Month: June 2006

A LIMERICK MAN accused of stealing three cars in Clare has failed to appear in court to face the charges.

Timmy Casey (29), of 3 Clonlong, Southill, Limerick, is accused of stealing cars in Shannon, Lahinch and Ennistymon, on Monday, May 29 last.

Mr Casey is alleged to have stolen a car from the forecourt of a filling station in Shannon, on the morning of May 29 and later stole two other cars at Church Street, Ennistymon, and at Dough, Lahinch.

He is also accused of assaulting a foreign national, at Dough, Lahinch.

At Ennistymon District Court last Wednesday, Garda Alan Keane gave evidence of arresting the accused, at Dough, Lahinch, on May 29.

He brought him to Ennistymon Garda Station and charged him. The accused made no reply after caution.

The court was told that the accused went to hospital in Limerick for psychiatric treatment, after being released from Garda custody. He was discharged from hospital on May 31.

Judge Joseph Mangan was told the accused was not in court and he issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

A YOUNG man has been charged in connection with an alleged knife attack on a 21-year-old, at a house in Shannon in January.

James McAuley (23), of Inis Ealga, Shannon, appeared before Kilrush District Court yesterday (Monday), facing three charges, arising out of an incident on the evening of January 20 last.

Detective Garda Stephen Ryan gave evidence of arresting the accused and charging him.

Mr McAuley is charged with assaulting Michael Delaney, causing him serious harm; with inflicting injury, which would create substantial risk of death or serious harm; and with producing a knife in the course of a dispute.

The alleged offences occurred at a house in the Cronan Park estate in Shannon at around 9.30pm on January 20.

The case was adjourned for preparation of the Book of Evidence.

Mr McAuley, who was represented by solicitor Caitriona Carmody, was remanded on bail and will appear before Shannon District Court at a later stage.

Bail was fixed at €500, and an independent surety of €1,000.

Free legal aid in the case was granted.

AN POST say a new sorting office opened yesterday in Ennis will improve postal services in the region.

The new custom-built delivery services unit officially opened for business yesterday. Located on the Gort Road, it will handle incoming mail for Ennis and the majority of the Clare area.

However, internal post within Clare will still have to be sent to a regional sorting office in Cork before being distributed within Clare.

The new facility has been fitted out to enable postal staff to handle increased mail volumes and delivery points, and will stand on 10,000 square feet, which will allow for future expansion of delivery addresses in Ennis. Approximately 80,000 items of mail will transit through the new Delivery Services Unit every day.

“It will improve the service in terms of the numbers handled. It’s primarily for the Ennis area but will be used to distribute throughout Clare. Given the high quantities of mail handled then, mail will still have to be sent to one of the larger centres before returning to Ennis,” a spokesperson for An Post said.

An Post are occupying the Gort Road site on a long-term lease and have invested significantly in capital. The fit-out of the new premises includes modern sorting equipment and delivery services accommodation, security systems, communications infrastructure and improved staff welfare facilities. The new premises are accessible to large vehicles and have dedicated parking facilities for both customer and company vehicles. There will also be improved mail collection facilities and physical PO Boxes available to all box holders.

An Post have denied that technical problems delayed the opening of the centre. Delivery delays in September and October of last year in the Ennis area were the source of much frustration to local residents and the business community.

“This is an extremely important development for the Ennis area and it will enable An Post to maintain an efficient and reliable service and satisfy the long-term needs of both staff and customers,” said Eoin Morgan, An Post Director of Collection and Delivery.

A LIMERICK-BASED company has failed in its third attempt to transform the former AIB building in Ennis into a commercial development.

Ennis Town Council has refused Brookvale Construction permission to develop the protected 19th-century building on Bindon Street.

Brookvale had submitted plans to construct retail and other commercial outlets on the extensive site around the building, which is currently occupied by property company, the Munster Group.

The plan was opposed by Oliver Moylan, Chairman of the Clare Association of An Taisce.

