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NEW procedures aimed at reducing the risk of residents choking on food have been implemented at Kilrush District Hospital, an inquest has heard.

A full review of supervision at the hospital took place following the sudden death of Bridget Griffin (86) at the hospital on November 17, 2012.

Ms Griffin, a resident of the hospital for two years, died after choking on a piece of chicken, an inquest into her death heard yesterday.

Originally from Labasheeda, Ms Griffin lived in Kildysart prior to becoming a resident of the hospital.

An autopsy found that cause of death was asphyxia due to choking. A verdict of death by misadventure was returned at Clare County Coroner’s Court.

The inquest heard that Ms Griffin was served a dinner of chicken, vegetables, soup and a glass of milk on the day.

Care assistant Singiata Kuckauskaik stated in a deposition that cut the chicken into pieces for Mr Griffin. She said that Ms Griffin declined an offer to cut the chicken into smaller pieces.

Another hospital witness told the inquest the chicken had been cut into “reasonable” pieces.

The inquest heard that Ms Griffin did not like gravy so staff always ensured she always had plenty to drink.

Ms Kuckauskaik returned to check on Ms Griffin at 12.55 and found her pale and unresponsive, the inquest heard.

The emergency services were called and nurses performed CPR for 45 minutes. A doctor pronounced Ms Griffin dead at the scene. Gardaí attended the hospital and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) were informed of the incident.

Person in Charge, Tricia Joy, told the inquest that Ms Griffin underwent a procedure to have a lesion removed on the day before her death.

She said Ms Griffin underwent a full choking assessment on her return to the hospital. She was found to have a low risk of choking, the in- quest heard.

Ms Joy stated that reducing the risk of choking had been on the hospital’s agenda for the monthly quality, risk management and safety meeting since May 2012.

Ms Joy stated, “Significant changes involving the reallocation of staff have occurred to ensure that every communal room is supervised by at least two members of staff. Provisions have been made to ensure that residents assessed as being medium or high risk of choking are facilitated to eat in their room if they wish, under direct supervision of staff.”

A number of recommendations were made and implemented at the hospital following Ms Griffin’s death, the inquest heard.

These included the replacement of chicken fillets for chicken stew; mashing of vegetables using an electric mixer; full menu analysis; and the inclusion of a full choking risk assessment in every resident’s care plan.

Nurses are no longer allowed to leave the floor they are assigned to until every resident has completed their meal.

County Cororner Isobel O’Dea said she was happy that all safety procedures were carried as best as possible on the day. She returned a verdict of death by misadventure and expressed sympathy with the Griffin family. Insp John Galvin expressed sympathy on behalf of the gardaí to the family.

SOME teenagers in Ennis are being forced to commit crimes to pay off debts to a ‘Fagin’ type figure in the town.

The man was referred to during a sitting of Ennis District Court on Friday where a 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, trespass and the unauthorised taking of a vehicle.

His solicitor, John Casey, said there had been an element of force attached to the crimes.

He explained that a situation might arise whereby the man would offer to lend a young person money.

Mr Casey said, “You might never pay this back but he might say to you to do this or do that.”

“A vulnerable young man like this can never get out of it. His mother is genuinely disturbed by all of this.” he added.

The man, whom the court heard is known to gardaí, was compared at a previous court sitting to ‘Fagin’, the criminal mastermind from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist.

The court heard that the boy has now moved out of Ennis to a rural part of West Clare.

He has also removed the SIM card from his mobile phone so he could not be contacted by people in Ennis.

Addressing the court the teenager said; “Since I left the court the last day, I’ve done everything the court asked me to do.” Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned the case until May. SEPARATELY a different 17-yearold boy has pleaded guilty to multiple charges of theft and burglary at premises in Ennis and Kilfenora.

At Ennis District Court on Friday the boy pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Samsung Galaxy phone on Newbridge Road on October 31; handling a stolen Samsung phone in Considine’s Road, Cloughleigh, Ennis on January 20 (2013).

