Month: September 2013

THE Killaloe Diocese has just announced an ambitious new blueprint for the development of the diocese over the next seven years – but has side-stepped a number of controversial subjects such as woman priests and allowing priests to marry.

The new Pastoral Plan for the Killaloe Diocese, which is entitled Builders of Hope, was officially launched by Bishop Kieran O’Reilly in Ennis last Friday.

The plan was devised following an extensive “listening” process among the grass roots members of the diocese, which took place over the past two years.

The process involved the setting of 12 cluster groups, including more than 700 lay Catholics and members of the clergy, in different parts of the diocese. These groups have been meeting since October of 2011, debating and suggesting changes that could be introduced.

The new Diocesan Plan mentions a number of ambitious changes for the Killaloe Diocese including an increased role for women and lay people, an open dialogue with other faiths in the diocese and developing a more open decision-making structures for the diocese.

However, a number of the more controvertial suggestions put forward by the clusters, including an end to clerical celibacy and the ordination of female priests have been omitted from the final document.

According to the information received from the Killaloe Diocese, 11 of the 12 cluster groups who took part in the report indicated that allowing priests to marry and ordaining women into ministries was a priority issues.

Despite this strong grassroots mandate for including these issues in the Building of Hope report, neither issue is mentioned directly.

In addition to the cluster meeting, the diocese also conducted two on-line surveys, which included the participation of over 1,000 young people. Indeed, increasing the participation of young people in the activities of the diocese forms a central part of the new Pastoral Plan, as does issues surround child protection.

IT MUST be the Government’s objective to “extract” alcohol from the experience of sport in Ireland, a meeting has heard. That was the view expressed by Minister for State for Primary Care, Alex White, at a meeting in Ennis on Thursday night.

The Labour Party TD outlined a number of measures including the introduction of minimum unit pric- ing aimed at reducing societal alcohol consumption.

Minister White told the meeting in the Temple Gate Hotel that the drinks industry spent € 39 million on advertising in Ireland last year.

On the issue of alcohol sponsorship of major sporting events, Minister White said,

“I believe that alcohol involvement in sport and the way it is so embedded on the one hand, and the pursuit of excellence in sporting perform- ance on the other, the two are just manifestly incompatible. I regard it as counter intuitive that you should have such a close relationship between alcohol and sport. I think it has to be addressed. I think our objective must be to extract alcohol from the sporting experience.”

He said from a broader healthcare perspective, it is imperative Ireland “rethinks” its relationship with alcohol.

He said, “Alcohol was responsible for at least 88 deaths every month in 2008. Alcohol was a contributory factor in half of all suicides and in deliberate self-harm. Alcohol cost an estimated € 3.4 billion in 2007 to the healthcare and justice system to the economy. And one in four deaths of young men were estimated to be due to alcohol in 2008.”

The meeting, which was held to mobilise discussion on alcohol awareness, was chaired by Clare Labour TD, Michael McNamara.

IRISH society is in denial about the impact of alcohol, a situation that is making hard to promote a message of positive mental health, a leading mid-west based psychotherapist has warned.

Carmel McMahon says that alcohol has become too engrained in Irish life. She explains, “We have to realise that alcohol is a depressant. It leads to more anxiety and more depression. Yet when we have a stressful event, or a joyful day, like the match on Sunday, what we all need is a few pints or a few glasses of wine. But it’s very hard to tell people that’s the least thing we need at that moment.

“It’s too engrained in our society and when they want to point out it’s not okay to have a drink, that message is very hard to get across. It’s very hard to promote positive mental health when that attitude exists.”

Ms McMahon was speaking at a public discussion on alcohol aware ness, organised by the Labour Party in Clare, on Thursday night.

She said, “We laugh at somebody who got drunk. I can tell you it is no laughing matter if you work with people and you see their lives ruined, very young lives,” she added

Ennis journalist and author Brian O’Connell, who has written about his own problems with alcohol, told the meeting that Ireland’s problematic attitude to drinking is affecting young people.

