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ALMOST five percent of the priests currently service in the Diocese of Galway and Kilfenora have had official abuse claims levelled against them. The diocese, which includes the Clare parishes of Ballyvaughan, Carron, New Quay, Ennistymon, Kilfenora, Liscannor, Moymore, Lisdoonvarna and Kilshanny, has recorded of a total of 38 allegations made against 14 priests or members of religious orders since 1975.

According to the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, the Church’s own internal watch-dog body, 27 of these allegations were reported to the gardaí.

The report indicated that three of the 63 priests currently serving in the diocese have had claims made against them. No individual priests were named in the report nor was any indication given as to what part of the diocese the priests are currently serving.

Speaking after the publication of the report, Bishop Martin Drennan said that the concerns expressed were “not of a sufficient nature” to warrant their removal from active ministry.

The report also recommends that a review of any cases of allegation which were made against living priests who are no longer in active service or are on administrative leave should be carried out.

Minister Drennan said that the results of the review were good news for the diocese.

“Last week’s report shows that we have at last turned the corner. It offers encouragement in many forms, safeguarding practice is reported as good in the diocese, complaints are dealt with promptly,” said Bishop Drennan.

“There is ongoing help available for victims of abuse. Counselling is offered to complainants and their families.

“The diocese works closely with the HSE and with the Garda Siochana in an effort to make sure that children participating in Church-related activities are safe. To date three hundred and fifty five people have been given training so that their work as safeguarding representatives may be as effective as possible.”

A CAMPAIGNER for the homeless is facing a possible prison sentence after being convicted of stealing almost € 27,000 from an 87 year resident of St Joseph’s Hospital in Ennis. At Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday, a jury convicted Josephine O’Brien (59) on nine of 10 counts of theft from the bank account of Stephen O’Halloran.

Ms O’Brien, with an address at 15 Bridgeview, Roslevan, was found guilty of stealing € 26, 503 on dates between July 2006 and October 2010. The pair first met when they were patients living in Ennis General Hospital. They subsequently lived together in rented accommodation.

The two-day trial heard that after Mr O’Halloran became a resident of St Joseph’s Hospital in December 2005, he gave Ms O’Brien his ATM card for the account that received his English pension.

The court heard that when enquiries were made to arrange for the pension to pay for Mr O’Halloran’s care in St Joseph’s, there was very little money left in the account.

Ms O’Brien admitted making the transactions over the period from January 2006 to October 2010, claiming she had consent to do so.

The court heard evidence from Mr O’Halloran who said she did not have the authority to make the withdrawals. The court heard that Mr O’Halloran said Ms O’Brien visited him for the first six months of his stay in St Joseph’s but that the visits stopped after June 2006.

This was disputed by Ms O’Brien. The court also heard evidence from Detective Garda Beatrice Ryan who investigated the theft.

In a Garda interview, Ms O’Brien said, “I know I shouldn’t have taken the money but I did.”

She told gardaí, “I am sorry. I want to pay it back.”Ms O’Brien told gardaí that she never spent the money on herself. She said she used it to pay rent and to fund a drop in centre for the homeless in Chapel Lane, Ennis.

Ms O’Brien is co-founder of the Homeless Education Learning Programme (HELP), an Ennis-based organisation that supports homeless people. In his closing speech, Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan said there had been a pattern of Ms O’Brien “clearing” out Mr O’Halloran’s bank account.

He said, “You don’t get a blanket authority to raid a person’s account.”

Counsel for Ms O’Brien Lorcan Connolly BL said, “She opened a drop in centre. Is that the profile of a dishonest person?”

It took the jury two hours to return a unanimous verdict of guilty in nine of the ten counts Ms O’Brien was charged with. They returned a verdict of not guilty for the count covering January 2006 to June 2006.

CANCER patients in Clare who are attending Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, for chemotherapy treatment are being encouraged to avail of a free transport service provided by the Irish Cancer Society.

The national charity’s ‘Care to Drive’ is the second such organisation to provide this service in the county, as the West Clare Mini Marathon Centre has provided a free taxi service for cancer patients for 15 years.

The Kilkee-based organisation takes patients for treatment to Ennis, Limerick, Galway and Dublin, and also provides the service to patients requiring radiotherapy which can take up to 35 days over seven weeks.

From this week however the Irish Cancer Society will provide a volunteer transport service for patients requiring chemotherapy at the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick.

The society said from late autumn, it intendeds that Care to Drive will operate from Galway University Hospital and it is hoped that patients from North Clare could be also be brought to this cancer centre of excellence.

