Month: September 2009

Treaty poses threat to the economy

First sight the focus of short story competition

A FORENSIC accountant is set to examine 5,000 documents served on an east Clare man who is facing VAT related offences on amounts totalling over €1.5 million.

At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Derek Floyd (36) of 21 Lower Main Street, Tulla appeared on 24 charg- es relating to alleged VAT offences on amounts totalling €1.55 million between March 2001 and January mauler

The case was returned from trial to the circuit court from Killaloe Dis- trict Court earlier this month.

In court yesterday, counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan BL said that the case could require a special judge and asked Judge Carroll Moran to set aside three weeks for the case.

Counsel for Mr Floyd, Pat Whyms BL said that over 5,000 documents were served on his client and he re- quested that the legal aid certificate be extended to cover a forensic ac- countant to examine the documenta- none

Mr Whyms said that the sums in- volved are significant. The case was taken over the alleged non-payment of taxes and he requested that the legal aid cert to also cover a second counsel.

Judge Carroll Moran granted both applications.

Mr Floyd is facing 12 charges of knowingly claiming repayments in VAT totalling €678,857 which to his knowledge he was not entitled to contrary to Section 1078 of the Taxes Consolidation Act on a period from April 1, 2001 to January 7, 2004.

Two of the 12 charges relate to in- dividual repayments in VAT claimed by Mr Floyd of €156,136 on Septem- ber 9, 2002 and a second payment of € 133,506 on June 27, 2003.

He is also facing an additional 12 charges concerning his alleged fail- ure to remit VAT payments to the Collector General totalling €880,913 between May 2001 and November 2003.

Judge Moran adjourned the case to the next call over of the circuit court and Mr Floyd remains on bail.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen got a close up view of Ennis town centre at the official launch of CCTV network in Ennis yesterday.

As part of his visit to Clare, Mr Co- wen stopped by Ennis Garda Station to the control centre to see the system in operation.

A bank of 19 television screens relays images from 17 cameras lo- cated at location around Ennis town centre. Supt John Scanlan told the Taoiseach that the system, which has been installed in Ennis over the last few months, would greatly assist the work of gardai.

Supt Scanlan said the cameras would serve as a powerful deterrent to public order offences and other forms of criminal behaviour.

Supt Scanlan also thanked Mr Co- wen for committing funds and other resources to crime prevention meas- ures.

A new bank of cameras was recently

approved for use in Ennis. The cam- eras will be installed at Drumbiggle Road green area, Clancy Park, Corn- market car park, Hermitage, Pearse Ave/ Childers Road, Shallee Drive, John Paul Avenue, Considine Road, Island car park

A report on CCTV was presented to members at the September meet- ing of Ennis Town Council.

The council’s report found that “most of the locations of proposed cameras are zoned other settle- ment land where the objective is to conserve and enhance the quality and character of the area, to protect residential amenity and to allow for development appropriate to the sus- tainable growth of the settlement”. No submissions were received by the council on the matter.

“Tt is not considered that the propos- al contravenes the zoning objective for the area. There is no objection to the proposed development. I recom- mend that the development proceed,’ the report concluded.”

IN many ways, the less said about this one the better. To say it was a dreadfully boring spectacle that failed to set the pulses racing is the understatement of the Clare football year thus far.

Any neutral who happened by Quilty’s sportsfield would have left long before half-time and found a better way to spend a Saturday after- noon — it was that bad as two very mediocre teams put in a very unin- spiring hour’s football.

Cooraclare’s form that swept them to Cusack Cup glory was again in abeyance, indeed this hour ham- mered home the reality that they haven’t been able to lift their game to those same standards since that shock win over Kilmurry Ibrickane in the league decider back in July.

Doonbeg, meanwhile, were no bet- ter but it won’t cost them a thought as they come into a semi-final under the radar. They could have been put away in this game, but Cooraclare’s failure to take a couple of goals chances was punished to the full as they scrambled over the line and into a penultimate round clash with Kil- murry Ibrickane.

The Magpies can thank Sean Maguire and Nigel Dillon for the fact that their goal remained intact for the hour — 1n the 23rd minute, three min- utes after pointing Cooraclare into a Q-2 to no score lead, Maguire had the chance that would have put his side on the high road to the semi-final.

