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A MAN who bought replicas of ri- fles in a toyshop in Ennis has been convicted of two charges, relating to their possession.

John Hehir (28), of Davit Terrace, Cloughleigh, Ennis, pleaded guilty to two offences, arising out of an in- cident on May 4 last year.

Garda Michelle Holian told Ennis District Court that she received con- fidential information that the accused was in possession of unlicenced air rifles, air guns and ammunition.

She obtained a warrant and went to his house. She found two air rifles, two air handguns and two different types of ammunition.

“They are replicas of rifles. They

are air rifles and are illegal under the Firearms Act. Mr Hehir told me he purchased them in a shop in town,” Sr HCO MO elommee- KOE: B

The accused told the garda he would go to Dromore Woods with friends and would shoot at static tar- gets, like drink cans.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client fully co-operated with ee KOrNE

She said he bought the items in a toy shop and that he used the guns for sport.

“Technically, it is illegal but my cli- ent didn’t mean any harm by it,” she SrHKOE

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a fine of €100. He refused a request to apply the Probation Act.

TWO Clare developers have told Clare County Council that searches for a protected butterfly on lands they intend to develop in Clarecastle turned up blank.

Developers Sean Lyne and Nowel Connellan said that the Marsh Fritil- lary butterfly was sought out during fieldwork on the site. The council had put the development on hold, cit- ing concerns about the EU protected butterfly.

The developers state in a submis- sion to the council that, “a special visit was made to look for flying adults on a sunny day in June when the insects were seen elsewhere in Clare. None was found.

‘The butterfly did occur on the site of the Clareabbey link road and cat- erpillars were translocated in 2004 before constructed began. The new site is SOO m to the north of the link road, but south of the Bunnow River. The development will not have any impact on the survival of the species there.”

The submission also reveals that the developers have agreed to pay landowner, Michael Lyons, €1.175

million for a 2.35 acres site at Ske- hanagh, Clarecastle.

They still intend to construct a link road to the Ennis by-pass that will facilitate businesses from the Quin Road area.

The council told the developers last year that it wasn’t favourably dis- posed towards the development, due to the location of the proposed link road.

However, the developers have stat- ed that: “The applicant is the major- ity land owner within the area and will accommodate almost half of the length of the road on his own land and that the applicant has agreement with other land owners within the area in place that allows the delivery of the full length of the link between Quin Road and Skehanagh rounda- xe) Ul a

“This allows the council to avoid a lengthy compulsory purchase or- der process in order to obtain the land and provides the opportunity to submit a Part 8 Roads and Services application, which could speed the delivery of the link road.”

A decision is due on the application later this year.

HOUSE buyers are being warned to be wary when shopping around for a mortgage after a study revealed that more than one in three independent brokers dealt with less than half the lending institutions.

37 per cent of Ireland’s independent mortgage brokers deal with less than half of the mortgage lenders in the market, according findings from a re- cent survey conducted by Lansdowne market research on behalf of the mortgage division of IFG.

According to Iggy Duffy, Mortgage

Manager of IFG Mortgages, Ennis, “Mortgage brokers with less than 6 agencies out of 13 are describing themselves as ‘independent’ when, in fact, they are restricted in the choices they can offer a potential mortgage customer. Not all brokers have the capacity to offer a comprehensive

choice to their clients. Many have a restricted range of lenders and there- fore product offerings”.

He added that on the upside, “in- creased competition in the mortgage market has afforded consumers the benefit of a wider variety of products from which to choose.”

“The 6 ECB interest rate hikes in 2006 and late 2005 have impacted heavily on mortgage holders, first time buyers in particular,’ Duffy added.

The figures show that 40 per cent of mortgage applicants now choose to deal with a mortgage broker.

A TOTAL of 104 houses and apart- ments in private estates throughout the county have been made available at an average discount of €60,000 to first time buyers over the past few years.

These included housing units in Ennis, Clarecastle, Newmarket-on- Fergus, Quin, Sixmilebridge, Shan- non and Kilrush. The market price averaged at €225,000 while the special discounted price averaged alow nee eF

Cllr. Joe Arkins, Cathaoirleach of the Council’s Strategic Policy Com- mittee for Housing and Social Serv- ices, says that the concept of afford-

able housing has really taken off in Clare. It is anticipated that an addi- tional 300 units will be made avail- able in the next three years at various locations throughout the county.

“I would encourage people with incomes of € 35,000 – € 40,000 to avail of this excellent opportunity to own their own homes. Having regard to the fact that the average house price in Clare during 2006 was € 263,000, the possibility of purchas- ing a quality home at a discounted rate of between 20% and 25% should be seriously considered”.

Commenting on the scheme, one developer stated that his firm has pro- vided over 20 housing units in Ennis. “We found the scheme to very effec-

tive and easy to administer.Without it many people would be deprived of the opportunity of owning their own home”.

