Category: News

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.

A CRANNY native has won a bursary from the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation to help fund her education research.

Úna Ní Sheanain now teaches sixth-class students in the Galway gaelscoil Scoil lognaid.

The ambitious and successful West Clare woman also manages to study for her doctorate while educating the 11- and 12-year-olds of Galway city.

Originally from the West Clare village of Cranny, where her parents Agnes and Pat still live, she attended the local primary school before studying at Cahercon Secondary School.

She has also worked with missionary nun Sister Ethel Normoyle from Lissycasey.

Ms Ní Sheanain is now studying at NUI Galway towards a Doctorate entitled ‘Re-imagining the Gaelscoil’. Her research examines how best to foster interculturalism in the primary Gaelscoil.

It aims to create links with a local intercultural school and attempts to engage teachers and students in collaboration through critical dialogue, democratic classrooms and artsbased enquiry.

Speaking at the presentation of the bursaries in Dublin, the President of INTO, Noreen Flynn, said it was a source of pride to the INTO that at least 75 per cent of primary teachers voluntarily undertake additional training and study.

“By acquiring new skills and expanding their knowledge, teachers enhance their practise and ultimately everyone benefits,” said Ms Flynn.

Every year since 1993, primary teachers undertaking research have been supported by the INTO through the Bursary Scheme.

AFTER A year of strictly balancing the books, Kilrush Town Council has a surplus fund to support two local projects and pay off an old debt.

According to the council’s Annual Financial Statement, the savings were achieved through cuts in expenditure during the year across most services divisions, strict budgetary controls and prudent financial management. This all resulted in an overall surplus of € 2,165 for the year 2011.

In light of the results, the council agreed to set aside € 40,000 for development works at the proposed Cooraclare Road Sports Development and € 12,000 for the recently adopted shop front grant scheme.

A further € 20,000 is to be used to pay off the terminating contract for the controversial superloo.

Welcoming the outcome of the fiscal report for 2011, Cllr Liam Wil- liams (FG) said that every effort must be made to ensure that the Cooraclare Sports Facility remains top of the town council’s agenda.

“We must make every effort to get grants for the facility. It has to be a priority for this year,” he said.

Cllr Paul Moroney (Ind) agreed that € 20,000 towards riding the town of the superloo was money well spent.

It was not easy for the council’s financial department, led by Colette Costello, to balance the 2011 budget however as the “percentage yields from rates and housing rents are a reflection of the difficult financial situation business and house holds presently find themselves in.”

Town Clerk John Corry told council members, however, that the rate collection “compares favourably to the towns and is the largest collection rate in the county.” He said legal proceedings would be a last resort in an effort to secure money owed from rents and rates, as the council tries to “focus on people who are in difficulty” and try to facilitate tenants.

To date, 76 per cent of commercial rates have been collected, the same amount as 2010, while 90 per cent of rents have been paid, down three per cent on the previous year. There was also a sharp reduction in income relating to Development Contributions in 2011, which according to council officials reflects the current economic climate. The development income for 2011 had fallen to € 3,397 from a high of € 273,096 in 2007.

Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Ian Lynch (FG) told the members it was a challenge at the beginning of 2011 to work out how the ever-decreasing budget would provide services for the town and its citizens.

Having achieved that with a surplus, the mayor said he hoped that Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government would consider such achievements of town councils as he considers their fate.

THE students of Scoil Mhuire in Ennistymon have started a trend which could be replicated in schools all over the country in the coming years by taking up Chinese as a foreign language.

Transition-year students from the school have just completed an eightmonth-long introduction to Mandarin Chinese.

The language classes were delivered to the girls by native Chinese speakers from the Confucius Institute, while Business and Certified Programme Facilitator, Miriam Higgins, delivered classes in Chinese culture.

“We are one of approximately 50 schools in Ireland to adopt the programme that was developed by the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland under the guidance and support of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA),” said Ms Higgins.

“This exciting and innovative Chinese programme has been a resounding success.

“Seosaimhín Uí Domhnaillín [Scoil Mhuire principal] and Geraldine Barry [Transition-Year Coordinator] have been very enthusiastic and supportive in offering the Chinese Studies Programme.”

Along with language classes, the unique initiative also teaches the girls about Chinese culture, travel, family, music, festivals and the economy. The cultural topics were taught using multimedia technology in various forms such as PPT, audio and video.

There was also additional classes in Chinese cookery given by home economics teacher Nicola Honan, as well as classes in paper cutting, calligraphy and other traditional Chinese activities.

The Confucius Institute is currently working with the Irish Government, businesses and academic institutes to develop stronger educational, cultural and commercial links between Ireland and China.

“Our aim in Ennistymon is to instill a curiosity in all things Chinese by introducing students to aspects of both modern and traditional Chinese culture and Chinese language,” continued Ms Higgins.

“Scoil Mhuire is privileged to work with the UCD Confucius Institute and to offer our students, what I believe, is a wonderful opportunity to learn about China and to study Mandarin Chinese.”