Hughie Donnelly was the provider, but Maguire failed to connect deci- sively with his long delivery, punch- ing wide of Dillon’s post when the goal was at his mercy. From there

Doonbeg summoned the desire to get back into the game, putting a pletho- ra of wides behind them with points from a David Tubridy free in the 25th minute after a foul on Jamie Whelan and a 50 yard free from Frank O’Dea three minutes later.

It left the sides locked at 0-2 apiece at half-time, but more importantly that scoreline exposed for everyone present what a dire game this was. Cooraclare, who deployed Mark Tubridy as a third midfielder, which created space for the inside forwards did score their two points from play — the first coming from Michael Mc-

Mahon’s effort in the second minute and then Sean Maguire’s point 18 minutes later.

Still, that was as good as it got for them — all they could muster on the turnover was two more points, this time from Mark Tubridy frees. Instead, what dominated their half- hour was another missed goal chance in the 38th minute.

It fell Hughie Donnelly’s way when the sides were locked at O-3 apiece after Tubridy’s pointed free in the 31st minute was replied to by Shane Killeen who fisted over the bar five minutes later.

Donnelly raced through on goal, was one-on-one with Nigel Dillon, but it was the veteran netminder who kept alive his hopes of winning a sixth senior championship title, pull- ing off a brilliant save to keep his side on level terms.

It was a major turning point of the game, as eventually the Magpies turned it profit to take control with points from Brian Dillon and Brian Egan in the 46th and 50th minutes respectively put them O-5 to O-3 ahead.

Suddenly the Magpies — who his 13 wides to Cooraclare’s nine over

the hour — were maximising their chances, while their opponents were left to rue to poor wides from frees by Cathal Lillis in the 34th and 40th minutes.

Substitute Shane Ryan should have fisted over the bar in the 52nd minute to put his side three ahead, but once again like the Liscannor semi-final of last year went for glory instead of playing the percentages.

It gave Cooraclare a little window going into the closing minutes, but all they could muster was a point from a free in 58th minute from Mark Tubridy.

That brought an end to the scoring in this forgettable affair.

IN keeping with the character of a ferociously tight group, Cratloe squeaked past Tubber to claim the runners up spot and thus a place in the quarter finals.

Injury time points from Martin ‘Ogie’ Murphy and Sean Chaplin sealed the win after Tubber had ral- lied to recover a three-point half time deficit and draw level through Barry O’Connor’s 55th minute point.

Sandwiched between Murphy and Chaplin’s strikes was a fierce goal bound drive from O’Connor that Cratloe goalkeeper Sean Hawes did well to force behind.

Cratloe survived, a feat of some significance in a group dubbed ‘the group of death’.

They join Newmarket in the knock- out stages while Tubber, who’s hopes of qualification rested on winning on Saturday to force a play-off, join heavyweights Clarecastle and Wolfe Tones on the list of early champion- ship casualties.

It wasn’t a classic by any stretch, but there was enough guile in the play of Cratloe pair Cathal McInerney and Conor McGrath and plenty of desire and overall quality about Tubber to make things interesting.

Three points in the opening seven minutes from Eamon Taaffe, Jack Neylon and Blaine Earley saw Tub- ber seize an early advantage.

Their confident start was capped in the 15th minute when Barry O’Connor tipped Patrick O’Connor’s lighted delivery to the net.

McInerney picked off Cratloe’s first point before two frees from Damien Browne, who was excellent from placed balls throughout, left Tubber leading 1-3 O-3.

A controversial decision then re- sulted in the moment that saw mo-

mentum tilt back in Cratloe’s favour.

Damien Browne appeared to bat the sliotar over the touchline only for Cratloe, to widespread disbelief on the Tubber bench, to be awarded a sideline cut.

Browne duly poured salt on the wounds by walloping the sliotar deep into ‘Tubber territory. McInerney picked up a loose break and nailed

a close range finish to the net in the 26th minute.

The goal inspired Cratloe to open up what would ultimately prove a de- cisive lead. Two frees from Browne, a point from Sean Chaplin and crack- ing strike from Liam Markham, ensured Cratloe led 1-8 1-5 at half mbealee

Barry O’Connor’s 36th minute

point drew Tubber to within a point. Eamon Taaffe scored his third point from play but a free from Browne and McInerney’s skillfully executed effort, kept Cratloe 1-11 1-9 ahead.

