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THREE men allegedly smashed up a car parked outside Drumcliffe graveyard while a religious service was underway, a court has heard.

Michael Doherty (51), with an address at 2 St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis; James Galbraith (45), with an address at 1 St Michael’s Park, Gort Road, Ennis, and Patrick Doherty (34), with an address at Bay 2 St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, all appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

All three are charged with the criminal damage of a car at Drumcliffe on March 24.

Inspector Tom Kennedy outlined the alleged facts of the case to allow Judge Patrick Durcan to consider jurisdiction.

He said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed summary disposal of the cases.

Insp Kennedy said a woman was attending a mass at the graveyard on the day in question. The court heard the woman returned to her car at around 3pm. Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged that the woman observed the three accused arrive at the scene in separate vehicles.

He told the court that it would be alleged that the three men attacked the Ford Focus with weapons, breaking windows and damaging the bodywork.

The court heard that the woman fled from carpark back into the graveyard.

Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction. Defence solicitor for the Doherty’s, Daragh Hassett told the court that he had only just received statements in the case.

Mr Galbraith is represented by solicitor John Casey. Judge Durcan adjourned all cases to July 3 for a plea or a date.

TWO West Clare businesses will take up the mantle following the decision of Fáilte Ireland not to reopen tourist offices in the principal towns of Kilrush and Kilkee.

The national tourism body has instead issued licences to Crotty’s in Kilrush and Any Occasion Gift Shop in Kilkee to provide Fáilte Ireland “Visitor Information Points”.

The licences were awarded after the contract went to tender earlier this year. The licences have been issued until the end of the year at which point they will be put to tender again.

For the staff at Crotty’s the addition of the Fáilte Ireland tourism information point is a natural progression for what they do every day.

Owner Rebecca Brew explained that the majority of the staff have taken part in familiarity trips to different destinations around west and north Clare already, and as all of the floor staff are from the locality, local knowledge will add to the tourist and visitor experience.

This is the first time Fáilte Ireland awarded a visitor information point licence to a food and drink business, and Ms Brew believes that the location of Crotty’s is ideally placed in the Square, Kilrush to provide such a service.

“I see Kilrush as a lovely place to visit; full of architecturally impressive buildings with a great history located in the town is our Marina where one can access the Ancient Monastic island of Scattery or go dolphin watching on the Shannon estuary. The Vandeleur walled gardens are gorgeous and free to all and can be accessed in two minutes from the town via Turret Lane, at the end of Moore Street, giving the Kilrush woods and gardens a town park feel, great for walks and cycling,” added the woman with all the local knowledge.

Paul Williams at Any Occasion Gift Shop in Kilkee is just as pleased to be helping tourists on a more formal basis. The entrance to the shop will be designated as a tourist information site.

“We tend to get asked these (tourism) type of questions anyway because of the type of business we have,” he said. Paul and the staff are already well informed on local tourist attractions, as the business is part of the local Chamber of Commerce and Loop Head Tourism.

Mr Williams is also optimistic about the tourism season ahead, as recent awards for the peninsula and the good weather has already seen an improvement in the tourism industry locally.

MAYOR of Clare Cllr Pat Daly (FF) appealed to the business community and fellow Local Authority mayors in the West of Ireland to support Shannon Airport’s position as the Region’s ‘transatlantic airport’.

The appeal was part of the swan song by Ennisman Pat Daly as he prepares to step down as mayor of the county next week.

Under a cross party agreement within the council, Fine Gael Councillor Joe Arkins is expected to take the chair next week and the council winds down to a local election next year.

During his final speech in the chair last evening Cllr Daly said, “the onus is on the people of Clare and beyond to support the airport and ensure its growth into the future.”

Mayor Daly confirmed he would be writing to the Mayors of the Local Authorities in the West of Ireland urging them to actively support and promote Shannon Airport as the Region’s transatlantic airport.

He also issued an appeal to businesses in County Clare and surrounding areas, particularly those which engage in business outside Ireland and those in the tourism sector, to include a direct link or reference to the Shannon Airport website from their websites, email accounts and letterheads.

“The separation of Shannon Airport from the DAA has provided added impetus in relation to efforts to source new business. While attending the launch of United Airline’s summer service between Shannon and Chicago last Friday, I noticed a distinct change in atmosphere at the airport which can only be attributed to an operation that has a restored sense of confidence and purpose.”

