The Clare People Archive

THE perfect economic storm is sinking jobs in Clare, with the news yesterday of more than 70 jobs being axed in the county.

57 workers at the Shannon based company, Avocent are to lose their jobs while workers will go in north Clare as German company Stubben Ltd is to cease all manufacturing at it’s Ennistymon factory.

And that town’s largest employer, Data Display, confirmed that they had to have workers on a four day

week for a period to avoid letting staff go. The factory employs 250 and Managing Director, Kevin Nev- ille said: “It’s a perfect storm – the strength of the dollar, the cost of fuel and the general global economy all going bad at the same time’, he said.

The Ennis regional office of inte- rior fit-out business, Ashcoin, which employed over fifty people at the Ballymaley business park, ceased trading two weeks ago.

Avocent yesterday confirmed plans to undertake a restructuring OuesaeeDeOUeNComm debs MMW sIDMBUCKIU Lm DO MmoLe.

redundancies at its Irish operations – 57 in Shannon and 7 in Dublin. The move will cut jobs at its Shannon operations from 160 to 103 and will affect its Research and Development functions.

The company said the measures are “part of a series of actions designed to enhance competitiveness, improve efficiency and reduce cost structure across its European locations.”

Avocent Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Avocent Inter- national at Shannon Mr Kieran Mac- Sweeney said staff whose positions

are affected had displayed exem- plary levels of quality and flexibility throughout their employment and the company would provide whatever support they could to help them se- cure new positions.

The company, whose customers in- clude industry leaders such as Bank of America, Boeing, Intel, Micro- soft, Nokia and Compaq, also con- firmed that it has entered collective redundancy discussions with staff NBC olee

Weve ote al Féile na nGael held at venues in Laois, Offally and Tipperary over the weekend.

Clare was represented at Féile by camogie and hurling teams from the Bridge. Despite some encouraging performances, neither side qualified from the group stages.

The hurlers were pitted in a tough group alongside noted Cork side Na Piarsaigh, Dungarvan from Water- ford and another side from the rebel county Kiltha Og.

The Bridge lost their opening en- counter against Na Piarsaigh and lost narrowly by two points to Dun- garvan. The Bridge bounced back and bowed out with a three point win over Kiltha Og.

The Bridge’s group opponents Na Piarsaigh made it to the Féile final where they were beaten by Kilkenny club James Stephens

Qualification from the group stages also eluded the camogie players of Sixmilebridge over the weekend.

The Bridge, who were representing Clare for the third time at the annual

event, gave themselves a great chance of making it into the knockout stages for the first time by beating Tipper- ary champions Thurles in their sec- ond group encounter.

Sixmulebridge lost their opening game on Friday night to hosts ‘Toom- evara. But results elsewhere went kindly for Sixmilebridge. Toome- vara drew with Douglas and Thurles. These coupled with Sixmilebridge’s win over Thurles left the Clare side needing a win against Douglas to quality.

The Bridge played with tremen- dous spirit for long periods, but were eventually overcome by an older and stronger Douglas side, who ran out comfortable winners.

That ended the Bridge’s interest in the competition for another year at least.

The highpoint of an eventful cam- paign for the Bridge was undoubt- edly Saturday’s win over Thurles.

The Bridge edged a tight game 3- 1 2-1 with goals from Ali Quinlan, Sinead Tuohy and Niamh Murray.

Manager Niamh McInerney said the club can be proud of the team’s performances. “They were excel- lent, particularly against Thurles,

but even against Douglas as well. We kept them out for a long time” said McInerney.

Dublin side Lucan Sarsfields were crowned Féile champions when they defeated Mullagh in the division one final in O’Moore Park on Sunday.

