Category: News

ALCOHOL was a contributory factor in the death of a Polish man run over by a car in Ennis last year, an inquest has heard.

The body of 38-year-old Thomas Nowakowski, was found near a speed bump in Tobertascáin on May 15, 2013. The fast food worker had lived in Ireland with his wife for six years.

The inquest, before a jury, into his death was opened at Clare County Coroner’s Court in Ennis on Tuesday.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea said the inquest would hear from State Pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy and would be adjourned to May 8 to hear from the remaining witnesses.

Ms O’Dea said the deceased’s family were happy for the inquest to proceed in this manner.

Prof Cassidy said she was requested to attend the scene of the incident on May 16, 2013.

She said she found Mr Nowakowski’s body lying across the road; face up with his head facing towards the centre of the road.

Prof Cassisdy said there was a large pool of blood around the decease’s head. His runners were on the road, the inquest heard.

Mr Nowakowski suffered severe injuries to his trunk, fractures to his pelvis, thighbone, ribs and collarbone. Prof Cassidy said there was also extensive damage to the skull. The most significant trauma occurred internally, she said.

Blood and urine analysis showed a considerably high level of alcohol was present in the deceased’s system.

Prof Cassidy said that Mr Nowakowski’s alcohol levels were 375mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

Prof Cassidy said the pattern of injuries were wholly consistent with crush trauma.

She said there was as strong smell of alcohol from the deceased. She said he was considerably intoxicated and “likely to be unsteady on his feet”.

She said she was also satisfied Mr Nowakowski suffered no injuries to suggest he was upright at the time of impact

She said the cause of death was crush injuries to chest and pelvis consistent with a crush under the weight of a car.

Acute alcohol intoxication was given as a contributory factor.

CLARE’S 11 bathing areas have got the all clear for the summer season.

This is the first time in a number of years that all of Clare’s bathing areas have got top marks from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to the report on Bathing Water Quality each of the areas were deemed to be compliant with manda- tory water quality levels.

Bathing waters were classified into three categories, namely ‘Good’, ‘Sufficient’ and ‘Poor’. The classification system is based on the levels of E. Coli and intestinal enterococci detected in the bathing water during the 2013 bathing season.

All 11 bathing areas around Clare were adjudged to have ‘Good Water Quality’ having complied with EU Guide and Mandatory levels, includ- ing Ballyalla Lake (Ennis) which was deemed to only have ‘Sufficient Water Quality’ in 2012.

The other bathing water areas are White Strand (Milltown Malbay), Ballycuggeran (Lough Derg), Cappa Pier (Kilrush), Bishopsquarter, White Strand (Doonbeg), Kilkee, Spanish Point, Lahinch, Fanore and Mountshannon (Lough Derg).

According to Paul Moroney Senior Engineer, Clare County Council, “In particular, the Council is pleased that Ballyalla Lake had good results in 2013 and it is working to ensure that improved status is maintained this year and for the future.”

Of the 18 Local Authorities who have designated bathing areas, just six, including Clare, achieved ‘good’ water quality status for all of their identified bathing waters.

Dr Matthew Crowe, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Assessment, said, “Irish bathing waters continue to be among the best in northern Europe. By contrast to the 2012 bathing season, the warm dry conditions last year meant that many waters returned to their normal good quality. Our projections show that almost 90 per cent of Ireland’s designated bathing waters should meet the new ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ water quality standards which will come into force from this year.”

A WELL-KNOWN Ennis family business is the latest to fall victim to the recession, with Guerins Foodstore and Newsagent on the corner of Cornmarket Street closing its doors for the final time on Saturday last.

The constant grocer to the people of the area for more than 60 years, and the supplier of the breakfast roll, scone, sandwich and coffee to workers in recent years, this small corner shop was also a centre of news and chat.

The shop building also occupies a special place in the musical history of the town, as it provided the inspiration for ‘The Stone Outside Dan Murphy’s Door’ – a well-known Clare song written by Feakle man Johnny Paterson.

Owned by Clodagh and John Guerin, Guerin’s was the subject of a spate of break-ins in the last three months.

“This has a huge impact on the business too,” said Ms Guerin, adding that robberies during an already difficult time can be the final nail in the coffin for any business.