A MILTOWN Malbay supermarket is to open this week creating up to 90 local jobs. Jones’s SuperValu on the Ennis Road will become one of the biggest employers locally when it opens its doors tomorrow (Wednesday). John and Claire Jones have already employed 50 full time staff to work at the € 4 million supermarket. Plans are also in place to employ a further 20 part time staff at the 10,000 square metre shop in the coming months and 20 more full time staff within the year. Employing staff for the West Clare business was a long process with Mr Jones receiving 500 job applications. Leading the team will be Nathan Mhar (sic) who has seven-year experience working as an assistant manager for other Super Valu, before securing the top job in Miltown Malbay. “We are delighted we have come to this stage,” said Mr Jones who also owns the Centre shop in the town. He told The Clare People that 95 per cent of the staff were local with the remaining staff coming from elsewhere in the county. “Obviously we would like to take on more but for now all of the jobs are full time,” he added. The town’s first ever playground will open adjacent to the supermarket next week, with an Astro turf pitch also part of the project. This community part of the development was built as part of the supermarket with LEADER support funding. “I would like to thank all the local community for their patience in waiting for the shop,” said Mr Jones. “There seems to be a lot of local excitement about the opening and I am sure there will be a spin off benefit for the local community.” Jones’s Centra on Church Street, Miltown Malbay will also remain open.

A NORTH Clare action-group designed to formally oppose the construction of Ireland’s large fish-farm off the Fanore coast was established last week.

The action-group, which contains 15 active local members, met last week to establish a strategy for opposing the farm.

A petition set up by the group last Thursday has already received almost 500 signatures and is on target to reach 1,000 by the end of the week.

According to local GP and action group member, Fergus Glynn, the group is made up of a large cross section of the local North Clare community.

“We are not against a project like this taking place, we just have a lot of serious concerns that have not been met yet.

“We are not against fish farms at all, in fact aqua-culture is an essential part of our future, but not like this.

“Oyster fish farming, for example, is far more sustainable and cleaner than salmon farming,” said Fergus.

“We have set a number of goals fro the campaign.

“The first is to get this petition off the ground, the second is the Tour de Burren – which will bring more than 2,500 thousands visitors to North Clare.

“We plan to target this event in two weeks time and we will plan to spread as much information as possible among the people at that event.

“We understand that there will be a Junior Minister at that event and we would hope to make our feelings own.”

According to the action group, no local politicians have attended to any of the public meeting organised in Clare to date.

“We have had representatives from the national politicians. the Clare TD, but we haven’t heard from any of the county councillors.

“We will be organising a meeting fore the local politicians later this month and we will let them know well in advance,” continued Fergus.

“We will also be inviting BIM [Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the government agency proposing the fish farm to the meeting.

“We have always been keen to engage with BIM and we will continue to do so. We want to here every side of the argument.”

A COROFIN actress has won a starring role in a new feature film, set to start shooting later this month. Fresh from her success in the All Ireland Drama Awards last month, Maura Clancy, will feature in a big screen adaptation of the 2013 novel ‘A Nightingale Falling’ by Kilnaboy writer and broadcaster, PJ Curtis.

The film explores the difficulty faced by many southern Irish Protestants during the Irish War of Independence. Though a work of fiction, the novel was inspired by a family who lived close to PJ in North Clare.

“The genesis of the story begins here [in Kilnaboy], where there were two Protestant sister who came under some suspicion and even some ostracisation during the Irish War of Independence,” he said.

“It was a very difficult time for the Protestant Irish living in Ireland. They were perceived as being sympathetic, if not in down right in cahoots with the British Army and later the Black and Tans.

“This was the inspiration for my story and the idea grew from there. One of the sisters in the story wakes up one morning and there is a body of an almost dead soldier on her doorstep. They take him indoors and set about doing the best they can for him. As they nurse him back to health they realise that they are in a bit of a dilemma – if they give him back to the army, they know that the IRA will hear about it, but if they give him to the IRA, then the Black and Tans will see to him. So they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.”

The film features and impressive cast including Tara Breathnach, Muireann Bird and Gerard McCarthy and will begin shooting next month in Offaly. Tara is currently starring in The Last Days of Anne Boleyn on BBC2, Muireann Bird has just completed a UK and Irish tour of Brian Friel’s Translations and Gerard McCarthy is currently on our screens in the hugely successful BBC series The Fall.

The film is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

CLARE residents could face an annual charge of up to € 145 to fund the cost of water meters – even though the meters themselves are likely to cost a fraction of that amount.

Clare County Council has been directed to survey all houses in Clare to determine the number of type of water connections that exist in the county.

Councillors at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council raised a number of questions about the roll out of water metering by the newly formed Irish Water – specifically the cost of water meters and the possibility that houses with existing water meter could be forced to pay for these functioning meters to be replaced by Irish Water.

