Category: News

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.

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.

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.

THE National Roads Authority (NRA) were yesterday accused of “giving the finger” to Clare County Council and the people of North Clare because of its continued refusal to provide funding for a pedestrian crossing at Inagh.

The construction of the pedestrian crossing on the Miltown Malbay road in Inagh has been identified as the top local roads priority by Clare County Council in recent years but the NRA has not yet seen fit to provide funding for its construction.

The Miltown Malbay road currently divides the village of Inagh, with a large amount of community facilities – including a number of resources for young people – located at either sides of the roads.

“I am absolutely amazed the NRA cannot regard this pedestrian crossing as a priority. This is a national secondary route. There are huge volumes of traffic on this road and there and there is a massive numbers of people crossing that road every day,” said Cllr Richard Nagle (FG).

“Someone from the NRA needs to come down and have a look at this road.”

Lahinch-based Cllr Slattery (FG) pointed out that this issue has been raised by councillors on four separate occasions in recent years and on each occasions councillors received an identical response from the local authority.

“I received the reply I in January of 2012, Richard [Nagle] got in again in July 2012. We have received the same reply to this on four different occasions and that is not acceptable,” he said.

“People are coming to us with genuine issues regarding this road. What is the point of us putting in these motions and getting the standard response again and again. I know it’s not your fault [Clare County Council] but the National Roads Authority seem to be giving all of us the finger in relation to this road.”

In a response to the motion, local engineer Stephen Lahiff described the crossing as “vital” to the ongoing safety of people using the village.