Category: News

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.

THE amount of money the HSE West is paying out for agency staff increased by almost one million euro during the first three months of this year.

The 21 per cent increase in agency staff had been attributed to a staff monitorium introduced by the Government and the inability of the hospital sector to attract specialist medical personnel on a full time basis.

While the cost of agency staff has increased, the overtime bill has decreased by 11 per cent.

Fianna Fáil county councillor Brian Meaney said staff are genuinely frustrated by these financial cuts.

“What they are saving on one side they are losing on the other,” he said.

He added that the CEO of the Mid Western Regional Hospital Group also informed him that the increase in the cost of agency staff in the midwest region was higher than the rest of the HSE Area West.

“The only people winning here are the agencies,” he said, as it emerged agency nurses cost the hospitals € 28 per hour, compared to a staff nurse at € 17 per hour.

“We should go with long term temporary contracts. They would give stability and improve morale,” he suggested.

The figures outlining the costs show a comparison between the amount paid out for overtime and agency staff during the first quarter of this year, and the sum paid from January to March in 2012.

During the first three months of last year € 4.354 million was paid to agencies supplying staff to hospitals in the HSE West area, including Ennis General Hospital.

During the same period this year that figure had risen by € 921,000 to € 5.275 million, leaving Cllr Meaney to question if the HSE was getting value for money and patients consistency of care.

While the cost of agency staff had increased significantly the cost of overtime at the area’s hospitals had dropped significantly.

During the first three months of 2012, overtime came to € 11.698 million. This dropped by 11 per cent to € 10.377 in 2013, saving the HSE € 1.321 million.

Francis Rogers, Assistant National Director of Human Resources HSE West, said this issue continues to be a “major challenge” for the HSE West, but there has been “a significant drop in expenditure”.

He added that while the cost of agency staff had “bottomed out slightly” last year, “it crept up on us during the first quarter of 2013”.

“These costs are a key element of 2013 Cost Containment Plans and reductions in expenditure levels will be critical in delivering the pay reductions necessary in 2013,” he said.

He attributed the need for agency staff to the moratorium.

The HSE’s assistant national director for finance, Liam Minihan, said that a large number of nurses had also left the HSE West under the early retirement scheme last year, and there were not enough nurses left to cross cover – hence the need for agency nurses.

SHANNON boasts Ireland’s longest r unway and is to play host to the world’s largest charter airline, after the decision announced last week by Thomson Ai rlines to use Clare’s international air por t as a training base for pilots on its Boeing Dreamliner passenger jets.

Thomson Airways officially took deliver y of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner last week, making it the first British car rier to receive one of the jets – with the leisure car rier’s deliver y flight leaving Boeing’s factory in Washington for Manchester.

The next stop is Shannon as it’s one of several ai rports selected for training flights – the other airports being Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield, Newquay, Prestwick and Hanover.

“Thomson have indicated to us that they wish to use Shannon for a series of touch-and-go procedures for a three-week period in June,” said Head of Operations and Services at Shannon Air por t Niall Maloney.

“Shannon has always been to the forefront of flight training and new technology and has a proud history of facilitating all types of aircraft. Concorde trained here as did the Ai rbus A380 while several ai rlines continue to use Shannon for training “Thomson’s decision to use Shannon fur ther highlights the potential of the ai rport with the longest r unway in Ireland and excellent weather conditions for such training flights,” Mr Maloney added.

The Dreamliner jets have been beset with difficulties since entering service last year. Ai rlines operating the Dreamliner were forced to ground them in Januar y following a number of serious incidents involving overheating batteries. Operators have however started to return their jets to service after Boeing remedied the problem.

Shannon was the first commercial air por t outside the US that a Boeing 787 Dreamliner visited and the jet has visited the ai rport five times in the past three years.

A SIGNIFICANT number of visitors would prefer later shopping and earlier entertainment on the streets of Ennis, according to the findings of a new survey.

The survey by the Ennis Purple Flag committee found that 83 per cent of respondents were in favour of late shopping in the town centre.

In February, Ennis became the first Irish town to receive the Purple Flag. The award aims to broaden the ap- peal and improve the standard of nighttime destinations.

A survey was carried out after Ennis received the flag, which was erected at O’Connell Square.

At a meeting on Thursday night, Brian O’Neill, Chairman of Promote Ennis, said the initial results of the survey show a significant interest in both later shopping and earlier entertainment.

The survey was distributed to visitors at three participating accommodation providers, Old Ground Hotel, the Temple Gate Hotel and the Rowan Tree Hostel.

