Category: News

A CLARE company is set for a € 50 million global expansion next year, which could lead to an increase in production and employment at its Shannon headquarters.

Mincon Ltd, which was founded in Clare by Patrick and Mary Purcell in 1977, was valued at almost € 200 million after a successful floatation on the Irish stock market last week.

This floatation, which brought in € 50 million through new shareholders, launched the company at € 180 million – with the value of shares reaching € 197 million at one point.

A company spokesperson told The Clare People yesterday that the planned international acquisition will bring extra job security and possibly extra employment for it Shannon headquarters.

“The money raised has been earmarked for acquisitions outside of Ireland. What this will do is bring extra security to the manufacturing which is taking place in Shannon,” said the spokesperson.

“Everything that is manufactured in Shannon is used for the operations around the world so there is certainly potential that we will be more busy in Shannon.”

The Purcell family owned almost 80 per cent of the company prior the floatation. They have retained 57.7 per cent stake through their Kingsbell Company investment vehicle, which enables them to maintain control of the future direction of Mincon.

The family of the company’s chief executive, Kevin Barry, owned just under 20 per cent of Mincon through a company called Ballybell prior to the sale. Following the stockmarket entry, they now own 14.4 per cent of the company. Based on the new stock price, the Purcells’ stake is now valued in the region of € 110 million while the Barry family stake is worth more then € 28 million.

Mincon hit the headlines in 2010 when its drills played a crucial role in the successful rescue of 33 Chilean miners who became trapped nearly one kilometre underground.

A supplier of specialised drilling equipment, Mincon’s products have been used in some of the most remote regions of the world by firms engaged in mining, oil and gas exploration, as well as construction.

Before establishing Mincon, Patrick Purcell (77) worked as a fitter for the Air Corps and for De Beers [now Element Six], in Shannon.

A DISGRUNTLED Fianna Fáil met last evening (Monday) to select its candidates for the Ennis Municipal Area of the Clare County Council election.

After a weekend of threats to cancel the convention, withdraw local party support and even the nominees to withdraw their names, the vote went ahead with members still not informed as to how many candidates would be selected on the night.

Even the chairman of the party in Clare and the local director of elections were kept in the dark, as they cast their vote.

“All the talk about openness and transparency in a new era for the party, with the grass roots having their say must have been all forgotten; the first time it is tested it fails,” said one annoyed paid-up party members.

“It is like the bad old days, a dictatorship of some kind, with the members being denied their say,” added another.

At the 11th hour Fianna Fáil headquarters rescinded a threat to divide the Ennis area selection into smaller areas, after a backlash from senior members of the party executive in Clare.

Just two and a half hours prior to the start of voting, the local members of the party were in the dark as to which of the nine candidates they could vote for and indeed how many.

There were also talks of the Comhairle Dáil Cheantair (CDC) – the most senior members of the party in Clare – withdrawing from the process, and the possibility of candidates withdrawing their names still looming.

Early last week, a meeting between representatives of the party nationally and officers of the CDC had agreed the strategy for the selection conventions. It was agreed four candidates would be selected on the night with one to be added later, and each of the 184 Clare members getting a vote.

However, hours after the close of nominations on Friday, a new directive was sent to the Clare officers from the party’s head quarters stating that just three candidates were to be selected from the nine nominees on the night, and the selection process would possibly be divided into sub regions.

An emergency meeting was called with the conventions nominees, who include current member of the county council, and an agreement was reached that if this directive were forced through they too would withdraw.

By yesterday afternoon negotiations were ongoing between Clare’s CDC and Fianna Fáil head office as to how the convention would proceed.

One angered member of the party told The Clare People , “The ‘one person one vote’ format introduced by the party was just a way to keep us fundraising. By the looks of things we are back to the bad old days when we don’t get a say.”

Disgruntled members of the CDC had also agreed to withdraw from the selection process if the 11th hour new format was forced upon the Clare delegates and party members.

The nine candidates contesting the convention were Cllr Tom McNamara, Cllr Pat Daly, Cllr Brian Meaney, former Cllr Bernard “Bomber” Hanrahan, former mayor of Ennis Joe Reidy, former Sinn Fein member Joe Corbett, Clare Colleran Molloy, Eoin Neylon and Alan Considine.

Voting in the Fianna Fáil Selection convention for the Ennis Municipal area was not completed at time of going to press. The result will be available on www.clarepeople.com with a full report in next week’s edition.

TWO passenger planes had to delay landing in Shannon Airport after anti-war protestors made their way onto the main jet runway last year, a court has heard.

