Month: December 2013

A WOMAN who parked across two disabled parking bays in Ennis Courthouse acted in an “ignorant” and “insensitive” manner, a court has heard.

Judge Patrick Durcan was speaking as he imposed a € 750 fine on a mother of seven who was found to have illegally parked in disabled parking bays on May 22, 2013. Judge Durcan also disqualified the woman from holding a driver’s license for a period of six months, by way of ancillary order.

“Obviously this is an ignorant and insensitive person who would park across two disabled parking bays”, added Judge Durcan.

The woman was not present in court for the brief hearing. Judge Durcan said that he recently had to adjourn a case from Gort District Court to Ennis District Court to cater for a disabled person attending the court.

The woman who received the fine later appeared in court. Solicitor Tara Godfrey told Judge Durcan the woman was in a “very distressed state”. Judge Durcan refused an application to fix recognizance for an appeal as the case had already been dealt with.

Ms Godfrey said she would file a new application with the court requesting recognizance be fixed in the event of an appeal.

NELSON Mandela’s inspirational fight for freedom touched the lives of people around the world including that of a young priest from Scariff.

One of the closest friendships Mandela shared during the 18 years he spent imprisoned on Robben Island was with Fr Brendan Long, a native of Scariff who served as prison chaplain.

Aged 28, Fr Long was appointed chaplain to Robben Island in 1962 after a term at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Every Sunday, Fr Long would take a ferry from Cape Town to the island to hold services for the inmates.

As the prisoners’ beliefs varied, non-denominational services were held and confessions for Catholic inmates were heard,

In a 2003 interview, Fr Long recalled how the future President of South Africa would read aloud passages from scriptures.

“He once said to me: ‘If I were a communist I wouldn’t have read scripture,’ He read with great pride a psalm entitled ‘Let every creature praise the Lord’, Fr Long told a South African newspaper Mail and Guardian.

The article states “The chaplain’s weekly trips to Robben Island usually ended with a joke about them getting together for a party in freedom, little thinking this would ever come about. Their friendship continued after Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor prison on the mainland in 1982 and his release from detention on February 11, 1990”.

Fr Long returned to Ireland in the mid nineties but his friendship with one of world’s great Statesmen endured beyond the confines of Mandela’s captivity.

Mandela, who passed away on Thursday, received an honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland Galway in 2003.

He used the visit to Ireland to catch up with this old friend from Scariff who was one of the guests at the ceremony.

Reporting on the occasion, the Irish Independent described the “poignant scene” as Mandela greeted Fr Long.

Fr Long recalled meeting “the humble, highly intelligent, very spiritual Mandela and man with the very, very warm handshake”. Fr Long passed away in April 2009.

THE FIRST details of what location in Clare have been infected by Ash Dieback have been confirmed.

At last night meeting of Clare County Council it was confirmed that an area of forestry between Ennistymon and Lisdoonvarna has been infected with the contagious fungal disease.

It was also confirmed that three other positive cases of Ash Dieback or Chalara fraxinea have been found in trees bordering the M18 motorway.

The Department of Agriculture confirmed to the Clare People last month that a total of seven positive cases of the disease have been found in Clare. However, despite a number of inquires, the department has consistently declined to give any detail of the exact location of the outbreaks.

Yesterday’s information represents the first detailed confirmation of where outbreaks have taken place since it arrive in Ireland almost 13 months ago.

“Ash dieback disease has been found in at least three location close to motorways in Clare and in one plantation between Ennistymon and Lisdoonvarna,” a council spokesperson said yesterday.

The information was in response to a motion put forward by Cllr Brian Meaney (FF) who said that people with ash plantation in Clare were “ex- tremely concerned” about the spread of the disease.

At present there a total of 75 ash plantation through county with the average size of these plantation less than 10 hectares in size.

The number of instances of ash dieback in Clare has more than doubled over the last six months with Clare trees now the third most infected in Ireland.

According to figures obtained from the Department of Agriculture, a total of seven positive cases of ash dieback, or Chalara fraxinea, have been recorded in Clare so far this year – up from just three cases in May.

Coincidentally, strong hurling counties have, to date, been hit hardest by ash die back. The last three All Ireland hurling champions – Clare, Kilkenny and Tipperary – have the three highest instances of ash dieback in Ireland.

The Department of Agriculture has declined to give exact details of the location of infected trees in Clare and other counties. This follows confusion earlier this year when the department appeared to release contradictory information about the location of infected trees in Clare.

ENNIS Street Radio, organised by Ennis Chamber and supported by Ennis Town Council, was launched on Friday evening last at Glór Irish Music Centre.