Mr O’Neill, who runs the Rowan Tree Hostel, said, “The outcome of the survey, which was ‘would you be interested in more entertainment and shopping in Ennis in the early evening hours’ showed that over 83 per cent of respondents wanted shopping later or entertainment earlier. I face it on a daily basis with tourists, some of them with young families who are going off to visit places in the early morning. The issue they have is that the majority of them check in at 5 to 6pm. They head uptown and the feedback we’re betting is that when they head up town, the town itself is shutting down.”

He continued, “That is the reality of it from a tourist perspective. It would be fair to say that the majority of the 10,000 people working in an around the town of Ennis, may come into town, or not, because the town is shutting down.”

Mr O’Neill said tourists are also looking for more early evening entertainment in Ennis. “Most of the pub sessions are on at 9.30pm or 10pm and that’s because for publicans that’s when most people are coming out these days. But there are a large amount of visitors to the town who would like to experience earlier evening entertainment. Not necessarily in the pubs, it could be more cultural, alcohol free events in appropriate locations in the town centre but they do want more earlier entertainment.”

He added, “There are about 10,000 people working in and around Ennis. They are probably the most important users of the evening and nighttime economy. This is not just about tourists.”

ONE Ennis businessman who has adapted to changing consumer trends says retailers must work together to develop a successful “culture of late opening” in Ennis.

David Woodford operated the wellknown Record Rack store in lower market street for 28 years. But with the decline in CD sales, he switched from music to tourist-based arts and crafts.

Mr Woodford told a meeting that the Irish Shop now regularly stays open to accommodate tourists returning to Ennis from day trips.

Speaking at a meeting in Ennis on Thursday night, he said businesses must “adapt” to customer needs.

He continued, “We need to give customers a broader timescale in which to shop. When it comes to choosing what nights to open late. Probably Tuesday is our best late night for shopping possibly with flights coming in and out of Shannon, that might be the case. My own feeling on it is that if we are to try this, and people may groan at this, I would suggest we try it every night.

“From a tourist’s perspective they don’t really come back into town ‘til around 5.30pm because they are out on daytrips. When they arrive back into town, the town is closing.”

Mr Woodford said Ennis could attract more shoppers if it developed a well-known “culture of late opening”.

He explained, “I’ve heard it said that for certain trades its not worth doing. For example, a hardware shop, they might not benefit from tourists. The fact of the matter is that we all need to do it together. If the town develops a culture of late opening and it becomes known that Ennis is open late, I think it’s only natural that the locals would start coming into town. We would all have to work together. People would also come in from the surrounding areas if they knew the town was open late.”

These sentiments were shared by Mike Buckley, a former President of Killarney Chamber of Commerce. Mr Buckley said Killarney worked hard over 20 years to become one of the busiest tourist towns in the country. He said co-operation between various business and volountary sectors and local authorities meant the town could effectively be “customised” to attract large business conferences or tourist groups. He said, “The whole town buys into it. That’s the secret. It creates a feel good factor and people will come back to Ennis.”

ENNIS Town Council says it has “serious concerns” that development bonds valued at € 1.5 million have been left unsecured following the Government’s decision to wind up the former Anglo Irish Bank.

A report on unfinished estates in Ennis states that the council “could not afford the cost of completing estates which are the responsibility of the developer or financial institution (or their successor) that hold the bond commitments”.

A full team of three staff has been allocated by the council to deal with the issue of unfinished estates in Ennis.

In a report to councillors, Town Clerk Leonard Cleary says the issues relating to unfinished estates is “absorbing significant local authority management time”.

The report acknowledges that many homeowners “experience frustration and disappointment” when estates are not complete.

Mr Cleary states, “In many instances, developers are still in a position to trade, but have been slow to fulfill their responsibilities to complete their estates. This is unacceptable.

The report states that there are currently 27 developments that remain incomplete within the urban area of Ennis.

Category 1 developments are those with bonds with held by IBRC and Ulster Bank and / or referred to the council’s legal team; Category 2 developments are progressing in conjunction with developer or bondholder; Category 3 developments are not progressing with little or no activity on site.

Since 2010, Ennis Town Council has taken in charge 11 housing developments including three – Glean na Coille, Claureen, Drumbiggle Drive and An tSean Dún, Tulla Road – in 2013. Eight category 2 developments are proceeding satisfactorily and are on target for taking in charge by either the council or management company.

Mr Cleary states that the pursuit of uncooperative developers through legal channels is required in several situations.

He adds, “The council is cognisant of the public purse when pursuing a legal course of action in an unfinished estate. The view from operations experiences is that if appropriate the best first action of the council to achieve a satisfactory resolution for residents and citizens of Ennis is with the active assistance and cooperation of the developer or those now responsible for the development in the absence of developer fulfilling his/ her responsibilities. The presence of receivers, liquidators NAMA etc has complicated matters even further but is a reality of the current economic circumstances of the building industry. When the above approach does not receive the required response in terms of estate completion, the council has no hesitation in discharging its regulatory role through Court proceedings.”

