Month: July 2013

A SECOND person in a week has been hospitalised by Dusty the Dolphin – who injured a swimmer in Doolin late on Sunday evening, July 28.

Despite repeated warning by local organisations, as well as Clare County Council, a number of people continue to swim close to the 14year-old dolphin who has taken up residence at Doolin Pier.

Clare County Council life guards stationed at Doolin Pier have taken to raising the “red flag” – which indicates that it is not safe to swim when Dusty is in the area. Despite this, people continue to swim close to the dolphin with reports of people even covering Dusty’s blowhole and pulling her fins.

The latest incident took place late on Sunday evening when a female swimmer was charged as she left the water after a swim at about 10pm.

The dolphin is believed to have struck the woman in the kidney, knocking her over and leaving her winded.

The woman received medical treated at the scene by the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coast Guard and was taken by ambulance to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick for treatment.

Her injuries were not serious but she was described as being badly bruised and shocked by the incident.

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) have put up post- ers in the area recommending that people do not swim with Dusty. The posters were distribute to premises in Doolin last Thursday and additions posters are also being placed on the Doolin ferries.

“IWDG acknowledges that many people have had a fantastic encounter with Dusty and have built up a personal relationship with the dolphin. However IWDG is very concerned that many visitors, especially in the summer, do not recognise the signals that Dusty sends out when she is not happy with their behaviour,” said a spokesperson.

“Ignoring such signs or behaving inappropriately has led on a number of occasions to aggressive interactions with some people being severly injured. If this continues, it may lead to a fatality and then there will be strong pressure to remove or destroy the dolphin.

“If you really are concerned about Dusty, you will not swim with her or at least if you do will show her the respect a wild dolphin is entitled to.”

THE family of murdered Clare woman Emer O’Loughlin will take part in a new documentary into her death which will be shown tomorrow evening, July 30.

Hopes are high that an increase in attention for the cold case may lead to fresh information about the whereabouts of John Griffin, who the Gardaí have been tracking for more than eight years.

A number of Emer’s family were interviewed for the ‘Cracking Crime’ programme in April of this year when they came together to mark the eight anniversary of Emer’s tragic death.

It is hoped that a fresh spotlight being shined on the case may lead to new leads emerging for the Gardaí and Interpol. Indeed, there has been a great deal of attention for the case on social media in recent weeks.

A new facebook group entitled “Emer O’Loughlin – Help Catch Her Killer” was established earlier this years. Membership of the group has swelled from 600 people in early June to 2,400 now.

A number of previously unreleased images of John Griffin have also been circulated in recent week – with a particular emphasis on mainland Europe – where Mr Griffin is believed to currently reside.

Ennistymon woman Emer O’Loughlin lost her life in a mobile home in Tubber in April 8, 2005. A number of attempts have been made over the years to track down the chief suspect, John Griffin, with Interpol releasing a photograph and a description him in early 2011.

Despite a number of leads and suspected sighting of Mr Griffin in Europe, the official search has done cold in recent years.

Her body was found in the burnedout neighbouring mobile home and was only identified following DNA testing. The chief suspect in the case, John Griffin, was tracked to the Aran Island where Gardaí believe he tried to fake his own suicide before he fled the country.

Emer’s case will be featured in the first episode of ‘Cracking Crime’, which will be screened on RTÉ 1 on Tuesday, July 30, at 9.35pm.

A SECOND major drugs seizure in the space of a month has been uncovered by a Custom’s dog at Shannon Airport.

Herbal cannabis, estimated to be worth € 50,000, was discovered at the airport on Tuesday July 23. Custom’s officers seized the drugs which were discovered in freight that arrived at the airport.

The plans to import drugs through Shannon Airport was foiled by a sniffer dog named Ollie. A spokesperson for the Office of the Revenue Commissioners confirmed that an investgation into the matter is continuing.

“Officers from Revenue’s Customs Service at Shannon Airport, yesterday (23/07/13), eized a quantity of herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of € 50,000.”

The spokesperson continued, “Following another positive indication by Customs dog, Ollie, Revenue officials discovered the drugs concealed in a consignment of freight that arrived into Shannon from Spain. Investigations are continuing.”

It is the second time in the space of four weeks that Ollie has foiled an attempted drugs importation plot at Shannon Airport.

Earlier this month Customs Officers seized herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of € 300,000 following a positive indication by Ollie.

The drugs were concealed in freight that arrived into Shannon.

The drugs were hidden in a consignment of freight that was thought to be destined for an address in Munster. Gardaí from Shannon Garda Station were assisting officers from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners with their investigation into the drugs shipment.

A MAN questioned in connection with the alleged rape and false imprisonment of two women in Dublin last year spent some of his time living in Clare.

The man was identified in a weekend report as being the subject of a massive Garda surveillance for the previous 12 months because it was suspected he posed a threat to women. He has also previously been questioned in connection with an armed robbery.

