Category: News

TWO men charged in connection with the alleged theft of items from a historic lakeside mansion in Killaloe are to be sent forward for trial, a court has heard.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Inspector Tom Kennedy said he expects the books of evidence to be ready for service on Jeffrey Lee (41) and Declan Browne (25) by the end of the month.

Mr Lee, with an address at Cosgrave Park, Moyross, Limerick, is charged with entering Tinarana House as a trespasser on dates between August 17 and September 24, 2013 and committing theft therein.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court the 42-day time period in which the State is required to serve the book of evidence had elapsed.

She said the State were now on day 50. Insp Kennedy the book of evidence was not yet ready.

He told the court Mr Lee’s case is linked to that of Declan Browne. He said Mr Browne had not been charged at the same time as Mr Lee.

He said the State solicitor is currently finalizing the books of evidence in respect of both accused.

He sought a further adjournment. Ms Godfrey said she would consent to the case being adjourned to February 26.

Insp Kennedy told Judge William Early he was confident the books would be ready by the end of the month.

Judge Early refused a defence application to mark the case peremptory against the State – meaning the matter could be struck out if the book of evidence is not ready by February 26.

However Judge Early told the legal teams he had marked “time running” on the file.

Declan Browne, (25), with an address at Cnoc an Cluain, Ballina, Tipperary, also appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Browne is charged with handling stolen property – antique chandeliers, candelabra, light fittings, antique bathroom fittings, copper piping and cylinder – at Clear Circle Metals, Ballysimon Road, Limerick on September 13, 2013.

Insp Kennedy said the case would be proceeding to trial on indictment.

Ms Godfrey said Mr Browne appears to be a co-accused of Mr Lee. Mr Browne’s case was also adjourned to February 26.

Both accused were remanded on continuing bail.

MEMBERS of Kilrush Town Council accumulated salaries and expenses to the total of € 72,114.97 last year.

The biggest earner was Cllr Mairead O’Brien (Ind), who was mayor for the first six months of the year and claimed € 11,046.55. As well as her councillor’s salary Cllr O’Brien was also entitled to a mayoral allowance of € 1,487.50 for the period.

Also influencing her council expenses last year was the St Patrick’s Day trip to New York, which cost the council € 2,045.88 and costs associated with the Kilrush Famine Commemoration which she worked on as mayor.

Cllr O’Brien also attends meetings of the Clare Local Development Company on behalf of the council ,which also added to her expenses list.

Current Mayor Cllr Paul Moroney (Ind) also received a mayoral allowance for the last six months of 2013 bringing his expenses to € 9,369.43.

All nine councillors received a basic taxable salary of € 4,160.94 as well as a tax free allowance for attending meetings of € 2,036.

Cllr Christy O’Malley (FF) who was seconded to the town council following the death of Cllr Stephen O’Gorman (FF) in February received a salary and an allowance for just 11 months.

Councillors were also entitled to receive a mobile phone allowance up to the value of € 400.

Not all councillors claimed expenses beyond their salary and meeting allowance however.

Cllr Tom Clyne (Ind) did not claim any conference or mobile phone expenses, while Cllr Moroney and Cllr O’Malley did not claim phone expenses. Cllr Ian Lynch (FG), like Cllr Clyne, did not have any travel expenses to conferences or seminars. The remaining seven councillors spent € 12,125 attending meetings, seminars and conferences outside of Kilrush.

Cllr Liam William (FG) was the least travelled of the seven however, claiming just € 74.44 for a trip to the Inn at Dromoland for the launch of the Integrated Plan for the Shannon Estuary.

With the exception of the AMAI conferences (a body which represents the interests of municipal bodies in Ireland) there were just five conferences that attracted more than one councillor.

Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) and Cllr Liam O’Looney (FF) both attended the conference of Reconstructing the European Economy; Debt Relief in Ireland and a conference on Facing the fear of Alcohol and Mental Health in Ireland.

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) and Cllr O’Brien also attended the Tourism Annual Conference in Ennistymon on separate days, while Cllr O’Malley and Cllr Williams made their way to Dromoland for the launch of the Integrated Plan for the Shannon Estuary.

A MAN has appeared in court charged with smashing a family car with a golf club during a serious incident in Kilrush last month.

Robbie Walsh (18) is facing four charges arising out of the alleged incident at Island View, Kilrush on January 7.

Mr Walsh, with an address at Island View, Kilrush, is charged with criminal damage of a car, engaging in behaviour to provoke a breach of the peace and the unlawful produc- tion of a golf club.

He is further charged with having under his control a golf club, intended to damage property – a car window – in a way that was likely to endanger the lives of a couple and their children.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said directions are still awaited from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He applied to have Mr Walsh remanded in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on February 26. Bail was previously refused in the case, the court heard. Judge Wil- liam Early requested a summary of the alleged facts to allow him consider the issue of jurisdiction.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the accused met his uncle in the Island View estate in Kilrush on the day in question.