She said that they were sad to close the shop, but were left with no other option.

In the last number of years a number of businesses closed or “down sized” in the area, which had a huge impact on trade.

“Eircom is gone, the school has moved out and most of the [town] council staff are gone.

“Those companies that are left have less staff and it all has an impact,” added Ms Guerin, a familiar face behind the counter.

“People also don’t have the money any more. They are bringing their lunch to work, and who can blame them. I really noticed it in the last 18 months, and definitely since September. The property tax has had an awful impact too. People just don’t have money,” she said.

While there was no alternative but to close the doors, Ms Guerin admitted some tears were shed.

“I will miss the craic we had here with the customers, but at the end of the day you have to be realistic about things, when it is not paying you have to go. But I will miss it.”

Guerin’s other store in Ennis is to remain open.

TRIBUTES have been paid to the late Ita O’Shea (nee Ryan) a founder member of the Ennis Musical Society who passed away last week.

Ms O’Shea was born in Queen Street, Clonmel, Tipperary in July 1920. She moved to Clare in 1952 after husband Murt O’Shea, a radio officer, secured work in the county.

The couple married in 1944 and had three children.

A talented musician who played organ and piano, Ms O’Shea was a cofounder of the Ennis Musical Society in 1953. She was heavily involved with the Ennis Friary and Cathedral choirs and was also the organist in the Ennis Cathedral for many years.

In 2000 she was the recipient of the prestigious Benemerenti award in recognition of her decades of service to church and community life in Ennis.

Her husband Murt passed away suddenly in 1989. Ms O’Shea’s sister Maureen lives in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

Ms O’Shea was a grandmother to four grandchildren and had one great grandchild.

Ennis Parish administrator, Fr Tom Hogan yesterday described her as a “lovely woman”.

“She was a genuinely lovely woman. She had real gift for communicating with people. She was delighted when she received the award in 2000 and it was thoroughly well merited”.

Ms O’Shea lived at Dún Mhuire, Clon Road Ennis but was a resident for the last three years of her life at Cahercalla Community Hospital.

In a statement, the committee and members of Ennis Musical Society said they were “saddened to learn of the recent passing of their President and long time member, Ita O’Shea”.

They added, “Ita – through her love of all things musical – gave tremendous service to the Society and the wider community in Ennis. She was a role model to all members and was held in fondness by all who now mourn her passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sí.”

THREE of the county’s four town councils will hold their last ever monthly meeting today (Tuesday), with Kilrush bringing down the curtain on this soon to be extinct form of Government on Thursday.

The first authority to call time on its existence will be Ennis Town Council with its afternoon meeting today. Over 172 years of local government history will come to an end when the nine members of the council meet for the final time to discuss town business.

A number of items are up for discussion on the agenda including a planning report on a long awaited roundabout on the Tulla Road neat the Oakeligh Wood housing estate.

Councillors will discuss a right of way issue at the St Michael’s estate. Debate will also focus on a proposed one-way system in the Lifford Road area of town. A report on commercial rates is also due to be presented to councillors. Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) will preside over the meeting. Later that evening both Shannon and Kilkee Town Council will also meet for the last time.

In Shannon the nine councillors will meet for the last time in the authorities 32-year history at 6.30pm.

While it is business as usual with the agenda, the councillors will also move to ensure the € 111,000 in the council budget is ringfensed for local projects. In Kilkee from 7pm the councillors will meet to hear an address from the mayor Paddy Collins and to view one last time on the finances of the council.

Meanwhile the last ever-monthly town council meeting in the county will be held in Kilrush on Thursday evening in the courthouse.

The nine councillors will show an element of defiance when they table just one joint motion calling “on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to establish a commission to bring forward recommendations on meaningful reform of local government at town council level that will eventually lead to the restoration of democratic structures at town council level in the near future.

The councillors previously voted to move the historic meeting from the Town Hall as the first ever Kilrush Town Council meeting was held in the courthouse.

For more than 170 years town councils have worked as the local authority of their town, but as of June 1 that responsibility will fall to Clare County Council and its 28 new councillors.