A VIGILANTE painter has struck at Clare’s most dangerous traffic junction, with a zebra crossing being painted at the notorious Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon.

The zebra crossing was painted in the early hours of last Tuesday morning, May 21, on the Lahinch side of dangerous junction. The identity of the vigilante painter is unknown, but some local people have started using the new zebra crossing.

Blake’s Corner has been the site of ongoing difficulty for Clare County Council, who have had to shelf long-awaited plans to create a new traffic flow system at the junction. Local group, Saving Ennistymon Heritage, opposed the new junction on the ground that two listed building, known as Blake’s and Linnane’s, would have to be demolished as part of the joint National Roads Authority (NRA)/Clare County Council project.

The process has been stalled for the last two years as Clare County Council have been unable to secure funding from the NRA to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed development. More than two million people use the tiny junction every year to access the Cliffs of Moher and Lahinch beach.

Council engineer, Tony Neville, yesterday describe the vigilante action as a “dig” against the council.

“We have to take it out. It is emulsion so white spirits won’t take it out. We are scrubbing it at the moment,” he said.

“It is a bit of a dig. We have to condemn it and to note that is dangerous. People are using it and it is causing confusion. If anyone has information we would urge them to contact the gardaí.”

Local councillor Joe Arkins (FG) said that the action was a direct prompt from the local community aimed at the council.

“The community are prompting us to take on certain works here. We have a real problem there [Blake’s Corner] and the sooner we can apply outselves to solving this the better,” he said.

In an official statement yesterday Clare County Council urged local people to forward any information on the new crossing to the Gardaí.

“We will be removing the zebra crossing as soon as possible. If any member of the general public is aware of the identity of the person or persons who did this, they should report it to the Ennistymon Area Office or directly to the gardaí. Unauthorised surface markings can cause confusion for road users and can be hazardous for both pedestrians and motorists,” said senior engineer Tom Tiernan.

HEAVY drug use led one young Ennis man from a life in college to searching for food in a wheelie bin, a court has heard.

Evan McCormack (29) developed serious mental health problems from smoking an extremely potent form of cannabis, Ennis District Court was told on Wednesday.

Mr McCormack appeared in court charged with intoxication at Roslevan, Tulla Road, Ennis on April 6 (2013). He has previously pleaded guilty to shoplifting offences committed in Dunnes Stores Ennis in August 2012.

Mr McCormack, with addresses at 38 Maiville, Kilrush Road, Ennis and 28 Castlerock, Tulla Road, Ennis, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court that sentencing had been adjourned on condition that Mr McCormack be of good behaviour.

Judge Patrick Durcan enquired if Mr McCormack was the same man he had previously been told had gone from studying in college to searching bins for food to survive.

Mr Hassett said he was, adding that Mr McCormack developed an extreme bi-polar disorder from smoking an extremely strong form of cannabis known as ‘skunk’.

Mr Hassett said his client had “es- sentially fried his brain” from smoking cannabis.

The court heard Mr McCormack is currently serving a sentence imposed at Galway District Court.

Judge Durcan said he was conscious that Mr McCormack had tried to address his problems “but had fallen.”

He said he did not penalise people who made such efforts.

The case was adjourned until July 24 for a report from the Probation and Welfare Services.

A MAN has appeared in court charged with assaulting a garda in North Clare earlier this year.

Paddy Harty (40), with a former address at Lisheen Park, Partrickswell, Limerick, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

It is alleged that Mr Harty assaulted Garda David Keneally at Roughan, Kilnaboy on February 8 (2013).

He is further charged with possession of two stolen handbags at Roughan, Kilnaboy, on February 8 (2013). The court heard that a charge of illegal trespass was withdrawn against the accused.

Sgt Siobhan Redpath of Ennistymon Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in respect of the assault charge.

The court heard that in response to charge after caution, Mr Harty said, “I was drunk guard. I apologise. I didn’t mean to do it.”

Evidence of arrest, charge and caution in respect of the second charge was given by Garda David Keneally of Ennistymon Garda Station.

Garda Keneally told the court that in reply to charge after caution, Mr Harty said, “I did not know those handbags were stolen. The car was open all day and I was drinking. There was another man with me.”

The court heard that the DPP directs summary disposal of the cases. Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction.

A legal aid application from solicitor Fiona Hehir was approved. Mr Harty, who is described as of no fixed abode, was remanded on bail to appear again in court on July 28.