The Irish Cancer Society’s Care to Drive service offers patients transport from their front door to the door of the hospital and home again which will help to alleviate some of the stress or difficulty associated with getting to their appointments.

Care to Drive is a volunteer-delivered service where the Irish Cancer Society recruits and trains volunteers who give their time free of charge to drive patients to and from hospital. Cancer patients may need to use Care to Drive for a number of reasons: they may have been advised not to drive by their doctor due to the aggressive nature of treatment, the patient may have no family in the immediate vicinity or they may be unable to take time off work to transport them to the hospital.

The society currently has more than 27 drivers in Clare available for anyone travelling to Mid-Western Regional Hospital Limerick for cancer treatment. Last year, Care to Drive volunteers across the country brought 402 cancer patients on 6,392 journeys travelling 237,708km.

Any cancer patient who is interested in availing of the service should speak to the social worker in MidWestern Regional Hospital or talk to their oncology nurse when they are receiving treatment.

THREE men alleged to have been involved in a “fracas” at a wedding in Ennis last year have had the charges against them struck out.

Three men – Jimmy Doherty (40), John Doherty (47) and Simon Doherty (41) were charged with offences arising out of an alleged incident at Ennis Cathedral, O’Connell Street, on October 11 (2012).

Jimmy Doherty, with an address at 8 Maiville, Kilrush Road Ennis, and Simon Doherty, with an address at The Cottage, Granard Road, Edgeworthstown, Longford, were both charged with the assault of John McDonagh at the Cathedral on October 11 (2012).

They were also charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

John Doherty, with an address at 60 Abbeyville, Ennis, was charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

John Doherty was also charged with assault causing harm to John McDonagh.

The court previously heard that it would be alleged that Mr Doherty struck Mr McDonagh across the head with a slash hook. Jurisdiction of John Doherty’s case was refused in the District Court.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Inspector John Galvin said he did not have directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for Jimmy and Simon Doherty. He requested a two-week adjournment.

Defence solicitor John Casey said this was the second occasion the State had sought an adjournment. He added, “This is not a very complicated matter. There are not a huge number of witnesses. There has to be movement on it.”

Judge Patrick Durcan said the delays are “very unfair” on the Dohertys. He said, “This is crazy carry on. These men are innocent in my eyes. They have been coming to court since February 6.”

Judge Durcan said, “These men can’t be coming in here. They have other things to be doing.”

Mr Casey applied to have the cases dismissed. Insp Galvin applied to have the cases struck out.

Judge Durcan also struck the cases against John Doherty. He said, “John Doherty can’t be coming in here day after day.”

FARMERS from the North and West area of Clare are reporting thefts of bales and other fodder from their farms.

As the farmers endure the greatest fodder shortage in living memory, those lucky enough to still have some of last year’s harvest now fear it may be taken as some farmers already say they have been the victim of such thefts.

Gardaí say that while they have heard of a number of incidents of this happening, they have received just a few official reports to that effect.

Kilrush area Superintendent Gerry Wall described these thefts as “particularly nasty”.

The senior garda maintains that stealing bales, silage and other fodder from hard-pressed farmers, is adding to their stresses and making life even more difficult.

Farmers are not just at the financial loss of the bale of hay or silage, but find it difficult to replace it to feed their own animals as the crisis fodder continues.

“It [fodder] has a value, and people are taking advantage of those who are already in a difficult situation. It is a particularly nasty theft,” said the superintendent.

He encouraged people to come forward and report such incidents and anyone with any information to also call the Gardaí.

“This is a particularly difficult time for the farming community, and I am happy to help in any way,” he added.

Farmers say those with bales to sell can name their price as most farmers have come to the end of their own supply.

A wet summer and autumn last year resulted in a very poor harvest. Leaving many farmers short of the required fodder to feed their animals. A cold and wet spring is adding to their difficulties, as their animals cannot be let out to graze, adding to an already deepening agricultural crisis.

“IF YOU don’t have fodder for me, I’m not talking to you.” That’s according an upset farmer at the Ennis mart last Thursday.

Over the last few weeks we have heard a lot from the likes of Clare ICMSA and the Clare United Farmers Association about the fodder crisis, but when farmers of the county were asked how they were impacted by the crisis their reactions were one of hesitance, frustration and repetition.

“We have very little grass and we are running out of feed. It most certainly has impacted me, and the next week or so is seriously going to tell the tale,” according to Martin Cavanagh of Liscannor, “we really need the sunny weather to come and stay with us.”

