Category: News

A LIMERICK man has appeared in court charged in connection with a burglary of Tinarana House in Killaloe earlier this year. Jeffrey Lee (41), with an address at Cosgrave Park, Moyross, Limerick, was brought before Ennis District Court on Thursday. He is charged with entering Tinarana House as a trespasser on dates between August 17 and September 24 and committing theft therein. Detective Garda Bernard Casey gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He told the court Mr Lee made no reply to charge after caution. Inspector John O’Sullivan sought to have the accused remanded in custody with consent to bail. He said bail would be subject to a number of conditions; Mr Lee must reside at Cosgrave Park, Moyross, stay out of County Clare and Ballina, County Tipperary, and observe a curfew between 11pm and 7am. Mr Lee must also provide his own bond of € 100 and an independent surety of € 1,000. Judge Patrick Durcan remanded Mr Lee in custody with consent to bail to appear against at Ennis District Court on October 16. Legal aid was approved for defence solicitor Tara Godfrey. The property is the home of Gary McNamara and his wife, Michelle. He is the son of Dolores McNamara, the Limerick woman who won € 115m in the Euromillions lottery draw in 2005. The period mansion is located on 270 acres on the shores of Lough Derg. Tinarana was previously owned by Dr Paschal Carmody and his wife, Dr Frieda Carmody. Dr Carmody was acquitted in Ennis Circuit Criminal Court earlier this year of the final remaining charges relating to obtaining money by deception from the families of terminally ill cancer patients.

THE service given by former Reserve Army members in Ennis will be recognised with a plaque at the town’s new peace memorial.

In a report to councillors earlier this month, town clerk Leonard Cleary said Ennis Town Council received a request from the local representatives of the former 22nd Battalion Reserve Army, Ennis.

The 22nd Infantry Battalion stationed at the Barrack in Ennis, be- side the Garda Station, served in the town from 1949/50 to 2005.

Mr Cleary states, “The Battalion have given a great service to the people of Ennis and indeed many people from Ennis were involved over the decades. Since 2005 a different Reserve Army structure exists in Ennis. As the Barrack building is assuming a new function, the local representatives of the Battalion would like to re-locate their Battalion’s wall plaque from the Barrack building wall to a new location.”

Mr Cleary said the representatives have requested the plaque be located in a quiet public space where they could occasionally lay a wreath.

He said the Battalion had links with the council through their involvement with the St Patrick’s Day ceremony.

Mr Cleary continued, “It is recommended that the request be facilitated by Ennis Town Council. It is proposed that the plaque be suitably incorporated into its own allocated space beside the proposed peace memorial site at Friar’s Walk. This is on the basis that it has already been agreed by Ennis Town Council that there may be other memorials installed at this site in due course. The appropriate next step would be to liaise with the local representatives of the Battalion and with the Irish Army to consider the requests further and any associated costs, which it is expected would be minimal.”

Speaking at the October meeting of Ennis Town Council, Cllr Peter Considine (FF) said the Battalion were always held in high regard in Ennis.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the reserve army had given over 70 years of service to the people of Ennis.

Ennis is also to recognise the sacrifices of men and women who fought in conflicts such as the Vietnam War with a memorial in the Monastery Park area of the town.

Ennis Town Council will manage the project, which will be funded by the United States Vietnam Veterans Advocacy Group.

The sculpture will specifically commemorate men and women who served in Allied service in South East Asian wars between 1959 and 1975.

THE construction industry in Clare may finally be on the road to recovery, but only just. New figures for commencements in the county reveal a year-on-year decrease of just 0.66 per cent for the year until the end of August.

While the number of commencements continues to decline in the county – Clare recorded the lowest percentage decline of any county in Munster and was well below the national average decline, which was just over 10 per cent – hopes are now high that a slight increase in the number of commencements for the final quarter of 2013 could see the Banner country record a yearly increase in building commencements. If this takes place, this would be the first increase in building commencements in Clare since the recession started in 2007.

