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A SHANNON-based aviation leasing firm secured pre-tax profits of $46.8 million according to accounts filed to the Companies Office.

Underlining the buoyancy of the aviation sector in the Shannon Free Zone, GE Commercial Aviation Services Ltd recorded a 24 per cent increase in turnover from $117 million to €146 million.

The company –owned by the US General Electric corporation – is engaged in the leasing of aircraft and engines and the provision of management services to the aviation industry.

According to the directors’ report filed with the accounts, the level of business and the year end financial position were satisfactory and the directors expect that the present level of activity will be sustained for the foreseeable future.

The GE Commercial Aviation Services results follow those of another Shannon-based aviation company, Shannon Engine Support Ltd, which although employing only 16 people recorded a profit of $46 million in 2005.

The GE Commercial Aviation figures show that the company has accumulated profits of $335.8 million with pre-tax profits up slightly on the $46.3 million recordeded in 2005.

The company employed 109 workers at Shannon in 2005 with a salary bill of $20.3 million while the remuneration for directors was $2.7 million. The accounts also show that the firm’s parent company contributed $930 million to the accounts last year bringing the overall capital contribution to $1320 million.

A YOUNG student designer from Quin has taken top prize in the inaugural Instore Emerging Student Design Awards. Conor Maguire, who is a student at Limerick College of Art and Design, won a cheque for €500 and a trip to the Maison D’Objet international interior design exhibition in Paris.

The award scheme, established by Instore, the leading supplier of contemporary furniture and design, in conjunction with Limerick College of Art and Design, is intended to promote avant-garde and creative design among emerging design students.

Students were required to design an item in ceramic that had style and panache but also showed creative thinking.

Conor’s winning creation, along with designs from the competition’s six finalists, was on display at Instore in Ellen Street, Limerick where it had received many positive comments from the public.

Oliver Moloney, Chief Executive of Instore said, “We were impressed by the high calibre of entries from the students and it was difficult to choose between some of the finalists but Conor’s work was a clear winner. We firmly believe that our sponsorship of this competition will further establish Instore as the design-leading interiors company that it is.”

Instore’s sponsorship of the award will run for five years and each year the Art Directors of the College will decide on the subject of the competition and the parameters within which the students must create.

CLARE County Council has admitted that the delay in repairing damaged crash barriers on one of the counties busiest dual-carriageways is unacceptable. The Local Authority has blamed the six week delay on heavy workloads.

The council, which is responsible for crash barriers within Clare, says that two to three weeks would be considered an adequate timeframe to repair or replace damaged barriers but at the moment it can take up to twice as long.

Many local authorities across the country are also slow to carry out repairs to damaged barriers despite being provided with funding from the National Roads Authority to do so. Clare County Council says the availability of contractors to carry out the work is the main problem in Clare.

The National Roads Authority has also confirmed that there is a problem in many areas with delays in repairing damaged barriers. Funding is provided to councils for maintenance and operations of roads and this includes repairs to crash barriers.

The money is provided from the NRA’s National Primary Maintenance Budget.

A Road Safety Authority spokesman said that if the barriers are damaged they are no longer capable of doing the job they were intended to do, which is to try and protect motorists and to help prevent cross-over crashes where vehicles end up on the opposite side of the roadway in the path of oncoming traffic.

“Damaged barriers should be repaired as soon as possible because the risk always exists that where a barrier has been compromised, another collision could happen at that location,” the RSA said.

A council spokesperson said they try to repair damaged crash barriers as soon as is practical but it is difficult to source a contractor to repair barriers.

“We have installed 50 kilometres of new crash barrier in the past year and the amount of crash barrier installed nationally is phenomenal, thus putting pressure on the few available contractors.”

At one location near Bunratty, a 50-metre stretch of the three-cable crash barrier was levelled in a recent collision. There are also at least three other locations along the busy roadway where the different types of barrier have been damaged.

The NRA recently confirmed that it has opted for a concrete barrier system, also known as the Jersey Barrier, for the new section of the N18 eastern bypass of Ennis, which will run 14 kilometres from Dromoland to just north of Crusheen. The almost metre-high concrete wall will run the entire length of the Ennis bypass and is thought to be a safer barrier than others already in use in Clare and across the country.

THE acquittal of farmer Pádraig Nally, who had been accused of killing of ‘Frog’ Ward, is not a licence to kill a person who comes to your door, according to an Ennis solicitor.

Solicitor Helen Rackard, of Michael Houlihan solicitors in Ennis, said the circumstances of each case regarding self-defence are unique and each jury differs.

Nally was found not guilty last week by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of killing traveller ‘Frog’ Ward at his Mayo farm, over two years ago.

