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CLARE County Council was last night ac- cused of failing the Clare public in not tack- ling illegal dumping in County Clare. The charge was made by Clarecastle council- lor Joe Carey (FG), as it emerged that the number of detected dumps cleaned up by Clare County Council was already 60 per cent more this year than for the entire of Aue

Figures supplied by the council’s Head of the Environment, Ger Dollard, showed that 51 tonnes of waste from illegal dumps had been cleared to date this year, compared to 32 tonnes for the whole of 2004. Mr Dol- lard said that, so far this year, approximately 40 illegal dumps had been removed by the elton ep

Cllr Joe Carey said, “Illegal dumping is a

huge problem in Clare and is not being prop- erly tackled by the council. There is a need to dramatically increase the budget for waste enforcement.”

Over the past three years, the council has spent €1.13 million on waste enforce- ment, with the grant from the Department of the Environment being €403,000 this year alone. Cllr Carey told the meeting that there was a clear obligation on the council to remove illegal dumps, demanding that a report be brought before the council on the improvements made.

Cllr Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) said that the large increase was a sign of in- creased vigilance by the council, but also a disastrous sign that illegal dumping was on the increase. Cllr Martin Conway (FG) urged the council to employ additional Envi- ronmental Patrol Wardens.

In response, the Director of Services Ger Dollard said, “The amount of resources de- voted to investigation and follow-up of illegal dumping is significant. One aspect of illegal dumping 1s fly tipping, which is visible from public areas and generates the majority of public complaints. However, a large resource is also devoted to sites not visible from public spaces by means of aerial surveys, checking of movements of waste collectors and so on. I am satisfied that the current complement of three wardens is adequate to meet current needs and requirements. The council would see benefit in the deployment of the EPWs directly to area offices and will consider such an approach, along with other issues which are currently being addressed.”

However, Cllr Conway said that Mr Dol- lard’s claim that three EPWs was enough to cover the county was “fanciful”.

A FATHER-OF-FOUR with 90 previous con- victions, who faced the reactivation of a sus- pended five-year sentence, was jailed for four years yesterday at Ennis Circuit Court.

Michael James McDonagh (32) of 23, Bal- lycaseymore, Shannon, appeared before Judge Carroll Moran to appeal a District Court rul- ing, which resulted in him being sentenced to 12 months in jail for making unlawful threats against three individuals, including his wife, in Shannon last January.

McDonagh also appealed the severity of two other sentences, totalling four months, for

public order offences, to which he had pleaded guilty.

Earlier this year, McDonagh was convicted of threatening to kill his wife Kathleen McDon- agh and their neighbour Breda Smith.

The court heard that, on January 3 last, the accused was heard saying to his wife Kathleen outside their home, “I will do you, and Breda as well.”

Mr McDonagh’s legal team argued however that the phrase “I will do you” could not be taken as a genuine threat to kill or cause seri- O)erSmar-usee

Judge Moran ruled that there was not enough evidence to sustain the convictions for making

unlawful threats and allowed the appeal.

The court was told since the five-year sentence was suspended in May 2003, Mr McDonagh has been convicted of eight separate offences in Ennis, Shannon, Arklow, Roscrea and Athlone including road traffic and public order offences and breach of an exclusion order.

“The five years sentence was suspended on the basis that the accused behave himself. There are six separate incidents under appeal here today.

“Looking around, I would not be surprised if the entire constabulary from Shannon Garda Station is in this courtroom,’ Judge Moran said before making his ruling.

The judge allowed the appeals in relation to four charges.

But he affirmed the District Court rulings in several others for which Mr McDonagh was sentenced to a total of 12 months in prison.

He ordered the reactivation of a five-year sen- tence, which he reduced to four, previously 1m- posed on McDonagh following his conviction for the larceny of €20,000.

He backdated that sentence to February last and ordered the 12-month sentence to run con- currently with it.