While the number of planning application continue to fall in Clare, this may not indicate a slowdown in the real activity of the construction industry. Commencement orders are considered a much more accurate way of gauging construction activity, as it is a measure of actual builds rather than possible builds.

In total, work began on 150 properties in Clare between January 1 and August 31 f this year. This is down slightly on the 151 properties for the same period of 2012.

The combined number of planning permissions being made to Clare County Council, Ennis Town and Kilrush Town Councils fell by 15 per cent so far this year. This also represents a slowdown in the rate of decrease, as the number of planning application fell by a massive 32 per cent for the first eight months of 2012.

Only five counties Dublin, Roscommon, Meath, Longford and Wexford recorded an increase in commencements, with Clare the sixth best performing county in Ireland.

While the trend in Clare is still towards fewer houses being built year-on-year, it looks likely that the construction industry in Clare may be about to turn the corner.

PATIENTS’ lives are being put in jeopardy every day because Non Consultants Hospital Doctors (NCHD) are being forced to work up to 40 hours straight before undertaking complex medical procedures.

That is the opinion of one Clareborn NCHD who says that he himself has carried out spinal taps and other complex procedures while severely sleep deprived. The doctor, who has asked not to be identified, also says that a number of NCHD’s are suffering from depression brought about by the mental and physical pressure of the job and a mass emigration of Irish doctors could soon take place.

“When you hear people calling them Junior Doctors it gives the impression that they are young people and inexperienced. The reality is that a lot of the most senior people in hospitals, and the most senior people in hospitals at night are NCHDs,” he said.

“The person who would look after you if you present with a heart attack at night is a NCHD, who could easily have been working for the previous 40 hours straight. If you go into A&E with a severe headache and you need a lumbar puncture [spinal tap], that will be done by a NCHD. The hospitals are pretty much staffed by NCHDs at weekend and out of hours. I myself have done lumbar punctures after being awake for 30 hours straight; it is not best practice but it’s the situation that we are placed in.

“I don’t think a lot of people believe the working hours. Under the European Work Time Directive we should be limited to 48 hours and we should never work more than a 13 hour shift.

“The hours that NCHDs are doing varies a lot. If you are in a peripheral hospital, which has only four medical registrars, they will often have to do two 24-hour shifts per week on top of their normal working week. So they will frequently be doing 80 or 90 hours weeks. Sometimes people will do on-call for an entire weekend and you would work 72 hours straight.

“It sounds preposterous, but it happens. I’ve done it myself. I’ve come into work on a Friday morning and I’ve left on a Monday afternoon. I’ve nearly crashed the car driving home on a number of occasions, just falling asleep at the wheel. I’m sure we’ve all made countless errors that we don’t even realise.

“After working 24 hours straight the first thing that goes is your patience and your ability to deal with people. The next thing then is your concentration. After a while it get too much, I’ve seen doctors burst into tears, quit, walk out, everything. If you go into hospital and you are met by a doctor, a lot of those doctors have been working for 24 or 36 hours before they see you.

“Mistakes are being made all the time; it’s almost an accepted practice now. There is a culture that you are supposed to perk yourself up and get on with it. I have seen people make mistakes and I have made mistakes myself.”

A number of recent cases of NCHDs suffering from depression, including a spate of recent suicides, have prompted the doctors to take their recent action.

“It is inhumane and people [NCHD’s] have drawn a line under it because of recent events and we are not going to put up with it anymore. There have been a couple of suicides in recent times and I think really sparked the campaign,” he continued.

“Burn out is a huge thing. Some people take on all the hours as a challenge. Some of the senior doctors encourage this; they say it’s a right of passage and things like that. So there is a bit of peer pressure involved.

“I think this [protest] is a desperate, last attempt for a lot of people. If this doesn’t work I think we will see a lot of doctors packing up and leaving the country. No one wants to leave but a lot of people feel they don’t have a choice. Morale is at an all time low.

