This article is from page 9 of the 2006-03-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
THE number of arrests for public order offences in Clare over the St. Patrick’s bank holiday weekend was on a par with most other weekends, according to the gardaí.
Sixteen people were arrested for public order offences in the Clare Garda Division over the weekend, while gardaí also dealt with several other incidents.
In Ennis, a 14-year-old boy was left terrified after he was approached by two young men who demanded his wallet and money, in the Market area of the town, in the early hours of St. Patrick’s Day.
Two men were arrested and questioned, before being released without charge. A file is being prepared for the DPP.
On the same morning, the home of an elderly woman in the Hermitage area of Ennis was targeted by intruders.
The woman in her 80s was asleep at the time when entry was gained to her home.
“This was the most serious incident that happened over the weekend. Thankfully the woman wasn’t harmed. We are looking for anyone who saw anything suspicious between 1am and 10am to contact us,” said Superintendent John Kerin.
A pregnant woman was left in a distressed state when four windows and the front door of her home were smashed in the early hours of Saturday.
Paint was also thrown at the house, in the incident which happened at Cloughleigh, Ennis. Gardaí say they are following a number of lines of enquiry. However, no arrests have yet been made.
Meanwhile, four youngsters were arrested on suspicion of carrying out criminal damage to the gym at St. Flannan’s College, Ennis, early on Saturday morning. All four are due in court later this month.
Rocks were thrown through the windows of a car in the Waterpark Heights area of Ennis in the early hours of Sunday.
Nothing was taken.
A camera, binoculars, a sum of cash and tickets for the Munster’s Heineken Cup Quarter-Final next month were stolen from an office at Bunratty Folk Park on Sunday.
Investigating gardaí are viewing CCTV footage in an effort to solve the crime.
Meanwhile, gardaí are investigating a spate of vandalism in Miltown Malbay on Saturday evening.
Rocks were thrown through the windows of two cars that were parked on the town’s main street, while the window of a house on Flag Road was broken.
“There were big crowds around for St. Patrick’s Day and for the rugby, but around the county, people were generally well behaved,” said Supt Kerin.