Category: News

WOMEN deacons will not be introduced this year, and cannot be introduced until a new Bishop of Killaloe is ordained.

The outgoing bishop – Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA- had suspended the introduction of any deacons to the diocese following a public objection by parishioners and some priests to a men only advertisement for the role.

At the weekend the local Catholic bishop was announced as the successor to Archbishop of Cashel and Emly Dermot Clifford, and will continue in an administrative type role only in Killaloe during the coming months until he off cially takes over his new post in Thurles.

An administrator will then take over the running of the diocese of Killaloe until a new bishop is ordained. Communications Off cer with the diocese Fr Brendan Quinlivan said that the process is all clearly set out in Cannon Law.

“Any internal work that has already started will continue, but the administrator does not make any innovations that would be binding on the incoming bishop,” he said.

Archbishop O’Reilly is expected to be installed as Archbishop of Cashel and Emly in February.

Newly appointed Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly said he f rst heard of his appointment to the Dioscese of Cashel and Emly on Monday last week when the Papal Nuncio asked to meet with him.

“The moment the nuncio asked me it knocked me for six. It is not something you expect to happen. It is a bit like something has been taken away from you, something you had become very assured with and that you were working with and it takes a bit of getting use to,” he said.

The outgoing Bishop of Killaloe said that the next few weeks will be about letting go as he takes up an administer role in the diocese until his installation.

Adding that he was looking forward to serving the people of his new dioceses he said there is much he will miss about his f rst ever diocese. “In that time I have been privileged to work and serve with a deeply committed group of priests and people. I have encountered so many people with a great love for Jesus Christ and commitment for the life of the Church.

“I will always treasure the personal friendships I have made and give thanks to God for the support I have received here in the Diocese of Killaloe.

“I pledge to keep all of you in my prayers and gently request that you might do the same for me as I take up this new appointment,” he said.

The Cork native was ordained Bishop of Killaloe in August 2010 following the retirment of Bishop Willie Walsh.

Born in Cork city on August 8, 1952 he was the eldest of f ve children born to Seán and Theresa O’Reilly.

He was educated at the Presentation Brothers, Scoil Chríost Rí, Turner’s Cross and Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork before joining the Society of African Missions in Wilton, Cork in 1970.

Bishop O’Reilly received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1974 followed by a Bachelor of Divinity in 1977 and a Diploma in Mission Studies in 1978.

He was appointed Vicar General of the Society of African Missions from 1995 to 2001 and elected as the 11th Superior General of the Society of African Missions from 2001 to 2007.

He was re-elected to that position in 2007, before being appointed bishop elect by Pope Benedict XVI on May 2010. Meanwhile the search to f ll the vacancy in Killaole will now begin. Filling the role could take months or even years, as was the case in Limerick.

There are currently four diocese without bishops.

The Papal Nuncio will begin the search for possible contenders to f ll the top job in Killaloe, by contacting parish groups, schools and other interested bodies. He will then send a list of the most qualif ed, which could include some names he suggests to the Congregation of Bishops in Rome. The bishops will propose three names to the pope with a preferred candidate indicated, and Pope Francis will make the f nal decision, with an option of appointing someone not recommended by the bishops. Three names expected to be among the nominees are the three priests nominated over four years ago when Bishop O’Reilly was appointed – Fr Tom Hogan, Fr Des Hillery, and Fr Albert McDonnell. However an informed punt would back an outsider, as all bishops appointed in the last number of years have been appointed from outside their own diocese. Then, Bishop O’Reilly was the f rst priest from outside the diocese to f ll the position in over 200 years.

A FORMER factory worker who pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at his home in Ennis has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

The 49-year-old father of one pleaded guilty in March to possession of f ve images and 43 movies of child

PET OWNERS in North Clare have been warned to lock up their dogs, with local farmers threatening to shoot trespassing animals on sight.

This warning comes in the wake of a series of vicious attacks on farm animals in the Tubber area which has left a number of sheep and cattle dead or injured.

Clare dog warden, Frankie Coote, has warned pet owners in the Tubber and Boston areas to keep their ani- mals under control, with a number of farmers in the area coming together to protect their livestock.

“There has been a series of attacks on livestock in the Tubber area, the area has become a blackspot for dog attacks.

“The attacks are mostly on sheep, but the dogs will attack cows and horses as well.

“If the dogs bite a cow on its udder, it can bleed to death, and it’s very painful for the animal,” said Mr Coote.

“Two or three farmers have come together in the Tubber area and they will shoot animals who come onto their land.

“Normally, farmers cannot shoot dogs on their property unless they are actually attacking their animals at the time – but, if there is a history of dog attacks in an area they are legally entitled to do this.

“We would urge pet owners in the Tubber area to keep their animals under control.”