“I think that the public should be informed that there will be an ongoing charge, which could amount to as much as € 145 per annum, for this meter that will cost a couple of euro,” said Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND).

“We may no longer be responsible for water but I think the least that we can do as a local authority is to ask if the department [of the environment] a number of questions- like will there be an allowance, will there be a standard charge for the metres, will there be bulk metering for large apartment complexes – who will have the responsibility for collecting water chages. I think that it is our responsibility to ask these questions of the department – whether we will have a role in this or not.”

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (IND) said that there is a lot of pubic confusion about the roll out of water metering.

“A lot of people had to replace water meters a few years ago during the big freeze – it seems, from looking to this information, that these might have to pay for new meters now,” she said.

“It seems like the more we heard about this, the more confusion that there seems to be. The sooner that the department brings some clarity to this the better. Every answer seems to bring another questions and there is a lot of confusion out there.”

Council spokesperson Carmel Greene commented that the cost of metering was a matter for Irish Water and Clare County Council had no role to play. She also said that, as far as she was aware, functioning meters would not have to be replaced by home owners. Tue11June13

THREE Shannon dolphins, who captured the publics imagination earlier this year when they took up residence in shallow waters close to Bunratty, were discovered safe and well over the weekend.

The Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation (SDWF) have been attempting to locate the dolphins since they were last sighted in Bunratty in April.

The “Bunratty Three” were spotted by a monitored dolphin tour boat in the deep water of the Shannon Estuary on Friday.

The dolphins were last spotted in Bunratty on April 13 and the SDWF and other dolphin group were keen to confirm that they had managed to reconnect with their main Dolphin population.

“The SDWF carry out annual monitoring of the dolphins from dolphin tour boats operating from Kilrush and Carrigaholt, and during dedicat- ed boat transects,” said a spokesperson from SDWF.

“During the first monitoring trip from Kilrush this week, three dolphins were recorded by the SDWF. Each dolphin in this small, discrete population is important and it is reassuring to know that the ‘Bunratty Three’ are healthy and have rejoined the Shannon population.”

Thousands of people traveled to see the dolphins during their two week long stay in Bunratty earlier this year.

It was originally thought that the dolphins were trapped in the shallow water in Bunratty and were unable to swim underneath a nearby bridge because of the sound of heavy traffic.

A rescue attempt was planned but an expert assessment of the dolphins condition revealed that the animals were in good condition and in no immediate danger.

The dolphins eventually left the shallow estuary but were unaccounted for for the three months leading up to last weeks confirmed sighting.

THE unavailability of a 24 hour CT scanning service at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Ennis is putting the lives of stroke patients at risk.

According to retired nurse and member of the HSE West Regional Forum Cllr Tom McNamara (FF) people travelling from the West Clare peninsula are at greatest risk, as they are more than three hours out from critical testing and treatment at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick.

Ann Doherty, CEO, Mid Western Regional Hospital Group said however that she would continue to agree to disagree with Cllr McNamara’s argument.

She said medical personnel had advised her that the best place to go is where thrombolysis can be administered, not necessarily the nearest place.

The HSE officer added that not enough patients presenting with strokes go through the Ennis Hospital to justify a 24 hour CT scanning service there.

“We have to agree to disagree on this,” she said.

Cllr McNamara had been arguing that if a CT scan was available 24 hours a day at Ennis, people living on the West Clare peninsula could be tested quickly for stroke and administered thrombolysis within the crucial three hours necessary for it to prevent permanent damage.

Thrombolytics restore cerebral blood flow in some patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Test have shown that administering this intravenous drug within the first three hours of ischemic stroke onset offers substantial net benefits for virtually all patients with potentially disabling deficits.

Stroke patients in places such as Carrigaholt in West Clare are 105 kilometres from such treatment in Limerick.

The majority would also have to wait for an ambulance to travel from Kilrush or even Ennis to bring them to the hospital, adding to the time lapse.

“People on the peninsula will not beat the three hour stroke time,” said Cllr McNamara.

A SHANNON man has been convicted of having cannabis for sale or supply in the town last December.

Aaron Connolly (22) fled after he was seen carrying a weighing scales and cannabis near the Rossbracken estate on December 5 (2012).

Mr Connolly, who was described in court as suffering from an intellectual disability, was pursued by a detective garda into his home at 19 Rossbracken where he was arrested on suspicion of having cannabis for sale or supply.

At Ennis District Court on Tuesday, Mr Connolly denied a charge of having the drug for sale or supply.

Detective Garda David Laing told the court that Mr Connolly “turned on his heels and fled” after he was seen carrying a bag containing weighing scales, zip-lock bags and cannabis.