He also pleaded guilty to stealing a mobile phone on Watery Road, Ennis on February 4; theft of a black Apple iPod from Old Gort Road on February 8 and stealing a Nintendo DS and camcorder from Hermitage, Ennis on dates unknown between December 30 and 31.

He also pleaded guilty to entering Ennis Rugby Club as trespasser to commit the theft of a 32 inch television on dates unknown between December 1 and 25.

Also listed was theft of a Playsta- tion at Doctor’s Hill, Kilfenora on dates unknown between December 25 and 27; entering 66 Westwood, Ennis as a trespasser to commit the theft of jewelry worth € 300 and a mobile phone on dates unknown between December 25 and 26; entering 8 Showgrounds View, Ennis, as a trespasser to commit theft of a Samsung TV, laptop computer and Playstation on dates unknown between December 26 and 27.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he was very concerned about the teenager. He sought a pre-sentence report from the Probation Services. The case was adjourned until April 17.

THE MYSTERY of the missing plaque commemorating three Ennis Republican Volunteers shot during the Civil War has been solved, as Ennis Town Council confirmed to the Clare People that it is “safely with a local community group.”

Republican Sinn Fein Clare plans to call for the reinstallation of the plaque on New Jail Road after its Easter memorial service this week- end.

According to a council spokesperson a local community group, who feared it would be damaged during the work, took down the plaque during the construction of the new road.

“It is still in safe keeping,” he said.

The town council plans to erect new signage on the New Jail Road next month and said it was happy to reinstate the plaque at that time, if the group wish them to do so.

The plaque remembers Patrick Mahoney (25), Christopher Quinn (21) and William Shaughnessy (18) who were executed on Station Road at the old gaol in 1923.

The three men will also be remembered at a memorial service on Easter Monday at the Republican plot in Drumcliff Cemetery at 3pm organised by Clare Republican Sinn Fein.

The group will also remember James Glynn who died on May 2 1934.

Wreaths will be laid afterwards by RSF Clare and the James Connolly Cummann.

KILKEE is the cheapest place to own a home in all of Ireland, according to the house tax guidelines as set out by Revenue.

According to Revenue’s controvertial new property valuation guide, all properties in Kilkee have an average guide value between € 0 and 100,000 – or the lowest valuation possible.

Revenue’s interactive pricing guide divides Clare into 156 different pricing areas. Each area is giving a specific price guide for apartments, terraced houses, bungalows, semidetached houses and detached houses built either before or after 2000. Kilkee is the only area in Clare, and indeed in Ireland, to receive the lowest possible valuation (between € 0 and € 100,000) in each of the categories.

This guideline valuation would seem at odds with the state of current property prices in the West Clare town. According to the Daft.ie property site, of the 83 properties currently for sale in Kilkee, 55 are on offer at prices in excess of € 100,000.

Indeed, over a quarter of the total stock currently for sale in Kilkee is valued at € 200,000 or more with a large number of properties in the area with valuations close to half a million euro.

The valuation system has come in for much criticism since it went live last week but a revenue spokesperson has stressed that the prices are only a guideline and homeowners must pay what they believe to be the market value of their home.

“The guidance is primarily based on the market value of properties sold since the year 2010 in the area, adjusted for average price movements in the interim,” said a Revenue spokesperson.

“This guidance will be helpful in the majority of cases but there are always properties in an area that differ from the average.

“Self assessment requires property owners to honestly assess the market value of their own property. If a property is smaller or larger than the average for the area, is in a significantly poor state of repair or has exceptional or unique features, these will have to be factored into the assessment.”