David Timlin, Director of Serv- ices, Housing & Social Policy, said the investment in housing services had never been greater. “The com- mitment of the government in mak- ing available a wide range of options allows local authorities to focus on a comprehensive set of actions to 1m- prove housing availability to develop sustainable communities.”

At present there are affordable homes available in Ennis, Clare-

castle, Crusheen, Lisdoonvarna, Kildysart, Miltown Malbay and Shannon.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern’s deci- sion to hold the forthcoming general

election on Thurs- day will alienate hundreds of young Clare voters accord- ing to a member of Clare County Coun- oe

Ennistymon Cllr WE Taabe) Conway (FG) lashed the Taoiseach over sug- gestions that this summer’s election would not take place on a Friday.

“This is going to

have a massive effect on young peo- ple from Clare and other counties who want to travel home to vote,’ said Conway. “The last two general elections and the last two local and European — Elec- tions were held on a Friday. Why is this election so Che Knol “This is a cyni- cal attempt by a government _ that now realises that it has failed the young people of Ireland to deny deCejeeMm Oe Comm Urea OL mmKO vote,” he said.

MORE than 45,000 passengers trav- elled through Shannon Airport over the course of the Easter Bank Holi- day weekend, according to airport management.

But none of them found their way to one of the most scenic areas in the county, because of a lack of direc- tional signs, it is claimed.

Around 300 flights landed and took off over the weekend. This was an in- crease of 10 per cent on last year.

“With more than 50 destinations on offer, the European market generated the largest volume of passengers this Easter, as many people take advan- tage of the long weekend to soak up some sun or fit in a short city break”, an airport spokeswoman said.

But Teresa Browne of the East

Clare Tourism group said that the Lough Derg end of the county would see no benefit from increased num- bers of visitors to the county unless the council erected the directional signs which they promised.

‘“There’s not one sign for east Clare, not even for Lough Derg. North Clare and west Clare have got their signs from what we hear and the council is still talking about putting a design

team in place for East Clare. There’s no hope that they will be ready for this season. That’s another season gone with nothing being done’, she SrHKOe

The East Clare Tourism secretary said that the NRA was responsible for signs on national roads, but that “ours are non-national roads. The re- sponsibility for this lies firmly with the council. I’m delighted to hear

there are increased numbers of pas- sengers moving through Shannon but none of them are going to be able to find their way here. There’s nothing to say we even exist.”

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the airport authority said that passengers needed to remember to give them- selves plenty of time to comply with check-in and security regulations at Shannon.

THE people of Clare strongly be- lieve that one issue will dominate the general election – 47.49 per cent of those polled last week expressed the view that health 1s the single biggest factor.

While Shannon Airport, jobs, im- migration and farming all featured among the main concerns for people in Clare, health stands out head and shoulders above any other issue.

Ongoing disquiet over the future of Ennis General Hospital, allied to the escalation of the nurses’ dispute this week, are to the forefront of the minds of the electorate.

The publication of the Hanly report has created major negative reaction over the past four years and a failure by the government to show definite commitment to the future of Ennis General Hospital has created bad taste in Clare.

The Ennis Hospital Development Committee has highlighted its con- cerns on a continuous basis and has pledged to continue its fight for the future of the hospital. They want to ensure the hospital retains full status and also want to preserve the a & e unit.

Chairman of the committee, Pea- dar McNamara said he would expect that more than 47 per cent of people would list health as their chief con- cern.

“T would like to see the figure high- er,’ he said.

“T expect that any alternative ad- ministration would be an improve- ment. The government has been in power for 10 years. The Hanly report has been there for four years. The three Fianna Fail Oireachtas mem- bers have been ineffective. The pro- posal to close the a & e units in Ennis and Nenagh is ridiculous,” he said.

“The Health Service in many re- spects has been riddled with faults and difficulties. The Hanly Report was published without the electorate being asked and Ennis was to lose its a & e,’ said Mr McNamara.

Two consultancy groups – Team- work and Horwath – are currently compiling reports on hospitals in the mid-west, but Mr McNamara does not believe that these will be com- pleted until after the General Elec- wove

Meanwhile, former Labour TD Dr Moosajee Bhamjee believes that the figure of 47 per cent of people – who list health as their main bone of con- tention – is accurate.

“47 per cent is a good indication of health being the primary issue. If Ennis General Hospital closes, there would be more concern. Maybe some Fianna Fail supporters are be-

ing indoctrinated to think there is no health issue,” he said.

“The Hanly report is still the pri- mary report and that is not good for Ennis General Hospital,’ said Dr Bhamjee, who is a consultant psy- chiatrist.

He said he believes that Fianna Fail could lose a seat, solely on the hospi- tal issue, if the electorate assess their performance seriously enough.

