This article is from page 11 of the 2008-02-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
NIALL Clarke’s family has said they are pleased with the jail term handed down last week in the US.
Clarke showed no emotion as the 33-month sentence was imposed by a federal judge last Tuesday. His father Michael and sister Michelle attended the sentencing. Niall’s mother Mary was not present, having returned home to Kilrush, after spending some time close to her son in the US over the Christmas period.
Michael Clarke, who is due to re- turn to Kilrush within the next week, said he had expected a term of ap- proximately 10 years for his son and was pleased with the length of the sentence handed down.
When Clarke was arrested initially, Suggestions of a 25-year term were made, but the Clarkes expressed re- lief that the term was not this long. The family had requested that Niall be afforded proper medical treat- ment in jail and they were also happy that the judge recognised this.
Niall’s father and sister stayed on in the US following the sentence and have had the opportunity to visit him in the jail. Michael Clarke expressed concern at not being able to get treat- ment for Niall in Ireland, for his mental illness, three years ago.
“My mother was a paranoid schizo-
phrenic,’ Mr Clarke said last Tues- day. “My earliest memories are of watching the police come and force my screaming mother into a police car so they could take her to a mental hospital. As a kid, I learned to cope.
“When I saw Niall’s behaviour, the hardest thing I’ve done as a father was to sign the form for his (invol- untary) committal,” he continued. “I didn’t do it easily. I begged for help for my son.”
Niall Clarke, however, refused to be committed and because he was not a danger to himself or others, he could not be forced to seek treatment, his father said.
Speaking outside the courthouse last week, Clarke’s solicitor Eugene O’Kelly, said, “What makes this so sad is that it could have been pre- vented. In a few short years, Niall’s gone from college to criminal, from prodigy to prison.”
Clarke briefly addressed the court before being sentenced. “I’d like to apologise to the bank tellers. I’m very sorry, he said.
OI Ea ODOM Mus VRCCOAUSD ODD OTSMmCIRb es dent while studying Computer Sci- ence at Trinity College Dublin and won a top Enterprise Ireland Student Award in 2002. As a result of his Leaving Certificate, he was awarded a scholarship by Trinity College to study mathematics.