Month: March 2006

ONE of the country’s leading campaigners for the homeless has backed a proposal for a homeless hostel in Ennis.

Fr Peter McVerry, who has long championed the cause of homeless people through his work with the Arrupe Society, was in Ennis last week to speak to parishioners at Ennis Cathedral to mark the season of lent. After the mass, he told The Clare People that the provision of adequate housing and hostel services for the county’s homeless would only be beneficial in the long run.

“I would always say that the neighbourhood is actually much safer when people have somewhere they stay rather than out on the streets. If they are out on the streets then they are going to be far more trouble to the local community.

“A kid that is tucked up in bed at two o’clock in the night is not out robbing the neighbours. The neighbourhood is safer when we provide these services. If we fail to provide these services, then these people become increasingly angry, increasingly desperate. It creates more fear and more insecurity for the neighbourhood.

“I think leaving people to sleep rough on the streets has no benefit to anybody in the community”.

In December, the Society of St Vincent de Paul announced that the number of people presenting as homeless to Clare County Council’s homeless unit had doubled since 2003 from 247 to 544 last year.

The organisation intends lodging plans with Ennis Town Council for the development of a homeless hostel. But it has stated that it has encountered difficulties in acquiring a site.

Fr McVerry said he understood the concerns of local communities in relation to homeless hostels, but that from his own experiences working in Ballymun, people had little to fear.

“I think that the real issue is how the hostel is managed.

“If it is properly funded and managed, local people have very little to fear, but I can understand the fears.

“It is a major problem trying to get a location. If it is managed and funded by a really reputable body then I think local people have very little to fear”.

But Fr McVerry said the Government remained uncommitted to social and affordable housing, which would help alleviate homelessness.

“The social housing waiting lists doubled throughout the core years of the Celtic Tiger. They are now at an all-time high”.

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy who bought a knife in a shop in Ennis and then attempted to rob a shop in Cloughleigh has been handed a three-year detention sentence.

The youth, who is now 17 and who cannot be named because of his age, admitted a charge of attempted robbery, on November 3, 2004.

Sgt Frank Naughton said a woman was working in the premises, a small supermarket, on the date in question.

Two people, the accused and another man in his 20s, wearing balaclavas and carrying what she thought were knives or screwdrivers, entered the shop.

He said the other man – who was not before the court – ordered her to hand over money.

Sgt Naughton said the woman, who had the “daylight” frightened out of her, got a stick and threw it at the man in his 20s.

She activated the alarm and both the accused and the other man ran out.

The two men were seen hiding in the bushes near the shop and gardaí were notified. A knife and balaclava were recovered from the hedge nearby.

Sgt Naughton said the accused told gardai he had bought a knife in Mary’s of Ennis.

The accused said they both ran into the shop. The other man ran in around the counter and demanded money. Sgt Naughton said nothing was taken in the incident.

Defence barrister Pat Whyms said his client was led by the other man.

Judge Carroll Moran said he took on board that the accused was not the main participant, but that the incident was “a serious matter” in a local shop in a local community.

He noted that the case was not returned for trial until over a year after the offence.

“I do point out that there has been considerable delay in this case. It may be for good reason,” he said.

He imposed a three-year detention sentence on the youth and backdated it to January 2005, giving him the benefit of time spent in custody.

The boy is currently serving a two-year sentence for a separate offence.

THE 32 members of Clare County Council last year scooped almost €1 million between salaries and expenses, figures released by the council reveal.

The figures show that the members shared €880,513 in 2005 with Clare’s Mayor, Councillor Patrick Keane (FF) accruing the highest amount at €37,842. That is some €7,000 more than the average industrial wage.

Cllr Keane came out top through the mayor’s allowance, which provides €22,500 and €7,500 for his deputy, Sonny Scanlan (FG).

The figures published are inclusive of the taxable €15,330 salary received by councillors.

Cllr Keane maintained this week that he was “good value” for the money received. Speaking days after being released from hospital after suffering from exhaustion, Cllr Keane said, “I would be on top by virtue of the mayor’s allowance and living the furthest from Ennis.”

Councillors living the furthest away from Ennis are paid the highest amounts to attend meetings, while those living in Ennis receive the smallest amounts.

“It is a major disadvantage in living in west Clare having to travel to Ennis all the time to make representations, but you have to get on with it,” he said.

Fine Gael’s Councillor Madeleine Taylor-Quinn is unique amongst Clare’s councillors in not claiming any travelling expenses for conferences last year.She received the lowest expense amount at €19,916. The average pay out was €27,516.