“An Taisce is very anxious that the integrity of this whole area be maintained,” he stated, adding that the Brookvale plan was totally at variance with the environmental sensitivity of this part of Ennis.

In refusing permission, the town council found that the proximity, height, scale and extent of the proposed development, at its boundary to the north, would seriously injure the amenity and depreciate the value of the property due to overshadowing.

The council stated that there was no substantial difference between the new proposal and one previously refused by An Bord Pleanála.

It is the third time that Brookvale Construction has been thwarted in its plans to develop the site, since it purchased it from the AIB seven years ago.

Ambitious plans for a 71-bedroom four-star hotel at the location were refused by both Ennis Town Council and An Bord Pleanála.

In 2004, the company lodged plans to construct a pub and restaurant.

However, the plan ran into opposition from An Taisce and prominent Clare personalities, including Reverend Bob Hanna, Martin Linnane and Tony Honan.

Mr Moylan claimed that the development “would destroy the whole character of this unique area in Ennis”.

The plan was passed by Ennis Town Council, but refused by An Bord Pleanála.

LIMERICK City Manager Tom Mackey has launched a fresh drive to extend the city boundary into southeast Clare.

He is seeking a top-level meeting between the Clare council and the Limerick city and county councils in response to Environment Minister Dick Roche’s appeal for local consensus in advance of any direction from central government on the boundary issue.

Minister Roche made his comment when ruling out Limerick City Council’s boundary extension proposal into south-east Clare.

The three managers met last month to consider the options open to the councils in the context of the Limerick city council’s application for an extension to the city boundary.

Minister Roche said the managers agreed that a suitable exploratory process would be put in place, with the assistance of his officials.

Last month, in his letter to Mr Mackey, Minister Roche ruled out any extension across the county boundary because the attachment local people in the affected area have with Clare.

The Minister said the options that should be explored by the three councils are: increased co-operation on a voluntary basis; formal co-operation across existing boundaries and possible changes to the boundaries between the two Limerick authorities, right up to institutional arrangements which could apply across the whole metropolitan area.

Clare Mayor Patrick Keane (FF) said he would have no difficulty meeting his counterparts from Limerick city and county “provided Limerick city council’s boundary extension application does not feature on the agenda”.

“The two councils have areas of mutual interest in terms of services and promoting development in south-east Clare, but that should be the only purpose of the meeting. The city council still has a clear agenda to extend the boundary into Clare, but there is no question of there being any change or the matter being discussed by the two councils”, he said.

The city council is seeking to quadruple the area of land administered by the local authority from 2,086 hectares to 8,537 by taking 4,380 hectares from Limerick county council and 1,621 hectares from Clare.

Limerick City currently has a population of 54,000 and there are 39,000 people living in the areas that are subject of the boundary extension proposal. Making its case for the extension, the city council state that “no coherent or visionary plan exists for the operation or future development of an urban area of 100,000 inhabitants”.

A NEAR disaster was averted this weekend thanks to the quick reaction of the crew of the Kilrush RNLI lifeboat.

On Saturday afternoon, the crew of the lifeboat Rose West was called to assist the sole sailor of a 24-foot yacht off Querrin.

The experienced sailor left from the Kilrush Marina that day amid relatively calm conditions.

In the early afternoon, the yacht met with heavy gusts, which caused the mast to break and the sail to become tangled in the engine.

The yacht started to drift onshore near Querrin on the Shannon Estuary.

Querrin is known for its dispersed rocky shores.

A local maritime expert told The Clare People that, had the ship hit the rocks, it could have been badly damaged or sunk.

However, the quick-thinking Foynes-based sailor called the Irish Coast Guard at Valentia almost immediately.

The Kilrush lifeboat was called and performed the rescue at 4.15 pm. The lifeboat then took the damaged yacht under tow to Kilrush Marina.

The sailor was not injured, but the yacht will need some repair work.