He said the man and his wife were going collect their children from school. Insp Kennedy said it is alleged Robbie Walsh ran at their car with a golf club and smashed a number of windows.

He said it is alleged that even after the head of the club broke off, the ac- cused continued to strike the car with the shaft. Insp Kennedy said the children were not in the car at the time. He said it was his understanding this was “quite a serious incident”.

Judge Early said he was happy he had heard a summary of the alleged facts. He said he was satisfied this was not an alleged minor offence.

“I therefore refuse jurisdiction”, he said. The case will now proceed to the Circuit Court. Mr Walsh was remanded in custody to appear again in court on February 26 for DPP’s directions. T H E CA S E of a Polish man charged in connection with the alleged discovery of cannabis in Spancill Hill has been adjourned to the end of the month. Krystof Sobolewski (37) is charged with an offence arising fromthe alleged discovery of cannabis at The Island, Kilvoydan, Spancill Hill on January 21. It is alleged Mr Sobolewski was in possession of cannabis for purposes of selling it or otherwise supplying it. Mr Sobolewski, with an address at The Island, Kilvoydan, Spancill Hill, first appeared in court earlier this month where he was remanded in custody. OnWednesday, Inspector TomKennedy said the DPP had not issued directions in the case. He said this was a “relatively newmatter” and that the State required a further two weeks. However he told Judge Early that he was unsure whether the DDP’s views would be known by February 19. He said the case is being expedited. Defence solicitor John Casey said his client has spent the past two weeks in Limerick prison. JudgeWilliamEarly remanded the accused in custody to appear again in court on February 26. T W O POLIS H men facing charges arising fromthe discovery of an alleged cannabis growhouse inTulla are to learn howtheir cases will proceed later this month. Rafal Ucinek (25) and Emil Sumczynski (23), both with addresses at Miltown,Tulla, appeared before Ennis District Court onWednesday. They are charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Miltown,Tulla on January 13. It is alleged gardaí seized 124 cannabis plants with an estimated value of €99,200. Inspector TomKennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had not issued directions in the case. He made an application to have both men remanded in custody for a further two weeks. Defence solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick consented to the State’s application. Judge Early remanded Mr Ucinek and Mr Sumczynski in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on February 19. THE BOOK of evidence has been served on a Shannon man accused of assaulting a player during a football match last year. Eamon Leahy (51) is charged with assault causing harm to Richard Carmody (29) during a football match at Wolfe Tones camogie grounds on May 12. The alleged assault is alleged to have occurred during a Division 6 Junior B football match between Wolfe Tones and Killimer. Jurisdiction of the case was refused in the District Court after Judge Patrick Durcan heard an outline of the alleged facts. Mr Leahy, with an address at Cronan Park, Shannon, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station told the court she served a copy of the book of evidence on solicitor Daragh Hassett for his client Mr Leahy. Inspector Tom Kennedy said 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 February 18. He said there are no objections to bail and no conditions were being sought. Judge William Early delivered the alibi warning and made the order returning the accused for trial on bail. Legal aid was approved for solicitor Daragh Hassett and one junior counsel.

THE number of people signing on the live register in Clare has increased for the third straight month – with North Clare continuing to return worrying statistics.

While a slight increase in the live register is normally seen in January, with temporary Christmas workers returning to the list – the concentration of continued poor live registers results from the Ennistymon area office have been seen by many as a cause for concern.

Indeed, nearly half of the entire increase reported in Clare last year was recorded in North Clare. The number of people signing on at the Ennistymon Social Welfare office increase from 1, 541 to 1,605 – a month on month increase of more than 4 per cent or 64 people.

The number of people signing on in the county as a whole increase by 133, amounting to a county wide average increase of just 1.4 per cent. This increase was largely driven by the number from Ennistymon.

The Ennis figures showed a increase of just 1.09 per cent with the number of people signing on increasing by 56, from 5,111 to 5,167 people.

The increase was even less in Tulla and Kilrush which recorded increases of just 0.5 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively. The live register figures from Ennistymon have been increasing quicker than anywhere else in the county in recent months.

It had been thought that this increase was due to the areas dependence on the tourism sector. However, the continuation of the trend long past the end of the tourist season has caused some in the region to worry about long term difficulty.

Despite this results from Ennistymon, the overall outlook remains positive with last month recording the lowest number of people on the live register in January since 2009.

THE Mayor of Clare has challenged young people in Ennis to have the “courage” to say no to drugs

Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) was speaking to a group of teenagers at the launch of a Drugs Awareness Art Project in the headquarters of Clare County Council earlier this month.

Students attending the Ennis Community Development Project Traveller Education Peer Support Project designed a calendar aimed at highlighting greater awareness of the dangers of drug abuse.

