Category: News

GAY and bisexual young people living in Clare are more likely to contemplate and attempt suicide than their heterosexual piers.

That is the opinion of openly gay Ennis priest Fr Bernard Lynch and consultant psychiatrist Dr Moosajee Bhamjee, who believe that the lack of positive, openly-gay role models in the county can leave young Clare people feeling isolated and possibly suicidal.

Following the closure of the volunteer group Gay Clare nearly two years ago, there is no longer any Clare-based organisation to cater for the needs of rural gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered people.

According to Dr Bhamjee, many young gay people can find themselves completely isolated and in a very desperate position.

“People in rural Ireland can find it much more difficult to deal with their gayness – that is the case in many parts of Ireland and in rural areas abroad as well,” said Dr Bhamjee. “The problem is that they don’t have anywhere to express their sexuality and this can be very, very isolating for a person. In some ways, younger people are more open and more understanding, but there is still a huge stigma.” For a full inter view with

Fr Ber na rd Lynch, tur n to page 19.

THOUSANDS of householders across the county are now finding it increasingly difficult to meet their mortgage payments, with the number of people who are defaulting on loans with Clare banks increasing all that time.

That’s the warning that has been sounded out this week by the Clare Citizen Information Service, which has reported increases in calls to its helpline service for those coming un- der financial strain.

Speaking to The Clare People this week, Clare Citizen Information Service chief Paul Woulfe has urged people to come forward if they are experiencing financial difficulties as both his organisation and the debtcounselling service MABS gear up to meet the demands of giving muchneeded advice to cash-strapped individuals and families.

“People’s circumstances are changing all the time,” Mr Woulfe warned, “and there are a growing amount of people in the county getting into trouble with their mortgages. It is a huge problem that’s out there. People are defaulting on their mortgage payments in Clare and they have to go and try to re-negotiate with the banks.

“With the amounts of calls that are coming in every day, things are getting worse and they aren’t improving. It wasn’t a problem a couple of years ago, but now is the biggest problem facing people in the county. We see that every day,” Mr Woulfe added.

As part of this process the Clare Citizen Information Service has urged under pressure mortgage holders in the county to avail of the advice offered by the revamped keepingyourhome.ie website and MABS outlets in Clare that are located in Ennis and Shannon.

“It’s very stressful and mortgage arrears brought by losing your job can trigger other things as well,” warned Mr Woulfe. “It can lead to isolation, because with financial hardship you can lose your network and not interact with people as you used to. That’s why getting advice is so important,” he added.

MOVES are being made at Ennis Town Council level to mark the historic 1828 election of Daniel O’Connell in Clare by staging an annual event in honour of the ‘Liberator’ in the county capital.

The cause of O’Connell in Clare, which has been championed by a number of local historians in the county, will be taken to the floor of Ennis Town Council this week, with a motion being tabled by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) expected to receive the unanimous backing of the ninemember local authority.

O’Connell was elected as a Member of Parliament for Ennis on July 5, 1828. Having been proposed as a candidate by The O’Gorman Mahon and seconded by Tom Steele, he beat Vesey Fitzgerald in the election.

It was this victory that sparked the granting of Catholic Emancipation the following year, while Cllr Flynn’s motion to honour one of the most famous campaigns in Clare electoral history is being timed to coincide with the 185th anniversary of the election in 2013.

“We want O’Connell recognised in Clare by having a special day annually in his honour,” said local historian Declan Barron. “By having a Daniel O’Connell Day in Ennis and having that day set as July 5 every year, a whole new industry and interest can be cultivated.

“Daniel O’Connell’s election wasn’t only a turning point in Irish history, but it was a turning point in world history. That’s because it was the world’s first democratic revolution. Are we just the fighting Irish, who remember patriots because they were involved in wars or were killed?

“It is the first time that democracy was used to rebel against the status quo and the ruling powers. It was on July 5 that he was elected and it should probably be called Democracy Day, after Independence Day the day before. 2013 would be an ideal year to start this, on the 185th anniversary but also because it could become part of the ‘Gathering’ project,” added Mr Barron.

AN Bord Pleanála are due to deliver a decision on a controversial € 34 million retail park on the outskirts of Ennis next Monday.

In January, Ennis Town Council refused planning permission for a proposed retail development at the Clare Road / Tobertascáin.

Michael Lynch Ltd had sought permission for the (1) Demolition of all structures on site including five residential units, office block and all ancillary buildings; (2) Provision of a public plaza fronting on to the Limerick Road including both soft and hard landscaping; (3) A retail development including a food store incorporating customer restaurant and cafe, off licence sales area, dot com area and storage service area; (4) Separate ancillary two-storey retail and office blocks, a standalone two-storey office block, 610 parking spaces, provision for cycle parking, trolley bays and vehicular access to and from the Tobarteascain Road.