The figures also reveal that €11,561 was spent by councillors on foreign travel last year to the Western Isles in Scotland. It cost €5,832 to cater for Councillors John Crowe (FG), John McInerney (FG), Martin Lafferty (Ind), Joe Carey (FG), Tommy Brennan (Ind), Pascal Fitzgerald (Lab) and Tony O’Brien (FF).

It cost €2,088 to send councillors on a fact-finding mission to Portugal. The councillors on that trip were John McInerney, Pascal Fitzgerald and Tommy Brennan.

It cost the taxpayer €3,641 to send Councillor Pat Daly (FF) to represent Clare at the New York St Patrick’s Day parade.

Another globetrotter was Councillor Flan Garvey (FF) who went to Melbourne, Australia as part of a twinning expedition – the cost to the tax-payer: €2,618.

Chairpersons of the Council’s Special Policy Committees (SPCs) also feature high on the list as they receive €5,078.

They are obliged to hold only four meetings each year, though most hold more.

ENNIS Town Council wants representatives of the town’s different religious organisations to meet with them, in order to identify suitable locations for places of worship.

In response to a motion tabled by Councillor Taiwoo Matthew (Ind), the council stated that it did not have in its possession land for this purpose nor was it in a position to make land available for such a project.

But the groups involved could engage in pre-planning consultation to identify suitable sites, prior to acquisition.

Such consultation would be beneficial to them in advance of making any planning application development.

Cllr Matthew requested that Ennis Town Council “provide a zoned, designated area of town where religious organisations can have a permanent place of worship without disturbing the public or the public being a disturbance to them.”

Cllr Matthew stated that many religious groups were currently using inadequate locations, in order to carry out their activities of worship.

“These groups presently carry out their activities of worship in rented premises/areas that are not designated for these activities, thereby causing discomfort to both the public and themselves.”

He added that the lack of a suitable venue for worship meant that many followers of religious faiths had been unable to carry out ceremonies important to their faith.

Cllr Donal O’Beara (GP) had earlier asked why the issues that were raised at last month’s meeting of Ennis Town Council concerning the development of a five-year plan for the management of the town’s graveyards, were not brought to the attention of the Council’s equality officer. The plan concerned the current and future needs of the Ennis and environs population.

“Given that we have the officer, I feel it is important that we be seen to be doing something proactive and that the person is actively interpreting the social trends that are emerging.

“The issues that were raised in the discussion should be raised with the equality officer of Clare County Council.”

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said, “Ennis has never refused the burial to anyone of any religion.

“It is a Christian burial ground and work to extend the graveyard is already being carried out.

“No-one has ever been left overground and there won’t be in the future.”

GARDAI who orchestrated the security operation for US President George W Bush’s two refuelling stops at Shannon over the past week have defended the decision to deploy hundreds of extra gardaí to patrol the airport.

Anti-war activists and GRA general secretary PJ Stone have questioned why hundreds of gardaí were deployed to Shannon for the refuelling stops on Tuesday and Saturday nights. The entire operation included more than 500 personnel and cost an estimated €750,000.

But Garda management sources said there was a risk assessment carried out and the numbers deployed were appropriate for the occasion.

Referring to Gda Stone’s comments, Superintendent John Kerin said, “I cannot believe a member of the GRA would say anything so non-sensical. The local GRA representatives were part and parcel of the planning and knew in advance what numbers were involved in the operation.

“If they had qualms, they did not bring it to our attention. Gda Stone had nothing to do with the operation. He wasn’t part of the planning process,” he said.

Supt Kerin said the numbers deployed were necessary, given that a 10-and-a-half mile radius had to be covered.

He said gardaí were satisfied with the operation, which involved the Emergency Response Unit and Garda Mounted Unit, as well as the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps personnel. The operation was co-ordinated by Assistant Commissioner Gerry Kelly, in liaison with the American Secret Service.

“A number of attempts were made in the course of Saturday night to breach security, but all were thwarted. After the President left Shannon, there was an attempt to pass the gantry [security area] but no-one gained entry,” said Supt Kerin.

On Saturday afternoon, four antiwar protesters, including Tim Hourigan, made their way, on a bus, to the terminal building and unfurled two anti-war barriers, before being asked to leave the area.

“They didn’t get within the terminal building. There was absolutely no breach of security,” said Supt Kerin.

Meanwhile, anti-war activist Ed Horgan said he was not surprised that so few people turned out to support their protests. Just seven people turned out on Tuesday night and nine on Saturday night.

