Month: July 2006

THE chairman of the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA), Pat Shanahan said yesterday that Shannon needed to respond quickly and aggressively to the ending of the Shannon stopover.

Mr Shanahan was speaking at a briefing at Shannon Airport yesterday where the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen was presented with a €53 million five year action plan to sustain transatlantic air services at Shannon following the stopover.

“Shannon needs to respond quickly and aggressively to this change in the market place.

“The regulation, although it has been good for Shannon in the past, it also has negative connotations in the industry where airlines felt that they were forced to land in Shannon.

He added: “we want them to land in Shannon because there is a real market in Shannon.”

Minister Cullen proposed the drawing up of a tourism and economic plan to sustain Shannon’s transatlantic business in an ‘open skies’ environment, which commences in April 2008.

In a presentation to Minister Cullen, the chair of the steering group of the Mid Western Regional Authority that drew up the plan, Clare County Manager, Alec Fleming said that the five-year action plan sought to achieve a tourism promotional fund of €44 million from Government funds; a route support fund of €9 million and an independent and financially viable Shannon Airport.

“The target for Shannon is to secure a 30 per cent share of the direct transatlantic market between America and Ireland and to achieve an appropriate sustainable level of year round services to main US gateways.”

Mr Fleming said that it was important that an extension to the US Custom and Border Protection facility take place at Shannon providing an opportunity to grow Shannon’s US market.

He said that it was also vital that Shannon extend its catchment area in the west of Ireland through the building of new roads and rail links.

The plan is supported by all the local authorities in the region, along with Shannon Development, IBEC and the American Chamber of Commerce.

Minister Cullen described the plan as a ‘good one’.

On continuing discussions between unions and management over the future of the SAA, Minister Cullen said, “I would like to see the talks come to a conclusion fairly quickly.

“That is so that we have a clear view of what the basis of the airport’s economic viability is in the future so that we can move forward.”

CLARECASTLE will have to wait until the completion of the Ennis by-pass for any planned regeneration scheme. Calls have been made for a regeneration scheme to be drawn up for Clarecastle village because of the impact of heavy traffic flow through to the area.

Clare County Council have discussed the matter and plan to progress it further once work on the bypass has been completed.

But local councillors would like to see the council produce a comprehensive plan and engage in full consolation with the public.

Speaking at the recent meeting of councillors in the Ennis electoral area, Cllr Joe Carey (FG) outlined the need for a regeneration scheme.

Cllr Carey said significant contribution fees from development projects in the area could be used to fund the project.

“Clarecastle has suffered greatly from through traffic and traffic congestion as a result of the absence of the Ennis bypass . . . I’m proposing that this scheme would pay particular attention to public consultation and that a time frame for its implementation would be put in place without delay.”

He added that a plan needed to be in place especially for the main street and that local people must be given a big input. Cllr Bernard Hanrahan (FF) supported the call saying it was vital the good appearance of Clarecastle be maintained.

“I would compliment the council on the money that has already been spent on Clarecastle already. We are on the entrance route to a major town, and when the bypass is complete, I would be looking for more footpaths to be installed.”

Senior Executive Engineer, Hugh McGrath informed the meeting that €200,000 had already been spent on the village renewable scheme. He confirmed that discussions with the council’s architect. “There is a lot of work currently being done there. Once the bypass is open and infrastructural works are completed, then the scheme can be examined further”. Meanwhile, requests have been made to halt completion of sewerage works along the Ballybeg road until facilities are in pace to deal with storm water. Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) issued the call citing problems with run off water.

Some €300,00 has been allocated to the scheme, but repair work cannot be carried out until the sewerage scheme has been completed.

MUCH needed respite is to be provided for parents of children with Autism in the county.

A house in Quilty is to be made available for the welcome weekend break, with the support of the HSE and Enable Ireland.

That was the good news that emerged from a meeting between the lobby group Voices for Autism and the HSE last evening.

The parent’s group had met with the health authority amid fears that adequate staffing could not be found for the new Autism Unit in Kilrush.

The unit, which is due to open on the grounds of St Senan’s Primary School in September, is to provide education for six autistic children in the West Clare area. To date a primary school teacher and two special needs assistants have been sanctioned for the unit, but parents feared that the autism team required to provide the full service would not be employed in time.

At the meeting last evening parents were told that a speech therapist would be provided for the Kilrush unit in September, but a question remark remains over the other staff required.

The required team would include a speech and language therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist and social worker.

The HSE nationally have experienced difficulties in recruiting the required professionals and the Mid West has been no exception.

The HSE has experienced a particular difficulty in providing an adequate service for children in the six to 18 age groups in the county.

A team has been secured in the north of the county for early intervention, but parents have experienced a fall back in services and support as their children reach school age.

