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CLARE County Council is to examine the costs associated with introducing a waste waiver scheme for old age pensioners and low income families in Clare.

A report on the cost of introducing such a scheme will be presented at the next meeting of Clare County Council as a compromise after calls had been made to put the issue to a vote.

In proposing the motion Councillor Joe Carey (FG) said Clare should adopt a scheme similar to one currently being operated by Limerick City Council estimated to cost €750,000.

“Pensioners have been forgotten about by Clare County Council since waste collection was privatised. The Old Age Pension allowance may have increased over the last number of years but costs such as bin collection are eating into the limited disposable income that OAP’s have.”

But councillors were warned there could be a significant cost in introducing a waiver system and this would also have major budgetary implications.

After Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) had labelled the Council’s response “a load of baloney”, County Manager Alec Flemming stated there was a strong case for not pursuing the waiver scheme.

“There is no reason we should do everything that Limerick does. If we do that then why don’t we supply electricity as well. I would look at this as a basic welfare issue. Limerick City Council found they couldn’t do it legally so they hired a contractor to do it. I haven’t a definite answer on the cost but it is thought to be close to €750,000 a year. My firm recommendation is that we do not do it”

There was support for the motion from Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF).

“I know several low-income families who are struggling with the cost of waste disposal and who are storing rubbish which will burned in bonfires. The Council’s litter wardens will then have to clean up the mess afterwards”

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) warned that the role of councillors was being eroded.

Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind) also supported the extension of the waiver scheme but advised the proposal be fully costed before any decisions are taken. The North Clare councillor also proposed that Clare County Council write to other local authorities requesting support for the introduction of a national waiver scheme.

Opposition to the scheme was voiced by Cllr Michael Kelly (FF).

‘It would be nice to think that we could get involved with everything but I don’t think it is possible in this instance for us to do it.”

A FLIGHT between Rome and Toronto had to be diverted to Shannon last week after a passenger who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder stripped naked in the toilet of the plane and yelled at flight staff.

Wanda Hepditch (51), of Ontario, Canada, appeared before Shannon District Court charged with two offences under the Air Navigation and Transport Act.

The court heard she became unruly two-and-a-half hours into the Skyservice flight, last Monday evening, on which 370 passengers were travelling.

The mother-of-two went into the bathroom after coffee was spilt on her clothes.

She took her clothes off and washed them, and started shouting, while in the bathroom.

She was given blankets and the flight staff closed the door of the bathroom.

She emerged from the bathroom shortly after, wearing a blanket, and became aggressive. She refused to sit down and the plane was diverted to Shannon.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the accused’s behaviour caused “considerable disruption,” and that drink wasn’t a feature as Hepditch had no more than a glass of wine.

“Her behaviour was odd, to say the least. While no-one was injured, she certainly did cause a lot of anxiety on the plane,” he said.

Hepditch’s solicitor Caitriona Carmody said her client had been diagnosed as Obsessive Compulsive.

She said a passenger behind her moved and a tray spilt, while resulted in Hepditch’s clothes getting soiled.

“She became anxious and went to wash her clothes. She went to get her clothes from the overhead luggage department,” said Ms Carmody.

She said her client was given a written warning from the captain and this distressed her.

Judge Aneas McCarthy said clearly there was a breakdown in communication between the airline staff and the accused.

“If they understood her request, no doubt they would have given her clothes.

“She wanted the clothes. Instead they gave her a blanket and asked her to sit down,” said the judge.

“This was a matter that arose because of the illness she suffers from. There was no criminal intent on the part of this lady,” he added.

He said the court must take misbehaviour on board an aircraft “very, very seriously,” particularly when an aircraft is forced to divert.

“Clearly hygiene and cleanliness is a major priority in her life. Given the nature and the unique circumstances I am going to apply the Probation Act,” he said.

Hepditch will not be allowed to travel on board Skyservice flights in future.

A 21-HOUR siege which rocked the town of Gort came to a successful end last night as an armed man who had barricaded himself inside his home gave himself up.

Anthony Burke (40) had been locked into his home off Crowe Street in the town since shortly after 11pm on Sunday night, following a domestic dispute.