Meanwhile, there was some suc- cess for Clare camogie when Vera Loughnane was crowned winner of the Feile Skills competition in Laois on Saturday. The Feakle girl beat of opposition from Antrim (2nd) and Limerick (3rd) to claim her title. This was Vera’s second year to go to the National finals having won the coun- ty competition last year also. Vera had accounted very well for herself at last year’s competition coming a creditable third. Vera worked on her hurling skills with her father in Feakle and was also delighted to have had some coaching and pointers from Colin Lynch and Deirdre Mur- phy. Vera had to contend with the wet and blustery conditions on the morn- ing of the competition. However the weather failed to deter the young Feakle girl. The local community in Feakle are delighted with Vera’s achievement and hope it will help in fostering the importance of the skills

of the game on the rest of players in the club and county.

KILKISHEN proved too strong for Feakle in the Division Three final. Just a point separated the sides at halfway with Kilkishen leading O-5 O-4. Kilkishen though pushed on from there and led from midfield by James Murphy they built up a healthy lead. Murphy ended the day with five points. Cian O’Brien found the net in the 34th minute before Daniel Fleming grabbed the cru- cial goal 10 minutes later, when he coolly slotted home after Murphy’s pass. Feakle captain Eoin

Tuohy drove his team on all day, striking three points. [uohy his Feakle’s first point but Kilkishen hit back strongly with points from James Murphy (2), Clan O’Brien and Paraic MacNamara (2). Evan McMahon pointed for Feakle after the break to tie the game at Q-5 O-5 before Kilkishen pulled clear.

Kilkishen National School Jamie Keane, Niall McNamara, James Beatty, Eamonn Murphy, James McNamara (O-1), Cian O’Brien (1-1), Shauna Fleming, Paraic McNamara (Q-2), James Murphy (O-5), Conor Henry, Daniel Fleming (1-0)

Subs Jamie O’Halloran, David O’Donnell, Ben McLoughlin, Thomas Lynch, Killian Nugent, Cathal Nolan, Michael Cotter, Kate O’Gorman, Clodagh O’Halloran

Feakle National School Michael Burke, Padraig Minogue, James Noonan, Justin Nelson (0-1), Cian Harrington, Eoin Tuohy (0-3), Conn Smyth, Oisin Donnellan, Cathal Linnane, Eric Conway, vlan (eb ialelam (Ona)

Subs Martin Daly, Steven Conway, Enda Noonan, Austin McMahon, James King, Cian Callaghan, Jack Moloney

Player of the Game Paraic McNamara (Kilkishen NS)

THURSDAY night’s Galway pro- gramme contained the semi-finals of both an A4 and A6 Mini Stakes – the final of which will be run on Satur- day June 28 as part of the Ardrahan GAA Benefit Meeting.

In the first heat of the A4 Stake the Pat Hogan of Ennis owned Aulton George (Droopys Scholes-Dalcash Diva) belied an apparent lack of market confidence as he defeated the reserve Pallasderg Boy (T1) by five lengths in 29.19.

In the second heat the entire com- plexion of the contest changed completely rounding the penulti- mate bend as the eventual winner O’Garney Pearl (T4) swept around the outside of the leaders on her way to her third success from four starts in a time of 29.51.

From traps Eyre Square was away well as usual and he led to halfway where Allflashnocash (T1) took over but he was immediately joined by Confused Jose (T3).

Racing around the third bend though the Bernard Coffey of Sixmi- lebridge owned O’Garney Pearl swept by them all to win going away in style.

SU slomndeveKeMmcsocUMmBnter-) my (osm COME ele Martin Keane of Kilmihil owned Ask who made it a double on the night for her owner as she railed on the final two bends as she defeated Dunsallagh Jake (T1) in 29.51.

Races five through to seven were the three semi finals of the Adrahan GAA Club A6 525 Mini Stake and in the opening semi final the Frank Browne of Quin owned Mine Magic enjoyed a welcome change of fortune as She just held the late thrust of new- comer Alva Vieri (T5) by a neck in PROOF

The winner broke smartly and led around the opening two bends from Selecta Solar (T6). Passing halfway the lead was three lengths as Alva Vier took up the pursuit of the pace setting daughter of Honcho Classic and Belindas Hill but Mine Magic was not to be denied this time as she registered her second career victory.

The third semi final also developed into a match from an early stage as the trap three runner Mi Jackson led by two lengths from Tiro (T6) racing to the opening bend.

