Category: News

MORE than two years after the opening of the Western Rail Corridor between Ennis and Galway, passengers will soon be able to purchase tickets online.

Iarnród Éireann confirmed last week that the much anticipated rollout of online booking should be in place by this September.

The inability to purchase tickets online has been pinpointed by rail campaigners, including West on Track, as one of the reasons why passenger numbers on the line have not met initial expectations.

In a letter to Clare TD Joe Carey (FG) last week, the Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, Richard Fearn, confirmed that online booking would soon be coming but also confirmed that no plans were currently in place to introduce catering on the line.

“It is Iarnród Éireann’s intention to offer online booking for all Intercity and regional services. I anticipate that tickets for journeys between Ennis and Galway will be bookable on- line by September of 2012. By then, changes to the software controlling our online booking service will be made,” said Mr Fearn.

“On-board catering services are provided for Iarnród Éireann by Rail Gourmet Ltd, on our services where the level of patronage justifies the cost of provision of a trolley service. Rail Gourmet have considered the Western Rail Corridor route, but to provide a catering trolley on the line would require further subsidies, which Iarnród Éireann is not in a position to fund at present.”

Deputy Carey last week urged Iarnród Éireann to reconsider the provision of a trolley service, once the online booking situation had been resolved.

“I was also concerned that commuters couldn’t even get a cup of tea on the service at present, as no onboard catering services are available. I note that this aspect of Irish Rail’s business is handled by a third party but would encourage the company, following the availability of online fares, to look again at this aspect of the business,” said Deputy Carey.

“In terms of scheduling, I note that the fastest trains currently available on the route both leave mid-afternoon, and would not be relevant to the vast majority of commuters in terms of getting to work or college. If we could get an early morning train, with a running time of less than 1 hour 15 minutes, and this was advertised locally, it would in my opinion receive support. The Ennis to Limerick service has performed well since it returned and I believe there is potential to increase business on the Ennis to Athenry line.”

IT WAS an unavoidable, freak accident that shocked the parish. That was the consensus in Cree yesterday as the West Clare village tried to come to terms with the death of local man Michael O’Dea (74) following a farming accident on Saturday.

Mr O’Dea had been dosing a new- born calf with his son Eddie on the family farm in Clonina when the cow turned on the younger farmer.

It is understood that Mr O’Dea then moved to save his son and was fatally injured by the cow.

Eddie, whose ankle was broken in the attack, managed to raise the alarm, but his father was pronounced dead at the scene.

Local County Councillor Bill Chambers (FF) described the late farmer as “a grand man and a great man for the dogs”.

As well as farming, Mr O’Dea’s biggest interest was his greyhounds and he spent many a St Stephen’s Day at the Cooraclare Coursing Festival.

Chairman of Clare ICMSA, Martin McMahon said that the farming community was in shock and sympathised with Mr O’Dea’s family.

“Losing someone like that is a big shock and a big tragedy,” he said.

“At the best of times, no matter how careful you are, you can get caught. You could have the quietest cow in the world and after calving she could become the crossest cow on the farm. A lot of cases are unavoidable,” said the farming expert.

“Loading animals and things like that, there is a risk no matter how careful you are. Sometimes it is just outside your control.”

Gardaí from Kilrush and inspectors from the Health and Safety Authority are investigating the tragic incident.

Mr O’Dea is survived by his wife Maisie, four daughters and two sons.

The details of Mr O’Dea’s funeral were not announced at time of press last night (Monday).

THE piers and harbours in Doolin, Lahinch and Liscannor are to receive a facelift before the end of the year as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have granted assistance for some upgrade work.

The Government Department will supply up to 75 per cent of the cost of each project to Clare County Council calculated at € 97,500. As much as € 45,000 has been provided to make safe different areas of Lahinch beach.

The planned installation of protective railings at various locations including along ramped and stepped ac- cess from promenade to beach areas, along interfaces between promenade, shore and parking areas is estimated to cost € 60,000.

A further € 30,000 is to be provided for the € 40,000 harbour dredging works and the implementation of repairs in respect of the existing quay walls in Liscannor.