Councillor Michael Guilfoyle of Ennis Town Council was on hand to officially launch the Street Radio, which is in its third successive year.

Councillor Guilfoyle said that Ennis Town Council were delighted to support the initiative to bring a festive atmosphere and good cheer to the streets of Ennis during the Christmas Shopping Period.

As part of the Christmas Shop Local Campaign, Ennis Town Council are providing Free Parking in public carparks on the street from 9am12pm for December until January 6. There is also free parking all day in Cloughleigh Car Park. Free parking up to 12pm daily to January 5 will be available at the following off-street and on-street locations:

Off-street – Abbey St Car Park; Bindon Street Car Park; Cornmarket Car Park; Friars Walk Car Park; Friary Car Park; Lower Market Street Car Park; Market Place Car Park, Parnell St Car Park; Woodquay Car Park (all € 1.30/1 hour or € 2.60 for 2 hour from 12:00-5:00pm).

On-Street: Abbey Street, College Road, Drumbiggle Road, Gort Road, Harmony Street, Kilrush Road, Lower Market Street, Market Place, McNamara Park, Mill Road, New Road, New Road Car Park, Newbridge Road, Simms Lane, Station Road, and Turnpike Road (normal parking rates apply after 12pm).

Speaking at the Launch of Ennis Street Radio, President of Ennis Chamber thanked Ennis Town Council for their support and that of Ennis Street Radio Ger Sweeney.

Ms Madden added that the businesses of Ennis have really come behind the Ennis Street Radio, giving away thousands of euro worth of prizes and vouchers to shoppers as a way of thanking them for their custom over the year and particularly at Christmas which is a very important time for retailers and hospitality. Businesses in Ennis will also be open on the Sundays in December as well as Late Night Opening from December 18 to 20 and on December 23.

Ennis Street Radio is sponsored by Ennis Electrical, Ozone Gym, Clean Ireland Recycling and the Irishshop. com. As well as on the streets, Ennis Street Radio can be listened to live on www.visitennis.ie or by downloading the Ennis APP.

PLANS to redevelop a large area of Ennis’s historic market area have gone out for public consultation.

Ennis Town Council is inviting submissions and observations from members of the public for the proposed development, which would involve the building of semi-enclosed spaces in Garraunakilla. Details of the planed facelift to the Market are contained in a report to members of Ennis Town Council. “The structure will continue to have multifunctional uses, housing at times a car park and at others, a market. The structure consists of two adjacent pavilions with a plexi-glass roof covering the central corridor”

In his report Town Clerk Leonard Cleary states, “The spaces adjacent the structure and in the surround- ing streets will be remodeled and upgraded to improve the pedestrian environment with new paving, lighting, drainage and street furniture and trees. This work will extend from the junction of Market Place with Barrack Street, to the junction of Market Place with Lower Drumbiggle Road; lower Drumbiggle Road from it’s junction with Market Place to its junction with Garraunakilla; Garraunkilla from it’s junction with Market Place to Lower Drumbiggle Road. This work will involve providing a shared surface area on Market Place from its junction with Barrack Street to its junction with Lower Drumbiggle Road.”

Richard Rice of Healy Partners Architects was commissioned by the Council to explore the possibility of developing covered markets in Ennis.

His report strongly recommended the northern elevation of Garraunakilla develop appropriate retail activity. It also recommended the inclusion of a covered area and a kiosk if Garraunakilla is retained as a Farmer’s Market.

The report on proposed changes to the market area of Ennis recommended major improvements to access and the appearance of the town’s main market trading area.

The Council has set a June 2014 deadline for work to start in Garraunakilla and Barrack Street. Submissions on the Garraunakilla development can be made up to and including Monday, January 6.

IT WAS a weekend of star gazing in West Clare as Stereophonics front man Kelly Jones married long time love Jakki Healy in a ceremony at St Senan’s Church Kilrush, followed by reception at the five star Lodge in Doonbeg.

International stars from the world of music, film and television travelled to the bride’s ancestral home of County Clare to celebrate her marriage to the Welsh singer.

Ms Healy’s mother hailed from Kilshanny, while her father is an Ennistymon native, with the illustrator growing up in London.

On Saturday crowds gathered out- side St Senan’s Church to wish the couple well and spot the numerous celebrities in attendance.

Among the well known faces causing excitement for the crowd were Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and The Jam’s Paul Weller.

“I was only a few feet away from Ronnie Wood, although I wasn’t sure if it was him or Rod Stewart at first, I always get them mixed up,” said one excited local woman.