On board the lifeboat, crew were Morgan Keating at the helm, crew Roger O’Donnell and Charlie Glynn.

Other volunteers on the day included tractor driver Fintan Keating Snr with John Lamb, Lifeboat Operations Manager in charge of launching operations. Damien Nolan assisted on shore.

Charles W. Glynn, Lifeboat Press Officer, said that, with the start of the sailing season, it was a good time to remind all sailors of essential safety tips.

He said to always wear a life jacket and check the engine and fuel before leaving the marina.

He warned mariners to always tell people where you are going and when you plan to be back.

Mr Glynn also advised to carry a means of communication, such as a mobile phone that would allow a sailor in distress call for help.

As with all good mariners, he pointed out the need to keep an eye on the weather and tides.

THE transitional housing unit for homeless men in Ennis is welcome, but additional action is required to solve the problem for homelessness, according to St Vincent de Paul.

The organisation has called for accommodation for homeless people for several months, amid growing concerns on the issue in the county.

Its Outreach Officer Sandra Cox said an overall approach is required, in an effort to deal with a problem which is gripping the county.

“The provision of an emergency accommodation centre will impact directly on cases of street homelessness in Clare. In addition, the centre will provide emergency accommodation support to both statutory and voluntary agencies, ensuring that nobody will spend a night on the streets, due to lack of appropriate facilities,” she said.

More than 500 people reported as homeless to the local authorities in Clare last year and, according to St Vincent de Paul, the problem has hit crisis point.

“This will alleviate the homeless issue in that it will give single men somewhere to stay. But it is a larger issue. More council accommodation has to become available for single people. That is the real issue,” said Ms Cox.

She said some form of housing must be provided for homeless people who present on a crisis level, with no options open to them.

“Bed and breakfast accommodation is a temporary solution, but we have to relocate people again and again,” said Ms Cox.

“Looking for accommodation for the homeless is a crisis. At the moment, between eight and 10 people are staying in bed and breakfast accommodation. People who are discharged from acute care have nowhere to go.

“This will alleviate pressure initially, but still single parents are not considered as a priority. More social housing is needed.

“This centre would be appropriate for people with physical disabilities, while meals would be provided,” she added.

“Bed and breakfast accommodation isn’t suitable for people with alcohol and drug issues, as they provide no support for them. Individuals have to sleep rough as a a result and hostels in Limerick and Galway are full,” she said.

Ms Cox has been working as the organisation’s Outreach Officer since November and says the homeless issue has become increasingly more prevalent over the months.

ONE man who has been added to the growing homeless list in Clare over the past fortnight has spoken of his despair and lack of optimism in finding a permanent place to live.

Jim (not his real name), who is in his 60s, is originally from the UK and has lived in Clare for the past 30 years.

Over the years, he got married and had three children and lived with his family outside Ennis.

However, an accident in the workplace over 20 years ago has changed his life forever. He sustained a serious back injury and has been unable to work since then.

Until recently, Jim had been on constant medication but has now taken the decision to stop taking medication.

He has combined this with other important decisions.

Jim decided that he had had enough of family life and took the tough decision to move away from home – and in the process became another homeless person.

“I got off the medication and will put up with the pain. At least I have my mind. I was very down. It is hard for people to understand when they don’t know what I am going through. Everything got so bad, with tension and pressure. I was suicidal. I was on 19 tablets a day and I found that painkillers give you a false sense of security,” he said.

Jim has found it impossible to get any support for his depression. As a result, it deteriorated over time, culminating in his decision to take the drastic move.

Over the past two weeks, he has stayed in various bed and breakfasts, which have been organised by St Vincent de Paul. The HSE covers bed and breakfast accommodation, but that does not include evening meals. However, that particular option is short-term and, with summer looming fast, such accommodation will be extremely limited.