Up to € 22,500 has been provided for the € 30,000 work at Doolin Pier which includes the installation of appropriately located safety railings in the vicinity of the pier and on the steps used to facilitate access to ferries which used the pier to provide linkage with the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher. Other works will in- clude installation of parking control measures to ensure free movement of traffic including rescue craft to and from the pier area.

Fine Gael TD Pat Breen said, “It is envisaged that the local authority projects will bring much needed employment to local communities as well as providing improved infrastructure at the various piers and harbours. Initial estimates from the local authorities suggest that in excess of 1,200 man weeks of employment could be created from the approval of this programme.”

According to the Department of Agriculture, “Applications were received from 14 local authorities for 121 projects. The total value of the applications received was € 18,234,200. A shortlist of projects for consideration was compiled based on the prioritisation assigned by the local authorities with the aim of achieving a fair spread of the funding around the coastline. Local authorities were then requested to complete a more detailed application for the short listed projects.”

All works must now be completed by December 2012, and the total cost of individual projects must be less than € 150,000. All expenditure must be incurred in 2012 and all claims fully submitted by December 1.

THERE are more questions than answers surrounding the future of Shannon Development and the exact role it is going to play in the new “Shannon entity”. Even the company itself is taking time to see what the future holds, as the briefest of outlines of its future was announced last week.

Shannon Development welcomed the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Authority.

“There is still a lot of detail to be worked out around the new structure and operation of the new entity, but today’s announcement is undoubtedly a major step towards creating a new entity which will act as a catalyst for growth for the wider region in the years to come,” a spokesperson for the state company said.

She admitted, however, that it was difficult for Shannon Development to comment fully as it was still unsure of the details. “There are implications for Shannon Development’s longstanding economic development operations, but at this early stage it is difficult to assess the implications of the proposed restructuring, and the company will be taking time to reflect on the announcement. To this end, Shannon Development will work closely with the various Government departments concerned to get clarification for staff and clients around the decision as soon as possible,” she said.

There was little of a fully-formed plan evident in the Government’s announcement on Wednesday, which said the company would be brought together with the independent airport “to form a new entity with a commercial mandate in public ownership.”

“This decision represents a new beginning for the Shannon region, involving a drive to develop a worldclass aviation industry in Shannon, and a restructuring of tourism and enterprise support agencies in the region to support this goal,” the government statement said.

“The new entity will have a clear mandate, working closely with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to develop the potential of the aviation sector, and will explore other opportunities with those agencies for further prospective investments in the region.”

As stated in the Clare People last week, the Government confirmed that Shannon Development’s functions in relation to indigenous enterprise and foreign direct investment would transfer to Enterprise Ireland and IDA respectively, and the tourism functions of Shannon Development, including Regional Tourism Offices, will transfer to Fáilte Ireland.

“This new entity will continue to support the property needs of IDA/ EI clients in the area,” the statement said.

The only specific information revealed stated that the Ministers would establish a Steering Group “to determine the most effective organisational structure of the new entity, develop an implementation strategy for the new body and a plan setting out how the entity will help to achieve strong regional development, while ensuring the highest standard of support for enterprises in the region. The Group’s guiding principle will be the future development of the Shannon area.”

“The Steering Group will in particular assess the feasibility of creating an international aviation centre of excellence centred on Shannon Airport. The Steering Group may establish expert sub groups to assist in this work. The best positioning of the successful Shannon Heritage operation within the State sector will also be considered as part of the deliberations in the months ahead,” it stated.

THE Ennis Town Manager has defended the price of parking in the town amid claims it is damaging businesses.

Ger Dollard was speaking at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in Ennis east electoral area.

The matter was raised by councillor Pat Daly (FF). In a motion, Cllr Daly called for the Council “to seriously look at reducing the cost of parking per hour in Ennis from € 1.30 to one euro per hour particularly due to the fact that business in the town is down substantially.”

In his response, Town Clerk Lenoard Cleary said Ennis Town Council is currently in the process of reviewing parking byelaws in the town.

He continued, “This will involve a public consultation process. The parking fees are an integral part of the income utilised to balance the Ennis Town Council budget.

“Any reduction in parking fees would reduce the budget income available and hence impact on the delivery of services in Ennis.”

He added, “If a decision were to be made to reduce parking fees, this would have to be coupled with a decision as to which services would be curtailed or withdrawn.This matter will be considered by Ennis Town Council as the local authority for this functional area.”