The man moved between addresses in Clare and Dublin. He has been charged with a separate offence in Clare.

Yesterday, a senior Garda spokesperson confirmed that the man was a “person of interest” who had been stopped by gardaí.

However he said gardaí in Clare had not been engaged in an ongoing surveillance operation of the man who is in his forties.

The man is no longer thought to be in the country.

The offence alleged to have been committed in Clare is of a non-violent or sexual nature.

The man was named and pictured in The Sunday World Newspaper on Sunday last.

BALLINRUAN’S Róisín Rodgers will carry the hopes of the county with her as she travels to Tipperary to take part in the International Miss Macra Competition this weekend.

Róisín, who is a keen traditional musician, hope to raise the profile of Macra Na Feirme in Clare through the competition – and who knows, maybe even bring the big prize back to the Banner.

Macra has undergone a renaissance in Clare in recent years with three new clubs forming across the county. The newest of these clubs is Róisín’s own club in Ennis, which is not yet even a year old.

“I am so proud to represent the county, especially as a someone who is relatively new to Macra. Ennis has been very, very active as a club in recent months and it has been brilliant for me to be involve in the club and not as Clare’s Miss Macra,” she said.

“It is a massive undertaking to represent Clare so I am a little bit nervous. It is only natural, I think, when you enter a competition like this. I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a little nervous.”

Róisín is a keen musician and is about to start a Masters in Music at UL. In the future she would like to play music during the summer, work as a primary school teacher in the winter and also publish a book about the Kilfenora Céilí Band.

“I love the club and I love my role as PRO. I really do want promote the club to the people of Ennis and to Macra as a whole in Clare. It is a real honour to be chosen as Miss Macra for Clare this year and I really do want to promote the work of Macra to everyone in the county,” she said.

“Ennis Macra is such a new club that there is a great opportunity now for people to get involved and really shape the club. The one thing that I keep telling people is that Macra is not just about farming – you can cater Macra to suit your own needs.

“Sometimes people think that to be involved in Macra you need to come from a farming background, but that is not the case. Each Macra club can change to suit the needs of the members.”

Róisín would like to thank everyone who has supported her including her sponsors including Sean O’Keaffe School of Motoring, Banner Equestrian Toonagh, Chez Marie Boutique, the G Nine 9 Boutique, Pat McCarthy Shoes and D2 Print.

CLARE County Council water service staff will continue to be employed by the Clare local authority while acting as an agent for Irish Water.

A spokesperson for the council said that there will be no redundancies among the 113 people employed in the department.

Last week the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government announced that the region’s Irish Water office will be based in Limerick, leaving questions as to what would happen the Clare council’s water section.

A spokesperson for the council confirmed to The Cla re People that Clare County Council staff will act as agents for the new national body, while remaining in the employment of the council under a 12-year service agreement between both parties.

Clare County Council will then be compensated for costs by Irish Water.

It is also expected that some staff from local authorities will move to Irish Water regional offices once the new jobs have been clarified, a process that could take up to 18 months.

Clare County Council will officially sign off as the county’s water utility provider in 2014, and the re- sponsibility passed to Irish Water.

The office servicing Clare will be based in Limerick City and will be one of three southern regional offices with two others being located in Mallow in County Cork and another in Kilkenny City.

Meanwhile the Clare water staff have begun a countywide survey of an estimated 31,000 domestic water connections in the county ahead of the Government’s introduction of water charges.

However a council official said the local authority staff would not require access to private property while conducting their assessment of water connections.

LATE night beach parties are being blamed for causing the lions share of the littering which has blighted the counties beaches over the past month. Yesterday’s meeting of Clare’s Joint Policing Committee heard that these late night parties have become more common in recent years and are increasingly difficult for Clare County Council and the Gardaí to police.

The meeting also heard that prosecutions for litter offenses are currently difficult to follow up on in Clare, with Clare County Council’s four beach litter wardens currently focused on cautioning and education, rather than bringing prosecutions.

A spokesperson from Clare County Council also highlighted illegal household dumping from people in mobile homes and holiday home as a growing problem.

“The main problem that we are having on the beaches this year is excessive littering. This is a problem not just in Clare but all over the country,” said a spokesperson from Clare County Council.

“We have provided additional resources at all of our beaches. We have provided extra bins at our beaches and promenades and we have a good crew in operation.

“A large source of littering takes place late at night, with late night beach parties and rubbish from fast food outlets. While this behaviour is regrettable, there is little that we can do to stop it. We also have a problem this year with people in holiday homes and caravans who are using the public bins. If you are staying in a holiday home, there should be a facility there for disposing of rubbish.

“We can fine people but the severity of the fine depends on the severity of the offense. But a lot of our focus is on education and caution, and not on fines.”

