This article is from page 12 of the 2014-12-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
TWO men who drunkenly wandered onto a Shannon road in the early hours of October 19 last were described as an intoxicated “human tandem bicycle” by Judge Patrick Durcan at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.
Thomas Faulkner (30), with an address at Shannonbanks in Corbally and Martin Faulkner (21), with an address at Bay 6, Long Pavement, Watch House Cross in Limerick, both pleaded guilty to being intoxicated to such an extent as to be a danger to themselves or to others at Tullyvarraga in Shannon in the early hours of October 19, 2014.
The court heard that both men were very intoxicated at the time and wandered onto the main road.
Gardaí were alerted to the incident by a number of motorist who narrowly missed the two men as they staggered on the road.
Judge Patrick Durcan described the mens behaviour as extremely dangerous and said that they would have been like a “human tandem bicycle” for the motorists to avoid.
Thomas Faulkner also pleaded guilty to damaging a cell at Shannon Garda station later that morning.
The court heard that Thomas Faulkner, who has 26 previous convictions, ripped a mattress when incarcerated in Shannon Garda Station, rendering the bedding unusable. Both men were f ned for their be haviour with Judge Durcan warning them to stay out of Clare.
“This is not a day that the Faulkner family will be writing about in the history of their family,” he said. “Stick down in Limerick.
“Do you follow me? Stick down in Limerick.” ENNIS man Liam Griff n has been presented with The Award of Life Governor by Irish Water Safety to honour his particular dedication towards the humanitarian goal of saving life from drowning. Liam Griff n has been Water Safe ty Development Off cer (WSDO) in Clare from 1996 up until his recent retirement. He followed in the large footsteps of the late Noel Carmody, who died before his time and was regarded by his contemporaries as one of the best WSDO’s ever. Liam has maintained and then improved standards in the performance of his duties as WSDO and as a member of IWS. Clare is one of the most challenging counties in which to hold this brief, being surrounded by water on three sides. To the West is the Atlantic Ocean, and the renowned West Coast of Clare is famous for its many wonderful swimming and surf ng beach es, from Bishop’s Quarter in North Clare, to Fanore, Lahinch, Milltown Malbay, Spanish Point and Kilkee in
the South. Inland, Clare is bounded by the Shannon and Lough Derg in the East, where thousands of people enjoy these waters each year angling, sailing and cruising. We then have the Fergus and Shannon estuaries to the south which are also busy waterways with strong tidal currents enjoyed by the public.
There are many small lakes in Clare, and several other substantial rivers.
Every conceivable use is made of those waters, including angling, bathing, surf ng, diving, dolphin-watch ing, sailing, kayaking and commercial f shing. Managing public safety in these contexts is therefore a signif cant and onerous responsibility, which Liam has discharged very well over fourteen years.
Liam is held in the highest regard by his colleague WSDOs in all other local authorities, and his contributions to debates at their conference and meetings have always been renowned for his wisdom gained through experience and his endless common sense, which has carved a sensible drowning prevention strategy carefully executed by Clare County Council during that time.