FIVE North Clare teenagers will take the trip of a lifetime later this year to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

The students, who are members of the North Clare No Name Club, will travel to Africa in August.

As well as the gargantuan task of climbing the world’s highest freestanding mountain, the team must both mentally and physically prepare for such a challenge.

They are also busy raising funds for a charity in Tanzania. Each year, the Kilimanjaro Achievers focus on two charitable projects within Tanzania, which they feel could strongly benefit from their help. This year the two selected projects involve raising funds to expand an orphanage school in Cheti, Tanzania, and sponsor a number of children in the same orphanage in Tanzania.

Cheti School is a non-profit, nonreligious, non-government organisation with the dream of providing free education to children in the poorest areas and villages of Arusha, Tanzania.

As part of the trip, the No Name Club group will visit Cheti and help out for a few days at one of the school, gaining first-hand experience of volunteering with a charity abroad. It will be an amazing personal achievement for these North Clare youths and every level of support will be greatfully appreciated.

The No Name Club is a youth club specifically designed for teenagers from the ages of 15 years up, to cater for the gap between Junior Cert and Leaving Cert. It enables young people to organise and enjoy a positive alternative to alcohol and drug-centred activities, building selfconfidence and increase awareness of the effects of alcohol and drugs, thus helping young people make informed choices when they are older. The North Clare No Name Club was established last year, with it’s base in Lahinch and is still welcoming new members to this day from all parts of Clare.

The five club members travelling to Kilimanjaro include Dominic Talty, Declan, Ashling Talty, Naomi Harvey, Rachel Harvey and the club chairperson, Edel Harvey.

The club will hold a fire walk at the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, on May 9. Support is greatly appreciated. Further information is available at 085 7551721.

There will be a fundraising night at the Galway Greyhound Stadium on May 10. Entry tickets for the night are € 10 per person, with under 12s entering for free.

THE issue of mental health should be higher on the political agenda, a prominent Clare-based social worker has said.

Paul Guckian also praised community groups for stepping in to plug the gap in the mental health services created by cutbacks in public service spending over the past five years.

Mr Guckian, who is the Principal Social Worker with Clare Mental Health Services, was speaking at the ‘No Man Is An Island’ conference in Ennis on Saturday.

In a talk on men’s mental health, Mr Guckian outlined the sign and symptoms associated with depression.

“At the severe end of depression, people can have serious thoughts of suicide, worthlessness, thinking life would be better for me or my family and friends if I committed suicide. That’s not uncommon. A lot of people would have that ideation but it is a warning sign and it is not uncommon.”

He called on politicians to bring the issue of mental health higher up he political agenda.

He said, “The other interesting thing about suicide, and I think this is important for a county like Clare, is that in Ireland, suicidal activity and suicides are a rural phenomenon. It’s much higher instance than in urban areas.

“These are the sorts of issues that are going to have be addressed by everybody in society. I see some of the candidates for the local elections in this room today and there are other people engaged in politics. But it is important this is put on the political agenda,” he added.

Mr Guckian praised the role played by community groups, such as the Ennis Men’s Shed, for the role they have played in assisting people af- fected by depression.

He said, “There are a huge number of community support groups and they really have stepped into the breach in this country since the crash, since the cutbacks in statutory and public services so we have groups like the Men’s Shed movement to help out.

“Unfortunately in the North West area of Clare, there are no social workers in those primary care teams again due to resource issues. For councillors in Clare, maybe that’s an issue they [politicians] could raise on the canvass to have properly funded primary health services,” he added.

THE provision of a safe space where men can talk openly about issues of mental health can help address such as isolation and depression, a meeting has heard.

Frank McNamara, facilitator of the Ennis Men’s Shed, was speaking at the opening of the ‘No Man an Island’ conference in Ennis on Saturday night.

The conference, the first of its kind to be held in Ireland, was organised by members of the Ennis Men’s Shed. Mr McNamara was one of those who set up the Ennis Men’s Shed in Hermitage last year.

Outlining the aims of the initiative, Mr McNamara said, “It is hoped that the well being of its members will be improved and issues such as isolation and lack of self esteem and self worth can be addressed. In tackling these issues it’s not just the shedders that benefit but also their families and the wider community. It gives the men something to focus their time and energy on, which in turn promotes healthier more productive relationships with their partner and / or children.”