Meanwhile, farmers and pet owners in the Fountain on the outskirts of Ennis have been warned to be vig- ilant following a savage attack on a herd of sheep in the area last week. The attack saw three sheep being killed while a further three had to be put down afterwards.

According to Mr Coote, pet owners need to be extra vigilant, especially in certain weather conditions which can make make dogs act out of character.

“In my experience, the weather can be an issue and dogs are more likely to attack after a strong wind. Full moons also seem to be an issue for a lot of dogs,” he said.

CLARE councillors will attempt to block the transfer of the county’s water infrastructure to Irish Water. This news comes in the wake of the revelation that Clare County Council, and not Irish Water, are still the legal owners of the vast majority of the county’s multi-million euro water infrastructure.

Shannon Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND), who proposed a motion to abolish Irish Water at this months meeting of the local authority, says he will investigate ways to prevent the transfer of the water assets, and may bring forward a new motion at next months meeting of Clare County Council.

The revelation came to light following a motion about the Castlecrine Reservoir discussed at the November meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District.

“This is a big revelation and the transfer of assets to Irish Water is something that we were particularly interested in.

“I will be investigating the situation and if there is something that could be done about this transfer I will bring it forward,” said Cllr Flynn.

The council’s ownership of the wa- ter infrastructure came to light following a motion put forward by Cllr Alan O’Callaghan about the status of the approach road to the Sixmilebridge reservoir.

Responding to questions, a council spokesperson conf rmed that the Castlecrine reservoir was still legally the property of Clare County Council – before going on to conf rm that all the major water infrastructure in Clare is still owned by the local authority.

Speaking on the motion, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said he was “astonished” that Clare County Council still owned the water infrastructure.

“I’m kind of astonished to be honest, to learn that the handover [to Irish Water] will happen in the future. Over € 1m is being spent down in Killaloe. Have Irish Water been given control of certain reservoirs but not others? There is a lot of money being spent.

“How can Irish Water be spending money is areas that they don’t own? Who is spending the money?” he said.

The council spokesperson conf rmed that money currently being spent on water and sewage projects is being spent by Clare County Council, on behalf of Irish Water.

GARDAÍ believe a black Subaru car was involved in an eight-hour burglary spree against properties in rural parts of Clare last week.

Five properties in north and west Clare were broken into on Wednesday and gardaí believe that the same gang is responsible for the offences.

“All of the following burglaries were committed on the same date and we believe involved the same culprits who were using a black Subaru hatchback with three males on board”, a garda spokesman said.

A house at Drumnagrown, Ennistymon was the targeted when thieves forced their way in through a rear door between 8.25am and 2.30pm.

Rooms in the house were ransacked and a gold ring, engagement ring, six pairs of gold earrings, an iPod touch, a pair of men’s shoes and a pir of blue sport shoes were stolen.

The gang gained access to the Grove, Main Street, Kildysart between 8.50am and 5.05pm. The rear window was forced open, rooms were ransacked and a sum of money was stolen. Another burglary occurred between 9am and 3pm at Shandrum, Mullagh when a sum of money was stolen.

Between 10am and 2pm the rear door of a property at Dereen Car- ragh, Fanore was forced open. The rooms were ransacked and a sum of money in euros and sterling was stolen.

A property at Furoor, Kilkee was also ransacked when it was broken into between 1.40pm and 5.10pm but nothing was stolen on this occasion. MEANWHILE gardaí are hunting a gang who carried out an armed at a business in Shannon last week.

The XL stores shop in Drumgeely was the target of the robbery that took place on Wednesday, November 19. Two masked men were involved in the incident, which occurred around 9pm. One waited outside and the other entered the shop brandishing a knife demanding money. He is described a wearing a white mask with blue red and pink colours in it, a grey hoody black tracksuit pants, brown boots and grey socks.

He was about 5’8” in height and very thin. The other person is not described. They came from the direction of Fergus Road dual carriage way and left in the same direction empty handed.

A silver van, possibly a ford transit with three males in it, was seen acting suspiciously in the Drumgeely area before the robbery. Gardaí in Shannon are appealing for information

AN ENNIS man who admits striking a former Clare hurler in the side of the head with a pint glass walked free from court last week after his case was adjourned for a year.

Alan Markham suffered serious head wounds when he and a friend were the victims of a violent attack in Ennis on the night of December 21, 2013.

Mr Markham was socialising with friends when he was struck in the head from behind with a glass by Jordan Whelan (19) as he walked in the Abbey Street car-park.

Mr Markham, a Munster title winner with Clare, and a friend Sean Hogan chased three teenagers to the grounds of the Coláiste Muire secondary school.

Mr Markham was struck a number of times in the head and legs with a stick before being knocked to the ground.

Mr Markham was knocked to the ground where he was repeatedly kicked

“I just lay on the ground and covered my head”, he later told gardaí.