A stand-off ensued throughout the day yesterday (Monday), as gardaí attempted to coax the man out of the home.

He had been in contact with gardaí between 11pm on Sunday and 2am on Monday. However he subsequently cut all contact, but answered calls from trained garda officers at teatime yesterday, raising hopes of a breakthrough.

This materialised and the siege ended at 8.20pm last night, when he walked voluntarily out of his home.

A number of shots were discharged from one of two shotguns he legally held, before Mr Burke was disabled by a beanbag round – a non-lethal weapon introduced in the wake of the Abbeylara siege in April 2000 in which John Carthy was killed – fired by a member of the Emergency Response Unit, which had been deployed to Gort for the siege.

Mr Burke was injured, but not critically, and was taken to University College Hospital, Galway, just after 8.30pm.

The horrific drama unfolded after 11pm on Sunday, when neighbours alerted gardaí that shots were fired from Mr Burke’s house in the local authority housing estate just off the main road between Gort and Galway.

His partner, who is understood to be from Kinvara, and two children quickly left the house, while shocked neighbours – who initially thought the shots were Halloween fireworks – were evacuated and were accommodated at O’Sullivan’s Hotel nearby.

Several more shots were fired between 11pm and 2.30am and two garda patrol cars and street lighting were damaged, but no-one was injured.

After hours of avoiding contact with gardaí, he answered his phone just before 6pm and continued to negotiate in “meaningful discussions” with gardaí.

Locals in Gort welcomed the breakthrough after a tense day. Mr Burke was described locally as a “decent, normal man who is liked in the town.”

A large number of garda resources were drafted in yesterday, including the Emergency Response Unit, the dog unit and the air support unit, while gardaí from all over the Galway division were drafted into the south Galway town.

BRING them on!

The days when clubs get to walk behind Tulla’s pipe band. County final days in hurling and football, the pairings of which have now been decided.

First serving will be Wolfe Tones and Newmarket-on-Fergus an intraparish final you could call it. You see, old Rineanna used to be in Newmarket parish. Rineanna stands on its own now; now to see who stands tallest on October 22.

Then it will be time for the first mid-Clare football final since Ennis Dalcassians and Clarecastle Emmets clashed in the 1899 final. Éire Óg v Lissycasey. Anybody’s game. All county finals are.

Bring them on, band and all.

THE blizzard that took hold of the county just over two weeks ago blew back in on Friday, but while Gordon was blamed for the previous storm this one was strictly Bertie.

As the media scrum prepared to do battle to reach the Taoiseach, the soldiers of destiny stood tall to protect their chief from the hail of questions about to be fired.

The officers stood shoulder to shoulder on the steps of the Great Southern in Shannon awaiting his arrival, the first line of defence for a Taoiseach very much on the defensive.

The first in command in the division stood tall, confident in his poise and title. Tony Killeen greeted all present with accuracy, speaking but saying nothing that would upset the volatile political situation. He showed no nerves, indicating only the ministerial poise his leader had previously attributed to him.

At the other end of the line up stood a veteran warrior. Brendan Daly had weathered bigger battles than this in

his career, and showed a calm exte rior.

He revealed none of his moves when asked how it would all play out. Despite his years, he was slow to call what would happen over the coming days.

The new recruit in the line was eager to please. While learning from the older heads he stood beside, one couldn’t help but wonder if nerves and experience would see him pull the trigger prematurely, but Timmy Dooley held his own.

A little jittery as he waited for the Taoiseach to arrive, could the young soldier be thrown into battle sooner than he planned and without back up?

And among the officers stood the aristocracy – Síle deValera. She was the only one among them whose plans could not be affected by the fall out of the coming days. Whatever ricochet hit this woman, her destiny was to play out the same. She stood confident, secure and loyal to the end.

As the Taoiseach came up the drive, his officers ran to greet him before the media descended with their questions.

Smiling, with less ease than he had in Kilrush the previous fortnight, he dodged the bullets, refusing to answer questions on trouble in the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat camp.