While the local prices differ de- pending on the type of property in each area, the Revenue’s valuations have identified a 29 area ‘golden zone’ stretching from the hinterland of Ennis down through South-East Clare and into Limerick where they believe properties are generally worth more. Ennis itself is divided into four areas with the northern quarter, identified as Ennis Urban No.1, generally having a higher value than the other three quarters of the town. Tue19March13

THE Mayor of Ennis says he hopes the twinning arrangement between the town and the American city of Phoenix will last beyond the proposed abolition of Ennis Town Council next year.

Councillor Peter Considine was speaking at civic reception in Waterpark House on Friday held to mark the 25th anniversary of twinning of Ennis and Phoenix.

Since the formation of the twinning relationship in 1988, civic and community leaders from both sides of the Atlantic have visited each other on exchanges and have developed strong ties and personal friendships.

The reception was attended by a large delegation from Phoenix including 35 members of the St Mary’s Catholic High School Marching Band.

There were also performances by young musicians from Barefield National School and Maoin Cheoil an Chláir.

Recalling his first visit to Phoenix in 1976, Cllr Considine paid tribute to the links forged between the two communities over the years. He also expressed hope that the ties would be maintained in the future.

Cllr Considine said, “Once gone these ties are nearly impossible to recreate. Thankfully both Ennis and Phoenix see the benefit of twinning and continue to provide support.

“Even though this council will be finishing up in 18 months time, certainly both the commitment of the elected representatives from this council and the executive is very strongly in favour of this commitment and I hope it will continue into the future.”

He added, “In celebrating our 25th anniversary, we are also celebrating ties that were forged by emigration from Ireland to America and the contribution made in every field by the Irish in America. This Irish/American connection has a long and strong future judging by the links between both our communities.

“The Irish have a close a relationship with the American people that is certain to maintain and enhance that connection. At a time when opportunities were denied to them at home, American provided a road to material progress to millions of Irish men and women. Here they would develop as far as they’re abilities would allow them.”

Cllr Considine said, “At the same time their achievements in their new home provided a source of inspiration for those who stayed in Ireland, clear proof of what they themselves could achieve.

“The economic ties between Ireland and America remain very, very strong. Since the 1960s, America has been responsible for most of the inward investment to Ireland. It was vital in the creation of employment and the building up of our industrial sector.

“Both countries have been working trading partners since colonial times. Likewise, tourism and cultural exchanges are lively and flourishing.”

MEMBERS of the St Mary’s Catholic School Marching Band in Phoenix will perform at a number of schools in Clare today as they prepare to return home following a week long visit to the county.

The band were among the guests of honor at events to mark the 25th anniversary of the twinning of Ennis and Phoenix. The band is made up of students from 9th to 12th grades. The members follows in the footsteps of other Phoenix groups such as the internationally acclaimed Phoenix Boys Choir and The Phoenix Children Chorus who have performed in Ennis in recent years.

Today they will perform at Barefield Primary School, Scoil Chriost Rí, Cloughleigh and Colásite Mhuire, Ennis before performing a farewell concert at the Temple Gate Hotel.

St Mary’s High School Band follows in the footsteps of other Phoenix groups such as the internationally acclaimed Phoenix Boys Choir and The Phoenix Children Chorus who have performed in Ennis in recent years.

The band return to America on Wednesday. Mayor of Ennis, councilor Peter Considine paid tribute to the band at a civic reception in the town on Friday. He also acknowledged the success of a student exchange programme between Ennis and Phoenix. The Youth Ambassador programme has been a very popular initiative of the twinning relationship between Ennis and Phoenix. Since 1988 over one hundred second level students have participated in annual exchange programmes between Ennis and Phoenix.

Cllr Considine said, “Secondary students each year from Ennis travel to Phoenix as youth ambassadors where they are home hosted by Phoenix families whose children have earlier been house guests of Ennis families. Ennis ambassadors meet up with other youth ambassadors from other Sister Cities programmes and the experience and friendship gained from those meetings, will create long standing friendships in years to come.”

THE Brothers of Charity in Kilrush have called for a change of attitude when it comes to traffic management in the town.