Mr McNamara said a meeting at the West County Hotel in May 2013 kickstarted the movement in Ennis. With support from a Clarecastle businessman and Ennis man Tony Mulqueen, who supplied premises, the shed was established at Centrepoint, Hermitage.

“We are now 10 months on and the Ennis Men’s Shed wouldn’t be where it is today without the support and backing of Tony and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him.”

Mr McNamara told the conference that the shed is open to all men over 18. He said the Ennis Men’s Shed committee has received fantastic support from the community, the Clare / Limerick Education Training Board and Clare Arts Council.

He added. “With the Ennis Men’s Shed going from strength to strength and in order for the shed to have the positive impact on the local community that its committee and members envisage, it is vital that we link in fully with other community support groups and government agencies so they have a confidence in suggesting Ennis Men’s Shed as an option to those presenting with issues such as depression isolation, exclusion etc.”

A BOOK of evidence has been served on a man accused of causing over € 13,000 worth of damage to a house in Ennis almost two years ago.

Bernie Mongan (26) is charged in connection with an incident that occurred at the Dun Na hInse housing estate in 2012.

Mr Mongan, with addresses at Dun Na hInse, Ennis, and Leim An Bhradáin, Gort Road, Ennis, is charged with criminal damage.

It is alleged he caused € 13,580 worth of damage to the walls, windows and structure of a house in Dun na hInse, Ennis on June 29, 2012.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed the case proceed to trial on indictment meaning it will be heard in the circuit court.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented to the accused being returned for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on April 29.

Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of serving the book of evidence on the accused. Judge William Early delivered the alibi warning and made the order returning the accused for trial on bail. He granted legal aid going forward for defence solicitor Tara Godfrey and one junior counsel.

Mr Mongan is due to appear before the Circuit Court in Ennis tomorrow.

A LIMERICK man has appeared in court in Ennis charged with 32 offences relating to the alleged theft of car parts across four counties in the West and South.

The alleged thefts relate to the taking of catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters mainly from highpowered vehicles in Clare, Galway, Limerick and Kerry between January 24 and February 22, 2014.

It is alleged that criminal damage was caused to the vehicles when the parts were removed.

Darren O’Driscoll (20), with an address at Monaclino Halting Site, Ballysimon Road, Limerick, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

He is charged with stealing of cata- lytic converters and causing criminal damage to cars at the Radisson Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick; Dromoland Castle Newmarket on Fergus; Bunratty Castle; on dates between January 24 and January 26.

He is further charged with theft of catalytic converters and criminal damage at Kenna Metal Eastpark, Shannon; Modular Automation Shannon – the location of four alleged offences: Ennis Golf Club; Dunnes Stores, Ennis; Dromoland Castle and West County Hotel, Ennis on dates between February 4 and February 9.

Mr O’Driscoll is facing six charges arising from the alleged theft of catalytic converters and criminal damage to three vehicles in the car park of Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Ballybane, Galway, on dates between February 19 and February 20.

New charges relating to alleged thefts from vehicles in Kerry were brought against Mr O’Driscoll on Wednesday.

Detective Garda Emma Mullane of Tralee Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

She said Mr O’Driscoll made no reply to any of the charges after caution.

Mr O’Driscoll is charged with stealing catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters from vehicles in Farranfore Railway Station; Manor West Retail Park, Tralee, and thefts from two cars at Ballygarry House Hotel, Tralee, on dates between February 18 and 22.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the charges in the District Court. He outlined a summary of the alleged facts to allow Judge William Early to consider jurisdiction.

Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged Mr O’Driscoll used a battery powered saw to cut the catalytic converters from underneath the car.

Insp Kennedy said the purpose of the alleged thefts was to gain access to a valuable metal found in the converters and diesel filters.

Judge Early initially accepted jurisdiction but later changed his mind and refused it in all cases. He said he was doing so because of the cost of the damage to the car owners and the number of alleged thefts.

Judge Early adjourned the case to June and requested the DPP provide clarity on which jurisdiction the cases will be heard in.

Mr O’Driscoll was remanded on continuing bail.