Category: News

A KILRUSH man has emerged at the centre of a diplomatic row which has seen the Republican movement in Ireland accuse the British government of violating the ‘Good Friday Agreement’.

Sixty-one-year-old John Downey, who is originally from St Patrick’s Terrace in Kilrush, was arrested in Gatwick Airport on May 23 last and charged with four counts of murder and conspiring to cause an explosion in the infamous Hyde Park bomb- ings of 1982.

In the attack four members of the Household Cavalry – Roy John Bright, Dennis Richard Anthony Daly, Simon Andrew Tipper and Geoffrey Vernon Young – were killed in the IRA attack.

Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly has said the decision to arrest and charge the Kilrush man “is vindictive, unnecessary and unhelpful. It will cause anger within the Republican community.

“This development represents bad faith and a departure from what was previously agreed by both govern- ments,” he added.

Now the case has been taken up by the local Sinn Féin organization in Clare, with party spokesperson Anne Hayes describing it as “an attack on the peace process”.

She also said, “Republicans have been asked many times to say the war is over and we have acknowledged that fact.

“When are the British going to say their war is over? We are now 15 years on from the Good Friday Agreement and 31 years on from the Hyde Park bomb.

“We negotiated a deal for those thought to be wanted by the British and in 2007 John received a letter assuring him that he was no longer wanted by any British police force. He has since travelled to England several times.

“We have been concerned at the attitude of the Tory government in London for quite some time now. Sinn Féin have lived up to any commitments we have given but the British have not. However, none of us saw such a blatant breach of agreements coming. Vindictive actions like this have no place in a peace process,” she added.

AN ENNIS-based Traveller health care programme has launched an awareness campaign warning of the dangers of using the injectable tanning agent melanotan.

The campaign was in response to health concerns sparked by the easy availability of melanotan online.

It is one of a number of information campaigns launched by the Ennis Primary Traveler Healthcare Programme.

Operated by the Ennis Community Development Project, the programme is run by three community healthcare workers.

Dr Siobhan O’Connor, Co-ordinator, said the programme works as a conduit between the health services and the traveler community.

Dr O’Connor explained, “We offer specific services to individuals of the families in the Traveller community affected by substance misuse. Our drop-in service, every Wednesday, has Traveller community health care workers who will give information and advice to any body that calls in, no appointment is necessary. We also have information sessions and develop materials and resources to spread information”.

She continued, “We put together a DVD last year and we have had a road show earlier this year where we showed the DVD to audiences made up of Travellers in Ennistymon, Shannon and Ennis in a number of locations including the Family Resource Centres and the Community Development Project. This year we have put together an information/ awareness flyer on the dangers of Melanotan, an injectable tanning agent. There had been a couple of stories in the UK about the risks of using it and we wanted to get the message out that you can keep beautiful but in a beautiful way.”

The programme educates young people from a Traveller background on the dangers of substance misuse through the work of Education Peer Support Worker, David McCarthy.

According to the latest census figures, there are an estimated 840 people from a Traveller background living in Clare. The programme has also launched a five-week Traveller men wellbeing programme.

The aim is to support Traveller men to gain the skills and knowledge to take better care of their physical and mental health. This is an opportunity for Traveller men to learn new skills and to hear about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise in a fun way. It runs at Ennis CDP, Clonroad, until June 25.

A FATHER of three has pleaded guilty to assaulting a man at a house in Ennis almost two years ago.

Martin Joyce (22) was one of two men who entered 56 Clancy Park uninvited on June 7 (2011). On Tuesday, Ennis District Court heard that the men cornered Thomas McDonagh in the sitting room of the house. Mr McDonagh, who lives at Ballymurtagh Cross, Shannon, was visiting relatives in Ennis on the day.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that Mr Joyce threatened Mr McDonagh and warned him to stay out of Ennis. The court heard that threats were made to burn down the house if Mr McDonagh called the gardaí.

The court heard Mr Joyce punched the man into the face and side.

He is currently serving an 18-month sentence imposed at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court in April for witness intimidation. Mr Joyce has 33 previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client has no previous convictions for assault. She said the incident at Clancy Park arose from a confrontation that developed between members of Mr Joyce’s extended family.

The court heard Mr Joyce has over- come drug addiction and is attending the education unit at Cork Prison.

Judge William Early said it was “outrageous” that Mr Joyce, in the company of another man, would go into a house and assault Mr McDonagh.

He said this was the type of offence that deserved a custodial sentence.

Noting the guilty plea and the efforts Mr Joyce is making in prison, Judge Early imposed a four-month sentence.