“I am disappointed but not surprised, considering the weather. Theoretically, four million people should have been there. Every Irish person is implicated in the killing of 100,000 people in Iraq.

“Far too many resources were put into Shannon, when compared with the gross lack of security in Dublin during the riots a week earlier,” he said.

THE Health Service Executive has said that it expects to open its temporary replacement prefabricated physiotherapy unit in Ennis by the end of the month.

But there have been claims this week that there is not sufficient electricity being generated from the hospital to power it.

The HSE would not comment on claims that a generator would have to be brought in to power the unit on the grounds of the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Ennis, or give a timeframe for when it might be installed.

On Tuesday evening last, the physiotherapy unit in the hospital building had to be cleared to accommodate the overflow of patients from other units.

The portacabin at the front of the hospital was first muted as a temporary solution to overcrowding at the hospital.

It was expected to be open in December last year to house the patients of the physiotherapists. But the HSE say it will now be March. It will be used as an overflow ward for up to nine patients.

The emergency move was originally expected to cost the HSE over €150,000.

Trolleys will be put into the physiotherapy room in an attempt to cope with the ongoing overcrowding at the county’s hospital, once the portacabin is up and running.

Ennis General Hospital is currently working to a capacity of 115 per cent, 30 per cent higher than is recommended.

Meanwhile, the HSE hopes to submit the planning application for the €20.8 million development at the hospital by June, with a view to putting the works to tender before the end of the current year.

According to the HSE Network Manager of the Mid West Area, John O’Brien, this will enable the construction work to commence in early 2007.

He confirmed that the design team were currently preparing detailed drawing submission to the planning office.

Welcoming the development, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said he was confident that Clare would have a top-class hospital within the next two years.

The €20.8 million development will see a new radiology department and Accident and Emergency Unit constructed at ground level.

Two new medical wards and a surgical ward will be constructed on the second floor, and ICU developed.

There will be a 20 per cent increase in beds, from 88 to 106.

CLARE’S mayor, Councillor Pat Keane (FF) has been admitted to hospital suffering from exhaustion.

Cllr Keane underwent tests over three days at Ennis General Hospital after suffering a near-collapse at his Kilkee home recently and was allowed out of hospital last week.

Cllr Keane said: “My doctor told me that if I didn’t slow down, I would have a stroke, so I am trying to take it easy at the moment and not be going all the time”.

Elected mayor last July, the Kilkeebased councillor said: “It is a tough job and you just have to keep going and I will give it my best for the final four months that I am mayor. It is only for 12 months and I will try to give it everything”.

Cllr Keane said that his near-collapse was from sheer exhaustion and his doctor recommended that he be admitted to Ennis General to undergo tests.

First elected to the council in 1991 and elected twice since, in 1999 and 2004, Cllr Keane said: “I never drank or smoked. I eat well and there is no history of strokes in the family. The doctor told me that I must slow down.”

Married to Margaret, Pat is the father of two grown-up children Marina (26) and Diarmuid (18).

“There is no point complaining. This is what we stood to be elected for. The meetings go on and in the days after I was allowed out, there were more meetings to attend,” he said.

Cllr Keane is the second prominent Clare politician to be admitted to hospital as a result of the stresses of the job. Last December, Fine Gael’s Pat Breen was admitted to intensive care at Ennis General after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. Deputy Breen took a break from work over the month of January after medical advice.

Former Labour TD and consultant psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee said this week, “what happened to Cllr Pat Keane confirms that politics can be dangerous for your health.”

He added: “It is one of the hazards of the job where politicians overwork themselves in order to keep everyone happy. This is a warning sign for Pat and he must heed the advice that he has been given”.

THE Bishop of Killaloe has urged victims of institutional abuse to come forward, after an abuse victim was jailed last week for threatening hospital staff with a fake gun.

Dr Willie Walsh was speaking after homeless man Oliver Boylan was jailed for two years for threatening staff at Ennis General Hospital with an imitation firearm.

Boylan’s barrister told Ennis Circuit Court that his client suffered from ‘horrendous physical and sexual abuse’ in an orphanage in Dublin in the past, and had been unable to deal with this.

The Bishop allowed Boylan to sleep in a shed on his premises in Ennis for the past six months.

He told The Clare People that he was pleased the judge ordered that the accused receive treatment for his alcoholism, while in jail.

“I’d certainly hope he would get the treatment while he is in prison because he does very much need it. I would have found him at an extremely low ebb,” said Dr Walsh, who revealed that Boylan discussed his abuse with him.