A delegation from the organisation called for more pedestrian crossings and safer footpaths in the West Clare town at this month’s meeting of Kilrush Town Council.

Antonio Cebas, an employee of the Brothers of Charity, told the council that a number of changes have to be made to make moving around the town for pedestrians, and especially for people with a disability, safer.

“There has to be a change in mindset that includes all pedestrians and cyclists as well,” he said.

Service-user Kathleen O’Leary has been a campaigner for better pedestrian access in the town for a number of years. She was joined by other services-users at the council meeting and they outlined the challenges they face on a daily basis as they move around the town.

The group highlighted the need for zebra crossings on Toler Street and Francis Street, as well as Fahy’s Road and O’Gorman Street.

Crossing from the Square and the town hall to any of the surrounding streets is all but impossible for pedestrians who may have even a slight disability, a fact that was recognised and accepted by the council mem- bers and executive.

All in attendance agreed that outside the library is also problematic.

Ms O’Leary also raised concerns about the condition of certain footpaths in the town.

“I had a bad fall there and was in the hospital for a few days,” she said.

Other members of the delegation raised concerns about speeding in the town and how they are afraid to cross the roads in the evening.

Town Clerk John Corry asked the group to report any loose cobbling that they come across to the council so it can be addressed immediately.

“It would also be useful if you were to make a complaint to the gardaí as well [in relation to the speeding],” he added.

Cllr Ian Lynch (FG) added that it was a shame that citizens of the town had to come into the chamber to tell the council what it already knew and had been highlighting for years but with no success.

He said the council was also struggling to get the Road Safety Authority to see its point of view in relation to certain road safety issues in the town.

Ms O’Leary asked when the group would be meeting again with the council, adamant that some changes should be made soon.

No date was set, but the council agreed to discuss the matter at its next traffic management meeting.

FLIGHTS in and out of Shannon Airport dropped by 17 per cent last month, when compared to the same period the previous year it was announced this week. Coinciding with those figures was the announcement that Shannon’s early morning Heathrow flight is to be put back to a later time. According to figures released by Irish Air Traffic Control, the drop of traffic into the Clare airport was significant when compared to the other State airports, who also suffered a drop in numbers.

Shannon was down an average of 44 commercial daily movements when compared to February 2012.

Dublin had a drop of 1.6 per cent while Cork was down 2.1 per cent. However Irish air traffic is set to increase over the next seven years, according to the latest air traffic forecast published by Euro Control.

There was mixed reaction this week to the news that Shannon’s daily morning flight to Heathrow will now fly on a later schedule. Previously the flight left Shannon at 7.30am, landing in Heathrow at 9am. From March 31st the flight goes back to 8.45am meaning passengers will not now be in London until 10.15am.

The switch will affect many people in the Mid-West region who commute to London every week for work, the change meaning they cannot be in their offices before at the earliest, 11.30am on Monday mornings.

The remaining two flights to London Heathrow, at 12.50pm and 5.10pm remain unaffected.

The change may offer an opportu- nity for another airline to come into Shannon and offer an alternative early morning flight into London. The Aer Lingus slots at Heathrow have long been a source of envy from other airlines, not least Ryanair who are said to covet the routes in and out of Heathrow, which would have been an attractive part of their purchase of Aer Lingus, which they are still pursuing.

Shannon Airport will fall under the complete control of the ‘Newco’ in three months times, with a new CEO expected to be appointed in April.

TWO Limerick brothers have been fined € 500 each after they were caught illegally attempting to import rhino horns worth almost € 500,000 through Shannon Airport three years ago.

Jeremiah O’Brien and (33) and Michael O’Brien (28) were stopped in Shannon Airport on January 13 (2010) due to their demeanor and the size of their luggage. Ennis District Court heard on Friday that customs officers seized eight rhino horns from the brothers who had returned from Faro, Portugal.

Jeremiah O’Brien, with an address at 22 Roche’s Road, Rathkeale, Limerick, pleaded guilty to the illegal importation of four rhino horns valued at € 231,760.