“A lot of people are moving to other areas of medicines, becoming GPs and things like that. People are getting burned out, a lot are getting depressed and some are even emigrating. People who have families hardly ever get to see their children. When they come home, they are exhausted. A lot of people are emigrating but nobody really wants to.”

A NORTH Clare parish priest is offering to conduct “downsized” weddings for couples who have been putting off taking the plunge because of the recession.

Lisdoonvarna priest, Father Conor Cunningham has offered to open up traditional Sunday mass for weddings and has also offered his services free of charge if couples decide to partake in a private church ceremony involving the bride, groom and their witnesses. The offer comes as marriage rates continue to drop in many parts of the country. According to Fr Cunningham, financial difficulties brought about by the recession should not prevent willing couples from getting married.

“I have noticed, and other priest friends of mine too, that some couples are putting off their sacramental marriage because they think a wedding day has to be an expensive occasion. It doesn’t have to be,” he said.

“If any couple in our parish wants to get married in Christ, money and the economic climate definitely should not be factors in their decision. Why not get married at any of our regular parish Sunday masses with your friends, family and neighbours around you and supporting you in prayer?

“Parishioners would be thrilled and privileged to be present. Or even in a quiet liturgy with Jesus, the priest and your two witnesses on any day that suits? I would be privileged to facilitate such weddings anytime, and it would be totally free of cost and pressure.”

Sunday marriages are prohibited in many diocese as the church authorities feel that priests, who could say mass five or six times on a given Sunday, should not be put under pressure to conduct weddings as well.

Fr Cunningham’s idea to combine traditional Sunday mass with weddings ceremonies has been well received in North Clare. While no Sunday marriages have yet been scheduled, a number of couples have recently renewed their vows on a Sunday, as part of the regular mass schedule.

Mary GRIFFIN
, John Street, Kilrush. Laid to rest in NewShanakyle Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Nancy QUINN
, 158 Finian Park, Shannon. Funeral Mass today (Tuesday) at 1pmin St Peter and Paul’s Church in Shannon. Burial afterwards in Illaunamanagh Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Maura MCNAMARA (née O’Brien)
. Ballinclea Heights, Killiney, Dublin, North Clare. Laid to rest in Holy Rosary Cemetery in Doolin. Donations to Alzheimers society if desired. May she rest in peace.

Michael (Mick) DALY
, 6WolfeToneTerrace, Roxboro Road, Limerick/ Clonlara. Late of Yardfield, Clonlara. Laid to rest in the Bridgetown Church Grounds. Donations, if desired, to the Alzheimer’s Association of Ireland. May he rest in peace.

Martin CASEY
, Chapel Drive, Kilrush. Laid to rest in the NewShanakyle Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

John GALLERY
, Parliament Street, Ennistymon. Laid to rest in the Old Cemetery, Ennistymon. May he rest in peace.

Edmund MARSHALL SR
, 44 Abbey St, Ennis. Memorial Mass was held in Ennis Cathedral on Friday last. May he rest in peace.

Maura MCDONAGH
, MeadowCourt, Clonroad, Ennis. Late of Marian Avenue. Peacefully. Laid to rest in Drumcliffe Cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Brian MCMAHON
, Caherminane, Kilfenora/ San Francisco. Died tragically in San Francisco following an accident. Laid to rest in Noughaval cemetery. Donations if desired to the Clare Crusaders. May he rest in peace.

Gerry GARVEY
, Roslevan, Ennis. Peacefully. Laid to rest in Clooney Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Fergus BARRON
, Clonskeagh/ Ennis. Formerly of Bord na Mona and former President of the Irish Amateur Swimming Association. Peacefully at St Vincent’s University Hospital. Laid to rest in Shanganagh Cemetery. Donations in lieu to MS Ireland. May he rest in peace.