“Our prisons should be more about rehabilitation than punishment. There should be more help there for people and the period immediately after release is the most crucial period,” he said.

He believes the abuse suffered by Boylan in the past has played a role in his life going downhill in recent times.

“I would certainly say it [the abuse] is an important factor. All of our lives are so complex it is very hard to put all of our difficulties into one particular experience,” he said.

He is advising victims of abuse to come forward.

“I’d certainly say if somebody has suffered abuse, it would be our policy in the Diocese to welcome people coming to us.

“Some people can live with these things for years and it all comes flooding back to them,” he added.

The Bishop said he did not deserve praise personally, regarding Oliver Boylan.

“He came and knocked on my door and was desperate at the time…I wouldn’t want in any way to say I saved him. I didn’t. At times I felt I…I wouldn’t do anything.

“ I would say there are flaws in the system, but no system, based on rules and regulations can deal with every case,” said the Bishop.

He praised groups like St Vincent de Paul and the Samaritans.

“However, some needs fall beyond that.”

A HOMELESS “chronic alcoholic” who threatened staff at Ennis General Hospital with an imitation gun has been jailed for two years.

Oliver Boylan (38), a native of Dublin who has lived in Ennis for the past few years, pleaded guilty to the offence, on May 3, 2004. Boylan had spent the past six months in a shed on the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh’s premises.

Ennis Circuit Court heard allegations that the accused – a separated father-oftwo – had suffered abuse in an orphanage some years ago in Dublin and currently had an application before the Residential Redress Board.

He had one previous conviction, after he went to a former partner’s home with a hoax bomb and threatened to blow up the home, in Dundalk in 2000, for which he received a suspended sentence.

Detective Garda Kevin Kennedy said Boylan pointed an imitation gun at a doctor and nursing staff at the accident and emergency unit at the hospital and threatened them. He demanded a brain scan and looked for his girlfriend. On seeing that a doctor was going to ring gardaí, Boylan threatened to shoot him, if he failed to put the phone down.

He had been admitted to hospital 10 minutes earlier and was heavily intoxicated. Two security guards at the hospital wrestled him to the ground. Det Gda Kennedy said he himself knew, after taking possession of the implement, that it was not a real firearm. This was confirmed after analysis in Dublin.

Defending barrister, Michael Fitzgibbon said this incident was “a disgraceful escapade”, but there was no intent to intimidate anyone. Boylan wanted to see his girlfriend “at any cost.”

Boylan himself told the court the incident was all down to drink and that he needed treatment in his head. He said he accepted the best place for him was in prison, if he could get suitable treatment. Judge Carroll Moran said he has a considerable amount of sympathy for Boylan, who he said, clearly needed help.

“Violence at A & Es in hospitals is becoming a prevalent problem everywhere and doctors, nurses, porters and staff are entitled to protection,” he said, adding he must take into account the man needs help.

Judge Moran said if he had been convicted by a jury he would be facing a sentence up to six years. Boylan, he said, was entitled to a substantial decrease because of the plea and because of his condition.

He imposed a two-year sentence and ordered that Boylan receive treatment for his alcohol problem while in jail.

THE family of a Kilmaley pensioner who was beaten to death in Birmingham last year has expressed relief that his killer has been held accountable.

Danny McGann (73), a native of Gortagannive, Kilmaley, was found dead in the garden of his home in the Acock’s Green area of Birmingham, on September 28, 2005. He had lived and worked in Birmingham for several years, having emigrated in the 60s.

Heroin addict Mohammed Naheem (35), of Enville Grove, Sparkhill, Birmingham, admitted murder and was jailed for life at Birmingham Crown Court last week.

Danny’s brother Christy McGann (84) said the conviction did not change anything for the grieving family.

“It doesn’t change things for us. It makes no difference now. It was very sad the way he died and we have to put up with it now. We can do nothing about it now . . . it is done with now anyway,” he said.

“We have gone through enough sadness. We want to know no more about it now”.

Kilmaley parish priest Fr Michael McLaughlin said there was “no winner” in the case.

“It is good there is closure. Thankfully he pleaded guilty so the family did not have to go through a trial in court. They have gone through enough already. Danny will be remembered by everybody. He was such a gentle man and was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” added the priest.

Mr Justice Hodge, in passing sentence last week, said the killer would spend 26 years in jail before being considered for parole. Naheem stole property from Ms McGann’s home, while he lay dying outside.

Naheem was jailed for 10 years in 1997, after he and another man had broken into the home of an 87-yearold woman and fractured her skull.