“If people look at it in a serious way, that Fianna Fail is not serious about retaining Ennis General as an acute hospital for the people to stay overnight, over the next couple of years, they can lose a seat,’ he said.

that the third phase of the scheme is not expected to be complete until “late Slubeeeetoi uae “Notwithstanding contractual is- sues Clare County Council accepts that remaining sections of the project will be behind schedule,” he said. He said that section two – the Clare Road to Lahinch Road section — 1S now expected to be open in early

summer 2007. Section 3 — the Kil- low interchange to Clare Road – is now expected to open in late summer 2007 and this represents the entire scheme.

The original completion date for the scheme was April 11 but this was revised in negotiations between the council and the contractor GAMA Construction to allow for the open- ing of the eastern portion of the by- pass ahead of schedule.

Negotiations have continued be- tween the two with the council now resigned to a completion date in Au- AUB

The 97-page contract for the Ennis

bypass project states that if the con- tractor does not complete the con- tract on time, the contractor will pay delay damages to the council for not completing the bypass on schedule.

However, it is not known if the re- cent negotiations between the coun- cil and GAMA have resulted in the contract being revised to remove the threat of penalties.

The contract allows for an exten- sion of time of completion of the works, but only under certain cir- cumstances.

Acceptable problems include excep- tionally bad weather conditions and unforeseeable shortages in the avail-

ability of staff or materials caused by any delay or attributable to the council, council staff or the council’s other contractors on the site.

The contract states: “These delay damages shall be the sum stated in the ‘Appendix to Tender’, which shall be paid for every day which shall elapse between the relevant time for completion and the date stated in the taking-over certificate.”

The extent of the damages payable to the council is unspecified as the relevant appendix is not available.

Damages are only payable in the case of a justifiable delay or contract omsepeercleleee

SHANNON ‘Town Council has been urged to mark the 1916 Rising, fol- lowing commemorations in Ennis, Killaloe and Kilrush over the week- end.

All but one of the town’s councillors agreed at their meeting last Tuesday that the event should be recognised.

Shannon resident Sean O Nuanain raised the issue in a letter to the Town Clerk, Tomas MacCormaic, last week.

Mr O Nuanain, who is involved in various groups in the town and is the current Cathaoirleach of Club na Sionna, pointed out that there was no

annual event to mark 1916 in Shan- non, in contrast to most towns in Ire- land.

“IT would request Shannon Town Council to consider initiating such a ceremony, sooner or later,” he said in the letter.

The Mayor of Shannon, Cllr Tony McMahon (Lab) said he believed the town should acknowledge the com- memoration each year.

A number of other councillors agreed with this view. However Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said she didn’t agree that the event should be commemorated every year in Shan- non.

“I don’t have any difficulty in com-

memorating events from 1916 in ar- eas where events happened… This needs a lot more thought than just agreeing to do it,” she said.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) said, “It is very important we recognise the Easter Rising. I don’t think there would be anyone sitting around the table if it wasn’t for the struggle in years gone by.”

Cllr Sean Hillery (FF) said the re- quest by Mr O Nuanain should be sent to Clare County Council for consideration. Cllr Mike McKee (Ind) disagreed with this, saying it was the town council that was asked to mark the event.

Cllr Sean McLoughlin (FG) said

something should be done to mark the commemoration, but that “time is against us”.

Shannon Town Clerk Tomas Mac- Cormaic said if an event was to take place, it would need “dignity”.

“It would be very disappointing if there were five or six councillors out there and a flag being raised,” he SrHKGe

Cllr McCarthy criticised her fel- low councillors after some of them said the event should be marked over Easter when the rising took place on April 24.

The councillors agreed to meet this week, when the possibility of mark- ing the event would be discussed.

UNA FITZGERALD, a community nurse in Tulla believes that health 1s- sues will be very important in this election.

‘Health is one of the big issues and particularly community health fa- cilities. I would have huge concerns about elderly people who are trying to look after people with a disability at home. We need more support fa- cilities for carers who are doing a job round the clock, seven days a week. There are not enough respite facili- ties and supports’, she said.

Una would like to see the next gov- ernment provide a much better range of facilities at community level for social and health purposes. “People need day-care facilities, they need drop-in centres and carers need res-

pite places. These are all important and people will be looking to Gov- ernment to provide them.”

Una says people are also becoming increasingly alarmed and concerned about the number of road deaths, particularly among young people.

“It will have to be tackled. There are just too many tragedies on our roads’, she said.

The Rural Transport Initiative will also have to be delivered on and in a meaningful way, said Una. “Isolation can be a big problem in rural communities, particularly for elderly people who are living outside the towns and villages and for people who are living in isolated areas with- out transport. They need a means of getting to the services they need, to get medical attention, or to shop and to meet people”.