McDonagh had to be restrained by gardai af- ter he resisted attempts to be handcuffed and was led away to begin his sentence.

this week, Ward expressed his satisfaction at the balance that currently ex- ists in the squad.

‘We probably played better earlier on than we have done lately but we will be hoping for an improvement on Sunday. There is a good few young players coming through at the moment and we are delighted with that, along with hav- ing the older experienced lads like the Sheedys and those lads.”

Clarecastle will hold some advantage over the Shannon side going into Sunday’s clash given that they have had an extra week to prepare. Clarecastle overcame a battling per-

formance from Newmarket a week ago while Wolfe Tones turned in an assured perform- ance to brush aside the challenge of Barefield. Ward agrees that Wolfe Tones enter the game

as slight favourites, a tag which he believes is justified, but one which his side won’t be over- awed by.

“When you are hurling you can never have

enough time off. There is never an ideal time for a match. We are delighted to have the extra week. It has been a long year and we have been out since the beginning of March, so we are glad to be coming up to the county final so we are delighted it is now rather than later on.

“They (Wolfe Tones) are the favourites. I saw the game at the weekend and they are very good and the favourites – that’s the way it should be. We are going there to compete so after the match we will know who is the best team”

According to Ward preparations have gone smoothly with the only real injury concern be- ing Danny Scanlon who is expected to recover fully from a concussion sustained in the semi- nue

‘Preparations have been going fairly well. We came back in the middle of the week so the training has been going fine we have been fairly happy with it. We have trained on sched- ule and will train tonight and again on Wednes- day night and that will be the end of it. Danny Scanlon was out after the Newmarket match – he is expected to come back tonight and other than that we have what I would call normal wear and tear.”

CLARE owners got some of the big prize money on offer at the Galway track on last Friday night.

The card was a benefit in aid of Fi- anna Fail. Race four was an A] contest over 550 yards. Here ‘Inagh Hero’ took the honours for popular supporter of the game Michael McGuane of Inagh.

Earlier in the night ‘Barntick Classic’ owned by Mrs Mary Reidy of Clarecas- tle had got Clare owners off to a good start winning race two in a time of 29.02, running from trap six.

Race eleven was the final of the A2 Stake which was ran over the past number of weeks.

‘Hilltop Droopy’ owned by Jerimiah Lernihan collected his prize money of €940 and sent the Clare Supporters home counting their winnings. The trip of 700 yards is proving to be no bother

to Pat O’Connors “Loclar Johnny’, the Milltown owner also collected on Fri- CPN aebrcanle

‘Roll over Sally’ recorded the fastest time of the night at 28.99 seconds on Saturday night. The dog continues to improve for owner Alphonsus Tubridy of Mullagh. Ennis owner Frank Shee- han is now considering expanding his kennels with ‘Joint Cottage’ again on the mark also on Saturday night.

Other Clare winners this past week at Galway were ‘Cricket Player’ for Janet Downes of Killaloe. “Tullagower Dream’ for Sean Crowley of Kilrush, ‘Chapter Box’ for Tom Flannagan of Ennistymon, “Clounlaheen Boss’ for Anne McGuire of Mullagh.

‘Student Pass’ booked his ticket in the semi-final of the Cashman Irish Laurels with a very good run of 28.43 to win a quarter final heat at Curraheen Park on SE TAUDKOrNABONTca NMR

Trainer Owen McKenna is sure to have the dog in top form for West Clare owners Vincent Meaney and Cathal O’Doherty in next Saturday night’s out- ing.

The Gerry Burke bred ‘Deerfield Mover’ maintains his interest in the classic for owner Bryan Dalton of U.S.A after finishing second in his heat. The greyhound owners and breeders had their annual fundraising night at Lim- erick on Saturday night last.

Clare’s only winner on the night was ‘Janesville Ruby’ in race 5 clocking 39.50 in this 700 yards stake final for owner William O’Drsicoll of Fanore.