Reluctant to speak, each farmer quietly portrayed their annoyance over the “horrendous sitiuation” everyone is stuck in at this time. Ireland’s typical weather did not fair too well regardless of whom spoke either; the next two weeks are of great importance to the county and our livestock and a sunny day here or there will not cut it for these farmers.

According to one dispairing farmer at the mart on Thursday “another week or so and it’ll tell us everything. Alot of people around me now are struggling and it’s a desperate situation that we are in. The prices of hay here are mad, but they have to be fed.”

Another farmer from West Clare also complained of the high costs: “It’s € 70 for hay and € 5 for a sqaure bale and farmers are running out. Prices are terrible at the minute and everyone is finding it hard. People have way too much stock and not enough fodder.”

Earlier this month an emergency fodder helpline was set up by Teagasc and local farming groups. The helpline has reported it was contacted by 60 farmers during the week, 28 farmers pleading for extra fodder supplies and 32 farmers offering their surplus in order to help other farmers.

Pat Cahill on the other hand said he is one of the lucky ones at the minute. “I have enough to do me a few weeks. I know in West Clare some haven’t been so lucky. The dairy farmers seem to have a lot of stock but sure they have to be fed, even on Christmas day!.”

“Sun, heat and dry weather is what we want,” Marty Meehan of Carron told The Clare People , “I bought about 200 extra bales of silage last year and not much is left. The fodder crisis has effected everyone. If the weather stays nice like this we might have some hope but we know it won’t.”

CLARE farmers will need in excess of 15,000 bales of silage to see themselves through the next two weeks as the fodder crisis reaches breaking point.

More than 1,200 bales which were harvest at Shannon Airport over the weekend have already been distributed – with some farmers who asked for 20 and 30 bales being allocated just three bales each.

The IFA is hopeful to be in a position to harvest a further 600 bales from the airport later this week but this will be a difficult operation, involving grounds close to the main runway at Shannon Airport.

The mortality rate on Clare farms was last week estimated to be between 45 per cent and 60 per cent higher than normal – with a lack of quality feed the main factor. Animals deaths in Clare are understood to have reached several hundred already this year and, while no official figures are yet available, the Dead Animal Collection Service has been forced to curtail its operating hours because of the sheer scale of dead animals on Clare farms.

Clare Marts Ltd yesterday took delivery of its first shipment of hay from Kent in the UK. The Department of Agriculture has not, however, extended its Transport Subsidy to the mart – which means that the cost of transporting the feed will have to be borne by the mart and by Clare farmers.

The Department of Agriculture is also understood to be examining the possibility for shipping in boatloads of fodder from the UK directly into Foynes and Galway – which could mean a cheaper and quicker of fodder to Clare farmers.

“The bales from Shannon are brilliant, but they are just the tip of the iceberg really. I though on Friday morning that we might have been able to wrap some of it and use it next week maybe, but the demand was so great that it was all gone straight away. It was hard to cope with the calls afterward. I took in excess of 100 calls from Clare farmers on Saturday,” said Clare IFA chairman, Andrew Dundas.

“This might keep people going for a day or two. Farmers are under severe pressure at the moment. Cash is a huge issue out there and people have already ran up a massive bill. And we have a way to go in this yet. The rate of animals deaths in Clare has increased dramatically. It has already ran into the hundreds of animal, without a doubt. It is a very large amount.” Ennistymon farmer Pat O’Donoghue praised the work of the IFA in securing the Shannon Airport cutting – two years before it was due to be cut. “There was a lot of negotiations but this is great,” said Mr O’Donoghue.

LESS than three years from after it was decimated in a General Election, the Fianna Fáil party in Clare believes it is regaining its political stronghold once again in the county.

Two full buses left the Banner county on Saturday morning for the party’s 74th Ard Fheis in Dublin, with more travelling the night before.

Among the delegates were men with 30 years membership who had never before attended an Ard Fheis, and numerous young people.

The Clare branch of the party was celebrating the fact that it had reached 800 in membership, the majority of the new recruits under the age of 30.

Adding to their confidence of local support was the fact that they won a prize for the second year running for the second highest gate collection in the country and the second best contribution to the National Draw.

And to top it all off, there was a former Green Party councillor now one of their own also wandering around the RDS wearing a “guest badge”.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) is now an official member of the party, but it will be another 12 months before he graduates to the stature of delegate and have a vote in party affairs.

The weekend and perceived growing support within the county was also a boost of confidence for those who must encourage and organise candidates for the local election next year.

