Category: News

IT WAS mixed news about the quality of the county’s bathing waterways, when the EPA published its quality report on Thursday.

The once bathing water quality blackspot of the county – Ballyalla Lake – has improved its water quality to acceptable. The news was not as good, however, for the White Strand in Miltown Malbay, which was the only one of Clare’s 11 bathing areas to fail the tes`t. Paul Moroney, Senior Engineer, Clare County Council, explained, “Nine samples were taken at this beach during the 2011 bathing water season. One sample out of the nine exceeded guideline and mandatory pollution limits. The sample was taken on June 7, 2011. At the end of the season, a compliance percentage rate is calculated, upon which this location was 89 per cent compliant with the mandatory limits. However, this exceeded the acceptable allowable failure rate of 95 per cent.”

“The limits only failed on one occasion during the entire season and all other results were in the ‘good status’ for the season. The weather in the days preceding the test was wet, with in excess of 15mm of rain falling in the region. It was deemed at the time that the reason for the failure was most likely due to high rainfall and wash-off from land,” he added.

The 10 bathing areas around Clare that were found to have complied with the minimum standards in 2011 included Ballycuggeran (Lough Derg), Ballyalla Lake (Ennis), Cappa Pier (Kilrush), Bishopsquarter, White Strand (Doonbeg), Kilkee, Spanish Point, Lahinch, Fanore and Mountshannon (Lough Derg).

“In particular, the council is pleased that Ballyalla Lake had good results in 2011 and is working to ensure that that improved status is maintained this year and for the future,” said Mr Moroney. “The bathing water results show that Clare County Council’s bathing waters have excellent quality. In the unlikely event that a result fails, Clare County Council implements a protocol to warn bathers of the failures, including advice to bathers that the water is unsafe for bathing. This was done at White Strand Milltown Malbay last June when the test result was obtained,” he said.

CLARE’S fire service and the University of Limerick are leading the way when it comes to educating emergency response professionals.

The Advance Trauma in the Community initiative was developed by Accident and Emergency Consultant Cathal O’Donnell, and Mark Dixon through the University of Limerick.

Dr O’Donnell is clear, however, that the progressive training for professionals when faced with major traumas and emergencies could not take place without the enthusiasm of the Clare County Fire Services, under the direction of Fire Chief Adrian Kelly.

In its fifth year, the course aims to bring the HSE national ambulance service, the fire services, Irish De- fence Forces, GPs, Gardaí, civil defence, Order of Malta, coast guard and the Irish Red Cross for an all-inclusive training course.

The course takes place over one day, usually in Ennis.

“Prior to this, all the organisations trained in isolation but responded together. The concept of training together gives the patient the best possible care and outcome,” explained Dr O’Donnell.

In many cases, terminology differs between the professions, and many services are unaware what the other professional can and cannot do, explained the A and E expert.

“For example, a GP would not be familiar with how the fire brigade cut the top off a car, and that there is a slow way and quick way to do it. Being aware of this, the GP at the scene can tell the fire service how quickly the patient needs to come out and the decision on how to cut him or her out can be made,” he said.

Understanding each other’s use of language, terminology and expression, and the role each party can undertake at the site of an accident, can save valuable time.

To date, at least 200 professionals from all over the country have taken part in the highly respected course.

“It was largely started with the support of the Clare Fire Service. We couldn’t do this without the Clare service and the University of Limerick,” explained Dr O’Donnell.

“There is a big issue of safety at the site of an accident and not just for those involved but also for the emergency staff. We take the lead from the fire service who have a strong safety ethos and a strong appreciation of hazards,” he added.

A CLIMBER narrowly escaped serious injury on Saturday after a large rock, dislodged by another climber, fell on him from the top of a climbing cliff in North Clare.

The climber, who was holding a safety rope for another climber at the time, broke his femur in the incident but escaped a life-threatening injury by a matter of millimetres. The men were climbing at a popular climbing wall at Ballyreen, just north of Doolin, when the accident took place.

The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast- guard received the call just after 2.30pm on Saturday afternoon and rushed to the scene where they located the injured man at the bottom of a high cliff. They reached the injured man and helped make him comfortable until the arrival of the paramedics, splinting his injured leg. A winch was lowered to the bottom of the cliff and the injured climber was then stretchered to the shoreline.

From the shoreline, the injured man was airlifted by the Shannon-based Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter to Limerick Regional Hospital for further treatment. He is expected to make a full recovery.

“He had a broken femur and was very lucky that it was not a more serious incident. The femur is the strongest bone in your body and there is a big risk of severing a major artery and bleeding to death in a situation like this,” said Mattie Shannon of the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard.