“They were all really nice, waving and smiling,” said another bystander referring to guests that included members of Stereophonics, Notting Hill star Rhys Ifans, actress Anna Friel, Wayne Rooney’s wife Coleen, actor Dougray Scott, his wife actress Claire Forlani and television present- er Amanda Byram.

The guests were bussed to the Lodge Doonbeg for a five star reception, but the party didn’t stop there with many of the guests making a weekend of it in West Clare.

A post wedding party was held in Tubridy’s Bar and Restaurant in Doonbeg on Sunday with family and close friends, including many famous faces enjoying food, drink and local music provided by Patrick Roche.

Kelly Jones also took to the stage at the popular Doonbeg watering hole to sing Dakota and a special rendition of “My Girl” to his new wife.

Again the couple and their guests happily posed for photos with staff and local people as the celebrations continued into the evening.

A NORTH Clare man has been ordered fix the defects in his car after a court heard it made the same loud noise as a jet plane.

At Ennis District Court on Friday, Fiachra Roche (21), with an address at Rinamona, Kilnaboy, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle which was not fitted with an exhaust silencer or other device suitable and sufficient for reducing to a reasonable level, the noise caused by the escape of exhaust gases from the engine.

The offence is contrary to the Road Traffic (construction equipment and use of vehicle regulations) Act 1963 as amended

Garda Rosaleen O’Connor of Ennis Garda Station told the court she stopped Mr Roche’s car on the Limerick Road in Ennis on April 23, 2013.

She said the car did not have a silencer fitted to the exhaust which the court heard emitted a decibel level of 115.

Asked by Judge Patrick Durcan to explain further how loud the noise was, Garda O’Connor said it was equivalent to the sound made by a jet flyover at 1100 feet.

Defence solicitor Angela Byrne said her client was “extremely surprised” to learn his car was responsible for such a loud noise.

Ms Byrne said her client had not yet fitted a silencer due to the cost but intended doing so in the coming weeks.

Judge Durcan said it appeared there was “jet flying around Clare.”

He said he was putting the case off to next week to allow Mr Roche time to remedy the defects with his car. Addressing Mr Roche, Judge Durcan said;

“You have to get your finger out of your mouth, I want action.”

He described the offence as ‘very irritating behaviour”.

“I’m not going to have this young lad zooming around County Clare, waking the graveyards, waking the dead”, he added. Judge Durcan said the car would go through an “NCT outside the court next week.”

He told Mr Roche that if the defects are not remedied he would have to “save money for a bicycle or a pair of runners.”

The case was adjourned to Ennis District Court to December 12.

A WOMAN found by gardaí to be driving without insurance on nine separate occasions in areas of North and West Clare last year has received a suspended 12 month prison sentence.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, mother of two Caitriona Kennedy (26) was warned the sentence would be activated if she re-offended.

Ms Kennedy, with a former address at Spanish Cove, Spanish Point, Miltown Malbay, had pleaded guilty to driving without insurance on nine occasions in Miltown Malbay and Lahinch between September 21 and November 16, 2012.

The case was adjourned to allow for reports from the Probation Services and the Health Services Executive (HSE).

Defence solicitor Fiona Hehir told the court her client has not come to garda attention since the offences were committed.

Ms Hehir said her client, who is now living in Newcastle West, had been investigated by the HSE who “found nothing”. “She is a good mother”, added Ms Hehir.

Ms Hehir continued, “She knows she will not be behind the wheel of a car for a long time. She’s not someone I think will re-offend. The penny has dropped.”

The court heard Ms Kennedy now uses public transport to visit family in Clare.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he wanted to hear from the gardaí who stopped Ms Kennedy.

Garda John Reidy of the Clare Garda Division Traffic Corp said, “On the first time I met her, there was a child standing between the seats. It was reckless.”

Garda Brian O’Callaghan said in his interaction with Ms Kennedy, she showed “total disregard” for the traffic laws.

Judge Patrick Durcan said that while the accused has not been in trouble since last November, he could impose prison sentences totaling 18 months.

Judge Durcan imposed sentences totaling 12 months and disqualified Ms Kennedy from holding a driver’s license for eight years.

He suspended the sentences on condition Ms Kennedy enter into a bond to be of good behaviour. A JUDGE has said he needs to see a medical report before deciding whether to accept jurisdiction of a case where it is alleged a man assaulted a woman in the Tulla Road area of Ennis last month. The 28-year-old man appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday, charged with assault causing harm to a woman in the Tulla Road area of Ennis on November 16. The case was adjourned to allow for directions to issue from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the DPP had consented to summary disposal of the case. He said the alleged incident was regarded as being at the lower end of Section 3 assaults. Insp Kennedy said it was his understanding the alleged victim was not hospitalised. However Judge Durcan said he had some knowledge of the case and he required medical evidence before making a decision on jurisdiction. Judge Durcan also acceded to a request from the State to amend the accused’s bail conditions. Judge Durcan said the State had been granted liberty to re-enter the case as part of the accusued’s bail conditions. He said he wanted the case to be carefully monitored. The court heard both parties are affected by severe learning difficulties. Judge Durcan said the question of whether he should preside over any hearing the case would also have to be

addressed. A GALWAY man has been told he can look forward to a “few weeks walking and cycling” after losing his driver’s license for illegally parking in a disabled parking space.