The verdict came after over 15 hours deliberations. Nally had admitted shooting ‘Frog’ Ward and hitting him up to 20 times with a stick, but said he acted out of fear.

Ms Rackard said another jury could have reached a different decision.

“I am not sure things have changed that much because of one case, particularly when it is a jury decision. Each case’s circumstances are peculiar to that case. It could be a completely different outcome on another week,” she said.

“I don’t think it is a licence to shoot anybody that comes to your door. You will still be facing charges. The standard is still reasonable force,” said Ms Rackard.

“Self-defence and using reasonable force are commensurate with the amount of force used against you. It has always been ‘’using reasonable force’ proportionately. This is why this case is so controversial. There is some uncertainty now. It is another area where the government is going to have to legislate on. I would be reluctant to say this case has changed things dramatically,” she said.

DEPOPULATION and isolation in rural parts of Ireland are the main causes of people living in fear, according to Rural Resettlement Ireland.

Spokesman Jim Connolly said concern of attack is prevalent in parts of west Clare, where there are long stretches of unoccupied land.

“Huge tracts of land in west Clare, like Mayo, have populations where people have no neighbours,” said the Kilbaha resident.

“That is not the fault of the planners per se, but they are preventing the rebuilding of these places. There are huge tracts of Clare, where there are less than 25 people living per square kilometre. There are no neighbours, people are living in fear of intruders and there is loneliness,” he added.

“People are living in fear of intruders, particularly in west Clare,” said Mr Connolly.

Pádraig Nally told his trial he was living in fear of being robbed and he panicked when traveller ‘Frog’ Ward appeared at his farm.

In the wake of the debate regarding travellers trespassing on farmers’ lands, Mr Connolly said those living alone in rural parts of the country fear “particular groups, i.e travellers.”

“50 or 60 years ago, the local travellers were welcomed into the community. It was a completely different relationship. Life has changed it,” he said.

Mr Connolly believes that some steps should be taken, in an effort to make rural parts of Clare and throughout the country, safer for those living alone.

“I do believe things can be done, like having a patrol car driving around the countryside at night, with the blue light flashing. There is no garda presence… However none of these will provide neighbours,” he said.

THE Pádraig Nally trial prompted much debate on the use of force by an individual who believes he is under threat. Nally claimed at all times that he was in fear and the jury was asked to decide if he used excessive force. They decided the force used was justified and they acquitted him of manslaughter.

Gardaí in Clare say people are entitled to protect themselves and their property, by lawful means.

Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Joe Downey said force is justified and is allowed in law, but that it must be reasonable at all times. This law is currently under scrutiny and changes in the legislation are proposed.

“The Constitution guarantees the inviability of the dwelling and can only be entered in accordance with law. You cannot enter a person’s dwelling, except with a warrant or on invitation,” said Sergeant Downey.

“The use of force is justified under Section 18 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, to protect a person from assault,” he added.

The use of force applies to both protection of a person and also his property, he said.

“The over-riding rule is that the force applied must be reasonable in the circumstances. ‘Reasonable’ is decided in court. What may be reasonable to one person may not be to another,” he stressed.

He said if a person is under attack, he can defend himself by various means, i.e, he can hit the attacker on the arms, leg and body, but it should not go further than that. He pointed out that a person who is running away poses no danger.

“The head should be avoided. If I broke his arm, I would be guilty of assault,” he said.

He said the issues of self-defence is subject to cross-examination and each jury is different.

“The jury found the force Nally used was reasonable,” he said.

A PRIEST who was beaten at his home in Parteen over eight years ago has recalled his agony, in the aftermath of the Pádraig Nally trial and says he is contemplating getting a gun, as protection.

Fr Liam Kelly (71) was stabbed nine times as he lay in bed at home, in May 1998, and says he was ‘left for dead’.

He has horrific memories of the night and had to receive counselling for a long time after the incident, in which two men from Limerick attacked him.

He forgives the intruders, who were dealt with in court, and visited both in prison. However, he will never forget the incident. He has since moved to a house in Limerick as he is in semi-retirement.

Commenting on the debate on selfdefence which was central to the Nally case, he said, “There is a thin dividing line. I firmly believe you are entitled to defend yourself. At what cost, I don’t know.”

He used a hurley to defend himself and beat off his attackers, but would now consider replacing this with a gun.

“It is important to be safe in your own home. I know a number of priests who have a gun in the house and I would consider that too. I would do what I could to defend myself,” he said.

“I have to go to so much trouble every night, to close up Fort Knox, putting on the locks,” he said.

“The guards were terrific, from a security point of view and I do feel secure when I am in my bed at night,” he added.

He says he did feel sympathy for Pádraig Nally, who, like him, was in fear of attack.

