court heard.

Mr Casey said his client, a father of one, became agitated when gardaí arrived at the house.

He said Mr Nihill has “no recollec tion” of the incident.

Mr Casey continued, “He normally has the demeanor of an extremely quite person…He aplogises fully and frankly for his behaviour on that morning. He has no explanation for it.”

Mr Nihill hasn’t drunk alcohol since the incident, the court heard.

Judge Patrick Durcan said gardaí had been subject to Mr Nihill’s intimidatory nature on the night.

He said he was of the view that the accused should receive a prison sentence. Judge Durcan adjourned the case for a brief period to consider sentence.

When the case resumed, Judge Durcan said he had considered the matter. He said freedom was the most important right a person has.

He said he has “no time whatsoever” for people who treat gardaí with disdain and who assault and injure gardaí.

Judge Durcan imposed a 100-hour community service order in lieu of three months in prison.

He adjourned sentencing on the drugs charge for a year. He told Mr Nihill to co-operate fully with the Probation Services.

Judge Durcan added, “In my view what you did on that night was very wrong.”

BOOKS of Evidence have been served on two men alleged to have damaged a family home in Ennis last year.

Michael Molloy (20) and Patrick McCarthy (19) are both charged with committing criminal damage at Westbourne Court, Watery Road, Ennis on October 28.

It is alleged that both accused did without lawful excuse damage two car windows, two glass door panels and a 51” flat screen TV and glass stand intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.

Both men appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Molloy has an address at 2 Ballymaley Halting Site, Ennis.

Mr McCarthy has addresses at 2 Ballaghboy, Quin Road, Ennis.

The court heard Mr McCarthy has a new address at An Páirc Bruach na Abhainn, Ennis.

Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of serving the books of evidence on solicitors for each accused.

Inspector John Galvin said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented to both men being returned for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

Legal aid was approved for Tara Godfrey, solicitor for Mr McCarthy and one Junior Counsel.

Legal aid was approved for Daragh Hassett, solicitor for Mr Molloy, and one Junior Counsel.

Judge Patrick Durcan delivered the alibi warning.

Both accused were remanded on continuing bail. THREE men charged in connection with disturbances that allegedly occurred at a wedding in Ennis last year have had their cases adjourned for a month. Three men – Jimmy Doherty (39), John Doherty (47) and Simon Doherty (41) – have been charged with offences arising out of an incident that occurred at Ennis Cathedral, O’Connell Street, on October 11 (2012). Jimmy Doherty, with an address at 8 Maiville, Kilrush Road Ennis, and Simon Doherty, with an address at The Cottage, Granard Road, Edgeworthstown, Longford, are both charged with the assault of John McDonagh.

They are also charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. John Doherty, with an address at 60 Abbeyville, Ennis, is charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. John Doherty is also charged with assault causing harm to John McDonagh.

In February the court was told that the alleged incident occurred during a wedding ceremony. Judge Durcan declined jurisdiction, saying the nature of the alleged injuries and the allegation that a religious service was disrupted were seriously aggravating factors. The case was to be referred back to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). On Wednesday, Inspector John Galvin told the court that more time was required for DPP’s directions. He requested the cases be adjourned until April 24. Defence solicitor John Casey consented to the adjournment. The men were remanded on continuing bail to appear again in court on April 24.