Category: News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE arts community in County Clare will once again be feeling the pinch this year with further cuts in the amount of funding being available by the Arts Council.

Clare County Council’s Arts Office will be the worst hit of the pillar projects with its funding being cut by just under 7 per cent – from € 75,000 to € 70,000. Glór will also be badly hit with an annual funding cut of almost 5 per cent – down from € 90,000 to € 86,000.

The total Arts Council finding for Clare’s four main arts projects – including the council’s Arts Office, Glór, The Willie Clancy Summer School and Salmon Poetry – comes to just € 278,000. This is in stark contrast to neighbouring County Galway, whose main arts projects will receive a staggering € 2.7 million, including € 820,000 for the Druid Theatre Company and € 470,000 for the Galway Arts Festival.

County Clare Arts Officer, Siobhan Mulcahy, says that Clare is holding its own in terms of arts funding and believes that the quality of the artistic community in the Banner is our biggest asset. “Clare has done relatively well with both Salmon Publishing and Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy remaining at the same level of funding as they received last year. This is the context of an overall decline in arts funding from the Arts Council, so to hold their own in the current climate is a sign of their resilience and is an acknowledgement by the Arts Council of the importance of these organisations locally, nationally and internationally,” she said.

“Cuts to Glór and the Arts Office of Clare County Council are indicative of the overall funding cuts applied to local authorities and venues this year. Whilst both continue to provide quality and ongoing services to Clare artists and the people of Clare, such cuts are a significant challenge.

“However, from the point of view of the Arts Office, the greatest resource we have is the number and quality of artists of all disciplines in the county and we consider ourselves fortunate to have such a pool of artists with which to work. It should also be noted that whilst annual funding is down, increased funding has been made available to arts festival and events in the county this year with funding for the Gathering and funding through the Culture Connects Programme of the EU Presidency.”

A SECOND school in the Burren region was broken into last week as criminal activity in the area reaches worrying levels.

The offices of Seamount College in Kinvara were broken into on Thursday last, March 14, just over a week after a similar incident took place in nearby New Quay National School in North Clare.

Gardaí car ried out a technical examination of the Seamount College on Friday after the break-in, which is believed to have taken place at some time between 8pm on Thursday evening and 7.30am on Friday morning.

Three offices at Seamount College were broken into and ransacked and a small sum of cash was also taken.

The nearby HSE Medical Centre was also targeted in the raid and it is understood that both incidents are connected. Nothing was taken from the medical centre.

Gardaí from Gort have car ried out door to door enquiries in the area and are asking anyone who might have information about the incident to contact them on 091 636400.

These latest break-ins come just a week after the theft of eleven laptop computers and a number of other pieces of electrical equipment from New Quay National School in North Clare.

The New Quay School break-in took place some time between 10pm on Wednesday night, March 6, and 9am on Thursday March 7.

The thieves gained access to the school’s computer room by forcing open a back window.

Eleven Toshiba laptops were taken along with a white camcorder, two Fuji digital cameras, a black Ni kon camera and a small amount of cash.

There is no evidence that the two school break-ins were connected in any way.

Gardaí in Ennistymon are investigating the New Quay break-in and anyone with information is asked to contact 065 7072180.

CLARE could soon have a direct connection to the British throne following the bizarre revelation that Queen-in-waiting, Kate Middleton, has ancestry in the Banner County.

Middleton’s Clare connections were revealed in the House of Commons last week when a detailed genealogy of the Duchess of Cambridge was presented at an event attended by Taoiseach Enda Kenny (FG) and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

According to the genealogy, Middleton is a blood descendant of Killaloe warrior Brian Boru. The research, which was carried out by Tourism Ireland, reveals that Middleton’s ancestors, the Lupton family from Yorkshire, are descendants of a Fitzmaurice family from Kerry, who are themselves blood descendants of Brian Boru.

This news could prompt a stop in the Banner County for Kate, who is currently five months pregnant, and Prince William during their planned trip to Ireland next year. Buckingham Palace is currently finalising plans for the royal couple to visit Ireland in early 2014 but the exact itinerary for the visit has not yet been decided.

The trip is expected to take place in the first half of next year and has been planned since before Middleton’s pregnancy. The trip had been expected to be focused on the east coast, given Prince William’s time served as a rescue pilot in the Irish Sea, but the Clare connection could prompt organisers to plan a flying visit to Killaloe.

This visit would coincide with the 1,000-year anniversary of Brian Boru’s death, with thousands already expected to descend on Killaloe to mark the man who drove the Vikings from Ireland.

Middleton was in London on Sunday, where she presented shamrocks to the Irish Guards regiment in Hampshire. Should a royal visit to Clare take place, it would mean tens of thousand of extra visitors, as well as the world media, descending on the Banner County.

A TEENAGER allowed stolen property to be stored in his home in Ennis earlier this year because he “risked serious harm” if he refused, a court has heard. Dara Maloney (19), with an address at 32 Morrissey Avenue, Cloughleigh, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to two charges of handling a stolen Dell laptop and a black Samsung flat screen TV at 32 Morrissey Avenue, Cloughleigh, Ennis on January 23 (2013).