That lead should have been greater but Cratloe’s errant shooting saw them rack up six wides in the second halt.

As a consequence they were even-

tually caught.

Three Tubber points on the trot, in- cluding a superb sideline from Blaine Earley, levelled the game at 1-12 apiece in the 55th minute.

But Cratloe eventually found their range and in doing so secured quali- fication.

CRICKET is a game that doesn’t hold up much comparison to the game of hurling. In fact, it’s not even a distant relation of the national game at full tilt but there was some- thing very cricketlike about the man- ner in which Smith O’Brien’s – after taking the game to the group leaders in the opening quarter to lead by I- 5 to 0-3 – seemed happy to declare and let Kilmaley do the batting for the remainder.

That was the most bizarre turna- round in a match that had only mi- nor relevance to the overall champi- onship as Kilmaley looked to keep their unbeaten run ticking along and possibly even top the group while a positive result of any kind for the Killaloe side would ensure their sen- ior status for another year.

However, after a fire and brimstone Opening quarter that seemed to rattle Kilmaley, Smith O’Brien’s held a five point lead but somehow were not to

score for a further 34 minutes and by the time they took up their innings once more, Kilmaley were practi- cally out of sight.

Kilmaley could even afford to pre- vail without the vast influence of Colin Lynch and it was one of those changes Conor Clancy that provided the perfect target up front. Producing the type of performance that earned him two All-Ireland titles, Clancy’s paw was seemingly a ball magnet, repeatedly set up scores for others and slow to start, Kilmaley will be thankful to Clancy who was a con- stant thorn in Smith O’Brien’s side. Still, the Killaloe side were up for this game and after pushing into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead by the 12th minute, two from Liam Walsh, a stroke of fortune earned them a crucial goal only two minutes later. It came after goalkeeper Seamus Hurley fumbled a handpass whilst burstting out from goal and Shane O’Brien stole pos- session to hit to an empty net via the stick of John Clohessy.

Ken Kennedy and Pat Aherne Swapped points soon afterwards to give Smith O’Brien’s a 1-5 to O-3 advantage but that was a good as it would get for Smith O’Briens who began to fade and it allowed Kilma- ley to gain a foothold in the game. Alan Markham upped his game at centre-back, midfielders Conor Mc- Mahon and Stephen McNamara be- gan to dominate their sector while up front Conor Clancy, Diarmuid McMahon and Kenneth Kennedy got some much needed supply and they slowly turned the screw through Kennedy, McNamara and Conor McMahon to trail by only two at the break at 1-5 to 0-6.

The second half only reaffirmed their control as four successive points put them in front by 0-10 to 1-O5 by the 4lst minute. However, what sealed the victory was Kenneth Kennedy’s 43rd minute goal, inevi- tably broke by Clancy to Diarmuid McMahon who pulled through for the full-forward to turn and kick

past the onrushing Mark McInerney. Kilmaley were now rampant and de- spite further points from Diarmuid McMahon and Alan Markham, the damage could have been far greater only for a pelthora of wides.

Smith O’Brien’s finally broke their scoring duck in the 5lst minute through a Liam Walsh ’65 but Kil- maley were not about to let their ad- vantage slip at this stage and tacked on late points through Kennedy, Clancy and John Clohessy to lead by 1-16 to 1-07 by the 58th minute.

Shane O’Brien finished strongly with a brace for Killaloe and Pat Vaughan earned a late penalty after being stopped by substitute Sean Hehir but before the effort could be taken, Liam Walsh saw red for a needless stroke on John Clohessy. O’Brien’s penalty was saved, Kilma- ley prevailed and now approach the quarter-finals in bouyant mood as group winners as well as being the only side outside of Newmarket to remain unbeaten in the championship

so far. Even their frustrating cricket- score of wides had been halved.

THE Government has turned a blind eye to An Garda Siochana’s policy of increased urbanization.

That’s the view of Clare Fine Gael TD, Pat Breen who has called on Justice Minister Dermot Ahern to review the strategy and to put gardai back into the rural areas.