Margaretta D’Arcy (79) was lying down on the runway and Niall Farrell (60) was standing up when Shannon Airport police officers arrived to the runway at around 4pm on October 7, 2012. The pair were holding placards protesting against the alleged transport of US military drone aircraft through Shannon Airport.

Ms D’Arcy, with an address at St Bridget’s Place, Woodquay, Galway, and Mr Farrell, with an address at Ballynacloghy, Maree, Galway, denied the charge of interfering with the proper use of Shannon Airport by going on the runway without permission. The alleged offences are contrary to the Air Navigation and Transport Act. Both wore orange Guantanamo Bay style prison jumpsuits for the hearing.

Officer Joe Noonan told the court Airport Police received a call from supporters of the peace activists that Ms D’Arcy and Mr Farrell had made their way onto the runway.

Under cross-examination from Ms D’Arcy, airport police officer Richard Moloney said, “It was dangerous. It was a very dangerous situation. You were putting the lives of those people in the airplanes in danger.”

Air traffic controller Damien Egan told the court an Aer Lingus flight was held in the air for 17 minutes while a Ryanair flight was held for 12 minutes to allow gardaí and airport security time to escort the accused from the runway.

Ger O’Shea, Duty Sergeant with the Airport Police, said, “At no stage would I have given them authorization to enter the airfield.”

Ms D’Arcy and Mr Farrell admit being on the runway but denied interfering with the proper use of the airport.

Ms D’Arcy said she felt “compelled as an Irish citizen” to protest against the use of Shannon Airport by the US Military “I did not interfere with the proper use of the airport because it is not a proper airport,” she said

“My inner being, my soul is being destroyed by what is going on in Shannon” she said to a round of applause from a large group supporters in court who included Dáil TDs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly, who both gave evidence on behalf of Ms D’Arcy

On several occasions, Judge Patrick Durcan warned the accused they would not be allowed to use the court for political speeches.

Reading from a prepared statement, Mr Farrell said, “The Irish State is in denial concerning the US military’s activities in Shannon.”

The case was adjourned to tomorrow to Ennis District Court to fix a date for sentence.

CLARE Labour TD, Michael McNamara, has started bizarre war words with Clare County Council – accusing the local authority of specialising in threatening letters and bullying landowners.

Speaking in the Dáil last Wednesday, the East Clare TD even went as far as to suggest that Clare County Council were incapable of sending a letter which was not threatening. Deputy McNamara was speaking on the local authorities enforcement of the 1993 Roads Acts, law which was introduced by the last Labour government.

In a statement to

A DISTRICT Court Judge said he was sending a message to the people of Kilrush and County Clare when he sentenced a 19-year-old to three months in prison.

Alan Clohessy, 9A Willow Green, Kilrush pleaded guilty to impeding or obstructing a member of Garda Síochana when he ran into his home and locked the door on June 26 of this year, as Gardaí attempted to serve a search warrant.

Judge Patrick Durcan dismissed a charge of drug possession under Section 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act against Mr Clohessy, despite the defendant pleading guilty to the charge.

At the district court hearing in Kilrush on Tuesday last Mr Clohessy told the court, “I don’t smoke cannabis, that is the truth of it, but I am taking the blame for it. I am pleading guilty for it.”

In his summation Judge Durcan said he could not convict a man who admitted unopposed that he did not smoke the drug, stating he found “this the most bizarre case both in terms of the prosecution and of its defence.”

The judge convicted the defendant on the second charge relating to what he described as “a very ugly scene” as gardaí kicked down the door of Mr Clohessy’s home after they were refused entrance.

“I have no hesitation in saying this man should be penalised and penalised severely,” he said.

“The message has to go out to the people of Kilrush and the people of County Clare that if gardaí are obstructed while they are carrying out an order they will be penalised se- verely.” In his evidence to the court Garda Paul Madden described that he observed the defendant on a pedal bike as he went to serve the search warrant.

Mr Clohessy then cycled to his house, abandoned the bicycle in the drive and ran inside closing the door, he said.

The gardaí were refused entry to the house, so opened the door by force, namely kicking it.

They went up stairs and discovered four cannabis joints in a bedroom.

A garda at the back of the house also observed “something” being thrown from the window, that was not found by gardaí afterwards.

“He along with other members of the family were very uncooperative and had to be retired,” said the garda of the defendant.

Solicitor for the defence Michael Ryan said he understood it was the butts of the cigarettes that were found in the room rather than joints.

He said his client had no previous convictions, was unemployed and regretted the matter.