The developers had said the project would create 300 jobs in construction and between 180 and 200 per- manent jobs.

However, objectors, including town centre businesses, argued that the development would have a “significantly detrimental effect on town centre retail” and lead to a “decreased viability of the town centre”.

Residents on the Clare Road also fear that the proposed retail development will have an adverse impact on flooding in the area.

An engineering planning report prepared on behalf of Michael Lynch Ltd states that the site would be developed in a sustainable manner “in order to minimise the impact of the development during construction and throughout the lifespan of the proposed store”.

In its decision, the council deemed that the proposal is premature pending the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant at Clareabbey and pending the implementation of the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme.

The council also cited changes in the Planning and Development Act 2010.

The decision was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála. The Board are expected to make a decision on June 10.

Gerard DAVOREN
of Griffith Ave, Dublin and late of Caherconnell, Kilfenora. Peacefully. Laid to rest in Kilcorney Cemetery. Donations in lieu to St Michael’s House. May he rest in peace.

Eamon MOLONEY
of McNamara Park, Ennis. Suddenly. Privately cremated. Donations, if desired, to the Irish Cancer Society. May he rest in peace. May he rest in peace.

Flan CUNNINGHAM
of Quilty East Quilty. Suddenly. Laid to rest in Mullagh Cemetery. Donations, if desired, toThe Irish Heart Foundation. May he rest in peace.

Tom LILLIS
of Killofin, Labasheeda. Laid to rest in Killofin Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

William SHAW
of 1 Collins Park, Shannon. Late of Castleconnell, Co. Limerick. Laid to rest in Lemanagh Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Mary MOORE
of Dromindoora, Caher. Formerly of Killeaney, Maynooth and Carbury, Co. Kildare. Laid to rest in Killanena. Donations, if desired, to Cahercalla Hospice. May she rest in peace.

Pat DUGGAN
of Corry Lane, Kilkee. Suddenly, at his home. Laid to rest in Lisdeen Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

Anthony HEGARTY
of Crowhill Newmarket-on-Fergus.After a short illness. Laid to rest in Lemenagh Cemetery. House private please. May he rest in peace.

Eileen O’REILLY (née Markham)
of Castlefergus, Quin. Funeral Mass at St Bricken’s Church, Doora onTuesday at 11am. Burial afterwards in the Church grounds. May she rest in peace.

A SLOVAKIAN mother of two described in court as a “menace to the town” has received a two month prison sentence after being convicted of possessing stolen property in Ennis.

Eva Makulova (31), with an address at 3 Hazelwood, Clon Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to three charges of theft and one charge of possessing stolen property at locations in Ennis over a 16-day period earlier this year.

Details of the charges against Ms Makulova were heard at Ennis District Court on Tuesday.

The court heard that Ms Makulova stole € 108 worth of children’s clothes from Dunnes Stores on Feb- ruary 17; perfume worth € 52 from Boots Chemist, on February 24 and perfume worth € 56 from Boots Chemist on February 25.

Ms Makulova, who has no previous convictions, also pleaded guilty to possessing stolen property valued at 412 euros at Lower Market Street, Ennis on March 3, knowing the property was stolen or being reckless as to whether it was stolen.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the perfume found in the accused’s possession had been taken from Rochford’s Pharmacy, Ennis on February 29. The items were recovered and are re-saleable, he said.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey said Ms Makulova had stolen from Dunnes because she did not have money to buy clothes for her children. She said the clothes were recovered.

Ms Godfrey said her client, who is unemployed, had not been in receipt of social welfare at the time and had struggled to provide for her children. Ms Godfrey said the offences had occurred at a time when Ms Makulova’s husband was in prison.

She said her client had been compelled to steal out of a “victorian necessity” arising from “these hard times we live in.”

Insp Kennedy said he rejected Ms Godfrey’s depiction of Ms Makulova’s personal circumstances.

He said he disagreed that she was in “dire needs” and that no evidence of the unavailability of social welfare had been brought to court.

He said Ms Makulova had stolen “high value” goods.

He added, “I’m saying Ms Makulova is a thief and menace to this town.” Judge Patrick Durcan said he had to balance these “serious offences of a larcenous nature” with Ms Makulova’s guilty plea, good record and personal circumstances.

He applied the probation act in respect of the theft from Dunnes Store. Judge Durcan imposed separate fines of € 100 and € 200 in respect of the thefts from Boots. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal in both fines.