“We were able to reach him along with the HSE paramedics and he received medical attention. He was in a lot of pain but he was conscious throughout the rescue.”

Meanwhile, a body was recovered from the water around Poll Cnaimhín, north of Doolin, early on Saturday morning.

A FORMER road sweeper who suffers from a serious heroin addiction has been told the court will help him if he takes steps to improve his life.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Edmund Lyons (47) with a former address at 2 Clare Villas, Clare Road Ennis and currently of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to theft. The charge relates to the theft of a wallet at O’Sullivan Hansbury, Kilrush Road, Ennis on July 28 (2011).

Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court that a person dropped a wallet in the shop. He said the accused picked up the wallet, which contained € 130 and a number of bank cards.

Insp Gallagher said the man reported the lost wallet to gardaí. He said the accused was subsequently identified by CCTV footage from the shop.

Insp Gallagher said Mr Lyons made a full admission to gardaí in February 2012. The court heard that neither the cash nor the cards were recovered.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client, a father of two, had worked as a road sweeper for a local authority for almost 20 years.

She added, “He developed an addiction to heroin. 90 per cent of his life has been taken away.” Ms Godfrey said the drug had destroyed Mr Lyons’ life. Asked by Judge Patrick about what he had done with the bank cards, Mr Lyons said he had left them on a wall outside the shop.

After hearing the case, Judge Durcan said that Ms Godfrey must come back to court in two months time with confirmation that Mr Lyons is taking steps to “look after himself.”

He said, “If this court sees he’s making every effort, the court will be there to help.”

Judge Durcan said he wanted to see that a positive plan for Mr Lyons is in progress.

He added, “If not there will be a prison sentence.” Judge Durcan adjourned the matter until July 18.

A MAN has been found guilty of assaulting his brother with a hatchet at a halting site in Shannon last year.

James McDonagh (38), with an address at bay six Ballymurtagh, Shannon, attacked Michael McDonagh at he rear of their father’s home at the Ballymurtagh halting site on August 31.

Details of the assault were heard during a four-day trial at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court last week.

It took a jury 96 minutes to convict James McDonagh on one count of assault causing harm and another of possession of a hatchet with intent to cause injury. The court heard he has 97 previous convictions.

Half of Michael McDonagh’s left ear was severed in the assault while the father of four also suffered injuries to his scalp and abdomen.

He spent four days in hospital receiving treatment for his injuries.

James McDonagh, referred to throughout the trial as Michael James McDonagh, had denied the charges, claiming that he had acted in self-defence after his brother had attacked him with a hurley.

The court heard that a row over a car parked at the entrance of 81-yearold Frank McDonagh’s home at Ballymurtagh sparked the assault.

Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan BL, told the court that Frank McDonagh, father of Michael and James, blamed James for blocking the entrance.

He asked Michael to ring the gardaí who came and removed the car.

Michael McDonagh said that at around 8pm on the night in question, James McDonagh came running into his yard at bay five Ballymurtagh, wielding an orange and black handle hatchet.

He said, “He was roaring and shouting and swinging the hatchet and saying he was going to kill me.”

Michael McDonagh told the court that he ran from his home, where he had been watching television with his wife and children, and into the adjoining yard of his father’s bay.

He said he picked up a hurley to defend himself after he was “cornered” by James.

A struggle ensued and Michael McDonagh eventually managed to take the hatchet from his brother and throw it over the wall.

Frank McDonagh gave evidence of seeing James hit Michael “two or three clouts in the head with the hatchet.”

He added, “I heard Michael’s wife and kids screaming….I saw Michael running like a hare into my bay.”

Garda Barry Doherty of Shannon Garda Station attended the scene on the night. He said both Michael and James were covered in blood.

He said, “Michael McDongh’s ear was cut and half hanging off.” The hatchet was found in a field behind the halting site. James McDonagh was arrested and subsequently interviewed by gardaí.

In his closing speech, Mr Coughlan said. “The State’s case is that this was a willful attack by James McDonagh on his brother and he used a hatchet to do it.”

Counsel for the accused, Pat Whyms, said the State’s witnesses had given different accounts of the incident. He said the jury had to decide if the witnesses are “truthful and reliable.” He said James McDonagh had picked up the hatchet to defend himself.

Addressing the jury, Judge Gerald Keyes said, “If you are satisfied that the accused was the aggressor then it precludes him from using the defence of self defence.”

Mr Whyms urged the court to consider to suspending a portion of the sentence on condition that James McDonagh enters a treatment programme.