His entourage had also multiplied since his last whirlwind spin around Clare. The number of press officers and advisors had doubled – preparing for war.

THE Taoiseach’s three weeks in turmoil have brought Independent TD James Breen back into the national limelight, as trouble simmers between the Government coalition parties.

The former Fianna Fáil councillor has been named among seven to eight other independent deputies likely to fill the gap should the Progressive Democrats pull out of government.

The Clare TD was playing his cards very close to his chest when asked about such a possibility however. He said no such approach had been made as yet. And if it had?

“I’d sit back and evaluate and do what was best for the country and democracy,” he said.

Deputy Breen, who last week called for an early General Election, declared as an independent candidate in 2001 when he was not selected to represent Fianna Fáil in Clare.

He went on to make history in 2002 when he polled 9,721 first preference votes, just 333 short of the quota.

During the campaign, he was vocal on issues such as Ennis General Hospital and Shannon Airport, two issues that continue to dominate the political landscape.

Time will tell if the Fianna Fáil Independent will work with his former colleagues in the dying months of this Government.

Whatever the outcome, the nation’s eyes will continue to focus on the political landscape of Clare on Sunday.

The second of a series of TNSMRBI Nuacht TG4 opinion polls on voting preferences in the upcoming General Election will be broadcast live from Ennis that evening at 6.45 pm.

Voters will be asked to indicate how they will give their preferences to all the declared candidates in the constituency.

In this comprehensive poll, people will be asked to indicate as many preferences as they wish, as they will on polling day.

AS OPEN verdicts were returned in inquests into the deaths of three young men in Doolin a year ago, gardaí last night stressed they were satisfied nothing untoward led to the triple fatality.

Ennis Coroner’s Court was told yesterday that Martin Griffin (24) from Ennis died due to head injuries, while Joe O’Callaghan (34) from Tulla and Michael Doran (31) of Broadford both drowned.

The three died after the the Suzuki Vitara jeep in which they were traveling fell 80 feet over a cliff and into the sea in Doolin – at a speed of 35.3 kilometers per hour – on the morning of Monday October 31 last year. The trio, all carpenters, had socialised in Doolin on the Bank Holiday Sunday night and spent the night in Mr O’Callaghan’s Jeep.

Ennistymon Superintendent Eamon Dolan said it appeared the jeep went over the cliff at 9.30am on October 31. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis told the inquest that Mr Griffin sustained brain injuries and died due to head injuries. “Acute alcohol intoxication” was a contributing factor in his death.

The head injuries were, he said, unusual in the context of a road accident. “He may well have been dead before entering the water. This man must have survived for a few hours after sustaining brain injury,” said Dr Curtis.

Witness Andrew Smith told the inquest that he drove past McGann’s Pub at around 1.30am. He saw three men on the street, one of whom was lying on the ground. “It looked as if he had fallen backwards or was tripped,” said the witness, but he could not identify who was on the ground.

Dr Curtis said Mr Doran and Mr O’Callaghan died due to drowning. Mr Doran had sustained head and chest injuries while Mr O’Callaghan appeared to have drowned once he was in the water.

The inquest heard the trio were drinking in McGann’s from 6pm to 1.30am, when they purchased whiskey and vodka and left the premises.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea said the evidence of Andrew Smith was consistent with Dr Curtis’ evidence relating to Mr Griffin’s head injuries. She said that there was no evidence of third party involvement in Mr Griffin’s death.

“We have no evidence of wrongdoing, no evidence of the vehicle entering the water. In the absence of evidence of what exactly happened, but satisfied that nothing untoward happened, I suggest the most appropriate verdict is an open verdict.” said Ms O’Dea.

Superintendent Dolan said, “nothing of a suspicious nature was found in the investigation into the death of the three young men.”

FINE GAEL selected its Clare officers that will see it through what is likely to be one of the party’s bitterest elections in the county in years.

Despite assurances from members that the new team of officers selected on Friday will act as a unifying force for a party divided by a controversial selection convention, one Fine Gael source said it would be every candidate for themselves come the election.