“I often say that if I’d grown up in Maryland or Massachusetts, a lot of people from the age of 19 or 20 would’ve been coming to me saying, ‘Do you think you need to knock this thing on the head?’ Binge drinking is celebrated in Ireland. In many societies it’s an absolute no-no.”

He added, “I talk in schools a lot but I kind of think it’s a waste of time to go into secondary schools and talk to kids about alcohol. I’ve come to form that view because without talking to their peers, parents and their social group they meet at weekends, I’m not sure its going to make any difference me talking to a group of 14 and 15 year olds. The pressures on them predominantly are to engage dysfunctionally with alcohol.”

COACHES and managers have “huge power” to change attitudes towards alcohol among teenagers, a meeting has heard.

All-Ireland under 21 winning joint manager Donal Moloney told a public meeting in Ennis that coaches have a greater responsibility to players beyond training.

He explained, “Some of these coaches and managers are sometimes the most important people in that teenager’s life in that point in time. They will actually listen. I don’t know if many coaches realise that and utilise the power that they actually have. They can have a massive impact on a player’s outlook and a player’s behaviour.”

Since 2010, Moloney and joint manager Gerry O’Connor have guided Clare to six Munster and All-Ireland titles at minor and under 21, a level of success unparalleled in the county’s hurling history.

Speaking in the Temple Gate Hotel at a meeting organised by the Labour Party, Moloney told how educating players on the harmful effects of alcohol has become a central component in preparing Clare teams.

He said, “When Davy Fitzgerald came back to Clare he brought that philosophy with him as well. He’s not anti-drinking but in terms of how that senior team is managed, behaviour and lifestyle are the elemental building blocks of any sporting career. There are two aspects: from a playing perspective it’s a non-runner but even outside of playing, in terms of their social behaviour on an on- going basis beyond hurling, it is also critical that they understand and are educated about the impacts of it.”

He continued, “That’s the focus we have. We can put the evidence in front of players. We can contrast (performance) when they were drinking and when they weren’t drinking. It’s quite vivid. It just doesn’t affect you athletically in terms of your stamina, it affects decision-making and their ability to train. We try to educate them as much as possible. We use science as well as common sense.”

AN ENNIS man who used a curtain pole to attack a Garda car “like a knight of old in armour” has been sentenced to seven months in prison.

Damien Sherlock (21) smashed the car after attempting to gain entry to a house in Childer’s Road, Cloughleigh, on January 25 (2013).

Gardaí were called to the scene after a woman and her three-year-old child fled the house. Details of the incident were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Mr Sherlock, with an address at Dromard, Lahinch Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to criminal damage, un- lawful possession of a curtain pole and trespass in a manner likely to cause fear. Detective Garda Claire O’ Shaughnessy was the garda who attended the scene on the night. She told the court she saw Mr Sherlock smash the windows of the unmarked and empty Garda patrol car. She said the accused hit the car so hard, the pole shattered to pieces.

Mr Sherlock fled the scene but was subsequently arrested and made admissions. He also pleaded guilty to breaking a window in the woman’s home on the morning of January 26.

He previously pleaded guilty to five burglaries targeting small businesses in Ennis town centre between August 11 and August 15. Quantities of cash, laptops, electronic cigarettes and a hairstraightener were taken from premises in O’ Connell Street, Parnell Street, Chapel Lane and Market Square.

Mr Sherlock has 51 previous convictions. Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client had been drinking heavily on the night he attacked the Garda car. He said Mr Sherlock comes from a large family and that his life was full of “chaos and addictions”. The court heard that Mr Sherlock’s elder brother, Jimmy Sherlock, recently died because of drug abuse.

Mr Hassett added, “The sad reality of Mr Sherlock’s life is that if he keeps go- ing with the same behaviour, he will end up dead as well.” Judge Patrick Durcan said that though Mr Sherlock was dealt a hand of cards none of us would wish on our own children, this did not entitle him to commit crime.

He said Mr Sherlock had attacked a “squad car like a knight of old in armour”. Of the burglaries, Judge Durcan said main streets are tottering on the brink because “businesses cannot take the type of hit that the likes of Damien Sherlock perpetrate against them”. Taking into account Mr Sherlock’s problems with addiction, Judge Durcan sentenced him to a total of seven months in prison.