Mr Clohessy was sentenced to three months in prison and given right to appeal.

A MAN who set fire to a garden shed owned by a man who harassed his mother has been told to pay 100% compensation for the damage or go to jail.

Aaron Moylan (21) pleaded guilty in May to damaging two sheds in the Hawthorns, Limerick Road, Ennis on June 27, 2012.

The court heard Mr Moylan committed the offence at the house of a man who had previously pleaded guilty to harassing his mother.

At the time, Judge Patrick Durcan said that while Mr Moylan’s motivation was out of “loyalty and love for his mother”, it was a “very serious and dangerous offence to commit.”

Judge Durcan had adjourned the case to allow the accused pay compensation for the damage caused.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client had paid € 300 compensation so far. The court heard the total amount of compensation due is € 1300.

Ms Godfrey explained the court had mistakenly been informed previously that all compensation had been paid.

She said Mr Moylan, with an address at Abbey Court, Ennis lost his job earlier this year after his employer read about his act of arson in a local paper.

Ms Godfrey said her client required time to save money.

She explained Mr Moylan is currently studying sports science but the course won’t be finished until September 2014.

Judge Patrick Durcan said the case had been “dribbling on” and he was going to deal with it in September. “It’s 100% compo (compensation) or jail,” he told Mr Moylan.

Paraphrasing an expression made famous by former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, Judge Durcan said, “The Judge is not for turning.”

The case was adjourned to September 24, 2014 for payment of compensation.

THE cases of two people charged in connection with an alleged violent incident at a graveyard in Ennis are to proceed in the Circuit Court.

Brothers David and Brian Joyce, both with addresses at Dun Na hInse, Ennis, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Brian Joyce (19) is charged with assault causing harm to a man and unlawful possession of a wooden handle arising out of an alleged incident at Drumcliffe graveyard on August 27 (2013).

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed the matter proceed to trial on indictment.

He said a book of evidence is being prepared in the case.

Mr Joyce was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on December 18 for service of the book of evidence.

Charges were struck out against David Joyce (24).

David Joyce had been charged with assault causing harm and unlawful possession of a three-foot iron bar arising out of the same alleged incident at Drumcliffe Graveyard on August 27.

Insp Kennedy said no evidence was being offered in respect of the charges.

Judge Patrick Durcan granted the application to strike out the charges.

Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction of the case of a 16-year-old boy charged in connection with the alleged incident at Druncliffe.

The teenager is charged with possession of a steak knife and production of a hockey stick contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

Previous charges against the boy were struck out.

Insp Tom Kennedy outlined the alleged facts of the case to allow Judge Durcan consider jurisdiction.

The court heard that gardaí received an anonymous phone call to respond to an incident at Drumcliffe on August 27.

Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged that the teenager was found in possession of a hockey stick and steak knife in the graveyard.

“There was a fight. Blood was spilled”, added Insp Kennedy.

He told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the case.

Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction, meaning the case will now proceed to the Circuit Court.

The boy was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on December 18 for service of the book of evidence.

THREE more people were sentenced in the district court this week, following a garda operation targeting the sale of drugs in Kilrush.

The District Court in Kilrush heard that a number of people sold controlled drugs to under cover Gardaí during the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013. Among them were Martin O’Brien (32) The Bungalow, Wood Road, Kilrush, who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled drug – Diamorphine (heroin) for sale or supply at the Tesco car park, on the Ennis Road, Kilrush, at 6.45 pm on January 30, 2013.

He was also charged with having heroin for sale or supply at Woodroad, Kilrush at 5.30pm on January 11, 2013 and drugs for sale at 6pm on January 14, 2013, in the Tesco car park, Kilrush.

Mr O’Brien was on bail at the time of the offences, is currently serving a three-year sentence for assault and has 37 previous convictions.

Solicitor for the defence Darragh Hassett said it was no secret that Mr O’Brien had a drug problem.

“He would have started out life as being one of the people being sold the drugs,” he said.

Mr O’Brien’s wife Valerie Power, The Bungalow, Wood Road, Kilrush, was also charged with having heroin for sale or supply at the Tesco car park, Kilrush, on March 15, 2013. She was also charged with having heroin for sale at the supermarket car park on February 16 and again on March 1, this year.

The court heard she began selling Mr O’Brien’s remaining drugs after he was arrested. She was also on bail at the time of the offence.

Mr Hassett said Ms Power does not take drugs and has warned Mr O’Brien she will leave him if he uses drugs again.