Marty KEANE
, Benedin, Lissycasey. Laid to rest in Lissycasey. Donations if desired to Cahercalla Hospice. May he rest in peace.

Eileen MC MAHON (née Carey)
, Lough South, Doolin. Laid to rest in the Holy Rosary Cemetery, Doolin. May she rest in peace.

Peter John KELLY
, 74 Rossbracken, Shannon. Laid to rest in Lemenagh Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Padraigh MARKHAM
, Boloughra, Lissycasey. Suddenly. Laid to rest in Kilmihil. May he rest in peace.

Martin MC DONNELL
, NewYork and late of Moyhill, Maurices Mills. Laid to rest in Rath Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

John O’DWYER
, Rinneville, Carrigaholt. Peacefully at Milford Hospice. Laid to rest in Kilballyowen Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

AS MANY as 325 procedures, including surgeries and out patient appointments were cancelled in the region’s hospitals last week as a result of industrial action by junior doctors.

The union representing doctors and the HSE are to begin talks today (Tuesday) with a view to avoiding further strike action.

The six hospitals that make up the University of Limerick Hospitals Group, including Ennis Hospital, the University Hospital Limerick and the University Maternity Hospital Limerick all cancelled operations, clinics and out patient appointments on Tuesday last. The HSE would not provide a breakdown of how many patients from each hospital were affected. It said however that all patients affected would have their appointments rescheduled.

Urgent care for areas such as oncology, dialysis and emergency is was provided and the Emergency Department in Dooradoyle remained open as did the local injuries units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s, according to a HSE spokesperson.

Discussions between the Irish Medical Organisation, the union representing the doctors who are protesting about long working hours, and the HSE were suspended on Thursday but are to continue today, Tuesday, with a view to avoiding any further strikes in the country’s hospitals.

In a statement the IMO said, “Before the talks resume both sides will continue to work together on verifying the position of individual hospitals in relation to the number of hours being worked by NCHDs.”

It added that “progress has been made and the IMO will continue to engage in the process next week”.

A SUICIDE prevention and support group for teenagers set up in Clare last year has expanded its focus to include older people, due to an ever increasing need and demand. Mark Winder, who set up the organisation The William Winder Rainbow Foundation with his wife Caroline in memory of their teenage son, said the charitable organisation has expanded significantly during its first year. “We had to expand, we didn’t have a choice. “The need was there, especially among the farming community,” he said. The organisation currently employs 15 specially-trained councillors who provide counselling sessions to peo ple who may have suicidal tendencies. Doctors and Gardaí have also started to refer people to the charitable organisation, set up in memory of a young man who had dedicated himself to fundraising and helping others. “Every suicide I hear about is personal to me,” said Mark who continues to grieve for his 15-year-old son who took his own life before his junior cert exams. “I believe helping people in need is a fitting legacy to our son.” Caroline paid tribute to the many people who support the foundation. “It would not be possible without the community who came out and supported the annual fundraising event again this year,” she said referring to the Mardi Gras Ball held in the Bellbridge Hotel at the weekend. Anyone wishing to contact the foundation or any of its counsellors can do so through the website Williamwinderrainbowfoundation.ie or through their local GP. All calls are dealt with in strictest confidence.

A MAN who placed stone boulders across the main Ennis to Kilmaley road has been told his actions could have resulted in someone being killed.

The warning came at Ennis District Court on Wednesday at the sentencing of Eoin Kerin (28) who placed the boulders on the Kilmaley Road on November 23 (2011) after a night of drinking.

Last October, Mr Kerin, with an address at Beechpark, Ennis pleaded guilty to charges of criminal damage and intentionally placing a dangerous obstruction upon a road.

A van was damaged when it hit the rocks on the night. The case had been adjourned on a number of occasions and Mr Kerin appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Outlining the facts of the case to Judge Patrick Durcan, Inspector Tom Kennedy said the van driver could not avoid the boulders. Gardaí were called and the boulders were cleared from the road.

