Month: October 2013

CLARE students need to receive more education about the problems associated with binge drinking before they begin college.

Shannon student and Student Union president at the Limerick Institute of Technology, Chris Walsh, believes that not enough is being done in secondary school to prepare young student for the dangers of alcohol.

Hundreds of Clare students drop out of third level courses between September and December each year – with alcohol played in a major role in many of these cases.

“We have a big emphasis on the first years. They are living on their own for the first time and they can get caught up in everything that in happening around them,” Chris told The Clare People yesterday.

“First years do go a little bit mad so we do try to hit them early on with any information that we can. First years will always be a bit crazy for those first few weeks but education is a big thing.

“We try and prepare them as best we can but I think that it [information about alcohol] is something that has been left behind in secondary school. I think some of the students are coming in at 17 or 18 years of age and they haven’t had an education on the dangers of alcohol and binge drinking.

“The drinking culture does go with college to a certain extent and I think this is something that second- ary school could focus on more, so they have the information when they arrive in college.”

The Students Union at LIT run a number of information campaigns about alcohol throughout the year but often times the information comes too late for students who have not lasted past the first few months of college because of the effects of drinking.

“The information is all there, it is just a case of getting it to them at the right time. I think there is probably not a lot ground work being done in the secondary school when students are younger, before it [alcohol] becomes a big factor in their social life,” said Chris.

“We run a number of different drink aware campaigns throughout the year and we try to focus them around any big events or festivals that will be taking place on campus. We always run a campaign in the run up to RAG week for example, just to encourage people to be aware of what they are drinking.”

AN INCREASE on the price of alcohol in next week’s budget could have a very positive influence in helping to prevent many Clare youngsters from abusing alcohol.

According to David McPhillips, Community Substance Misuse Team, limiting the availability of alcohol is the only real way that problem drinking among young people can be tackled.

Mr McPhilips, who works with teenagers affected by alcohol and drug problems in the Clare area, believes that changing the binge drinking culture amongst Irish youths can only be tackled once the immediate problem is tackled through limiting access through cost.

“Price and availability are the big things. If a young person has € 10 and the price of a bottle of vodka is € 20, then they are going to have a difficulty in buying it. Price and availability are the two things that you can impact on,” he told The Clare People yesterday.

“I think cultural factors have to come later. It is hard to change a culture and create a situation where, to be hammered drunk, is not an excuse. That has to change but that is something that can only be changed person to person, and family by family and that is not an easy thing to do.

“So you have to look at what you can act on and price and availability are the two things you can effect. But how do you change a culture. If you look at consumption in Ireland I think you find that consumption has gone down [in recent years] because it is directly related to availability, price and disposable income. The issue is not overall consumption but the quantity that we drink in a single drinking session.

“Binge drinking is the big concern and always has been. It is not the overall consumption, which is probably not much more than anywhere else, it is the way that we drink.”

Early this year, Clare’s U21 AllIreland winning manager Donal Moloney revealed that measures were taken to rid Clare hurling of the damaging effects of alcohol after a number of “dangerous situations” arose with the underage teams.

“If somebody says to a player, if they are out drinking heavy then they are not getting on the team, that can have a massive effect. Those kind of brief interventions can be very positive and could help changing people’s culture towards drinking,” continued David.

TWO Clare investment properties are to go under the hammer at a massive auction in Dublin next Tuesday.

Allsop Space, which has previously included distressed Clare properties on its list, said it has taken a decision, in conjunction with several interest groups, not to sell repossessed family homes.

On October 15, what is being de- scribed, as two Clare investment properties will go on sale in the east and south of the county.

The Clare properties include a vacant three-bed terraced house in Shannon with a reserve of € 30,000 and a 10.77 acre plot of land in Collar with a reserve of € 45,000.

Allsop Space director of auctions Robert Hogan said the company had in recent weeks turned down a number of offers to sell repossessed properties for sub-prime lenders.

“The commercial properties on sale here will house the future businesses and enterprises that will support jobs, growth and investment all across Ireland. The people who will come here to buy shops, factory units and offices are the people who will work to get Ireland out of its current difficulties. Essentially the purchasers here are buying the cradles of Ireland’s future prosperity. We wish them all well and are happy that we at Allsop Space are aiding this much needed process,” he said.

“We are also really delighted to be part of what I hope is a new beginning for Irish property and how Irish property is bought and sold here. The published reserve price is key to this system and we believe that will become the gold standard for all auctions in the future. I think the large number of residential properties that are on sale here are an unequivocal vote of confidence by Irish people in our open way of doing business.”

THE tourism and hospitality sector in Clare is anxiously waiting to see if next week’s budget will retain the 9 per cent VAT rate that has boosted their business in recent times.

Ennis-based tax expert Fergal Cahill says the matter is particularly important in Clare.