“I have nowhere to go. I don’t see myself going back to the family home. I had to get out. If I stayed there, I would be dead by now. I feel very isolated. Clare Haven looks after women but there is nowhere for men in a town the size of Ennis. It is hard. I have never had to look for help before,” he added.

St Vincent de Paul Outreach Officer Sandra Cox said that Jim’s physical disability is proving problematic, in attempts to secure a place for him to live.

“We are finding it difficult to find accommodation for him. He can’t go upstairs. Transitional housing would be suitable for Jim, as he could live on a ground floor building,” said Ms Cox.

As plans by Clare County Council to open the unit are being considered, Jim – like many other men – waits in hope for what could become a lifechanging experience.

CAMPAIGNERS are confident that a proposed new transitional housing service will serve the needs of homeless people within Clare.

Clare County Council has acquired a site near Ennis Town Centre for the provision of Transitional Housing for Homeless Persons. A €2.1 million budget to cover the cost of acquisition and refurbishment has been approved by Minster Noel Ahern TD, Minister for Housing & Urban Renewal.

Laurel Lodge will be located on the site of a former B&B on the Clare Road and will have the capacity to accommodate 12 people, all men. The centre will be staffed by the St Vincent de Paul who will lease the building from Clare County Council. St Vincent de Paul worked closely with Clare County Council, Ennis Town Council, the Health Services Executive and Clare Homeless Forum over the past five years to identify and acquire a site within the town centre.

The centre will provide temporary accommodation for people who have found it difficult to acquire affordable housing.

Outreach workers will work and community welfare officers will maintain contact with residents once they leave the centre and will provide assistance in finding permanent housing. Referrals will be made by the Homeless Unit of Clare County Council.

Councillor Joe Arkins (FG), Chairperson of the Homeless Forum, said the move represented a vital step forward in the implementation of the Homeless Action Plan for Clare.

“The centre will provide a vital first point of contact for people who the St Vincent de Paul may not have come across. It also provides a location for outreach staff to keep in touch with people and help them find permanent housing when they leave.”

Cllr Arkins added, “I think it is the optimum site. Frankie Neylon lives in that area and I think that neighbours will be pleased to see it go in there. There is an older community living there, a lot of second generation families who I think will accept it.

“We expect Laurel Lodge to be a good neighbour in the community, no vagrancy will be tolerated there. Some of the local councillors visited a similar centre in Limerick and I think they were quite surprised.”

Mayor of Ennis Frankie Neylon said the service will be of great benefit to Ennis

Director of Clare County Council’s Housing and Social Policy said the Council was delighted to have found the site. She added that it would provide an “absolutely essential service for the town”.

The Council will seek planning permission to develop the centre, which is expected to be operational within four months.

A spokesperson for the environmental section of Clare County Council says the council moved swiftly to warn people of the dangers. The lake will remain closed for the foreseeable future and the council is to continue to carry out testing on the water.

“Our understanding is that two dogs were taken sick and taken to a vet in Ennis. There was a prescence of blue green algal bloom in the water and we have taken steps to ensure people don’t go in the water,” said a spokesman.

The problem arose after high temperatures and a prolonged period of dry weather.

“The advice would be not to bathe in the water and to not let animals in the water as it is potentially toxic. The algae is always present in the lake, it is just that the hot weather caused it to bloom so much. We would hope that the change in the weather would cause it to disperse.

“We haven’t seen the neurological toxicity tests, but it our understanding that one dog did die.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not been contacted over the issue, as the lake is not classified as a bathing area.

“As far as I am aware, there has been no contact with the EPA. The area isn’t considered a bathing area so there would not have not been any contact. In the case of Blue Flag beaches they would be contacted.”

In July of last year, an outbreak of algal bloom forced the closure of Ballyalla Lake near Ennis.

In that case, a dog also died shortly after swimming in the water.

It was the second time in just over a month that Clare County Council had issued a bathing warning. In June 2005, a bathing ban was enforced in Lough Derg following an outbreak of a suspected toxic algae.