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the items were discovered following a garda search of the house at 8am on the morning in question.

Insp Kennedy said the accused told gardaí that he bought the goods of a man whom he did not identify.

The court heard the laptop was stolen from a house in Kilnamona last December. The television was stolen during a separate house burglary.

Mr Maloney is not charged in connection with the burglaries.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client had been pressured into storing the stolen items in his home. Mr Hassett said a person known to the gardaí had taken advantage of his client, warning Mr Maloney he “risked serious harm” if he did not co-operate.

In reply, Insp Kennedy said the accused had been “less than co-operative” in telling guards where the goods came from.

Mr Hassett said his client had not been forthcoming to gardaí because he “feared for his life.”

The court heard the accused had been a good soccer player who obtained his leaving cert and is now hoping to secure work in London.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he appreciated that Mr Maloney had potential. However, he added that anyone who “plays a role in the supply of capacity to thugs” who break into homes is as guilty as they are.

Judge Durcan commented that the fact that thieves and robbers now required storage facilities adds a new dimension to the crime of burglary in Clare. He imposed a three-month sentence on each charge, suspending the sentences for 12 months. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

TWO Galway men have received prison sentences after pleading guilty to the burglary of a house in Druncliffe last March.

Christopher Morrison (25) and Michael Flaherty (26) were discovered attempting to enter the building at Drumcliffe on March 23 (2012).

Passing sentence at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said this was an “appalling offence because it damages rural Ireland”, creating suspicion and fear.

He said, “This is the kind of offence that is becoming all too prevalent in rural Ireland.”

Mr Morrison, with an address 117 Slí Geal, Ballymoneen, Road, and Mr Flaherty, with an address at 11 Lismoor, Cappagh Road, Barna, Galway, were found to have engaged in a joint enterprise.

Mr Morrison was discovered by the property owner’s father on the curtilage of the building. A window at the rear of the house had been forced open, the court heard.

Mr Flaherty was in a car in which both men fled the scene. The men were later stopped outside Gort.

Two laser lights were taken and subsequently recovered, the court heard.

Outlining the facts of the case, Inspector Tom Kennedy said the house owner’s father noticed the car parked outside his daughter’s house.

Insp Kennedy said burglaries of this type in rural areas are on the rise. He said it was “lucky” that the owner’s father was in the area at the time. The court heard Mr Morrison has 53 previous convictions and is currently serving a sentence for burglary. Mr Flaherty has a previous conviction for a road traffic offence.

A charge brought last year against Mr Flaherty for the offence was dismissed due to a “breakdown in the State’s case”, the court heard.

Solicitor for both accused, Daragh Hassett said Mr Morrison, a father of two, had turned to crime after coming under “severe financial pressure.”

Mr Hassett said, “There were a number of options open to him but he took the unlawful option.”

The court heard Mr Morrison met Mr Flaherty while they both worked in a hostel.

They had come to Ennis to buy car parts before committing the offence.

Both men admitted their roles to gardaí and cooperated fully, the court heard. Mr Hassett said the pair admitted they were part of a joint enterprise.

Mr Flaherty, the court heard, is still in employment and well regarded.

Mr Hassett said, “He’s come back, manned up to the charges and pleaded guilty almost 12 months later.”

Mr Hassett urged the court to impose suspended sentences in both cases.

Judge Patrick Durcan said it was obvious that the accused had “cased the joint knowing it would be empty.”

He said Mr Flaherty had shown a total disregard for the law of the land while Mr Morrison has a “record as long as your arm”.

Judge Durcan sentenced Mr Flaherty to eight months in prison with the final three months suspended.

Mr Morrison was sentenced to 10 months in prison; consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving. The new sentence is to begin on August 25

Both men were also disqualified from holding a license for five years.

Judge Durcan said he was of the view that both defendants used the car as an aid in the commission of a serious offence. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

TWO friends who engaged in what a Judge described as “intolerable behaviour” on a main street in Kilrush last year have received prison sentences. John Keenan (31) and Martin O’Brien (31) were involved in a fight on Henry Street, Kilrush on July 6 (2012).

Both men appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Mr Keenan, with an address at Waterpark Heights, Ennis and Mr O’Brien, with an address at the Bungalow, Wood Road, Kilrush, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the scuffle between the pair led to the window of a nearby pharmacy being broken.

Mr O’Brien has 35 previous convictions and Mr Keenan has 72 previous convictions, the court heard.

Solicitor for Mr O’Brien, Daragh Hassett said the pair had fallen out “over something so stupid they can’t even remember.”

He said Mr O’Brien immediately had the window replaced after the incident.

Solicitor for Mr Keenan, William Cahir, said this was an incident between two friends that would not normally occur.

The court heard the men, who are both currently serving prison sentences, pleaded guilty to the offence at the first possible occasion.