Three friends who had been drinking in Ennis on the night pleaded guilty to their respective roles in the robberies against Mr Markham and Mr Hogan.

Shane McCarthy (19), with an address at Shalee Drive, Ennis and Jordan Whelan (19), with an address at Dun na hInse, Ennis, admitted robbery of money from Alan Markham at the Coláiste Muire, Ennis on December 21.

Evan Toomey (18), with an address at Oak Park, Ennis, pleaded guilty to the robbery of € 100 from Sean Hogan, also at Colásite Muire, Ennis on December 21.

Mr Toomey and Mr Whelan both appeared before Ennis Circuit Crim- inal Court on Friday for sentencing.

Judge Gerald Keys said aggravating factors in the case were the fact that the robberies were “a joint enterprise, violence was used”.

He said mitigating factors in the case were the accused’s cooperation with gardaí and early admissions which saved the exchequer the cost of a trial.

The Judge said all three men had also expressed regret for their actions.

In respect of Jordan Whelan, Judge Keys noted his previous good record and his positive engagement with the Probation Services. Adjourning the case for a year, Judge Keys told Mr Whelan that if he stepped out of line again over the next 12 months he would send him to prison.

“That I promise you, I will do”, added the Judge.

Judge Keys continued, “I hold the view that when one gets into trouble for the f rst time, one should be given an opportunity. I am now giving you that opportunity.”

He said, “If you step out of line, I am telling you, you will go to jail.”

In respect of Evan Toomey, Judge Keys noted his bad record and the fact that he had committed further offences the commission of the offence on December 21, 2013. He imposed a two year sentence.

Mr Toomey also received an 18 month concurrent sentence for a theft related offence committed in Ennis on January 12, 2104.

He received a further two year consecutive sentence for theft and robbery offences committed in Ennis on March 2, 2014 while on bail.

Judge Keys said members of the public must feel safe walking the streets of Ennis, day or night, without fear of being “mugged or robbed”. Sentencing of Shane McCarthy was adjourned to a later date.

A GHANIAN national who collected social welfare payments totalling € 4,160 for a friend who had left the country has escaped a jail sentence. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said he would impose a community service order on Prince Kuffor (31). Judge Durcan said the option of imposing a maximum sentence of two years in prison, less allowances, was open to him.

However the judge said he did not see why the Irish people and State “should be further indebted to tune of € 1,500 or € 1,600 a week to keep Prince Kuffor in the comfort of one of our prisons”.

Mr Kuffor, with an address at Abbey Court, Ennis, was charged with 26 counts of dishonestly by deception inducing Tony Reddan to pay out 26 separate payments of € 160 by using a social welfare card in the name of Alan Blaise Rukundo.

The offences occurred at Sixmilebridge Post Off ce between Decem ber, 2013, and May 2014.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Judge Patrick Durcan the charges were replicas of each other and could be treated as one offence. He told the court the accused went to the Post Off ce in Sixmilebridge over the course of 26 weeks to claim social welfare payments for a man named Alan Blaise Rukundo. Insp Kennedy said Mr Kuffor, a father of two, was also claiming his own social welfare payment in Ennis. “Mr Rukundo had left the jurisdiction for some time but had stayed on the books here,” he added. Insp Kennedy said, “Mr Kuffor was benef ting to the tune of € 50 a week for acting as agent for Mr Rukundo.” The court heard the Department of Social Protection is now taking a € 100 a week from Mr Kuffor’s social welfare payment. A total of € 500 has so far been paid back.

Defence solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick told the court, Mr Kuffor was approached by Mr Rukundo who said his wife was sick and he had to go with her to Italy for treatment.

Mr Rukondo asked Mr Kuffor to collect his social welfare.

Mr Fitzpatrick said his client believed he was not doing any wrong, particularly as Mr Rukundo came back at regular intervals to sign on.

He said the € 50 payment was to cover Mr Kuffor’s travelling expenses from Ennis to Sixmilebridge.

He said Mr Kuffor, who has resi- dency in Ireland, realised something was seriously wrong when he was approached by gardaí in June.

Judge Durcan said this was “highly organised criminal activity, Inspector, very well organised”. He said Ireland had always been a welcoming country but Mr Kuffor “has completely and f agrantly abused that welcome”.

Having regard to Mr Kuffor’s previous good record, Judge Durcan said he would impose a community sentence order if the accused is suitable for such work. The case was adjourned to December 17 for a pre sentence probation report.

A MAN has been ordered to pay a contribution to charity after pleading guilty to assault at Ennis Courthouse last month.