Racing down the back the Martin Keane of Kilmihil owned Tiro (Hon- cho Classic-Nebraska) joined issue on the rail as Mi Jackson raced wide approaching the penultimate cor- ner. Racing around the crown of the home bend Tiro began to assert and he stayed on well forvictory in 29.53

The opening contest on Friday night’s card was an A4 graded 525 and from traps the well backed Clon- temple Boss (T5) was away quite smartly and the son of Petes Boss led by a length from Glengar Susie (T1) at the opening bend.

Turning down the back the Michael Downes of Killaloe trained pace set- ter extended his advantage to three lengths as San Matias (T4) went a clear second.

Rounding the final two bends Clon- temple Boss was in command as he kept on well to defeat Westerly Gale (T3) in 29.58

The ninth was an A6 affair and rounding the opening bend the trap two runner Ler Aviator was gifted a five length advantage courtesy of trouble among the chasing pack. Ap- proaching the third bend though the leader’s stride began to shorten as Rylane Express led the pursuit.

Off the home turn the lead was down to a length and close home the Donie Duggan of Newmarket-on- Fergus owned Rylane Express hit the front to defeat the fast-finishing Tromora Express by 3/4 of a length bane ee

In the A3 graded eighth contest the entire field were covered by just over a length approaching the open- ing corner where the blue jacketed Tiermana Fly for Noel Moroney of Mullagh just managed to get around in front along the rail and lead by a length from Rafas Red (T6) turning down the back straight Tiermana Fly led by a length and although he never really shook off the persistent Rafs Red he always looked like winning which he did in 29.51

A COUNTY Clare man has been given a twelve year sentence for sexu- ally abusing his two daughters in a County Offaly townland.

The 36-year-old was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury last November, on 10 charges of sexually assaulting them, on dates between September 2001 and De- cember 2004.

The jury returned the guilty ver-

dicts by an 11-1 majority and acquit- ted him on one count following the 14-day trial.

He had been sentenced at the Cen- tral Criminal Court in 1993 to ten years for aggravated sexual assault and burglary and served four years of that term. Judge Desmond Hogan noted his “high-risk of reoffending”’ and imposed a twelve years sentence on each of the ten counts in relation to his daughters, all to run concurrently. He suspended the final two years on

condition he receives sexual offend- ers treatment on release.

“These offences are extremely se- rious and were perpetrated on two young, innocent and vulnerable chil- dren, who were taken advantage of by a father who breached the protection and trust they were entitled to re- ceive, not only as children but as his children,’ said the judge last Friday.

He commended the girls’ mother for acting in “a proper and appropri- ate way in relation to these things”.

Defense counsel, Gerard Groarke BL had asked that sentencing be ad- journed to a later date so the man’s sisters could be in court to which Judge Hogan replied: “I am restrain- ing myself from showing severe irri- tation here.”

‘What difference is it going to make if his sisters are here or not over and above the anguish experienced by the victims?” he asked.

Judge Hogan also rejected a claim that the man was unable to meet with

probation officers because they had tried to visit someone else with the Same name in Wheatfield Prison.

He accepted the prison officers’ ac- count that the man had in fact refused to meet the Probation Service on the occasions when they visited him.

The trial was the first to have had video recorded interviews. It allowed the younger daughter to be inter- viewed informally in a playroom by a psychiatrist and for this to be then played back to the jury.

THE trial of Paschal Carmody, due to get underway last Thursday morning, had to be adjourned, after 46 mem- bers of the jury panel were excused from serving in the case, for various reasons.

33 members of the panel were ex-

cused by Judge Rory McCabe for pro- fessional or personal reasons when the jury was being sworn in on Tues- day morning. An additional five were challenged by the defence legal team, while the prosecution challenged two. Each side has the right to challenge seven members of the panel.

It took more than 30 minutes to

swear in 12 jurors and the case was due to get underway on Thursday morning. However, that morning, two of the female jurors who had been sworn in were excused after they pro- vided reasons to the court. Efforts were made to swear in another two people to replace them.