Praising the effort and dedication of the students who all come from a Traveller background in Ennis, Cllr Arkins said it was important they now stand by the work they have done over the past 12 months.

He explained, “People take drugs because they believe they will change their lives. They can be certain about that, it will change their lives but it will change it for the worse. People take drugs because they think it’s going to solve a problem. It doesn’t solve a problem. It creates a problem.

“I salute the wonderful work you have done. But it is important you have the courage to stand by the work you have done and to be peers amongst your own. So when some youngster in school tell you he can get a bit of weed, or he can get this that or the other drug and it will do you no harm…you have to have the courage to stand up and you have to have the courage to say not it isn’t, no it doesn’t, no it won’t.”

Cllr Arkins also praised the work of Ennis CDP and the Mid Western Regional Drugs Taskforce who supported the campaign.

He added, “The most important thing I’ll tell ye lads is have the courage to stand by the work ye have done here. Ye have done absolutely wonderful work but have the courage to bring it forward for the year into the rest of yer lives and into the lives of the people ye come across. Have the courage to stand up and say anyone who takes drugs is a fool.”

A GROUP of traveler students from Ennis can become “role models” for their community and help break down barriers to education.

That’s according to one Ennis man who plays a key role in helping young people from Traveller backgrounds achieve success through education.

Peer support worker David McCarthy worked alongside the group who recently devised a Drugs Awareness Art Project, a campaign supporter by Ennis CDP, the Mid Western Regional Drugs Taskforce, Clare County Council, St Vincent de Paul and the Courts Services.

Mr McCarthy, who works on a weekly basis with 12 secondary school students in Ennis, says an absence of role models is one of the main factors why many young people from a Traveller background fail to complete education.

“Role models is a big one and a lot of them feel that it doesn’t matter if they stay on in school, they won’t get jobs. That’s what we’re trying to challenge. That’s our big challenge at the moment,” he explained.

However he believes certain preconceptions about Travellers are being challenged

He explained, “There still is a taboo around Travellers getting married young and having families and settling down (and not continuing in education). That’s been challenged in Clare over the past few years. In the past five years, we’ve had Paddy McDonagh who has finished his degree course and is teaching in Scariff at the moment. We have a Pa Sherlock who did a Sports and Recreation course in the University of Limerick. Lee Sherlock is studying in UL as well. I’m in college doing youth and community work.”

He continued, “Traveller students are still not finishing school in any way close to their settled peers but we’ve seen an increase in school retention to at least the Junior Cert year. Currently in our group, we have four lads going into fourth year. You can never tell if they are going to stick with it but I believe the lads will push through.”

15-year-old Brian McDonagh is a student at St Flannan’s College in Ennis. He is also a member of the peer support group that devised the drugs awareness campaign.

He said, “It was very enjoyable. Doing this project, it makes more kids aware of what drugs can do to you. This group gives kids a positive message rather than a negative message in life, to go down the right path and not do drugs. It’s really good.”

Brian, a member of Ennis Boxing Club, says he hopes to study sport at third level.

A COASTAL Management Report dating back to 1989 made recommendations for reinforcement works and protection works along the coast of Clare, that still have not been implemented 25 years on.

Three members of Clare County Council – Cllr Oliver Garry, Cllr Christy Curtin and Cllr Johnny Flynn – are to attend next week’s meeting of Clare County Council armed with the document hoping to make the case that the people of West Clare cannot wait another 25 years for such work.

As the council re-count the cost of coastal damage following the storm on St Bridget’s Day, February 1, the council members are to call for emergency funding to be released by Central Government immediately.

The people of the west coast have also lost patience with central Government and are demanding immediate action, as well as a long-term strategy.

Publican and Community Activist in Doonbeg Tommy Commerford told The Clare People , “Emergency flooding must mean emergency flooding. We don’t need any more ministers running around telling us we have a problem.”

The people living along the west coast and the Shannon estuary are well aware of the problems they are facing following another weekend of high winds and high tides.

“The emergency funding must be released straight away especially for vulnerable areas,” said Mr Commer- ford.

“There should be no consultants required. This is a job that common sense can repair.”

Agreeing with Mr Commerford, Ailish Connolly from Kilbaha said a plan must then be made to address coastal erosion.

“There needs to be a coastal strategy at national level. Now is a time for action,” she said.

AS THE waters begin to recede along the Clare coast, the focus now turns inland with council engineers monitoring extremely high water levels on a number of the county’s rivers, including the Fergus.

Clare County Council yesterday warned people in Ennis and along the lower Shannon area to be extremely vigilant and take all necessary precautions, with heavy rain likely to swell rivers further in the coming days.