Cllr Daly told the meeting that cost of parking had been cited by a number of businesspeople he had spoken to as a factor in declining sales.

He said customers were now choosing to shop in large retail stores in Limerick and Galway where parking is free.

Mr Dollard said, “Ennis Town Council is very conscious of the pressures on business”.

He said that he did not accept that the cost of parking was to blame.

He said there is “very good value” to be found in the long term car parks in Ennis.

Mr Dollard explained that the price of parking in the town centre has to be higher to ensure turnover of spaces.

A FORMER worker with Clare County Council who sexually assaulted young boys over a 27-year period has been sentenced to six years in prison.

Sean Leamy (61) with an address at Main Street, Tulla was convicted yesterday at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

He had pleaded guilty to 21 counts of sexual / indecent assault. The offences took place in areas, including courthouses in Tulla and Sixmilebridge from 1978 to 2005.

The court heard that Mr Leamy, a secretary and former member of the Tulla Pipe Band, worked for Clare County Council for over 30 years.

The victims were aged between seven and 14.

The court heard that Mr Leamy would strike up a relationship with boys by asking them about horse riding. During the assaults he would ask them to strike him with a jockey’s whip.

Statements from the five victims were read out in court. One man said that he had battled with alcohol and depression in his adult life.

Another of the injured parties said, “As a result of the abuse I suffered from Sean Leamy, my innocence was lost.”

One man said in his statement that he had given up playing rugby and hurling after the abuse. He said the accused had killed his love of music.

“I tried to kill myself,” he added.

Detective Garda Stephen Ryan of Shannon Garda Station led the investigation into Sean Leamy.

He said the accused had fully cooperated with gardaí and made a full admission.

Counsel for Mr Leamy, Mark Ni- cholas, said his client unreservedly apologised to all the victims.

He said from a position where he enjoyed some standing, his client had become a “social pariah” in his community. He said, “He is not welcome, ignored and despised. His reputation is in tatters and rightly so.”

The court heard that Mr Leamy has no previous convictions.

Judge Carol Moran said the accused had been an active member of the community in Tulla. He said the abuse in some cases was “regular and continuous”.

He added, “What’s really scandalous about it is that it took place over a period of 27 years. This is a bad case.”

Noting the accused’s early plea of guilty and the isolation he has experienced in his own community, Judge Moran imposed sentences totaling six years.

A MAN has been found guilty of the defilement of a child who he claimed he was in an arranged marriage with.

The 22-year-old Clare man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had pleaded not guilty to defilement of a child at a guesthouse in Ennis, Co Clare between July 11 and 12, 2010.

A jury of seven men and five wom- en took just under four hours to find him guilty. Judge Mary Ellen Ring remanded him in custody to appear before her later this month (May) for sentencing.

The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence that the man drove the 16-year-old girl to a guesthouse in Clare and had sex with her. The accused claimed that he thought she was aged 19 and that she had agreed to marry him after two earlier meetings.

He told prosecuting counsel, Martina Baxter BL, that he planned to go with her to the Bishop of Offaly, named in court as Fr. Cox, because he was “sympathetic to these quick marriages”.

Giving evidence via video link the victim denied agreeing to marry the man and said that he had destroyed her life.

She said that after the sex she told him that she would marry him in six months if he took her home because she was terrified.

She said: “All I wanted to do was go home to my mother and father.”

She said the man told her to act normal and “pretend nothing happened”. He told her to tell his own family that she told him that was 16 and a half years of age.

He told her not to let anyone take her clothes.

The victim told the jury that she was scared in his presence and was putting on a brave face because of her discomfort.

The accused said that on the night he and the girl were on a bed kissing and that “one thing led to another” and they agreed to have sex.

Ms Baxter put it to him that what actually happened was he ordered the victim to take off her clothes and he threw himself on top of her.

Counsel said that the victim was upset and told him to get off her. She said that she lay there sobbing in bed and was too scared to leave.

A MAN who was sexually assaulted as a child has said he is “shocked” by a judge’s decision to hand down a suspended sentence to the offender.

The man was speaking at Ennis courthouse yesterday after Cyril Maxwell (67) received a four-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to charges of indecent assault.