Leona Ryan of Ennis had a nice change of luck with her dog ‘Justify Lad’ winning race 2 at the same venue on Thursday night.

‘Slick Jimmy’ came in as a reserve also on Thursday night to win race 5 for Tom Gallagher of Cooraclare.

A FORMER Scariff-based Garda ser- geant has asked a High Court judge to quash a decision by the Garda Siochana Complaints Tribunal requiring him to re- sign from the force.

The decision relating to Garda Ciaran Sheehan was made seven years ago fol- lowing a hearing by the tribunal into al- legations of ‘oppressive conduct’ by the Garda, who was then a Sergeant, towards a member of the public.

Garda Sheehan, who was once ‘top of his class,’ brought his judicial review proceedings against the Garda Siochana Complaints Tribunal and the Garda Sio- chana Complaints Board. Both respond- ents have rejected claims of unfair proce- dures and breach of rights.

Gda Sheehan wants an order quashing a decision of the Complaints Tribunal on June 8, 1998. He also wants an order quashing the breach of discipline find- ing.

The tribunal hearings arose after a com- plaint by Patrick Teddy Connolly from Scariff about an incident alleged to have occurred on September 12, 1995, outside a petrol filing station. It was alleged that then Sgt Sheehan engaged in oppressive conduct towards Mr Connolly, outside Treacy’s filling station, Scarriff.

It was alleged the then Sergeant ap- proached Mr Connolly and questioned

him about a statement Mr Connolly had made to a Garda Inspector concerning an investigation by that inspector, in which Sgt Sheehan was the member concerned.

It was alleged that, having questioned Mr Connolly, Sgt Sheehan acted in an in- timidatory manner in checking the wind- screen of his car for tax and insurance and in checking the condition of his tyres.

Mark Connaughton SC for Mr Shee- han, argued the inquiry conducted by the tribunal into the allegations was ‘tainted with illegality’ and that the tribunal had no jursidiction to act as it had.

It was contended a decision of the Com- plaints Board by itself and/or in conjunc- tion with the complaints tribunal, to delay the tribunal hearing into the complaint by Mr Connolly until after the conclusion of an internal sworn inquiry under Garda discipinary regulations regarding other matters alleged by Mr Connolly to have occurred in March 1996, was in excess of the provsions of the Garda Complaints Act 1986. It was following the latter in- quiry that Sgt Sheehan was demoted to the rank of Garda.

It was argued that the delay in holding the tribunal hearing breached the appli- cant.s rights to natural and constitutional justice, fairness of procedures and due process.

The hearing before Mr Justice Roder- ick Murphy is expected to conclude today Gheer oF

AN EAST Clare pub, subjected to a complaint about the noise levels emanating from it, has been granted its licence, subject to conditions.

78-year-old Theresa Holahan of Main Street, Kilkishen, had objected to the transfer of the licence of Gleeson’s public house, next door to where she lives.

She told the District Court she could not cope with the noise and was afraid to go to bed at night. She claimed that if the licence was granted the “racket” would continue.

The publican in question told the court last month that he would be willing to encourage customers to use the front of the premises for smoking and to raise the eaves on the smoking shed at the back, to help drown out noise.

Judge Joseph Mangan granted the licence at Ennis District Court last Friday, subject to Ley sTen lB Ceyetse

These include that gardai would receive two hours notice of music on the premises; that noise would not exceed 90 decibels over eight hours; 93 decibels over four hours; 96 decibels over two hours and 110 decibels in any event.

He ordered that the noise levels outside the boundary of the premises be limited to 37 dec- ibels between 7pm and 7am and 55 decibels eo AW oro MeL-Dee mr TITO MA O)00F

Noise limiters should be attached to music equipment and should, in the event of breach- es, cut-off of music and amplification of five minutes.

Hearing protection should be made avail- able and worn by employees and ear protec- tion should be provided for customers if they require it.