According to rainfall figures recorded at Shannon Airport, the county has already received almost a quarter (194.6mm) of the total rain that fell on the 12 months of 2013. A further 3 inches of rain, or 76mm, is expected to fall in the county over the next seven days.

Senior engineer Tom Tiernan said yesterday that newly constructed flood defenses in Ennis have worked well to date, but warned that the expected rainfall is likely to test these defenses to their limits.

People living in sections of Ennis where flood defenses have not yet been complete have been asked to be particularly vigilant in the com- ing days.

“The pressure on coastal areas is starting to lessen – we’re not out of the woods yet but the tides are starting to drop back. There has been a lot of rainfall and more on the way so there is a real possibility of local flooding in certain areas,” said Mr Tiernan yesterday.

“The Fergus is our main focus at the moment. The new defenses that were built have worked, and that is very significant. But all of the flood relief works have not yet been completed and we would ask that people in flood prone areas would remain vigilant.”

Council engineers are continuously monitoring river levels in the Fergus and in a number of at-risk rivers across the county.

Contingency arrangements are in place to increase pumping capacity in certain areas and a number of emergency flood alleviation measures are also in place.

WAITING times are down in all the University Limerick Hospitals, including Ennis and Limerick, but people are still waiting months for routine procedures.

That was the message from the first public meeting of the new hospitals group board, who also heard that while the hospital group had once again run millions of euros over budget, the over run was significantly lower than previous years.

Chief Executive of UL Hospitals Ann Doherty told the meeting that the hospital group had met govern- ment targets in 2013 and was now aiming to be ranked in the top three Irish hospitals by 2018.

According to the figures presented the longest any patient had to wait for a routine out-patient appointment was one year, a figure acceptable to Government targets.

No patient was waiting more than eight months for scheduled in-patient or day case procedures and no child was waiting more than eight months for a scheduled in-patient of day case procedure. According to the figures released all routine and urgent colonoscopy targets were also met.

Waiting times in the regions only 24-hour emergency department re- mains an issue however.

In December 58.4 per cent of patients were seen in under six hours. However 25 per cent of patients still hadn’t been treated within nine hours of arrival at A&E.

The group had however a financial over run of € 10.119 million which is 4.1 per cent of its annual budget allocation.

Ms Doherty said that the over run, or what she described as a financial challenge, at the beginning of 2013 was € 21.7 million or 9.1 per cent.

“The sizeable improvement in financial performance is noteworthy and is attributed to a number of factors such as additional budget alloca- tion, generation of additional income and the formation of sub committees to monitor, approve and provide visibility and accountability at every organisational level over all areas of spend.”

Launching its three-year strategic plan for the hospital group, Ms Doherty also outlined the plans for this year.

A ten-bed Intensive Care Unit is to be completed as well as an eight-bed High Dependency Unit.

She said that plans are also in place to maximise the use of bed capacity across the hospitals in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, and to recruit additional neonatal and obstet- ric consultants.

Plans for 2014 amongst others include more beds for the main hospital in Dooradoyle, Limerick, the opening of a temporary interim paediatric emergency department and continued capital investment.

The new Parkinson’s, stroke, breast and dermatology building, which is being developed with the voluntary sector is ear marked for 2015.

Other works including the new much needed Emergency Department for Limerick is expected to be completed in 2016.

A key objective for the board is to secure capital for a new maternity unit on the Dooradoyle campus.

A WOMAN in her late 80s has been trapped in her East Clare home since Christmas Day because of unprecedented local flooding.

The four houses in the Dooras area of O’Callaghan Mills have been effectively cut off from the rest of the world for the past six weeks – as their only access road now covered by a 200 metre long lake of water.

One family was evacuated from a rented house in Doora on Christmas Eve, with their landlady using a tractor to pass through the flooded road. However, since then the road has been impassable, even for tractors, with sitting water of up to five feet on the road itself, with a further 10 foot of water on either side of the access road.

Three members of another affected family, including three young children, left their homes last weekend but a number of people have no choice but to remain.

The only access to the homes at present is through a long stretch of bog, which is itself flooded and very dangerous to cross.

“The situation is very bad at the moment. There is no access, not even with a tractor. Some of the residents were using a quad to get out through a local bog, but unfortunately the quad got stuck last Saturday, so they have to go by foot to get in and out to the houses,” said Cllr Joe Cooney (FG).

“You are taking your life into your own hands driving down there, even in a tractor. You can’t see the road for 200 metres along the road and there is a a drop of nine or ten foot on one side of the road.”

The road has not flooded since 2009, with Clare County Council raising the road surface following the last prolonged period of flooding. It is understood that a blockage along the O’Garney River could be cause of the current flood.

“Is is very disappointing to have this happen. It’s awful to have people leave our parish because of the flood ed, but in fairness, the council have given us a commitment that when this flooding goes down, they will do some work to rectify the situation,” said Cllr Cooney.