His brother, Michael O’Brien, also with an address at 22 Roche’s Road, Rathkeale, Limerick, pleaded guilty to the illegal importation of four rhino horns valued at € 260,400.

Denis Twohig of the Revenue Commissioner’s Investigations and Prosecutions Unit told the court that it is an offence to import rhino horns without license.

Evidence of valuation was given by George Mealy of Mealy’s Fine Art Ltd. Mr Mealy, a Castlecomerbased valuer and auctioneer, told the court that at the time the brothers were stopped rhino horn was valued at € 20,000 a kilo. He said the same quantity is now worth € 60,000. Mr Mealy said, “It’s worth more than gold at the moment per ounce.”

Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction on the basis that the offence was germane to the breach of the regulations and not the value of the horns.

Defence solicitor John Cussen told the court that the horns were antique, dating from the 1960s, and not from a freshly killed rhino.

He told the court that the trade in rhino horn is fuelled by a “superstition in the Far East” that rhino horn is an “aphrodisiac that enhances sexual performance”.

He said the brothers acquired the horns from a Portuguese antique dealer named Hernandez. He said Mr Hernandez had entrusted the horns to the O’Briens who were to mount them on a board in Rathkeale before returning with them to Portugal.

Mr Cussen said the brothers are antique dealers who travel frequently throughout Europe. He said their circumstances are not good and that their families live in caravan parks in France and Germany. They have no previous convictions.

Mr Cussen said the brothers wished to apologise to the court. The brothers faced a maximum fine of € 1,250 and/or 12 months in prison.

Judge Patrick Durcan said, “In my relatively short time as a judge, this is one of the most interesting and intriguing cases I’ve had to deal with it.”

State solicitor Martin Linnane said, “I’ve never come across a case like this before.”

Judge Durcan said he was satisfied the horns were antique. He said the brothers had made no efforts to conceal the horns and that their actions had not in any way harmed a worldwide campaign aimed at protecting rhinos from poaching. Noting their guilty pleas and good record, Judge Durcan fined each man € 500 with three months to pay.

A NORTH Clare farmer who threatened his brother in a dispute over money has had the charges against him struck out. Last month Gus Howley (56), of Ballytigue, Lisdoonvarna, pleaded guilty to threatening his brother at Larrakea, Kilfenora on November 8, (2012).

He also pleaded guilty to causing € 1500 worth of damage of his brother’s car.

Mr Howley brought a slash hook with him but broke it on the way to a site where his brother Michael was working. Michael Howley was on a scaffold and rang the gardaí because he feared for his life.

Gus Howley had come to the site “in a fit of rage” after money owed to him by his nephew was not repaid. The court previously heard that Gus Howley’s nephew has moved to the United States.

After hearing the case at Ennis District Court last month, Judge Patrick Durcan urged the family to make peace. He adjourned the case pending the outcome of family negotiations.

The case came back before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. The court heard that meetings had taken placed between the brothers.

Asked by Judge Durcan if there was “black smoke or white smoke” arising from the meetings, Ennistymon based Garda, Noel Carroll said, “We have white smoke.”

Garda Carroll told the court that Gus Howley apologized to his brother at a meeting in Ennistymon Garda Station. Michael Howley accepted the apology and the brothers agreed to put the incident behind them, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Jim Finnegan said, “They shook hands and peace has broken out between the brother’s concerned.”

Mr Finnegan said his client had brought € 500 compensation to court. Judge Durcan told Gus Howley that he accepted his word he would pay his brother back for the damage caused. Describing Gus Howley as a “decent man”, Judge Durcan commended the brothers for working out their differences. He struck out the charges against Gus Howley.

He said, “I’m satisfied you won’t offend again.” Judge Durcan also praised the role played by Garda Carroll, saying communities in West and North Clare are “lucky” to have a guard of his quality.