Judge Mangan ordered that notices announc- ing damage potential of noise and availability of protection would be posted on the premis- A

A SECOND-YEAR female student at St Flan- nan’s College in Ennis was hospitalised with severe facial burns after being hit by a lighted firework at the weekend.

Groups of students were waiting to be col- lected after school on Friday when a firework was lobbed into a crowd, close to the gates of the school.

The object hit a young girl on the collar of her jacket and it caught fire, resulting in her being burned in the face.

She was hospitalised and treated for her burns, before being discharged.

A 15-year-old youth was interviewed by gardai and a number of others are due to be questioned this week. However, gardai are stressing that there was no malicious intent.

“We are very happy that it was no-one’s in- tention to cause injury to anyone but this shows the dangers of fireworks. They are going off all over the town at the moment,” said Ennis Supt John Kerin, who is leading the investigation into the incident outside the school.

He is encouraging parents to take action, to ensure others are not harmed by illegal fire- works and said children do not appreciate the dangers of such objects.

“They are highly dangerous. I greatly fear that, unless parents and other people take action, others will get hurt. Parents may not realise fireworks are illegal. We are advising parents to come into the garda station with fireworks or if they know where they are being stored to come and tell us. . . it will prevent further injury or loss of life,” he added.

He confirmed that gardai have made up to

40 minor seizures of fireworks during the past week alone, in Ennis. One concerned parent who contacted

A SPOKESPERSON for a West Clare nursing home has claimed that at least one of the cases of the MRSA super bug reported there, was contracted when a resident underwent surgery at Ennis General Hospital.

Secretary of the Board of Directors for Kil- rush District Hospital, John Hehir said that at least one of the two residents with the poten- tially fatal antibiotic resistant bug, picked it up in the Mid Western Regional Hospital Ennis.

Mr Hehir said that it was the policy of the nursing home to refuse any patient suffering from MRSA, and home staff questioned po- tential residents before accepting them. The patients diagnosed with MRSA are being treated for the virus.

Strict hygiene procedures are also being en- forced at the 54-bed Kilrush hospital.

The hospital was one of two Clare nursing homes that were reported to have MRSA this week. The inspectors report into Cahercalla Community Hospital, Ennis showed that two patients were also suffering from the highly contagious virus.

When contacted by

THE Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh has agreed to meet residents demanding that En- nis Council increases the height of the walls surrounding their estate to 8 foot, before the Council proceeds with plans to build an adja- cent scheme of social and affordable houses.

The houses are to be built on land that the bishop sold to the council for €1.5 million five years ago.

The Bishop’s Court residents want the coun- cil to ensure that only people with “proven records’ on housing are placed in the new Westbourne estate.

They also want security lighting to be fitted

and the council to carry out repairs, “should anti-social behaviour become an issue”’.

In the €10 million scheme, the Council is seeking planning permission to develop 82 so- cial and affordable residential units.

Dr Walsh this week confirmed that he is to meet the residents after a request from the as- sociation to discuss their submission to the Council. He said: “I haven’t studied the sub- mission in detail and would be reluctant at this stage to comment on it. It is an emotive issue.”

Bishop Walsh’s predecessor, Bishop Michael Harty sold lands at the Westbourne estate to a private developer who built Bishop’s Court. Dr Walsh said that he may comment on the issue after meeting with the residents.

, but was very excited to be part of a centre of excel- lence.

The Carrigoran Hospital already provides 26 beds in an inpatient dementia unit.

Cllr Pat McMahon said that the service in Carrigoran would not just benefit Newmaket- on-Fergus but Shannon, Sixmilebridge, Quinn and Ennis.

The report on the development of dementia services in Clare set out a number of plans for an area of growing demand, in view of the age- ing of the population in the county.

Among the services recommended was the development of dementia specific day services at various locations within existing day centers in the county. This will be achieved through the extension of services at these centers or the provision of extra services at weekends.

The Old Age Psychiatry Team in Clare will also be enhanced.