Constituency organiser Michael Neylon said, “It shows that we are active.”

Clare is also punching above its weight when it comes to the national executive.

Two Clare men were elected to the “Committee of 20” at the weekend, to join Constituency Secretary Gerry Reidy and TD Timmy Dooley on the executive.

Ennis man Garrett Greene, who was returned to the “Committee of 20”, is even among the older members on the influential committee at just 38 years old.

Newcomer, Eoin Neylon also from Ennis is considered among the average age at just 26 years old.

Mr Greene is a manager of TTM Healthcare’s Medical Division in Ennis.

“The positive atmosphere and the energy we saw this weekend is testament to the fact that Fianna Fáil has a strong and vital role to play in the future of Irish politics. I want to thank all of those from Clare who attended the Ard Fheis and made their voices heard about the future of the party,” he said.

Mr (Eoin) Neylon is a structural engineer based in London and set up the city’s first ever Fianna Fáil Cumann.

“It is a wonderful honour to be chosen by Fianna Fáil members to represent them on the National Executive. I want to thank all the party members who voted for me and I will endeavour to perform my role to the best of my ability. The grassroots of the party needs to have a greater say in how the party is run and I hope to provide a direct link to the Ard Comhairle for many local members,” he said.

AN EAST Clare businessman could be on the verge of changing the way that people are buried forever. Killaloe-based inventor Bar ry Spearman has founded the company New Age Memorials – Europe’s first provider of fiberglass headstone.

According to Bar ry, his new headstone could save people thousands in cleaning and other costs when compared to traditions headstones. The idea for fiberglass headstones came to him about two years ago, when he was tr ying to clean one of his own family headstones.

“I was quoted € 250 for sandblasting and re-lettering which I thought was excessive. Then I bought various stone cleaning chemicals and none of them worked well,” he said.

“Up to that time, I had not thought about the ongoing costs involved in maintaining headstones and it was only when I mentioned it to other people I discovered that a whole industry of cleaning headstones had come into existence.

“I thought there must be a modern material, with similar properties to stone, but without the drawbacks, that could be used just as efficiently.”

Barr y had his Eureka moment while fishing on Lough Derg.

“Every few months, a bit of surface mould might grow where rain has lodged, but this is easily brushed off. This boat, li ke 90 per cent of all modern boats, is made from marine grade fibreglass. I had found my headstone material,” he said.

Spearman set up the company in May 2012, and has been working with a number of companies trying to perfect moulds, finishes, designs and the manufacturing process.

“I discovered that a design for a fibreglass headstone was patented in 1973 in the US. This patent has now lapsed and the design was totally different from mine,” he said.

“Now that the product has been perfected I hope to sell directly to the public in order to keep the purchase costs down. This would not happen if sold through under takers. I have just begun to advertise in the local papers and free sheets and also by putting posters up in shops and so on.”

A NEW campaign to roll out the Burren Farming for Conservation Project across the Burren looks set to get underway in the coming weeks. The chairperson of Burren IFA, Carron farmer Michael Davoren, last week called on the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney (FG), to extend the project, which already includes more than 150 Clare farmers.

Last year just under € 1 million was paid out for essential biodiversity works to be carried out on 158 Burren farms.

Should the scheme be rolled out across the Burren it could mean an extra annual funding boot of more then € 10 million to the local economy. The funding is made available for works such as stone wall building, scrub removal and the construction of access tracks on Burren farms. This work is designed to help protect each of the different biological habitats which are natural in the Burren.

In recent years, the spread of scrub over areas of limestone pavement has been one of the major imbalances tackled by the project.

Scores of farmers in the Burren have returned to the ‘winterage’ method – which sees cattle left out on land during the winter, when they feed on young hazel and other scrub plants, which helps to prevent the scrub from taking over areas of limestone pavement.

Burren IFA chairperson Michael Davoren made the call at at BurrenBeo Trusts annual showcase last week.

“With the support of local conservation groups like the Burrenbeo Trust we have been able to pilot a new type of environmental scheme which rewards farmers for looking after the Burren,” he said.

“This meeting of minds has created a fair deal, which allows farmers to add to their income while giving society what it wants: a healthy Burren. We are now calling on the Department of Agriculture to roll out the Burren Farming for Conservation Project across all of the Burren – this will really transform the Burren and the lives of the people in it for the better.”

The Burrenbeo Trust is Ireland’s only registered landscape charity and their goal is the protection of the Burren and its communities.