“I had the utmost of sympathy for the fella, but to shoot a fella in the back is a bit much. In a way, I can understand what he did, though,” he said.

CLARE people have been digging deep to help a Lisseycasey nun build a hospice for AIDS victims who are dying in rusty shacks.

And they’ll be digging deeper still when 100 volunteers grab their tools and fly to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, next year to build a legacy from the Banner County.

The measure of Clare support for the work of Sr Ethel Normoyle was highlighted on Monday when she was named as Clare Person of the Year. She will be presented with the award at a function hosted by the Clare Association in Dublin next February.

Hearing the news in South Africa, Sr Normoyle said she felt, “honoured and humbled. It is Clare people who have stood beside me all my years in Africa”.

Clare wome Olive Halpin and Maureen Halpin-McCarthy are organising a mass descent of builders, plumbers and electricians to build Sr Ethel’s Hospice at MissionVale, a shantytown on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth.

Every day the Clare nun and her helpers feed thousands, as well as providing healthcare, education and community services to people who have nothing.

Recently, Olive and Maureen organised a charity ball in the Auburn Lodge which raised €52,000. Added to other funds raised, including a recent sponsored hack in Lisseycasey, there is still €80,000 to go to fund the building of the hospice.

With cash coming in, Olive and Maureen are now preparing to launch an appeal to have 100 or more Irish tradespeople fly to South Africa and build the hospice.

“Sr Ethel’s wish is to build a hospice which will give a bed to people dying from AIDS during their final days.”

THE OFFICIAL opening of the Ennis by-pass has been deferred to January due to fears that the road may not be ready in time because of the recent poor weather conditions.

However, workers from GAMA Construction are now working seven days a week and the company is still aiming for the main section of the €190 million by-pass to be open for traffic on or before the original target date of December 21.

The recent poor weather, however, has thrown that timetable into doubt with County Engineer Tom Carey confirming that a planned ceremony to mark the opening of the by-pass on December 21 has been postponed due to doubts that the road will be ready in time.

“The deferral is purely related to the weather. It is nobody’s fault as the contractor was gung-ho in finishing the first phase for December 21,” he said.

Mr Carey said the decision to postpone the opening ceremony was made following a meeting with representatives from the National Roads Authority (NRA) on Friday morning.

Before the meeting, Mr Carey admitted the contractor was “very much up against it” to meet the December 21 deadline to open the first phase of the new route.

Prior to the weather deteriorating over the past number of weeks, Mr Carey said the council was confident that the first part of the contract would be completed on time.

However, he told The Clare People there were a number of issues to be addressed, including final surfacing and road lining, that were weather dependent and outside the control of the contractors.

“Safety is paramount and there will be a safety audit after the works are complete and these audits normally turn up things that require addressing. We are not talking about a long deferral of the opening ceremony and are hopeful of an opening ceremony in early January, taking the holidays into account.”

Mr Carey said that the by-pass will make a “very, very significant difference” to the quality of life of people living in Ennis.

“For motorists driving from Limerick to Galway, it will cut journey times by 20 minutes and more in certain times,” he said.

A WAR of words look set to erupt between Clare farmers and GAMA Constructions Ltd if flooding problems caused by the construction of the €190 million Ennis bypass are not resolved in the next four months.

Lands belonging to between 20 and 25 farmer in the Barefield area have been effected by flooding as a result of run off from the roads construction over the last number of months.

This flooding has been compounded by record high levels of rainfall in the county since September and there is a fear among farmers that flooding will become a yearly event if corrective action is not taken.

“People feel that there is a real danger that there will be a problem with the flooding of farmland because of the road and we would like this to be addressed before it is opened,” said Seamus Murphy, President of the IFA in Clare.

“They have said that their specifications for the road is capable of getting rid of the water and not causing flooding. There is a lot of water and the pressure on the water system is far greater than it has ever been before.”

A top level meeting between Clare IFA and the Turkish construction company failed to reach a resolution to the problem when it took place in Ennis last week. Representatives from GAMA agreed to monitor the situation and another meeting has been scheduled for January of next year.

Local farmers have expressed concern that, should the flooding situation not be resolved before completion of the Ennis by-pass, that they will not be able to challenge GAMA when they have left the area.

“GAMA is coming to the end of their contract and the fear is that they would just walk away and leave when it is up,” continued Mr Murphy.

“They said that there would not be a problem and they have given us a commitment to meet with us again in January and address the issue again at that time.”

The Ennis by-pass is scheduled for completion on April 11 of 2007.

Since construction began on the Ennis bypass, GAMA has been embroiled in a number of high profile controversies including planning issues relating to a number of quarries opened by the Turkish company to facilitate construction work on the bypass and a dispute with employees involving payments below the minimum wage.