The sentence is to run concurrent to the sentence Mr Joyce is currently serving.

The court also heard that it is alleged that Thomas McDonagh sus- tained head injuries as a result of blows received from a wheel-brace during the incident.

Martin Joyce is not charged in connection with the alleged wheel-brace assault.

Another man appeared in court charged in connection with the incident. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Judge William Early had indicated he would re-consider jurisdiction of the case.

After hearing an outline of the alleged facts, Judge Early accepted to hear the case in the District Court. The case of the second accused was adjourned to June 12 for mention.

UNEMPLOYMENT and social inequality is feeding a rise in mental health problems and drug abuse, according to the chairman of the Mid West Regional Drugs Task Force.

Mick Lacey was speaking at a meeting of drug support services in Ennis last month.

He said that the recession and austerity are indirectly leading to a “huge rise in suicide”.

Mr Lacey explained, “National statistics for suicide are not out yet but anecdotally there seems to be a huge rise in suicide, indirectly as a result of austerity. There has also been a rise in drugs issues and mental health issues right across the board. Social inequality, unemployment all contribute to this problem.”

He added, “There is a certain amount of people irrespective of our social and economic system who will get addicted. They are pre-disposed to it. But social inequality, marginalisation, unemployment and austerity have contributed to people who would normally not develop mental health or alcohol problems, being affected. We’re seeing a lot of that. People from right across the board.”

Mr Lacey said despite a near 4 per cent cut in funding, the task force has not reduced services.

He said, “We’ve something like € 1.4 million and we didn’t have to cut back services. We streamlined the services. We were able to set up community substance misuse team (CSMT), which we are very proud of because it takes a multi-dimensional approach. It’s not just about pathologising the addiction. We’re looking at the young person, relationships in the community, employment issues and identifying underlying mental health issues also.”

Mr Lacey also warned of a rise in the number of people using benzodiazepines.

He said, “Benzo use is huge at the moment. Benzo use and pharmaceuticals are being used right across the board.

“Not just with teenagers but we’re finding it a problem with young women and older women. Where as heroin you can treat it with methadone, with benzos it takes six months to get out of your system. You can be going through withdrawls for six weeks because of the half life of the drugs.”

A MAN who head-butted a Clare garda and told him he would “put two bullets in his head” has been sentenced to four months in prison.

Paddy Harty (40) pleaded guilty to assaulting Ennistymon Garda David Keneally at Roughan, Kilnaboy on February 8 (2013).

Gardaí were responding to reports of a car crash in the area when the assault occured.

Mr Harty, with a former address at Lisheen Park, Patrickswell, Limerick, appeared at Ennis District Court on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty to assault and possession of two stolen handbags at Roughan Kilnaboy on February 8.

He also pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a mechanically propelled vehicle.

The court heard that the car Mr Harty was traveling in was stolen in Ballinasloe on February 7.

The court heard that after being handcuffed, Mr Harty issued threats to Garda Keneally and head butted him.

Insp Kennedy said the accused appeared intoxicated. He said Mr Harty was subdued with assistance from gardaí from Ennis Garda Station.

The Court heard that the handbags found in the car had been taken during a burglary of a house in Inagh on February 7. Insp Kennedy told the court that Mr Harty has 93 previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Fiona Hehir said her client, a married father of five, is a chronic alcoholic who has never received treatment.

She said a doctor has told Mr Harty that if he doesn’t stop drinking “he won’t see 50.”

In a letter to the court, Mr Harty apologized for his actions on February 8.

He wrote, “I can’t remember the incident and I’m very sorry to all parties involved.” The court heard Mr Harty is attending meetings of Alcoholic’s Anonymous in prison.

Judge William Early said Mr Harty appeared to be making good use of his time in prison.

However he added that the court judges people on their behaviour. Judge Early said it was “totally unacceptable” to assault and threaten to put two bullets in the head of garda.

He imposed sentences totaling 12 months in prison. Eight months of the sentence were suspended for two years on condition Mr Harty be of good behaviour. The sentence was backdated to May 3 (2013). Mr Harty thanked Judge Early as he was led away from the courtroom.

HOPES are high that a breakthrough could soon be on the way in one of Clare’s longest running unsolved murders. Ennistymon woman Emer O’Loughlin lost her life in a mobile home in Tubber in April 8, 2005.

A number of attempts have been made over the years to track down the chief suspect, John Griffin, with Interpol releasing a photograph and a description for John Griffin in early 2011.