Sentencing of James McDonagh will be finalised on Thursday. The court heard he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years.

A MAN who was assaulted by his brother with a hatchet has said the family has been left “troubled and broken” by the incident.

Father of four Michael McDonagh had half of his left ear severed from his head when he was attacked by James McDonagh (38) at the Ballymurtagh halting site in Shannon on August 31 (2011).

James McDonagh, with an address at bay six Ballymurtagh, Shannon, was last week convicted at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court of assault causing harm to his brother at Ballymurtagh on the day in question.

A jury also found James McDonagh guilty of possessing a hatchet with intent to cause injury to his brother Michael. Michael McDonagh, of bay 5 Ballymurtagh, Shannon, suffered serious cuts to his head and abdomen as a result of the assault.

Michael McDonagh’s victim impact statement was heard at the conclusion of a four-day trial in Ennis on Friday.

The statement was read out in court by Detective Garda David Laing of Shannon Garda station.

Michael McDonagh stated that he had made the statement as he had been forced to seek the protection of the State after the assault.

He said, “I believed I was going to die and I could see the hatred in my brother’s eyes.”

Michael McDonagh stated that his wife had been traumatised by the assault and that his children still wake up screaming at night.

He continued, “I am not the first brother that Jimmy has attacked and I am sure I will not be the last unless a dramatic intervention is made.”

Michael McDonagh stated that the assault had put “huge strain” on his family and left his wife and children in a “very nervous state.”

Referring the consequences of the incident, Michael McDonagh said, “We know we are left with a broken and troubled family.”

He stated that he had not made the statement to ensure his brother got the maximum sentence.

Rather, Michael McDonagh stated, he hoped that the sentence would include some aspect of medical treatment that his brother “urgently requires.”

Michael McDonagh also praised the “swift action” of the gardaí in his statement.

THE majority of Clare’s Oireachtas members are in favour of civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples.

While civil partnership was introduced more than a year ago, it still falls short of the full legal entitlements of marriage, especially where the rights of children are concerned.

TDs Michael McNamara (Lab) and Timmy Dooley (FF) and Senators Tony Mulcahy (FG) and Martin Conway (FF) all said they believed marriage should be available to same-sex couples..The Fine Gael TDs were not as clear-cut in their answers.

Fine Gael TD Pat Breen said he needed more time to give a more considered answer on the issue.

Meanwhile, Deputy Joe Carey (FG) stated, “There is a commitment in the programme for government that the constitutional convention will examine the provision of same-sex marriage. They’re examining that currently, as well as a number of other issues. I am in favour of civil partnership and believe this provision is a huge step forward for same-sex couples.”

The other TDs are happy to see the legislation go further.

“I don’t see why there shouldn’t be civil marriage. I believe in the principal of equality,” said Deputy Dooley.

As it is the stated position of the party following this year’s Ard Fheis, he said he would also be supporting any legislation brought before the Dáil on this matter.

Labour’s Deputy McNamara was equally supportive. “Civil marriage, yes, but obviously what religious communities do is a matter for religious communities themselves,” he said. “There are same-sex relationships where children are involved now, they are not as infrequent as they were 20 years ago. The current laws are inadequate to deal with where the natural mother or father of the child had died leaving the child and the other partner in the relationship in a very difficult legal situation, so clearly for the sake of children, as well, it needs to be regularised,” said the former barrister.

Senator Conway (FG) said, “I believe there should be absolute equality for all people. Marriage is about a couple committing to each other for life, irrespective of their circumstances. If legislation comes through, I would like to see an all-party approach to this important issue and I would like to see all-party agreement. If that is not possible, the legislation I will support is legislation that is properly proofed and enshrined in equality.”

Senator Mulcahy (FG), who was also in favour of equal rights for same-sex couples, said, “As a society, we have been shoving our heads in the sand for far too long. We as a nation need to grow up, as opposed to growing up a bit of the way every 20 years.”

“If adults of the age of consent determine this is what they want to do with their lives, it is not for us to dictate to them. I came across it at the doors at the election last year, meeting people who believed we all should adhere to their beliefs, but I do not believe in that. I don’t dictate terms to anybody. I don’t think any sector of society should.

“If people over the age of consent decide that is how they want to live their lives, then we should legislate for that and provide for that,” he said.

CLARE Youth Service joined with other local youth services around the country last week to impress upon decision-makers the importance of local youth work to the country and its future.

The Oireachtas briefing, organised by Youth Work Ireland, highlighted concerns about youth unemployment, community employment and funding cuts, which are threatening youth projects around the country.