A DISTRICT Court judge told a defendant that while he sympathised with the fact he suffered from a condition whose symptoms included severe bouts of fatigue, he could not use the rare medical condition as an excuse to break the law.

Martin Haugh of Farrihy, Kilkee, suffers from Addison’s Disease.

On the morning of July 29, 2013, he was found lying in the foetal position on the grassy margins on the Miltown Malbay Road out of Kilkee by Garda John Cahill.

The court heard he was very intoxicated and the gardaí had difficulty getting him to stand. They took him into custody for his own safety.

A bag of cannabis resin worth an estimated € 40 was also found in Mr Haugh’s pocket.

Supt Seamus Nolan told the court that gardaí accepted this was for his own personal use.

The 24 year-old was charged with being intoxicated in a public place under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order Act) 1994 and unlawful possession of a controlled drug – cannabis resin contrary to Section 3 and Section 27 (as amended by Section 6) of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Pleading guilty to the charges, solicitor for the defendant Joe Chambers said his client suffered from “the top level” of Addison’s Disease and “one of the symptoms is he can be overcome by fatigue”.

He said Mr Haugh was out in Kilkee and was to stay with his brother. As he couldn’t get into his brother’s house he decided to walk home, got tired, and lay down on the side of the road. Mr Chambers told the court that his client uses cannabis on occasion to relieve the symptoms of his condition.

“It is not acceptable to the law, but science would accept it to get such relief,” he added.

“He is not a troublemaker. He lives at home with his family and can’t work because of his condition.”

He previously received the probation act from the court, because of his condition.

“I accept he suffers from the disease but I am forming the view that he is using it as an excuse. This is not an excuse to break public order or drug offences,” said residing judge Patrick Durcan.

“He is not a violent person by any means,” said Mr Chambers.

“Should the gardaí on this fine morning come along and poke him with a stick and say he was okay, the superintendent would be here with a team of counsel as part of an inquiry. Addison’s Disease or not your client must abide with the law,” said Judge Durcan.

The judge advised Mr Haugh to seek pain relief from a medical practitioner. He adjourned the case until March 18. THE CASE against a 19-year-old has been adjourned for a probation report, after he pleased guilty to obstructing a garda in the course of his duty and possession of cannabis at Kilrush District Court on Tuesday. The court heard that Alan Clohessy, of 9A Willow Green, Kilrush tried to evade a garda warrant on June 26, 2013 by running inside his house and locking the door. Supt Seamus Nolan told the court that gardaí forced their way into the defendant’s room, at which point he threw an object out the window. The object was not recovered. In the bedroom gardaí found four cannabis cigarette butt ends. Solicitor for the defence Gearóid Williams said that since the incident a bill of € 217 was issued for repair work on the door by Clare County Council.He told the court that Mr Clohessy lives at home with his brother, mother and her partner and is currently unemployed. Judge Patrick Durcan said while he has no issue dealing with the Section 6 offence [drug possession], the second charge was “a complete affront to gardaí and society.” “This is not just a drug matter but an offence against gardaí,” he said. Judge Durcan said he would take into consideration that the defendant had no previous convictions and he was “slow to hand out sentence that would have repercussions down the line.” He asked for a probation report and remanded Mr Clohessy on continuing bail until November 12.

A BODY piercing artist has been fined € 1000 after pleading guilty to careless driving in Shannon earlier this year.

Douglas Ashton (26) was pursued by a garda car after driving in a figure S fashion on the N19 in April.

Mr Ashton, with an address at Ballycaseymore, Shannon, had previously been charged with driving in a manner that was dangerous to public on the N19 near Smithstown, Shan- non on April 12 (2013).

The case originally came before Ennis District Court in July when Judge Patrick Durcan refused a defence application to reduce the charge to one of careless driving.

The court heard Mr Ashton would plead guilty to a reduced charge.

At the time Garda Noel O’Rourke of Shannon Garda Station told the court that at five minutes past midnight he observed Mr Ashton drive in a figure S fashion at high speed across two lanes of the N19.