Despite a number of leads and suspected sightings of Mr Griffin in Europe, the official search has gone cold in recent years. This has prompted the family of Emer O’Loughlin to launch a new online campaign which they hope could uncover information about the tragic killing.

A new group entitled ‘Justice for Emer O’Loughlin’ was set up on Facebook last week and has already received almost 600 followers.

The reward poster for Mr Griffin, which was shared on the site, has been viewed by more than 15,000 people in the last seven days – with residents living in mainland Europe asked to be particularly vigilant.

It has also been confirmed that the case of Emer O’Loughlin will feature in the first episode of a new RTÉ series entitled “Cracking Crime” later this summer.

The first episode, which will be broadcast on RTÉ 1 on Tuesday, July 23, will include interviews conducted with the O’Loughlin family at the eight anniversary of Emer’s death this April.

Emer was killed on April 8, 2003. She was studying art in Galway at the time and would have been in college that day had it not been for funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Her body was found in the burnedout neighbouring mobile home and was only identified following DNA testing.

The chief suspect in the case, John Griffin, was tracked to the Aran Island where Gardaí believe he tried to fake his own suicide before he fled the country.

For more on the new group visit www.facebook.com/JusticeForEmer.

THE owner of the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis says he expects the business to be fully back in action by Wednesday evening. A temporary closure was needed on Thursday last when a pipe was cracked during refurbishment work. A limited food menu is still available at the Old Ground while bar and accommodation services are running as normal.

In a statement, the hotel said an issue was identified with part of the drainage system of the hotel following a recent refurbishment of the ladies bathrooms.

The statement added, “As a precau- tionary measure, the hotel has taken the decision to temporarily close our main kitchen and we are working in conjunction with our local health authorities towards a speedy resolution of the problem.”

The hotel also apologized to customers for any inconvenience caused. The Old Ground Hotel employs 126 people.

Speaking yesterday, hotel owner Allen Flynn thanked the community and local businesses for the “avalanche of support” given to the hotel in recent days.

Mr Flynn said, “The industry that we are in is in very difficult times at the minute and to have this problem occur just coming into summer isn’t easy. But I suppose if anything has come out of it, it is truly the support of the local community and businesses since the problem arose.

“Truly we have received an avalanche of support from what I would have called competitors – I now call them friends – The Temple Gate Hotel, the Madden Family, Dromoland and especially St Flannan’s College who were more than willing to provide us with kitchen facilities over the weekend.

“They said they were willing to help somebody who does an extra special job of creating as much local employment as possible. It’s great to see support like that coming back to the hotel.”

He added, “We were doing a refurbishment of our ladies bathroom here. We were trying to solve a water issue that we had, we actually ended up cracking pipes underneath and that caused a problem with our drainage. Our drainage experts are back in with us and we’re trying to get all that sorted.”

Mr Flynn said, “At the moment we have a limited menu for food but the bar and accommodation is still running as normal.

“It was wonderful to see again over the weekend the atmosphere that could only be created in a place like Ennis with the Fleadh, with setdancing in the lobby until the wee hours.”

IT MAY have been a ‘school night’ but that did not stop the people of Loophead partying last night (Monday), as they gathered in the Longdock Bar in Carrigaholt to celebrate Loop Head peninsula being named Best Place to Holiday in Ireland.

Kilbaha woman Ailish Connolly was one of the many excited people delighted to see this area of west Clare get national recognition.

“I really can’t believe it. I was out dolphin watching on Saturday and I got a call saying they [‘The Irish Times’ sponsor] wanted to take a photograph. I got all excited but then was told that they were taking photos of all five finalists. I just kept telling myself we didn’t win, but coming in the top five was great,” she laughed.

Kevin Heapes of Pure Camping based in Querrin had spent Sunday night checking the web to see if an announcement had been made.

A win would have been a huge endorsement of the work carried out to date by Loophead Tourism, a group of local private businesses who, with the support of the Clare Local Development Company (Leader) and Clare County Council, got together to market the peninsula for sustainable tourism.

Of the 90 businesses on Loophead, as many as 45 are part of Loophead Tourism. And all 45 are in some way involved in the tourism industry.

Maps and information is published locally on recycled paper, the plaques for each building are designed and produced locally and all marketing and design work is produced locally, feeding back into the local economy.

“None of this would be possible without Leader. We would not have been able to pull it all together and market it,” said Ms Connolly.

“There are five businesses that want to get started in the next 12 months on the Loop and that cannot happen without Leader support,” she added.