However, all of the 11 people re-

maining on the jury panel were ex- cused for various reasons and the case was adjourned to Ennis Circuit Court tomorrow (Wednesday), when a new jury panel will be available.

Among the reasons cited were knowledge of the case, holidays, med- ical, work or family reasons.

Judge McCabe expressed the view

that it will be difficult to assemble a

jury.

“Tt looks as if it’s going to be difficult to get a jury in this case,” he said.

However, he said the 10 jurors sworn in would be retained and he would en- deavour to swear another two jurors tomorrow and the trial will then get VNC MWE RA

THE trial of a former Killaloe-based doctor, accused of obtaining more than €80,000 from six cancer pa- tients and their relatives by falsely pretending he could cure the cancer, has been adjourned after an insuffi- cient number of jurors was available to hear the case.

Paschal Carmody (60), of Bally- cuggaran, Killaloe, has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges of deception, between September 2001 and Octo- ber 2002.

It is alleged that he defrauded six cancer patients and their relatives of between €100 and €20,000. Ac- cording to the State, he falsely pre- tended the patients’ cancer would be cured by photodynamic therapy.

Senior counsel for the Prosecution Denis Vaughan-Buckley told Ennis Circuit Court, sitting in Kilrush, last Tuesday that the accused practiced at the East Clare Clinic in Killaloe where he treated six cancer patients all of whom subsequently died.

The six were: John James Gallagh- er, Kingswood Manor, Mullingar, County Westmeath; Master Conor O’Sullivan, Granite Lodge, Gorey, County Wexford; Josephine Dur- kan, of Beechgrove, Lucan, County Dublin; John Sheridan, of 21A Bur- gess Court, Kells, County Kilkenny; Mary O’Connor, from Mill Street, Cork, but who had lived in London and Karen Kurvink from Holland.

Mr Vaughan-Buckley told Judge Rory McCabe that there are 95 wit- nesses in the book of evidence in- cluding relatives of the deceased, medical witnesses from Ireland and the UK and several gardai.

The trial is expected to last for four weeks.

Prior to any jurors being sworn in, senior counsel for the Defence Pat Marrinan said that pre-trial publicity in the case could not be ignored.

“There were a number of pro- grammes broadcast on RTE televi- sion and also on radio programmes and some newspaper coverage in or about 2004/2005. Some of the wit- nesses involved in this case gave interviews,’ he said and asked the judge to give a special warning to the jury regarding this.

“If they have seen or heard any- thing that could influence their judg- ment, they should stand down. Also, he has been practicing as a medical doctor. He had a huge client base. Pa- tients and relatives of patients should also declare their interest. It’s impor- tant that people going to try the case aren’t contaminated by what they know about Dr Carmody,” said Mr Marrinan.

However, Mr Vaughan-Buckley pointed out that those programmes were broadcast a long time ago.

Mr Marrinan replied, “Somewhat of a local issue and a local man would remain in the memory longer than it would fade.”

Judge McCabe told the jury panel to let him know if they had seen or heard any of the publicity, as “‘it might not be proper for you to serve Oy Testo tt aan

THE family of one of the three young men who drowned in Doolin after a jeep they were travelling in went over a cliff has been awarded €35,000 in compensation.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Rory McCabe approved the payment to the Griffin family from Ennis, aris- ing out of the tragedy.

Martin Griffin (24) from Ennis, Joe O’Callaghan (34) from Tulla and Waterford native Mick Doran (31), who lived in Broadford, disappeared after a night out in Doolin, on Octo- ber 31, 2005.

Their bodies, and the Suzuki Vi- tara jeep in which they were travel- ling, were subsequently found in the

local area following a major search operation which lasted 11 days.

Barrister Pat Whyms told the court WOTcLMU SLoMOCCHKCIOCOE-DOL RMD MNOS oMOr Kool Ke the owner and driver of the vehicle. He said the driver of the jeep, Joe O’Callaghan, was also killed in the accident while his father Sean, who owned the vehicle, had since died.