Judge Patrick Durcan said this was a row that occurred at 12.15pm while people in Kilrush were going about their business.

He added, “This kind of behaviour on a street in daytime is intolerable.”

Noting their guilty pleas, he imposed a two-month sentence on each accused, consecutive to the sentences currently being served.

Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

Judge Durcan remarked he had observed both accused during proceedings. He said they seemed to be enjoying their day in court.

He added, “It seems (they got) as much enjoyment as sitting down for the day watching Cheltenham.” A T EEN A GER who admitted damaging and stealing fromcars in areas of Sixmilebridge last year has been told he must abide by the directions of the Probation Services. Last December Mark Burke (19), with an address at 26 Beechwood Grove, Sixmilebridge, admitted to the theft of Sat Nav systems fromcars in O’Garney Heights and Oakwood and to the theft a wallet and portable cd player fromcars in Oakwood and O’Garney Heights. He also pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal damage at Beechwood Grove and O’Garney Heights.All of the charges relate to September 9 (2012).The court heard Mr Burke forcibly entered two cars and took items fromthem.The court heard Mr Burke was intoxicated on the night having consumed 20 Xanax tablets and vodka.The accused co-operated with gardaí and paid compensation. Mr Burke has no previous convictions. Sentence was adjourned pending a report from the Probation Services. At Ennis District Court onWednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said he was concerned that the report stated that Mr Burke had been reluctant to engage with the services. Defence solicitor Stiofan Fitzpatrick acknowledged issues had arisen but said the report ended on a positive note for his client. He said Mr Burke had commenced a training course and is currently abstaining fromalcohol and other substances. Mr Fitzpatrick added,“I believe he is on the cusp of turning a corner.” Judge Durcan noted the accused’s difficulties, good record and the support provided by his family. He also acknowledged the traumatic effect of the death of the Mr Burke’s father. However, Judge Durcan said these were serious offences and the Probation report had indicated a high risk of re-offending. Directing Mr Burke to remain under the supervision of the Probation Services, Judge Durcan adjourned the case until April 10. Judge Durcan said if he was happy that progress was made, he would adjourn the case after that for a further two months. T W O MEN have been ordered to pay a contribution to charity after pleading guilty to their roles in a “serious public order incident” that occured in Shannon on NewYear’s Day The incident, which Ennis District Court heard, involved as many as 14 people, occurred at the Cluann Alainn estate near Hurler’s Cross on January 1 (2013). Two Sixmilebridge men John Cahill (21) and David Aherne (21) appeared in court onWednesday charged in connection with the incident. Mr Cahill, with an address at 32 Cluain Driochead, Sixmilebridge, pleaded guilty to a charge of trespass. Mr Aherne, with an address at Riverview, Ballysheen, Sixmilebridge, pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Inspector TomKennedy said this was a “serious public order incident” that occurred in the estate at around 4.45amon the morning in question. The court heard Mr Aherne and Mr Cahill travelled to the area fromShannon town centre in a taxi. The court heard the accused went to the house of a person alleged to have been involved in a dispute with their friend. Inspector Kennedy said between 12 and 14 people arrived at the house in three taxis, two fromShannon and one fromEnnis. A married couple, their two children and one grandchild were in the house on the night. In total, seven people have been charged in connection with the incident. The court heard that on the night, David Aherne was shouting and roaring while John Cahill trespassed on the property. Inspector Kennedy said the accused’s invovlement “forms part of a bigger issue” alleged to have occurred on the night. Addressing Judge Patrick Durcan, Insp Kennedy said,“It is a very unusual public order incident and you will hear more about it.” Neither man has any previous convictions. Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his clients had been on the way home to Sixmilebridge and were brought by taxi to the house. “They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he added. He said there had been a “herd mentality” on the night in question. Mr Hassett said he was confident his clients would not be before the court again. He said,“This was an unsavory incident but they were at the very edge of it.” Judge Patrick Durcan said it was obvious that alcohol had played an involvement, a point accepted by Mr Hassett. Judge Durcan said,“They were souped to the gills and didn’t knowwhether they were coming or going.” Judge Durcan noted the accused’s good record and early guilty pleas. He said that while he wished to emphasise his revulsion at what happened on the night, he was not going to criminalise the pair. He said that if each man paid of sumof €600 to the court poor box by April 17, he would strike out the charges.

A DUBLIN man alleged to have stolen money from a shop on the Gort Road near Ennis is due to have his case heard next month.

Adam Cornel (23), with an address at 25, The Garth, Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, Dublin 24, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Cornel is alleged to have stolen € 100 from Hogan Motor’s Gort Road, Ennis on May 21 (2011).

The accused was represented in court by barrister Brendan Glynn. Mr Glynn told the judge that his client would be contesting the robbery charge.

Mr Glynn made an application for legal aid.

He also requested that legal aid be backdated to include Mr Cornel’s earlier court appearance.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he wanted proof that Mr Cornel’s legal representative were in court on the previous date.

The case was adjourned for hearing until April 11.