“Given the nature of the local economy and the high profile of the hospitality and tourism sectors, this is a touchstone issue for the county. The foregone tax revenue is being costed at € 350 million yet the industry can ill-afford to raise prices. There is considerable pressure on the minister in both directions, leading to speculation about a compromise move to a rate between 9 per cent and 13.5 per cent.”

Other issues that will be closely watched locally will be a possible harmonisation in pension tax relief to a single rate somewhere between 30 per cent and 35 per cent, replacing the current reliefs at marginal tax rates of 20 per cent and 41 per cent.

An extension of capital gains tax exemption past the end of 2013 is also likely to feature given that with- out it NAMA will be hard pressed to dispose of its enormous property portfolio.

Cahill Taxation Services is hosting its annual budget breakfast briefing next Wednesday in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis. Over 100 business owners and civic leaders attended last year’s event to hear Fergal Cahill and his team interpret and analyse all aspects of Budget 2013.

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) advised last evening (Monday) that all patients who will be affected by today’s strike by junior doctors would already have been contacted by phone.

The health service was not able to say however how many operations, clinics and medical procedures at Ennis Hospital and the University Hospital Limerick have been cancelled as a result of the industrial action.

All appointments have been reviewed, theatre-by-theatre, clinicby-clinic, for all hospitals in the University Limerick group including Ennis Hospital, University Hospital Limerick, University Maternity Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, Croom Hospital and St John’s Hospital.

“The message we wish to give to the public is a simple one, if your procedure or operation has to be cancelled you will be contacted directly by phone call. If you do not hear from us you should present to the hospital as normal,” a spokesperson for the hospital group said.

Any patient appointment that has to be cancelled will be rescheduled he added.

Urgent care for areas such as oncology, dialysis and emergency will be provided. This means that the Emergency Department in Dooradoyle will be open and also the local injuries units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s hospitals.

More than 3,000 medical doctors will force hospitals into a Sunday standard service from 7am to midnight in an unprecedented action over working hours.

Junior doctors have warned that tomorrow’s one-day strike may not be the last as negotiation with the HSE fail to find a resolution to the issue of non-consultant doctors working shifts of more than 24 hours. Tue8October13

A HORSE, who was trapped in the River Fergus for a number of hours or even days, is recovering well after her ordeal.

The horse entered the river close to Victoria Court area on the Lahinch Road and became trapped an unable to free itself. A passerby noticed the animal and contacted the authorities who came to assist the stranded animal.

The animal could not be coaxed closer to the bank of the river, so Clare County Council’s dog warden, Frankie Coote, was forced to don his swimming gear and enter the river. After some effort the horse was rescued from the Fergus and is recovering well.

“We got a report that there was a horse stuck in the River Fergus just off the Lahinch Road, behind Victoria Court. The horse had obviously been there quite a long time it was very cold weak,” said Frankie.

“Unfortunately the horse could not be caught from the banks so I had to swim around trying to get near the horse it took just over half hour to get the rope on. Garda Colin Egan and Garda Damian Quaid were there to help and we were able to find and notify the owner.

“I would like to say thanks to everyone that helped and especially to Pat Tierney from Drumcliff stables who often would help. Thankfully the horse is now recovering well.”

This dramatic rescue comes less than a month after a healthy horse choked to death when it became entangled in a rope used to tether it on the outskirts of Ennis in September.

Indeed, horses have had a number of difficult years in the county. Horse ownership grew dramatically during the Celtic Tigers years with a number of people not able to afford to maintain their animals once the recession hit.

THE success of North Clare as Ireland’s foremost eco-tourism hotspot has been recognised with the news that a major international conference will take place in Ennistymon next week.

Following the success of a number of diverse projects including the BurrenLIFE Project and the Burren Ecotourism Network, North Clare now looks set to place itself at the head of this emerging tourism sector.

The conference will feature contributions from leading international experts on sustainable tourism including the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism (France), Solimar International (USA), Cultural Site Research and Management (USA).

The event, which is called the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark LIFE Conference, could play an active role in shaping the future of sustainable tourism, not just in Ireland, but all over the world.

“Our premise in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark is that conservation and tourism depend on each other and support each other, and it’s clear that the balance can only be achieved through a partnership between conservation, economic and social interests and in particular, between agencies and local people,” Carol Gleeson, Manager of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark LIFE Programme.

“The aim of this conference is to explore this balance and partnership by considering international best practice and by developing ideas on the type of environments and partnerships we need to create here in Ireland, and in Europe, for sustainable destinations to flourish.

“We are delighted to have very ex- perienced international and national speakers and facilitators, and we invite all conference participants to contribute to the discussion forums. The presentations and discussions will be recorded and circulated after the conference.”

Conference keynote speakers include Catalina Etcheverry Partner Relationship Manager for the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism, Dr Douglas Comer President of Cultural Site Research and Management and the CSRM Foundation and Erika Harms of Solimar International.