Meanwhile Cillian Murphy, Chairman of Loophead Tourism said that with the company’s support sig nificant work had been undertaken during the past four to five years in establishing a community-wide approach to tourism development across the Peninsula.

“As a result of this, we have seen many members of the community establish their own tourism-based initiatives that are complemented by the supports being made available by other established local businesses, the Loophead Tourism network, Clare County Council, Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) and Fáilte Ireland,” he said.

“Loophead excelled in this competition not only because it possesses a rich variety of visitor attractions and activities and one of some of Ireland’s most unique scenery, but also because it matched the competition criteria that were very much focused on community, sustainability and the quality of the tourism product on offer. This reflects a shift within the tourism sector to visitors looking for a genuine and organic holiday experience, which is something that Loophead offers in abundance.”

THE Irish Cancer Society received just 103 enquiries from Clare last year – that is just .3 per cent of the 28,383 calls being taken nationally.

A spokesperson for the charity said it is hoped that with more awareness even more people with the disease will contact the organisation in the coming year if they need assistance.

With less than half a percent of the calls to the society coming from Clare it is one of the lowest in the country.

However local grown organisations, such as the West Clare Mini Marathon Centre, which is not affiliated with the Irish Cancer Society, is busy providing transport to an from hospital for patients and holistic and psychological support to patients and their families.

In the last month the Irish Cancer Society also announced that it would be providing transport for cancer patients in Clare to and from the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick for treatment.

Other Irish Cancer Society services available to Clare patients include the National Cancer Helpline, which is staffed by specialist cancer nurses; and the Society’s Night Nursing service, which provides care to cancer patients in their last days of life so they can stay at home with their families.

During 2012 the society’s night nurses cared for 1,818 patients, providing 7,350 nights of care. 167 nights of care were provided to cancer patients in Clare.

Financial aid is also available to cancer patients suffering financial hardship as a result of their diagnosis. During 2012 financial aid to the value of € 1,047,461 was provided to 1,753 cancer patients across the country. € 24, 530 worth of financial aid was given to cancer patients in Clare.

The society thanked all those in Clare who supported Daffodil Day 2013, which helps to fund such services.

The charity said however that the bad weather impacted severely on fundraising this year, with funding down 50 per cent.

An emergency appeal was launched to re-coup the shortfall and appeal to those that could not donate as usual due to the weather. The appeal saw just fewer than 30,000 people donate following Daffodil Day, with donations being made online, by phone and by text. The response to the appeal saw the initial shortfall recover to within 20 per cent of the original target.

The society is now encouraging everyone who participated in this year’s Daffodil Day campaign to bank their funds as soon as possible.

HE’S lost over 13 stone; he’s completed four marathons and counting, raising money for charity en route, but for Darren Kelly that’s not enough – there’s more as he takes to the skies this weekend for his latest exploit.

The 26-year-old Ennisman is going to Galway, along with up to 20 more Clare Crusaders, for a fundraising sky dive in aid of the Barefield-based charity for children with special needs.

“There was a group doing the sky dive for the Crusaders, so I decided to give it a go,” Kelly told The Clare People about his latest adventure since losing nearly half his body weight over the past 18 months.

“In January of last year I joined Weight Watchers and it started there. I put an awful lot of emphasis on exercise and started exercising every day of the week.

“The hardest thing was to start and trying to keep going. I was always swimming, but I wasn’t put the huge amount of effort that was needed. My sister was getting married last year and I set myself the target of getting down a couple of stone by the time she got married. That was a good target to set – then I set another target and aimed for that it went on from there,” he added.

His progress can be measured, not only in his weight loss, but also by his marathon times since first taking on the 26 miles 385 yards test in October 2010.

“I walked my first two marathons,” he revealed. “The first year I did the Dublin Marathon in nine hours and then the following year in nine and a half hours, but after really starting training in 2012 I’ve ran the last two, breaking five hours in Dublin last year and doing the Limerick Marathon in 4:42 a few weeks ago. I was delighted with that.

“I also did White Collar boxing for the Crusaders last year – it was all part of setting targets for losing weight and I’ve now lost over 13 stone and am now about 15 stone 12. There is great enjoyment reaching your targets. The more you do it the more it becomes a habit,” he added.

As for his latest adventure, which is quite literally a leap of faith, the affable Kelly is taking it in his stride. “We will go up on the day – you’re tied on to somebody up to 10,000 feet and weather permitting we’ll jump,” he said. “We have set ourselves a target of raising € 250 each. I’m doing a raffle of a signed Munster jersey, an Irish soccer jersey and a Clare jersey,” he added.