However Insp Kennedy told the court the rocks and boulders were put back on the road within 15 minutes. Mr Kerin was spotted in a field near the road. He admitted the offences to gardaí.

“What he did was absolutely hugely dangerous”, said Insp Kennedy.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court that her client had paid compensation to the injured party. She said there is a low risk of Mr Kerin re-offending.

Ms Godfrey urged the court to adjourn the case for a long period.

Judge Patrick Durcan said someone could have been killed as a result of what Mr Kerin did.

“It is a case that troubles me. It is a serious matter”, he added.

Judge Durcan adjourned the case for a brief period to consider sentence.

When the case resumed, Judge Durcan imposed a fine of € 500.

He said, “I have to convict your client. I have to bear in mind that somebody could’ve been killed. It’s a terrible thing to do.”

Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

THE number of commercial flights in and out of Shannon ai r por t so far this year are up on the same period last year, however the ai r por t has the lowest number of daily flights when compared to Dublin and Cork.

According to the Irish Aviation Authority’s latest repor t, the cumulative number of flights from January to September through t he Shannon ter mi nal has increased by 5. 5 per cent when compared to the same period i n 2012.

While that proves positive for t he local newly independent ai r por t, t he average number of daily flights are still slightly less than its nearest competitor in Cork.

Cork increased its flight numbers in and out of the ai r por t by just 5.2 per cent, slightly less than Shannon, but it maintains an average daily movement of 62 flights.

Shannon is just slightly behind wit h 60 daily movements.

Dublin, which has 88 per cent of the t raffic of the three ai r por ts, also showed an increase of 6.6 per cent of flights in and out of the ai r por t wit h an average of 498 daily movements.

Total flights in Irish ai rspace increased by 0. 8 per cent when compared to September 2012, with the busiest day being September 6, with 1, 557 flights in Irish ai rspace.

IAA CEO, Eamonn Brennan said, “This sust ained growth is ver y en- couraging news for Dublin Ai r por t and t he wider economy. September was also a good month for Shannon, up 5. 5 per cent year-on-year. There is some way to go to catch up wit h previous levels during the peak years but 2013 is a step in t he right di rection.”

On a cumulative basis, commercial ter minal t raffic for Dublin, Cork and Shannon ai r por ts for Januar y to September 2013 was up by 2.7 per cent, compared to the same period in 2012.

A JUDGE has ordered the dismantling of a cannabis grow-house in East Clare that was the subject of a garda raid two years ago.

Judge Gerard Keys made the order at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court as he adjourned sentencing of Bridgetown man Sean Mason.

Mr Mason (37) pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis without license after gardaí discovered a “purpose built” and “sophisticated” cannabis grow house at his home in Ballybrack, Bridgetown on October 29 2011.

Outlining details of the operation earlier this month, Garda Francis Brennan of Ennis Garda Station told the court the search uncovered incubators containing 72 young cannabis plants.

One building was fitted out with a tiled floor equipped with drains to take away water and ventilation and lighting systems.

Gardaí also discovered cannabis resin in a lunchbox and a black plastic bag containing cannabis off-cuts.

Mr Mason accepted responsibility for the cannabis growing operation and told gardaí he used the drug for medical reasons.

Garda Brennan said gardaí did not accept Mr Mason’s reason for growing cannabis.

Judge Keys adjourned sentencing to hear the Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP) view on the seriousness of the offence.

On Thursday, Counsel for the DPP, Stephen Coughlan BL told the court that Mr Mason had grown cannabis for medical reasons.

He said there was no evidence this was part of an organised crime set up.

Adjourning sentence, Judge Keys ordered the complete dismantling of the areas of the premises altered for the growth of cannabis.

He said he wanted to ensure the building could not be used again for cultivating cannabis plants.

“I want it dismantled in such a way to satisfy gardaí that it cannot be used for the growth of cannabis,” he added.

The case was adjourned for mention to the final week of October.