IT will take Clare County Council at least 230 years to replace all the water pipelines in the county if it is to continue at its current rate of pipe replacement.

The council currently services 22 water production facilities in County Clare, which provides in excess of 50,000 metres cubed of water every day.

Clare County Councillor Christy Curtin said that private group water schemes have been “more vigorous” in their upgrading of their water services.

The Independent councillor pointed to three group water schemes in west Clare that have replaced more than 30km of piping in the last two years.

“The council will have to follow suit and make sure their network is up to par,” he said.

Cllr Curtin is also calling on the local authority to research any additional water sources that may be available. In extended dry spells, the council sometimes has difficulties meeting water demands.

Carron water supply, which produces 71 metres cubed of water each day, is the most likely not to be able to meet demand during such weather spells.

Contingency plans are in place to supplement this water supply with water from the Ballymacraven Water Treatment Plant when the need arises, explained Acting Director of Services, Walter Walsh.

Mr Walsh admitted that difficulties could also arise in other areas at times of high water demand.

These difficulties are attributed to leaks and burst pipes, the quality of the pipeline and unaccountedfor water use. There are approximately 2,300 kilometres of local authority pipeline in the county, with a current replacement rate of between five and 10 kilometres per year. The rate of replacement depends on the finances available to the council.

“This rate of replacement is wholly inadequate,” said Mr Walsh. “However, in stage three of the Water Conservation Project, the department (of the Environment) provides 90 per cent funding for water mains rehabilitation and replacement,” he said at this month’s meeting of the county council.

However, the Department will require significant improvement in unaccounted for water percentages prior to approving any further increase in treated water capacity

As well as Clare’s 22 water production facilities, water is also purchased from Limerick City Council at Shannon Banks and Meelick, while water is exported to Limerick County Council at Montpellier.

ONE OF Lahinch’s oldest pubs has been issued with a seven day closure order, after being convicted for permitting disorderly conduct on the premises.

Sergeant Michael Gallery told Lisdoonvarna District Court that he was on duty outside Flanagan’s bar, Main Street, Lahinch, at 11.55pm on July 30, 2005.

He said there was a very large group of people outside the premises and he had difficulty getting through the crowd. The main door of the pub was closed.

“The bar was packed. There were people upstairs and downstairs. People were carrying glasses up and down the stairs,” said Sgt Gallery.

He said there were 65 people upstairs and the licencee Olan O’Connor told him he wouldn’t let anyone else in.

Defending solicitor Michael Petty said his client had no difficulty with what the garda said.

He said the premises, one of the oldest in the town, was very well run.

Mr Petty said there was a licence to sell drink downstairs and that the ‘modus operandi’ was to take drink upstairs. “Everything is now in order. I have a fire certificate, to cover upstairs”.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a fine of €2,000 and ordered a seven day closure, to take effect after 30 days. He fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.

A SHANNON mother facing four charges of attempted murder was yesterday granted bail, in the High Court.

Agnes O’Shaughnessy (27), of 12 Purcell Park, Shannon, is charged with the attempted murder of her husband George, her twin boys Lee and Evan Hickey (aged seven) and her three-year-old daughter Sophie O’Shaughnessy, at the family home, on September 25, 2005. She was charged last Thursday week and brought before a sitting of Shannon District Court that day, where she was remanded in custody.

She re-appeared before Shannon District Court last Thursday, where she was remanded in custody, to appear before Ennis District Court later this week. However, a bail application by her legal team, before the High Court in Dublin yesterday (Monday), was successful.

Ms O’Shaughnessy was released on her own bail of €1,000, along with an independent surety of €5,000. She is to reside at her home, at 12 Purcell Park, Shannon.

At the court hearing last Thursday week, the accused was granted free legal aid.

On that occasion Inspector Tom Kennedy said that because of the seriousness of the charges, bail could not be granted in the District Court and Judge Joseph Mangan remanded the accused in custody.

THE jury in the trial of five antiwar protesters accused of criminally damaging a US aeroplane at Shannon Airport was sent to a hotel last night, after it failed to reach a verdict.

The jury, which deliberated for four hours yesterday, is expected to resume deliberations this morning at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The five accused have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval plane, property of the United States Government and to glass door panels, property of Aer Rianta at Shannon Airport, Clare on February 3, 2003.

They are Ciaron O’Reilly (46), an Australian national, Nuin Dunlop (34), a US citizen and counsellor, Damien Moran (26), Karen Fallon (35), a Scottish marine biologist, all of Rialto Cottages, Rialto; and Deirdre Clancy (36), a copy editor of Alverno Apartments, Clontarf.

The jury has been told that a garda was on duty in the hangar at 3.45 am when five people came running in carrying hammers and an axe or mattock.

Evidence was given that they were shouting “words of God” and went to the front, side and rear of the aircraft using the items to hit the plane. They then knelt in a circle and prayed until gardaí arrived to arrest them.