As part of the briefing, Clare Youth Service provided information on local projects and highlighted where cuts are impacting.

Margaret Slattery, CEO of Clare Youth Service, said, “We currently face many challenges in delivering essential services but it was important to recognise our Oireachtas rep- resentatives as partners in establishing the importance of youth work in both the legislative and budgetary processes.

“The meeting was an important opportunity to frankly highlight the situation on the ground.”

Bryan McMahon, an adult leader and part of the CYS Younger Voices group, highlighted the role of volunteers in providing value-for-money in the youth service.

As a former member of Skyview youth club in Shannon, his own story impressed the deputies and senators.

He said, “We saw this as an important opportunity to show what communities and young people can do in partnership with agencies and the State to provide quality services in difficult economic times”

Patrick Burke, CEO of Youth Work Ireland, complimented the role played by Clare Youth Service and others in the briefing.

Clare Youth Service is currently in the midst of their drive to recruit patrons and friends to help meet the shortfall caused by the current round of cuts.

The campaign was been a resounding success so far, with 120 patrons recruited from a target of 150. It is hoped to reach the target by the end of May.

Individuals and companies can become patrons for a donation of € 50 or become a friend for € 20. Friends will receive a car sticker, while patrons will receive a certificate for their business premises or home in addition to the car sticker.

To enrol as a friend or patron of Clare Youth Service, contact 065 6845350. Alternatively, anyone interested can enrol online at www. clareyouthservice.org

THE SHANNON region was touted as being ideally located to cash in on traffic and business associated with the 2012 London Olympics, but it never happened.

Until last Saturday that is, when Shannon Airport that famously welcomed home Ronnie Delany from Melbourne with his Olympic gold in 1956 and saw off Cassius Clay with his Olympic gold that he won in Rome in 1960 was finally touched by London 2012.

It was all thanks to the surprise pit-stop made in Shannon by the Olympic torch on Friday, over a month ahead of schedule when it will be carried from Belfast to Dublin en route to London by among others, Paul McGrath, Michael Carruth and Rory McIlroy.

But, in ahead of all these famous names was Airport Duty Manager Natasha Naughton-O’Keeffe after the British Airways flight BA2036 was forced to divert to Shannon for re-fuelling.

“I certainly wasn’t expecting to be holding the Olympic torch when I came into work this afternoon but it’s certainly made the evening shift a lot easier,” she said.

“The whole world will be looking at the Olympic torch on the opening night of the games in July and I’ll be able to say I carried it too,” said Ms Naughton-O’Keeffe who hails from Gort.

“It’s a great honour to have been the first place in Ireland to have the Olympic torch this year. I know it’s scheduled to come to Ireland in June and there’s a lot of effort going into organising its visit but we can always say we had it first in Shannon.

“We have had many firsts here since the airport was established and this is definitely right up there,” she added.

The BA flight was one of two forced to divert to Shannon to take on extra fuel after air traffic control issues in Canada forced them to take longer routes than anticipated. The torch was being brought to England by Mr Piers Skinner, director of customer management for Coca-Cola.

The arrival of the Olympic Torch today is in keeping with a long history of firsts at Shannon Airport, including being the birthplace of ‘duty free’ airport retailing, Irish coffee and, more recently, the first airport outside the Americas to get US preclearance services in 2009.

The torch was transferred from the BA flight to complete it journey to London on a scheduled ShannonHeathrow flight on Friday evening.

RNLI branches from Ennis and along the county’s Atlantic coast will come together later today to launch the ‘Mayday Mayday’ campaign for new lifejackets in the stations.

The Ennis and Kilrush branches of the RNLI have decided to pool their resources and produce a combined programme of fundraising events for the rest of the year. This programme includes events established events such as the Burren Ramble and the July Moonlit walk in the Burren, but also includes new events such as the hills of Aylroe in Kildysert.

The Mayday Mayday programme launch will take place at the Sanctuary in the Queens Hotel, this evening, May 1, from 8.30pm. It is hoped that a large number of locals and RNLI members will support the launch and the different fundraising events.

“This appeal centres on the new lifejacket initiative for the crews of all our lifeboat stations around the country. It also gives the Clare community to come out and support their local lifeboat stations,” said Jennifer Ryan of the Ennis RNLI.

“Our countries lifeboat branches are always looking for ways of improving and maintaining their equipment. This however is a costly business. The new lifejackets that have been in development for some time now are the way forward.”

Details of these events will be available this evening but it is understood that the new fundraising event in the hills of Aylroe will take place during May. The annual Midnight Walk will take place as usual in July while this year’s Burren Ramble will take place in September.