Charges of buggery against Mr Maxwell, with an address at Loughnash, Newmarket-on-Fergus, were vacated following a recent decision by the Supreme Court.

Surrounded by his family, the man said, “He destroyed my life and only for my family I wouldn’t be here. Somebody can walk into Dunnes Stores and rob a bar of chocolate and they get 12 months in jail.”

He added, “We were shocked. We thought he was going downstairs. He did me no favours by admitting his guilt because it didn’t take it away. I have been in psychiatric units since I was 20. I have tried to commit suicide three times; two of them were very close. That’s what my life has been like.”

The man said he was glad to have made the complaint. He also praised the work of local gardaí involved in the case.

The man’s daughter said that it was a “joke” that the buggery charges against Mr Maxwell were vacated

The assaults occurred over a twoyear period in Clare in the late 1960s, when the man was in his twenties and the victim was a young teenager.

The court heard that Mr Maxwell suffered from Jacobs Syndrome, a sex chromosome abnormality, and is subject to a significant regime of monitoring and anti-testosterone medication.

Judge Moran said, “This case has caused me a considerable degree of trouble.” He said that, in normal circumstances, he would impose a custodial sentence. He said the abuse had occurred a long time ago, the accused had offered an early plea of guilty, and he had also been on a course of medication since 1984.

Judge Moran said there was a low risk of Mr Maxwell re-offending. “I think it would be wrong to impose a custodial sentence. It is one of those exceptional cases.”

He imposed a four-year suspended sentence. He ordered the accused to keep the peace for a period of four years.

A 10-PERSON steering committee, including members form Clare, Kerry and Galway, was established in Ennis last Friday to oversee the organisation of the Irish Citizens Party. The party, which was established last month by West Clare man Jim Connolly, will be led by this steering committee for the months ahead, until a formal party structure an be established.

Mr Connolly, who ran as an Independent in last years’ general election, has previously said that he will not put himself forward as a candidate for the party, but is hoping that some of the new members will decide to run in upcoming elections.

“I am more than happy with how it went. We have established a steering committee to move the party forward. This committee has members from all over Clare, from Killarney and from Ardrahan in Galway,” said Jim.

“Everyone was very enthusiastic. The meeting started at 8.30pm and at 11pm everyone still wanted to be there and still had a lot to talk about. We discussed everything under the sun – it was a very good first meeting.

“The party has no rigid doctrines like left or right, this is purely about the citizens of Ireland and upholding humanitarian values. The meeting gave me great courage; three days ago this was me, all by myself. Now we have 10 people on a steering committee and they will move us forward.

“The steering committee will bring things forward for a while and, once we determine how things work and grow a little, then we can talk about more definite structure.

“There were different voices at the meeting and they didn’t all agree, and that is the way it is going to be in this party.”

To find out more about the new party, visit www.irishcitizensparty.com.

IT promises to be an emotional few days for staff and students of St Joseph’s traveller training centre.

The final ever presentation of FETAC level certificates to students takes place at the Auburn Lodge Hotel in Ennis on Friday.

The ceremony represents the end of an era for the centre that first opened in 1974.

The Ennis Traveller Training Centre was the first in the country. It started as part of a Combat Poverty Programme in 1974.

At that time, it was located in the grounds of the Holy Family School, Ennis. In 1982, the centre moved to a new building at the Gort Road industrial estate.

St Joseph’s, which is located in the Gort Road industrial estate, will close as a traveller-only training centre on June 29.

The building will become the first all-purpose skills unit in Ennis.

There are currently around 13 staff working at the centre. Staff will be transferred internally to other VEC schools and centres.

It will be run by Ennis Adult Education Centre, with classes offered in a number of areas including woodwork and hairdressing.

Over 60 people have been invited to Friday’s event, including former directors and board members.

According to Director Tríona Lynch, the ceremony will celebrate the history of the centre.

She said, “It is very emotional. You can see it around the place. The focus this week is on celebration and celebrating the past and looking ahead to the future.”

She added, “One of the traveller men said to me the other day that his parents attended the centre and so did his kids.

“It was part of their lives. The centre has provided nearly four decades of support for travellers.”

Ms Lynch also acknowledged the support of Clare VEC. The ceremony at the Auburn Lodge gets underway at 1pm.