Copies of the Bible and Koran, Rosary and Islamic prayer beads, candles, flowers, St Bridget’s crosses and photographs of distressed children were among the items found at the scene in the form of a shrine at the doors to the hangar.

One of the accused, Nuin Dunlop, told the jury she “had a pretty good idea” that she might be arrested.

Ms Dunlop denied that her actions were political and calculated to draw attention to activities at Shannon. She also denied that she and her co-accused had anticipated that they would be brought to trial and looked forward to it.

Another of the accused, Karen Fallon told the jury she believed that her actions saved lives. When asked if the placement of a shrine outside the airport hangar was a stunt to gain publicity, she said,

“Not at all. It was a commemoration for the dead.”

Ciaron O’Reilly said he decided to take direct action at the airport to “non-violently disarm the war machine deploying from Shannon” and “enact the prophesies of Isaiah to beat our swords into ploughshares and study war no more”.

A COURT has heard that gardaí were astonished that no-one was injured, as a result of the erratic driving of a drunk man.

Nigerian native Clement Odeh, with an address at Westwood, Ennis, pleaded guilty to two charges of dangerous driving and one charge of drink driving, arising out of an incident in Ennis on the evening of May 16 last.

Garda Francis Corey told Ennis District Court the accused drove towards Ennis, from the Lahinch Road direction.

He turned left at the Maid of Erin roundabout, before crossing a continuous white line in the direction of a Mercedes car, before he pulled back in.

Odeh continued driving, turned left at Shiel’s garage and towards the junction leading to Lee’s Road. He lost control of his car at one stage.

“All of the time a member of the public was following him and at the same time was on the phone to the Garda station,” said Gda Corey.

The garda arrived on the scene and asked Odeh to get out of the car.

“His driving was very bad… He staggered out of the car. He was very drunk,” said the garda.

He said the erratic manner in which the accused drove, and not the speed, was the issue.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said this was a ‘really bad case of driving.’

“He was very heavily intoxicated. It was a mystery he didn’t hit another car or person,” he said.

“I am astonished by the seriousness of this. He is facing two charges of dangerous driving. He could possibly be facing more charges,” added the inspector.

Analysis of a sample of breath produced by the defendant showed a concentration of 90 mgms of alcohol.

Defending solicitor William Cahir said his client, a father-of-two, moved to Ireland in 2004.

“He accepts he was heavily intoxicated. He accepts the manner in which he was driving was dangerous to the public. There was no mention of excessive speed,” said Mr Cahir.

Judge Mangan adjourned the case for three months, and ordered that a probation report be compiled.

“I don’t want him driving between now and the time this comes back to court,” said the judge. He agreed to a request by Mr Cahir to allow the ban to take effect on August 5.

THE shortage of banking services in one of Clare’s most popular tourist towns is encouraging visitors to do business elsewhere in the region.

Clare County Councillor Richard Nagle (FF) has expressed his concern at the lack of an ATM service in the northwest town of Lisdoonvarna.

The town, famed for its matchmaking festival every September, has no public ATM service where visitors or locals can access cash.

Instead they must travel eight miles to the nearest bank link in Ennistymon.

Cllr Nagle told The Clare People that the absence of a bank link is a major disadvantage to Lisdoonvarna.

“I have had representations on a number of occasions from local people. They want a Banklink service,” he said.

“This is something we need to actively pursue,” he added.

“It is a major inconvenience and disadvantage for locals and tourists. People travel out of the area to get money and then spend it elsewhere.”

The north Clare county councillor worries that the lack of the essential service will linger on people’s mind.

“If people have a negative experience that is what they tend to remember,” he said.

As well as the thousands of people who flood into the town every September in search of Mister or Miss Right, hundreds more arrive in the town every week during the summer months to enjoy their holidays.

Local representatives and business people in the town fear that the lack of banking services may dissuade them from a return visit.

FIVE young children were expected to be released from hospital last night after they became ill on a repatriation flight from Lebanon to the US, which had made a technical stop at Shannon in the early hours of yesterday (Monday) morning.

The flight, which had earlier evacuated American-Lebanese families from the growing crisis in the Lebanon, landed at Shannon to refuel before continuing to the States. During that stopover, the crew sought medical attention for several passengers.

A number of the passengers were treated at the airport by doctors and ambulance crews and 11 people were taken by ambulances to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick for further treatment. Five young children were detained for observation overnight.

A spokesman for the Health Service Executive confirmed that the five had been treated in the Sunshine Ward, the paediatric unit at the Limerick hospital. Other passengers on the flight were also examined by medics at the airport. They were accommodated in local hotels overnight. Their plane remained on the ground in Shannon last night for a second night as engineers carried out repairs to an engine.