Ennis District Court was forced to rise shortly after 1.30pm on October 1 when two men became involved in a row at the entrance to the courtroom. John Doherty (51) was arrested and later brought before Ennis District Court where he was charged with assault and engaging in behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

Mr Doherty, who previously lived in Ennis but now has an address at Belcamp Lane, Coolock, Dublin, appeared before Ennis District Court again on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to assault. The breach of the peace charge against Mr Doherty was struck out following an application from the State.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court Mr Doherty encountered Michael McDonagh at the entrance to the courtroom and words were exchanged between them.

He said an altercation developed outside the courtroom. He said Mr Doherty threw a number of punches at Mr McDonagh, leaving him with a bruised and swollen face,

Judge Patrick Durcan remarked, “So Inspector, there was a little Punch and Judy show outside?”

Defence solicitor John Casey said his client would say he was provoked on the day. He said a “deep insult” was directed at Mr Doherty as he left the courtroom. Mr Casey said there was a dispute between the families but Mr Doherty had kept out of it.

Mr Casey said his client suffered “horrif c injuries” when he was as saulted in Ennis a few years ago. In 2012, Mr Doherty suffered multiple slash wounds when he was the victim of a vicious knife attack at the Maid of Eireann roundabout.

Mr Casey said his client has suffered from post traumatic stress disorder since the attack and had been forced to leave Ennis because of diff culties that emerged at his housing site. Mr Casey told the court Mr Doherty suffered the loss of his teenage son after he was stabbed in Ennis in 2007. A 19-year-old Ennis man was subsequently convicted of the manslaughter of Michael Doherty (14). The court heard Mr Doherty has two previous convictions for public order offences. In the witness box, John Doherty apologised for his behaviour on the day. “I want to apologise to the court. It shouldn’t have happened.”

Judge Durcan said he accepted the apology. He said Mr Doherty “overacted” but he did not want to give the person who insulted Mr Doherty “an additional scalp” by imposing a criminal conviction.

But Judge Durcan added that the dignity of the court had to be maintained and law and order has to be maintained. Noting the accused’s age, previous good record, the diff culties Mr Doherty has overcome and his commitment to his family, Judge Durcan ordered him to pay € 250 to the court poor box.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny (FG) will receive a hot reception when he visits Shannon next Monday with hundreds of anti-water charge campaigners expected to take to the streets in protest.Clare Says No To Water Charges and the Right to Water group will host separate protests in Shannon on the day, with the Taoiseach in Clare to open a new facility at Genworth.

In the wake of violent scenes in Dublin over the weekend, both Clare groups said yesterday that they want the Shannon protests to remain peaceful.

“We don’t want to see what happened in Tallaght. We don’t want things getting out of hand or any problems occurring. We want this to be completely peaceful,” said Shannon councillor and member of the Right To Water group, Mike McKee (SF).

“I would condemn any riotous or overly boisterous behaviour. You get that in certain places and I would certainly hope that it will not happen here.

“We would demand that the people who come out keep it peaceful, oth- erwise we don’t want them with us.” These sentiments were echoed by Paul Whitmore of the Clare Says No To Water Charges group, who also announced a third protest march for Ennis on November 29.

“We are planning a peaceful protest. We want to get the message across that Irish Water should be abolished and the powers should go back to the county council,” he said.

A TEENAGER who robbed a handbag from a female pensioner in Shannon has been spared a criminal conviction.

At Ennis Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, Judge Carroll Moran applied the Probation Act in respect of the 17 year-old after being told of the teenager’s clean record and “excellent engagement” with the Probation Services. An 18 year-old man, who admitted a charge of handling stolen property, also received the benef t of the Probation Act. The charges arose following an incident at Tullyvarraga Hill, Shannon on July 9, 2012.

At a sentencing hearing in March, Detective Garda Roddy Burke of Shannon Garda Station told prosecuting counsel Stephen Coughlan BL, that an elderly woman was walking on a private footpath when the then 16 year-old came up behind her and snatched her handbag.

The woman gave chase but slipped on a step and fell. She was hospitalised for eight days and treated for a cracked pelvis and chipped hip.

A then 16 year-old pleaded guilty to robbing the woman’s handbag, con- taining € 45. A then 17-year-old boy, with no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property.

Final sentencing in the case was adjourned to allow for the preparation of reports from the Probation Services. Neither of the accused have any previous convictions.

Judge Carroll Moran said, “This was a serious matter. The injured party was 73 years-old at the time and was targeted in a handbag snatch”. He said the woman showed “great fortitude” in giving chase to the accused. He said the targeting of elderly people is a serious matter, that in normal circumstances would warrant serious punishment.

But Judge Moran noted from the report that there had been an “excellent engagement” from the now 17-yearold with the Probation Services.

He said the services are of the view the accused will not offend again.

Judge Moran said he did not want to criminalise this young man anymore than he had to. Neither accused has come to Garda attention since the incident. He applied the Probation Act in respect of both teenagers and. Both accused entered into bonds to be of good behaviour.