Garda O’Rourke said during his pursuit of the car down the 1.8km stretch of road, his garda patrol car reached a speed of 100km.

Judge Durcan refused to reduce the charge and indicated that another Judge would hear the case.

On Wednesday, defence solicitor John Casey urged Judge Durcan to reconsider his decision.

Mr Casey told the court that his client was in the process of selling the car at the time. He said Mr Ashton accelerated too quickly on the night.

Mr Casey said his client, a body piercer, needed his new car for work and family reasons. He urged the court not to disqualify his client from driving. After hearing a summary of the facts, Judge Durcan agreed to reduce the charge.

“There was no endangerment to any third party. The only danger was to the accused man himself.”

Judge Durcan imposed a fine of € 1000 for careless driving. He also fined Mr Ashton € 250 for not having a valid NCT. A 23- Y EA R – OLD man has been given 100 hours community service in lieu of two months in prison, for beaching the peace, and had a drug charge adjourned until March. Ben Farrelly, St Bridgits, Kildimo, Kilrush, Co. Clare was out with his partner in Kilrush on May 24, when he got involved in an incident with other unnamed people. Solicitor for the defence Patrick Moylan told the court that his client was verbally abused by others on the evening in question. “When the gardaí arrived they scampered and my client stayed with his girlfriend. It wasn’t that he was drinking and he was out looking for trouble, trouble came looking for him,” he said. Mr Moylan said,“Alcohol doesn’t mix well with him.” “When he drank he drank to excess, he nowfeels he can moderate his drink.” The court also heard that on November 10, 2012 when gardaí called to Mr Farrelly’s house they found cannabis plant “in a healthy state of growth” and evidence of cultivation in his room. Mr Moynihan said that cannabis was an issue for Mr Farrelly and that he was addicted. He suggested that he engage with a counsellor that comes to Kilrush on a regular basis. Judge Patrick Durcan adjoined the drug charges until March 18, 2014 and placed Mr Farrelly under the supervision of the probation officer. He sentenced himto 100 hours of community service in lieu of two months in prison on the Section 6 Public Order offence and took into consideration an intoxication charge under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. A MA N CH A R GED with robbing a shopworker at knifepoint in Ennis earlier this month is due back in court tomorrow. The 30-year-old woman was on her way to work when she was allegedly approached by a man allegedly carrying a nine-inch kitchen knife, Ennis District Court heard onWednesday. It is alleged that WilliamDonovan (20) grabbed the woman’s handbag before running away. Mr Donovan, with an address at Clancy Park, Ennis, appeared in Court onWednesday. He is charged robbing a handbag containing a purse, cash and a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone. He is also charged with the production of an article, a nine-inch blade, while committing robbery. The alleged offences are alleged to have occurred at Clon Road, Ennis on September 1. Garda Claire McDermott of Ennis Garda Station told the court that the woman was on her way to work when the alleged robbery occurred. Gardaí opposed solicitorTara Godfrey’s bail application on behalf of her client. Separately, Mr Donovan is also charged with the theft of clothes, keys, a mobile phone and cash fromDough beach, Lahinch on August 28. Judge Patrick Durcan refused bail. He remanded Mr Donovan in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on September 18. A 71- Y EA R – OLD

A MAN allegedly told his neighbours he would “burn them out of the house” during a disturbance at a housing estate in Ennis earlier this year.

Details of the incident at Dun na hInse, Ennis on May 9 were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that gardaí were called to a dispute between residents of two houses.

The court heard Shane Constable (25) was in one of the houses shouting at his neighbour.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that Mr Constable shouted that he was “going to burn them out of the house.”

Gardaí arrested the accused to defuse the situation, the court heard.

Mr Constable is charged with two public order offences – intoxication and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court that there was nothing in the garda statements to say that her client had threatened to burn down the house.

Ms Godfrey said Mr Constable had not been charged with making a threat and that the house was not burned down.

Judge Patrick Durcan said that if the allegation was true, it was a serious matter “reminiscent of what happened with the Black and Tans in this part of the country.”

He adjourned the case to allow the arresting garda give evidence in the case.

The case was adjourned for mention to tomorrow (September 18).