The case was taken against their personal representatives, under the Civil Liability Act.

Mr Whyms said that €35,000, which was the maximum, was agreed, plus costs, and would be di- vided equally between Mr Griffin’s father John Joe (60) and Martin’s four siblings, Michael, Denis, Mau- reen and Mairéad.

The court was told that as Denis is

just 13 years of age, his money would be lodged to the court.

According to papers lodged to the court, it stated that the death of Mr Griffin was “caused by the negli- gence and breach of duty of the late Joseph O’Callaghan, who died in the same accident”.

It said the vehicle was driven to a “particularly dangerous location’, a dirt road, running along the top of a cliff at Doolin.

“As aresult of inadequacies, in the driving and/or management and/or control of the said vehicle, the said vehicle was caused to fall over the said cliff resulting in the deaths of Martin Griffin, Joseph O’Callaghan and one other passenger,” added the papers.

A YOUNG west Clare man has ap- peared in court facing 11 charges in connection with a hit-and-run acci- dent in which two pedestrians were injured in Ennis last January.

Donal Holohan (22), of Aylroe, Kildysart, is charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop a vehicle in-

volved in the occurrence of injury to Sean Cuddihy, not having insurance, failing to produce insurance, not having road tax, failing to display a current vehicle licence and failing to be accompanied by a qualified driver, at Clonroadbeg, Ennis, in the early hours of January 13 last.

He is also charged with failing to stop a vehicle involved in the occur-

rence of injury to Tommy Walsh, driving under the influence of an intoxicant and driving with excess alcohol in breath, at Friar’s Walk, Syabavhy

He is also charged with driving a vehicle which was dangerous to the public, whereby it caused serious bodily harm to Tommy Walsh, also at Friar’s Walk, also on the same

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Inspector John Galvin told Ennis District Court last Friday that the DPP has directed that the case be tried in the circuit court and the case was adjourned for preparation of the Book of Evidence.

Defending solicitor Patrick Moylan consented to this and the accused will re-appear in court next month.

SIXMILEBRIDGE’S _ status as Clare’s fastest growing village was yesterday confirmed when planning permission was granted to a €60 million commercial and residential development.

The development, by Fordmount Ltd, 1s expected to open in 2010, increase the population of Sixmile- bridge by 300 and provide a much needed jobs boost to the area.

The plan which Clare County Council passed includes the provi-

sion of a mixed-use scheme compris- ing residential, retail, community and commercial uses on a nine acre site bounded by the village’s Limer- ick and Clonlara Road.

The development, with a gross floor space of 13,367 square metres, will consist of 79 residential units, 26 four-bed detached houses, four four-bed semi-detached houses, 22 three-bed semi-detached houses, ten three-bed end of terrace houses, two three-bed mid terrace houses and four two-bed mid terrace houses. It will also include a convenience an-

chor store, nine “comparison retail units”, an office/commercial/com- munity suite, five non-retail services units, a bank facility, a hot food take- away and acréche facility.

The retail/commercial/apartment elements of the proposal provides for 2-3 storeys. The provision of 140 car parking spaces at lower ground floor level and 136 car parking spaces at surface level will serve the houses.

According to planning submission lodged by Fordmount Ltd with the Council, “it 1s anticipated that the proposed development will have a

permanent positive impact on the hu- man environment in Sixmilebridge”’.

The council granted planning per- mission having regard to the location of the site within the urban core of Sixmulebridge, the nature and pat- tern of development in the area and the policies of the South-East Clare Economic Plan.

The development would not seri- ously injure the amenities of the area or of properties in the area.

As part of the 49 conditions at- tached to the planning permission, Fordmount Ltd is to pay €781,000

towards public infrastructure and an additional €200,000 towards the upgrading of a bridge over the Owen- garney River.

A retail impact assessment lodged with the application stated that by 2012, the development would gener- ate €12.8 million and comprise of €8.2 million from convenience sales and €4.6 million from comparison sales. The retail assessment states that “the proposed development will not have an adverse effect on Sixmi- lebridge or on any other centre in the catchment area”.