Analysis subsequently confirmed that the substance was 8 grammes of cannabis, the court heard. Mr Connolly told the court the cannabis was for personal use.

Solicitor Caitriona Carmody said it was the defence’s case that the evidence was illegally obtained by gardaí.

In evidence, Mr Connolly claimed Detective Laing could not have known what was in the bag because it was a non-see-through Dunnes Stores, lined plastic bag.

His mother Christine Connolly also told the court that the bag was non-see-through.

Under cross-examination from Inspector Tom Kennedy, Mr Connolly admitted having cannabis when first seen by Detective Laing.

He said he had removed the drugs from home because he though the house was going to be “raided”.

Mr Connolly did not give an explanation for having the weighing scales.

Addressing the accused, Insp Kennedy said;

“I put it to you that you did not have the weighing scales for baking a cake.”

Judge William Early said if gardaí observe someone committing an arrestable offence, they are entitled to go into that person’s house for the purposes of arrest.

He said he did not believe the evidence of Mr Connolly or his mother. He convicted Mr Connolly of the charge. The accused has previous convictions for public order offences. Solicitor Caitriona Carmody said her client suffers from an intellectual disability and is a “young man who is easily led.”

She said Mr Connolly would benefit from the intervention of the Probation Services.

Judge Early remanded Mr Connolly on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on July 3 for a pre-sentence report.

He said he would recommend 120 hours of community service. A POLIS H mechanic was “extraordinarily reckless” when he bought stolen quad bikes from a man in Ennis last year, a court has heard. Lukas Staszynski (30) purchased the bikes for €800, around an hour after they were stolen from theWoodstock Hotel, Ennis. Mr Staszynski, with an address at 79 Dromard, Ennis, Lahinch Road, appeared before Ennis District Court onTuesday. He pleaded guilty to two charges of handling stolen quad bikes at the Doora Industrial Estate, Quin Road, Ennis on November 16 (2012). He was not charged in connection with the theft of the bikes The court heard that Mr Staszynski runs a breaking shop for spare vehicle parts in the Doora Industrial Estate. Gardaí received a report that two quad bikes had been stolen fromWoodstock at around 9amon November 16. Garda Adrian Diviney of Ennis Garda Station explained that a GPS systemfitted on the bikes enabled gardaí to track the vehicles to Mr Staszynski’s garage. Garda Diviney said he arrived to Mr Staszynski’s buisness premises at around 10am. He told the court that the accused brought himto a lorry that contained a number of vehicles including the quad bikes. The court heard that Mr Staszynski intended to transport one of the quad bikes to his brother in Poland as a present. Garda Diviney said the accused told himthat a man showed up at his premises that morning offering to sell the bikes. He said Mr Staszynski could not provide any information on the seller.The court heard this was a one off transaction. Mr Staszynski has no previous convictions except for road traffic offences. Defence solicitor John Casey said his client cooperated fully with gardaí. He said his client told gardaí that he“thought there might be something wrong” with the bikes. Mr Casey added,“He did pay for thembut he was somewhat anxious about them.” “He should have been more careful.” The court heard that Mr Staszynski’s business is still in operation. Mr Casey said,“He realises he has to be more careful particularly in dealing with the merchandise he is dealing with.” JudgeWilliamEarly said Mr Staszynski had been “extraordinarily careless and reckless” in accepting the bikes. He said if people were not willing to receive stolen property then the incentive would not exist to steal property. Judge Early imposed fines totaling €800. A MA N has appeared in court charged with handling property allegedly stolen during a burglary of a premises in Ennis town centre in March. Martin Donovan (37) is alleged to have handled a stolen Apple MacIntosh Pro laptop valued at €1200 at 14 Carrig an Oir,Tobertascan, Ennis on May 21 (2013). Inspector TomKennedy told Ennis District Court onTuesday that it would be alleged that the computer was stolen during a burglary of Wilson’s Camera shop on O’Connell Street in March. Mr Donovan, with an address at 14 Carrig an Oir, Ennis, is not charged in connection with the burglary. Insp Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed summary disposal of the case. JudgeWilliamEarly requested an outline of the alleged facts to consider jurisdiction of the case. Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged that Mr Donovan brought the laptop to the CarphoneWarehouse shop in Limerick.The court heard that it would be alleged that a security signal was activated after the laptop was switched on. Gardaí went to the store and identified Mr Donovan fromCCTV footage, it is alleged. Judge Early accepted jurisdiction. He also granted a statements order for defence solicitor Daragh Hassett. Mr Donovan was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on June 26.