A two-month prison sentence was imposed for possessing of stolen property. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

THREE members of the same family accused of smashing windows in a house as five children slept on New Year’s morning have had the charges against them dismissed.

It had been alleged that Rosie Molloy Snr (39) and her two children Michael Molloy (19) and Laura Molloy (21) caused € 475 worth of damage to the home of Thomas Sherlock and Mary Maughan at 36 Westbourne Court, Watery Road, Ennis in the early hours of New Year’s Day this year.

Rosie Molloy and Michael Molloy, both with addresses at Bay 2 Ballaghboy Halting Site, Quin Road, Ennis and Laura Molloy, with an address at 21 An Pairc Bruach na hAbhainn, denied the charges of criminal damage.

The case was heard at Ennis District Court on Tuesday.

Mary Maughan told the court that she woke up to the sound of the Molloys “roaring abuse.”

She claimed that she saw the three accused standing outside the house. Ms Maughan said a silver Polo car owned by Laura Molloy was also outside the house.

Ms Maughan said by the time she and her partner, Tom Sherlock, got dressed, all the downstairs windows were broken.

She said, “The five kids in the house were screaming and crying. The kids were in an awful state.”

Solicitor for the Molloys, Daragh Hassett said it was an unusual reaction for someone to put their clothes on as the windows of their home were allegedly being smashed.

Ms Maughan told the court that she and Thomas Sherlock had been out for a few drinks in Ennis on the night.

Ms Maughan claimed that bottles were also thrown at the house.

Thomas Sherlock said he woke at around 4.30am to a lot of “shouting and roaring” outside the house.

He said he couldn’t remember how many bottles were allegedly thrown at the house but that he cleaned them up in the morning.

The court also heard details of an alleged altercation between Mary Maughan, Thomas Sherlock and Laura Molloy outside a pub in Ennis on New Year’s Eve.

Garda Bríd Troy, who attended the scene on the night, told the court that no independent witnesses came forward to make a statement.

Garda Kelly Doolan said that all the downstairs windows had been broken but that no bottles were found at the scene.

Rosie Molloy Snr said she had been at home all night babysitting. Laura Molloy said she had been out in Ennis on the night before returning home.

Michael Molloy said he was out for a drink in Kilmihil before going to the Queens nightclub.

All three said they were “nowhere near” Westbourne Court on the night.

Mr Hassett said there were “clear inconsistencies” in the evidence provided by the two complainants.

He said no independent evidence had been provided to support the claims of the complainants.

Judge Patrick Durcan said this was “curious case” in which the accused “absolutely denied” the charges against them.

He said there was an “absolute conflict in the evidence” provided by both sides.

He said, “There is a very slight doubt and as such, I dismiss the charges against Michael Molloy, Laura Molloy and Rosie Molloy.”

Judge Durcan also made an order binding all five parties – Thomas Sherlock, Mary Maughan, Rosie Molloy Snr, Laura Molloy and Michael Molloy – to keep the peace for a period of 12 months.

A TALENTED musician who has pleaded guilty to charges of theft of food, including a plate of chicken and pork has been told to concentrate on his music.

Judge Patrick Durcan was addressing Daryl Feely (18) of 92 Inis Clar, Kiladysert Road, at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Feely pleaded guilty to the theft of sandwiches from Lynch’s Centra, Gort Road, Ennis on November 17 (2011). He was also charged with entering the West County Hotel as a trespasser to commit theft on September 28 (2011)

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the matters.

He told the court that the accused was discovered in the kitchen of the West County trying to take a chicken breast and two pork chops at around 4am on September 28.

The court heard that Mr Feely has no previous convictions.

Solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court that his client has a talent for music but had previously experienced problems with alcohol and drugs.

He said Mr Feely is involved a music programme run by the Clare Youth Services and plays with a local band.

Judge Patrick Durcan noted that Mr Feely is a talented musician who has the gift of playing music.

He commended Mr Feely for making a “very good effort” to deal with his problems. Judge Durcan, “Concentrate on your music and nothing else.”

He adjourned sentencing until July 18 to see if Mr Feely continues to make progress.

A MAN who admitted kicking a door of a West Clare hotel while drunk on vodka has been ordered to make a donation to one of Ireland’s oldest charities.

Judge Durcan told Daniel Wolf (23) to pay € 250 to the Sick and Indigent Roomkeepers Society – a 222-yearold Dublin based charity that provides support to hard-pressed individuals and families.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Mr Wolf, with an address at Flag Road Miltown Malbay pleaded guilty to a engaging in threatening, abusive and or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at Dough, Spanish Point, Miltown Malbay on May 5.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that Gardaí were called to the Bellbridge House Hotel at around 12 midnight.