A GRANDMOTHER blew a whistle and claimed to be a whistleblower on war crimes as Ennis District Court was disrupted for a brief period on Wednesday.

Anti-war activist Margaretta Darcy (79) shouted, “there are US warplanes at Shannon. The Irish Government is guilty of complicity and if you are against war, say ‘no to war’.” during the brief hearing.

Ms Darcy, with an address at St Bridget’s Place, Woodquay, Galway, and her co-accused, Niall Farrell (60), received loud cheers and a round of applause from supporters following their actions.

Earlier, Mr Farrell, had been ordered to leave the courtroom after making a number of statements.

Mr Farrell, with an address at Ballynacloghy, Maree, Galway, claimed “murder is being committed at Shan- non Airport” and that there is “blood” on the hands of all Irish people.

There was an eruption of laughter after Mr Farrell pulled on a rubber mask of US President Barrack Obama as he was escorted from the courtroom by gardaí.

Both Ms Darcy and M Farrell wore orange Guantanamo style jumpsuits.

Both accused are charged with two offences under the Air Navigation and Transport Act.

It is alleged that Mr Farrell and Ms Darcy on October 7 (2012) and September 1 (2013) interfered with the proper use of Shannon Airport by going on the runway without permission.

Outlining the alleged facts, Insp Kennedy said the pair was discovered by airport security on the runway.

The accused were conveyed to the terminal building, charged and brought before Limerick District Court on September 2.

Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction. Insp Kennedy said the pair had declined legal representation. He said the State would transmit all papers relating to the alleged offences to the accused.

Mr Farrell asked Judge Durcan to strike out the charges, claiming, “these were not actual crimes, it was an act of humanity.”

At a court appearance in July, court was adjourned for a few minutes after Ms Darcy, who walks with the aid of a walking frame, jumped up on a bench and demanded her case be heard.

On Wednesday, Judge Durcan adjourned the cases to October 2. The accused were accompanied by a large group of supporters including a sketch artist.

Judge Durcan ordered that one man put down a sign reading “War Is The Crime”.

LOCK UP your houses and have a neighbour keep an eye on your property when going to the All-Ireland hurling final replay is the message from gardaí and community alert groups alike as criminals target an empty county on September 28th.

Following a spate of burglaries and attempted break-ins all over Clare on September 8th, the date of a drawn final, Banner supporters are being warned in advance to secure their property before heading to Croke Park.

A number of premises, including one closed public house, was targeted while the Banner took on Cork in Croke Park nine days ago.

Recent incidents have shown that criminals are now taking note of local events as well as hurling matches to strike at houses and premises.

As a result communities in parts of Clare are being forced to arrange for neighbours to police their property when they attend weddings and funerals – as organised groups of burglars have started targeting major community events.

According to the Spancilhill/Clooney Community Alert Group, members are working around the clock trying to keep their area safe.

The group have recently agreed a partnership with Barefield Community Alert in an effort to pool resources and help maintain cover.

“There is no doubt in my mind that these criminals are targeting specific events in specific areas. Weddings, funerals, big matches – anything that they can find out about in the paper,” said Joe Corbett of the Spancilhill/Clooney Community Alert Group.

“When my mother died last year I had to arrange for two people to look after the property while the funeral was on. People are living in fear. It used to be the case that you could lock the door behind you and be confident that your property would be safe, but that is not the case anymore. A number of places were targetted during the the All-Ireland final, which is a really horrible thing for people to come home to.”

His comments come as gardaí investigate a spate of burglaries across Clare.

In the seven days between September 6 and 15, gardaí recorded multiple burglaries in areas such as Mullagh, Crusheen, Corofin, Kilmaley, Ennis and Killaloe.

Tinerana House, the 19th century mansion believed to be owned by Euromillions winner Dolores McNamara, was among the properties hit by criminals while all taps, light fittings and a copper cylinder were stolen from one Killaloe property.

Crime Prevention Officer, Sgt Joe Downey, is encouraging people attending major events to leave someone behind to look after property.

He added, “If that isn’t possible then hopefully they would have alarms or some form of electronic surveillance at the house.”