Sean McMahon (24) with an address at 25 Nagles Terrace, Kilrush, pleaded guilty to having cannabis herb for sale or supply at Kilkee Road, Kilrush, on December 12, 2012, and again on the Kilkee Road, on December 4, 2012.

His solicitor Patrick Moynihan said Mr McMahon had now moved away from Kilrush and was living in Galway while attending GMIT.

He said he was a bright man that did something stupid. He was addicted to cannabis and “got the fright of his life from this”, he added.

Judge Patrick Durcan served Ms Power with the probation act and placed her on her own bond for two years.

He sentenced Mr McMahon to six months in prison and suspended it for two years.

“I am not satisfied Mr McMahon has ceased to be involved in drug sale. Mr O’Brien’s case was adjourned to Ennis District Court on Wednesday to allow he judge consider his jurisdiction on sentencing.

On Wednesday Judge Durcan said Mr O’Brien fell into a much more serious category of offender than his fellow accused.

He said he had engaged in the sale of heroin in three areas of Kilrush, activities the court heard, that cre- ated a “drug epidemic” in the West Clare town.

Judge Durcan said, “The defendant Martin O’Brien would appear to be one of the bigger players, in a local sense, in the filthy pool of drug dealing.”

He added that while he bears in mind Mr O’Brien’s circumstances and his plea of guilty, the aggravating factors in the case are “staggering”.

He imposed sentences totalling 18 months but suspended the final three months on condition Mr O’Brien be of good behaviour.

He granted an application to fix recognizances in the event of an appeal. Judge Durcan commended the work of gardaí who had undertaken the undercover operation in Kilrush.

He described the amount of damage being done by heroin to Kilrush as “horrific”.

He said that while heroin is causing difficulties to communities across the country, “it is a particular problem in Kilrush.”

Judge Durcan said he was struck by the “brashness, the sheer brashness of the offence”.

Warning that business owners to be vigilant of criminal activity on their premises, he said the open trade of heroin in broad daylight would not be tolerated.

He said a mini market for the sale of heroin had been in operation outside the Tesco’s shopping centre.

“I do find it quite amazing that in a supermarket car park there is as much commercial activity as inside,” he said in Kilrush on Tuesday.

IRELAND’S last matchmaker, Willie Daly, is entering the modern age and will begin to use Twitter to bring lovers together from next week. The Lisdoonvarna love doctor, who will celebrate his 70th birthday next year, says he has completed a com- puter course and will start tweeting love tips to his followers as soon as he figures out how to work Twitter. A Twitter account at “TheLastMatchmaker” was created for Mr Daly last week and he says he will begin to Tweet messages to his followers as soon as possible. “I did a computer course before but my daughter was there helping me all along. I’m not very good with computers but I’m going to get some help with this [Twitter] and I should be up and running in about a week,” he said yesterday. “I’m sure I’ll have lots of things to say to people. I’ve think, over the last number of year, I have been missing out by not being involved [with the internet and social media]. Twitter seems to be the best way of talking to people – it seems to be better that Facebook from what I can see anyway. So I’m excited about doing it. Twitter seems to be the most modern one of them [social media sites]. So, if I’m going to get involved at this stage I might as well go for the most modern one. “Who knows the amount of unknown romances that I might be able to create for the people of the world on Twitter. I think I’ll also be able to get people into a more romantic mood and to help people in that way.” Willie Daly has been matchmaking at the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival for more then 50 years. Over the years he claims to have brought together thousands of couples and claims responsibility for hundreds of marriages.

ONE of Clare’s most historic structures has been closed to allow for essential repairs to take place over the winter. O’Brien’s Tower at the Cliffs of Moher was closed to the public last week and will remain closed until repairs to the roof and interior of the structure can be completed.

No target date has yet been given for the reopening of building, which is expected to play a central part of 1,000 year anniversary of Brian Boru next year.

Director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Katherine Webster, said every care is being taken to protect the listed building.

“We usually close the tower for internal maintenance work for a period during the winter. This year we are also doing some work on the roof to address water ingress to the tower through this area,” she said.

“O’Brien’s Tower is a very important historic structure and given the exposed location near the highest point of the Cliffs of Moher it is subject to the onslaught of extreme weather.

“This leads to substantial maintenance requirements. We are very conscious of our obligations to maintain and conserve what is a unique piece of cultural heritage. I don’t have a date for reopening at this stage.

“It is particularly important that O’Brien’s Tower is fully ready for the year ahead in 2014, which marks the 1000 year anniversary of the death of Brian Boru, the first High King of Ireland and founder of the influential O’Brien Clan.”