He said the accused was intoxicated and had taken issue with staff after they refused to let him back into the hotel.

He said Mr Wolf began kicking the door and was subsequently arrested.

Solicitor Fiona Hehir said her client was very apologetic for his actions and couldn’t really remember the incident.

She continued, “He was drinking vodka which does not agree with him. He has made a vow not to drink vodka again.”

Mr Wolf apologized in court for his behaviour at the Bellbridge.

He said, “I would like to apologise to the guards and the hotel. I promise it will never happen again.”

Judge Durcan said the accused had been “tanked up with Mr Smirnoff’s goodies” when he directed “ignorant and appalling behaviour towards the guards.” He said the appropriate order was a donation of € 250 to the Sick and Indigent Roomkeepers Society. Judge Durcan said that if the payment was made by June 13, the charges against Mr Wolf would be struck out and no conviction would be recorded against him.

“I WILL be monitoring every hospital to ensure cleanliness is up to the required standards,” vowed the new CEO of the Mid Western Hospitals Group.

Ann Doherty is almost five months in her new job and said the hospitals in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary have made measurable progress in relation to the control and prevention of the hospital bugs.

She claims this is evident through the reduction in MRSA and C difficile rates. “However there is a continuous need to increase our effort to support progress and ensure further improvements. In short we must do better,” she said.

At the Mid West Regional Hospital Ennis positive MRSA patients are isolated and remain isolated un- til a patient is deemed to be clear of MRSA. A patient is not deemed to be clear of MRSA until all three sets of screenings, taken 72 hours apart, return negative.

Patients continue to be screened at weekly intervals whilst in hospital. In Ennis all single rooms are vacated and prioitised for isolation.

There is a similar practice at the Mid Western Hospital in Limerick, which has 51 adult single rooms, 29 paediatric single rooms and 25 twobedded rooms.

“The principles and behaviours that prevent and control Healthhcare Associated Infections are well known and apply to all health and social care services,” according to Ms Doherty.

“These principles must be delivered by all staff who apply them as part of their daily routine, to eliminate the likelihood of a patient acquiring a Healthcare Associated Infection. Patients should expect nothing less,” she said. “It is therefore, important that everyone, both users and providers of all services, realise and embrace the principle that they, individually and collectively, have a responsibility to ensure that the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infection are met and actively enforced across our hospitals.”

A SIGNIFICANT cut in hospital budgets, an increase in the number of seriously ill patients requiring hospital treatment and an urgent need for a new Emergency Department to cater for the growing needs of the mid-west area are all challenges facing the new CEO of the Mid Western Hospitals Group, Ann Doherty.

The woman charged with overseeing a new single hospital system for Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary is optimistic about the future despite the challenges.

Ms Doherty accepts that there are many shortfalls within the current system and does not dispute the “trolley watch figures” published daily by the nurse’s union – the INO.

A number of measures are already being put in place to deal with bed shortages including a patient flow system across the region’s hospitals, which sees day procedures transferred to Nenagh and Ennis.

She said the new emergency department, which has received approval, is also urgently needed.

Under the new hospital system a board of governors will be appointed to which Ms Doherty will report.

She explained that the new board of governance would provide a democratic input into the hospital system that many felt was lost with the dis- solution of the former health boards.

“We are engaged in building a single hospital system. If that sounds radical let me assure you that the Trust will not be an exercise in centralisation of services at the expense of the smaller hospitals. It is significant that changes in medicine and technology are leading to the establishment of region-wide specialist departments in fields such as radiology and cardiology. This had led to dramatic improvements such as in Ennis where tele-radiology was introduced in April 2011 as the main method of reporting X-rays and the development of outreach cardiology services such as the heart watch programme,” she said.

“The experience in Limerick over the last number of years is that three hospitals were organised to work as a single clinical unit providing acute care, orthopaedic and maternity services to the region. This concept is now being extended to include Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s hospitals as part of the Mid-West Hospitals Group and operating as one single hospital system of corporate and clinical governance.”

Complex medical cases will be treated at the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick.

“Facilities at the smaller hospitals (like Ennis) can be used to the maximum to ensure that people with less complex care needs get their treat- ment in a timely fashion and not experience delays as a consequence of pressure in the bigger centre,” said Ms Doherty.

“The challenge facing us is to bring about a unified hospital system in the mid-west at a time when we must focus on reducing costs while maintaining services. This year our budget has dropped by € 21.768 million or nine per cent on the 2011 figure,” she said.

“It is going to be extremely tough to maintain activity levels with this resource. It means we have to make what we have been given by the taxpayer go further through managing every aspect of our business more efficiently.”