“The only 24-hour Garda stations in Clare are in Ennis, Shannon, Kil- rush, Killaloe and Ennistymon. The

other Garda stations open for just a few hours each day,” Deputy Breen Sr nLe

‘In recent months, I have received a number of calls from people who live in isolated parts of the county and are worried about the increased inci- dence of burglaries in their areas.

“They are concerned that the short opening hours of their local Garda stations are resulting in gardai having to travel long distances to respond to incidents.”

Deputy Breen’s concerns were ech- oed by party colleague, Joe Carey.

He said, “There is something not quite right when almost the only in- teraction of people with the Garda is on meeting the traffic corps. There has been a conscious decision to develop elements such as the traf- fic corps, leaving rural stations and community policing to wither and die.

“Over the past number of weeks there has been a marked increase in

burglaries throughout the county.

“If you take a line from Coose in Galway through to Whitegate, Scar- riff, Broadford and Quin, roughly the R352 regional road, I can recount four individual incidents.

“Many homeowners in the east Clare to south-east Galway artery find themselves having to put more elaborate security systems in place. Sheds and storage areas resemble an Irish version of Fort Knox.

‘East Clare is a massive geographi-

cal area which has been further in- creased with the redrawing of the operational areas. This is an area served by the part-time Garda station in Scariff with just one patrol car and a maximum of five gardai.

“T am convinced that one can link what is happening to the economy with the increase in crime towards property and belongings of the per- son. No doubt this phenomenon will increase steadily if we do not do something,” he said.

that classes will be

commencing at the end of this week at the new gym.

In recent times, pole dancing has

been synonymous with strip bars and gentlemen’s clubs.

However, Mr O’Malley said that “pole dance fitness is huge on the continent but has taken a while to spread to us here. It is a great fitness class with a huge emphasis on fun. We have clients of all ages signed up and there is a great buzz about the class.”

He pointed out that “pole danc- ing is now regarded as a recognised form of exercise and can be used as both an aerobic and anaerobic work- out. Recognised schools and qualifi- cations are being developed as pole

dancing increases in popularity.”

He confirmed that the poles have been ordered to specification and that each pole will cater for four participants at the classes.

“We have a policy here of offering the very best service to our clients and this includes keeping up with current fitness trends.”

Mr O’Malley said that partici- pants are advised to dress in short pants, with no creams on the legs or Web hcaatce

According to Mr O’Malley, the pole dancing fitness “involves danc- ing sensually with a vertical pole

and is now a leading way of getting PUMA OD ome Ma DOcas REN Dla

“Advanced pole dancing requires strength, flexibility and endurance. The dancer may simply hold the pole, or use it to perform more ath- letic moves such as climbs, spins, and body inversions. Upper body and core strength are targeted and vastly improved during training Sessions,’ he said.

FEAKLE claimed the top spot in Group two as they held off previous- ly unbeaten Clarecastle with a bat- tling second half fightback. In truth, they were full value for the win and would have been kicking themselves had they not secured all the points after a bucketful of poor wides over the hour.

For forty minutes, in similar mis- firing fashion to their Junior B side earlier that afternoon, Feakle were woeful in front of the posts. Miss

after miss frustrated the east Clare side and with the Magpies dogged throughout the field, they grabbed a crucial goal after 20 minutes when full-forward Eoin Brennan collected a pass from Dean Power and soloed at the heart of the Feakle defence be- fore offloading to John Reidy to hit to the net on their way to a 1-5 to 0-4 half-time advantage.

Feakle shuffled the pack at the break bringing on Colm Naughton to full-forward and it was to prove an inspired change as Feakle began to turn the screw. The wides continued

to mount up but they finally found their range to slice the lead to the minimum before Naughton blocked down a Kieran Lynch clearance, gathered possession and slammed to the net to give Feakle a 1-7 to 1-5 advantage.

Gathering momentum and with Henry Hayes in inspired form at centre-back, Feakle pummeled the Clarecastle rearguard in search of further scores and they were re- warded in the 50th minute when Stevie Moloney kicked their second goal to push five points clear. Clare-

castle tried valliantly to pull back a goal but their efforts were in vain as Feakle held out for all the points and more importantly maintained their unbeaten record ahead of this week- end’s quarter-finals.