A special presentation will also be made to Dr Pat O’Connor, former Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, in recognition of the role he played in securing Global Geopark Status for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher region.

The conference will take place at the Falls Hotel and Spa in Ennistymon on October 17 and 18.

A JUDGE has said he will halt legal payments to solicitors from November onwards if clients fail to show up in court.

Judge Patrick Durcan told a sitting of Ennis District Court on Wednesday that from November 1 onwards he will start making orders for the non-payment of legal aid if accused persons fail to attend court dates.

Judge Durcan signalled his intent to halt some legal aid payments in September when he was critical of the high number of people not turning up in court.

On Wednesday Judge Durcan said the day is gone where Ireland can afford to fund people who show “total disregard” to institutions who are there to serve them.

His comments came as he issued a bench warrant for a man who had failed to show up for his case.

He told defence solicitor Tara Godfrey that this was the second occa- sion he had issued a bench warrant for the accused.

Ms Godfrey said it was unfair for practitioners to be penalised for their client’s absence. She said that by not paying solicitors, the court “effectively says our work is worthless”.

She told Judge Durcan she could not understand where he was coming from on the matter.

Judge Durcan said he was unhappy with the tone of Ms Godfrey’s comments, adding that he was willing to discuss his decision with a solicitor’s representative.

Judge Durcan added that the payments would only be withheld in situations where clients failed to show up. He said solicitors would still receive the initial assignment payment.

For a first court date solicitors can receive a maximum payment of up to € 201 for the first two cases in respect of one defendant, € 120.88 in relation to each subsequent case and € 50.39 for each subsequent hearing days.

RELATIONS rapidly deteriorated over a four-day period last October following a violent row at a wedding in Ennis Cathedral.

There followed a serious incident of criminal housing estate in the town centre on October 11 and an eruption of violence at the Maid of Erin three days later.

On Thursday Det John Casey of Ennis Garda Station said that while there has been no issues in the months since, gardaí believe the potential for violence remains if both sides encountered each other again.

He said a heavy Garda presence had been required anytime family members appeared in court.

The warning came as four people – Bernie McDonagh Snr (46), Christopher McDonagh (39), Bernie McDonagh Jnr (21) and a 17-year-old boy – appeared at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday. All four have pleaded guilty to offences at the Maid of Erin on October 14 (2012).

Father of 10, Bernie McDonagh Snr, with an address at Nashes Boreen, Cork, drove a car the wrong way around the roundabout, nine times, while in pursuit of a Hiace van carrying members of the Doherty family.

He pleaded guilty to driving recklessly against the flow of traffic in a manner likely to cause harm.

He also pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal damage.

Father of six Christopher McDonagh, with an address at Childers Road, Cloughleigh, has pleaded guilty to the production of an iron bar during the course of a dispute.

Bernie McDonagh Jnr, with an address at Nashes Boreen, Cork, pleaded guilty to the production of a Stanley knife during the course of a dispute.

The now 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to the production of a hatchet during the course of a dispute.

All three also pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Judge Gerard Keys said feuding of this kind “is going on and on”. “It beggars belief that this goes on,” he added.

The judge was told last week that the relationship between the families has not improved and that “tensions remain very high”.

“There are garda concerns for the potential for violent incidents,” said Detective Garda John Casey at a sitting of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday.

The warning came it as emerged that a State witness wore a stab proof vest to a sitting of Ennis District Court earlier this month at a case arising from the dispute between the families.

The families, who are connected through marriage, previously lived as neighbours and friends in the Ashline area of Ennis.

AS MANY as 30 people from Clare are taking a case against the company behind the faulty De Puy ASR hip replacement implanted in more than 3, 500 Irish patients between 2003 and 2010.

The legal firm behind the suite understands there are 170 more Clare people affected by the faulty implant and have advised them that it is not too late join the civil action.

De Puy ordered a recall of the medical device in 2010.

In a case against the company in Los Angeles, it was alleged that a Belfast surgeon emailed De Puy engineer Graham Isaac in May 2006 outlining his concerns about the device.

The New York Times also published revelations that one type of the defective devices were marketed in Europe after the US food and drug administration rejected their sale in America in 2009.

Now personal injuries law firm Peter McDonnell and Associates is holding an information meeting for Irish patients affected by the De Puy Hip Recall of 2010 on Monday week, October 21, in The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis.

Mr McDonnell, said whilst many of the 3, 500 public and private patients throughout Ireland who received the defective De Puy ASR Hip Resurfacing System – typically used in younger, more active patients – and the ASR XL Acetabular System, have already set the litigation process in motion, the vast majority of those who have been adversely affected are under the incorrect impression that the deadline, known as the Statute of Limitations, has already passed.

“Many patients whom I have spoken with throughout Ireland are under the impression that it is too late for them to submit a claim against De Puy. This, however, is not the case,” he said.

Of the 3, 516 Irish patients who received the implants, about 400 have had them replaced.