KILRUSH TOWN Council has proposed to build an outdoor fitness area in the town.

Cllr Liam O’Looney (FF) suggested that developing the outdoor fitness area for adults in the centre of the town would merge well with the proposed sporting facility proposed for the Cooraclare road.

Town Clerk John Corry agreed the council should look into providing such a public facility.

He said the town council was represented on the Recreation and Sport Strategy Steering Committee, which has prepared a strategy for the development and growth of active recreation and sporting activities in the town.

“Key objectives of this strategy were to actively research all possible available sites and sources of funding for proposed new facilities in order to develop milti use sport and recreational facilities in West Clare and to actively involve local communities in agreeing the facilities to be developed through meaningful public consultation.

“Kilrush Town Council had worked towards these objectives by identifying in conjunction with local sporting group, a site on the Cooraclare Road which could be utilised for a multipurpose sports facility including a synthetic playing pitch, grass pitches, cross country running track and dressing rooms,” he said.

“Kilrush Town Council and Clare County Council are presently applying for grant assistance under the 2012 Sports capital Grant Scheme for funding for the first two phases of this development.”

“An out door fitness area could also be considered as a future phase of this development or indeed an alternative site in the town could also be selected.

“It is recommended that the location of any such facilities should be located in an area that will be utilised y the public for recreational purposes for example walking.

“Therefore consultation with the public would be advised,” said the town clerk. The funding of such a fines are would need to be carefully considered and may qualify for assistance under a future application for grant assistance under the Sports Capital Programme.”

Cllr O’Looney suggested that the outdoor fitness area could also be situated adjacent to the playground, so that parents could use it while watching their children play.

BURREN film ‘Songs For Amy’ looks set to become the latest small budget Irish film to make it big in Hollywood after to took the main Jury Award at the prestigious Newport Beach Film Festival in Los Angeles last week.

The film, which is the brainchild of Burren based writer and producer Fiona Graham, took the award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking’. It was also confirmed last week that the film has been chosen for a screen at the Cannes Film Festival on May 26.

Features a number of North Clare and South Galway locals, ‘Songs for Amy’ was shot on location in Kinvara last Summer.

The film tells the story of a New York musician played by Sean Maguire who moves to the West of Ireland where he sets about writing an album of music for the girl he loves, played by Lorna Anderson.

Present at the screen were Bellharbour musician Jim McKee and Kinvara’s Ultan Conlon who both acted in the films and contributed to the films soundtrack. The film will be given its Irish premier at the Galway Film Fleadh next month.

“The film has already been dubbed ‘the musician’s film’ due to its portrayal of the eclectic music scene of Ireland and because of the incredible original sound track with songs by Ultan Conlon and Jim McKee, rock band Alabama 3, Patrick Bergin, Eleanor Shanley, as well as music from Tom Paxton and Jono McCleery,” said Fiona.

“The West of Ireland is a character in the film with it’s culture and beauty woven into the story. The Galway Film Fleadh was where we all wanted to showcase it and the cast and crew are extremely excited about reuniting back on the west of Ireland. It feels like we’re bringing the film home.” The films was produced by Burren based company Sonny and Skye Productions and Seafaring films.

RELATIVES of the three Clare passengers who travelled on the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic visited Clare County Council yesterday to take part in the unveiling of a plaque in their memory.

Twenty-year-old Martin McMahon and 35-year-old Daniel Keane lost their lives when the liner collided with an iceberg on its maiden transatlantic crossing, while 19-year-old Mary Agatha Glynn, from Flagmount, was one of the lucky few to make it to America on the rescue ships.

Speaking last night, the Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), said it was important to mark the Clare people who took part in the only voyage of the world’s most famous ship.

“More than 100 years on, many people remain fascinated by the story of the Titanic. The ship was regarded as the pinnacle of man’s engineering ability, while many of its First Class passengers were drawn from some of the world’s best known and wealthiest families,” he said.

“The ship also was regarded as a microcosm of society at the time, due to its segregated class system and the fact that the majority of those saved emanated from the first-class section of the ship. It is important that Clare County Council recognises Clare’s connections with an event that has captured the public’s imagination for more than a century.

‘In erecting this plaque, we are remembering not only these connections but all of those who tragically lost their lives in the North Atlantic on the morning of April 15, 1912.”

Mary Agatha Glynn was the only Clare person to survive the sinking. She was on her way to start a new life in Washington when the White Star Liner collided with an iceberg.

After being rescued in Life Boat 13 by the Carpathia and taken to New York, the third-class passenger carried on to Washington, where she lived until 1955 when she died at the age of 61.

A farm labourer, Martin McMahon hailed from Cragbrien in Tiermaclane just outside Ennis. Thirty-fiveyear-old Daniel Keane, from Gallows Hill in Cratloe, was a second-class passenger who had planned to travel on to St Louis, Missouri, after arriving in New York City.