North Clare senator Martin Conway (FG) called for a name and shame policy to be introduced for serial offenders.

“I have already called for the fines to be increased. I realise that might require a direction from the minister. But I also think that if someone is caught littering more than once, there should be a name and shame policy. I don’t know what it is in our society that makes people do this,” he said.

County manager Tom Coughlan, confirmed that Clare County Council had wanted to introduce a name and shame policy but were instructed by the Department of the Environment not to go ahead with it.

A WELL-KNOWN garda is swapping the highways and byways of County Clare for a new assignment in Cyprus.

Garda Martin O’Brien, a member of the Clare Garda Traffic Corps, has been chosen to participate in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Garda O’Brien is one of just a handful of Irish gardaí chosen to serve with the UN. His duties will include monitoring a buffer zone between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. He departs Clare in August for a 12-month posting in Cyprus.

The father of three has been a member of An Garda Síochána for 31 years in Clare. He has worked for 26 years in the Traffic Corps, serving in Ennis and Killaloe.

Garda O’Brien is well known in Clare soccer circles having refereed in the League of Ireland for 16 years. He still officiates at junior and adult soccer matches in Clare.

Garda O’Brien says he will miss life in Ireland but is looking forward to a new challenge in Cyprus. “Its something new. I’ll miss refereeing in Clare. Its something I really enjoy.”

At Ennis District Court on Friday Judge Patrick Durcan paid tribute to Garda O’Brien. “The fact that Garda O’Brien has been chosen to serve in Cyprus is reflective of his high qualities as a Garda,” he said

Speaking yesterday, Chief Supt of the Clare Garda Division, John Kerin also praised Garda O’Brien’s achievement. He said, “This is a nationwide selection process. The fact that he has been selected shows the high esteem in which Martin is held.”

UNFICYP was originally set up by the Security Council in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. After the hostilities of 1974, the council has mandated the Force to perform certain additional functions. In the absence of a political settlement to the Cyprus problem, UNFICYP has remained on the island to supervise ceasefire lines, maintain a buffer zone, undertake humanitarian activities and support the good offices mission of the Secretary-General. In 1989 the Government of the day passed the Garda Síochána Act which permitted for the first time, members of An Garda Síochána to participate with the United Nations Civilian Police Component on Overseas missions.

UNDERGROUND hunting rings are believed to be behind the reintroduction of herds of wild boar into rural County Clare. Three separate herds of wild boar have been discovered by authorities in forestry areas in the east and south of the county – with a total of 24 animals being captured from the wild. The most recent herd was discovered last week in the Sixmilebridge area where two adults and two young boar were discovered.

“These can be very dangerous animals – especially if they turn wild. The difficulty is that they breed like hell and while these animals are relatively sedate, one sow could have 13 or 14 offspring, and these offspring would be wild,” Clare’s ISPCA Warden, Frankie Coote told The Clare People this week.

Earlier this year, 15 animals were discovered in the Scariff area and a further five were discovered in a separate location in East Clare.

According to Frankie Coote, the animals are likely being released so that their offspring can be hunted for sport.

“I believe that they are being introduced by people who have an interest in coming back again and shooting the animals,” he said. ContinuedonPage14

IARNRÓD Éireann has been told to come up with a plan to fix the Ennis to Athenry section of the Western Rail Corridor.

Despite an overall increase of 7 per cent on the numbers travelling between Limerick and Galway last year – the section of the track between Ennis and Athenry continues to struggle.

The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Alan Kelly (FG), last week told Iarnród Éireann to get the service back on track. This is the second time in recent months that Minister Kelly has publicly criticised the service.

Campaign group West-On-Track also criticised the rail operator last week for not making the route attractive for commuters. Spokesperson for West On Track, Colmán Ó’Raghaillagh, said that a number of long standing issues – such as online booking – has not yet been addressed.

He also called for a more intigrated connection between the rail and bus timetable and proposed the idea that people could travel from Galway and Limerick to Lahinch and the Cliffs of Moher using a combined rail/bus ticket.

“We should have proper inter-city trains [on the route], and a lot of people don’t find it attractive by travelling in older trains,” he said.

“Online booking is still not available after our proposals. It seems odd that you cannot go online in Limerick and book online to save yourself a tenner.

Mr Ó’Raghaillagh also criticised the way that passenger numbers on the service are calculated.

“The measurement of this increase has always been problematic. If you get on the train, on the LimerickGalway line, and get out at Ennis, they won’t count your seat. Likewise, if I get on in Galway and I get out at Athenry, I am also not counted,” he said.

Minister Kelly last week ruled out any move to close the section of track between Ennis and Athenry – which was reopened in 2010.

“The numbers aren’t what we would like. I have spoken to the chief executive of Irish Rail with a view to looking at various different strategies to encourage more to use the line,” he said.