At Ennis District Court on Friday, Kevin Maughan (21), with an address at Coole Haven, Gort, Co Galway, received a € 100 fine and was disqualified from holding a driver’s license for two months. This was after the court heard Mr Maughan parked illegally in a disabled parking bay at Lifford, Ennis on May 22, 2013. Mr Maughan was initially fined but says he did not receive the fine notice because he was serving a prison sentence at the time.

Asked by Judge Patrick Durcan to explain his behaviour on the day, Mr Maughan said, “It was busy on the day. I was in a bit of rush. I’m really sorry.”

The court heard the father of two is currently serving a prison sentence. Urging the court to be lenient, defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client had been extremely upfront in his attitude to the charge.

Judge Patrick Durcan said Mr Maughan had “shown a complete lack of thought.” Imposing a nominal € 100 fine, Judge Durcan said he was aware Mr Maughan was a father of two young children and that Christmas was approaching. He also disqualified Mr Maughan from holding a driver’s license for a period of two months. “When he comes out of prison, he’ll have a few weeks walking and cycling before he’s authorised to drive again,” he added.

A JUDGE has said he does not accept an Ennis woman accused of breaching a protection order taken out by her ex-boyfriend suffers from a “serious psychiatric problem”.

Rather Judge Patrick Durcan said he believes Siobhan Downes (34) acted out of a “bold determination to pursue” the alleged victim.

Judge Durcan was speaking at Ennis District Court on Wednesday where Ms Downes appeared charged with breaching a protection order on October 3 by allegedly going to her former boyfriend’s home.

Ms Downes previously avoided a jail sentence after pleading guilty in September to six separate breaches of a protection order originally imposed by the court in February. At the time Ms Downes agreed to be admitted for psychiatric treatment.

The court heard Ms Downes’ former partner secured the order after the breakdown of the couple’s relationship.

In October Judge Durcan warned Ms Downes as to her future behaviour and ordered her to give a sworn undertaking that she would not make contact with the alleged injured party or make enquiries of him.

On Wednesday, Judge Durcan said he was “not happy” with a report prepared by the Probation Services

Addressing the former airhostess, Judge Durcan said; “I do not believe you are cooperating with the Probation Services. I believe there is an element of foxing as far as you are concerned.”

Judge Durcan said he did not accept there is a “serious psychiatric problem” as far as Ms Downes is concerned.

“I believe there is a bold determination on your part to pursue the victim”, he added.

Defence solicitor Turlough Herbert told the court that a psychiatrist’s report is still awaited for his client.

Judge Durcan warned the accused that if she did not comply 100% with the requirements of the Probation Services he would finalise matters with a prison sentence.

He said that a time of limited resources, State agencies could not afford to waste time trying to work with people who fail to engage with services and attend appointments.

“You’d want to shake up and wake up or I’ll wake you up”, he said.

Judge Durcan remanded Ms Downes on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on February 5, 2014 when he said the case would be finalized.

He granted liberty to the State to re-enter the cases should Ms Downes breach conditions of her bail. “The codding has to stop”, he added.

Onlookers in Kilrush were staggered early on Tuesday morning when local gardaí assisted by Criminal Assets Bureau, Regional Support Unit, and Special Detective Units from Galway, the National Criminal Intelligence Unit as well as officials from Revenue, Social Welfare and Clare County Council staged a series of raids on properties in Kilrush. A number of premises were searchged and a total of eleven people were arrested following the searches. Those arrested were later released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The garda operation had commenced at 7am on the Tuesday, traditionally Children’s Allowance Day in Kilrush.

According to locals in Kilrush, gardaí will find it very difficult to convince people to testify in any cases brought before the courts as a result of this operation.

“There is no doubt about it,” said The Clare People source in Kilrush, “but they won’t get anyone in Kilrush to testify against these people. Even the people who were beaten up and the person who got his hand broken by moneylenders won’t testify. It just won’t happen.”

The investigation, which has been ongoing for several months, centres around complaints received from various individuals and is focused on those suspected of being engaged in unlicensed money lending.