On Friday last Cree man Dick Pilkington was elected chair of the Clare Fine Gael branch when outgoing chair Ciaran O’Halloran from Meelick did not seek re-election.

Connolly’s Eugene McMahon was elected vice-chair while Bríd Hanniffy from Ennistymon became the new secretary.

The Carey name continued to hold prominence in the party with Michael Carey from Ennis elected to one of the treasurer positions and Sinead Carey as the Youth Officer.

Earl Mulqueen, Ennis and Sean Chambers, Cooraclare, as well as Michael Howard and Michael Griffin were also selected for prominent positions within the local party.

Former county councillor Paul Bugler has the position of organiser while Myra English retains her position as PRO.

Already stories have emerged as to which officer is loyal to which of the four candidates.

But the party was adamant that the officers would play no role in the canvassing – in an official capacity.

Candidates have admitted however that gaining the second seat will be difficult with so many vying for the blue vote.

Following a disappointing vote in 2002, the lowest since 1954, the party had built its confidence, re-marketing itself in the run up to the convention in May, where the sitting deputy Pat Breen and then Shannon mayor Tony Mulcahy were selected.

A promise by the leader, Enda Kenny, to Cllr Taylor-Quinn saw her name added to the ticket with Cllr Joe Carey.

Pundits now fear however that history will repeat itself for the party that was poised to take two seats.

At the 1997 convention, then councillor Pat Breen and former Deputy Madeleine Taylor-Quinn were selected ahead of sitting TD Donal Carey, who was later added to the ticket.

This according to Sean Donnelly in his book “Election 2002” left the party with one candidate too many “and in the end undermined their challenge for a second seat.”

With such consequences still in their mind, many predict blue murder during the coming months, in the lead up to the 2007 contest.

SERIOUS crime in Clare has increased while burglaries have rocketed and drink driving arrests have gone up by a massive 62 per cent in the first six months of this year.

But the Garda response to the various jumps in criminal activity is bringing the stats down, Chief Superintendent Liam Quinn told a meeting of Clare County Council last night.

There were 762 serious crimes committed in the Clare Garda division in the first six months of 2005. This jumped to 832 in the same period for 2006.

Chief Supt Quinn said that these were the “type of crime which would require trial by jury” including selling drugs and serious firearms offences.

But the Clare Garda chief told the meeting that various Garda operations in the district were bringing these figures down and this would show when crime figures for the whole year were available.

One of the most marked increases was in burglaries and these were up by 33 per cent to 220.

“This is part of a national phenomenon and while no specific study has been made of the reasons for this, most of these crimes were committed during daylight hours and it is possibly because houses are more often empty now with both people out working,” he said.

Garda initiatives in Clare included Operation Sixkilla, a crackdown on the activities of criminal gangs from Limerick and Dublin and Operation Nightwatch in Ennis and in holiday towns including Kilrush and Kilkee, all of which are “having an impact”, the Chief Superintendent said.

The Garda boss and Superintendent John Kerins were making a presentation to members of the council as a follow-up to issues raised by the councillors at a previous meeting with the Garda.

At the end of the meeting, the Mayor of Clare, Flan Garvey, presented a carved wooden sculpture of a boat to the chief superintendent, who is retiring and was attending his last meeting with the local authority.

He thanked the mayor for the gesture and said that he believed the challenge for policing in Clare “involves excess. Excess of drugs, excess of alcohol and excess of speeding. If we can deal with these we can solve many of our problems.”

THE man behind the €135 million Skycourt redevelopment of Shannon Town Centre has expressed his disappointment at An Bord Pleanala for refusing planning permission for the next phase of the project.

Upholding a decision of Clare County Council, the appeals board refused permission to Shannon Town Management Company to construct large retail extension to the Skycourt development.

Barry Boland said: “I am very disappointed that the board has taken a very unrealistic view on what can and cannot be achieved in Shannon.”

The planned development involved the construction of a 3,616 sq.m. building comprising one two-storey retail unit and two smaller retail units, plus a garden centre of 626 sq.m along with a two-storey 4,068 sq.m. building that included a upper floor medical centre.

The board refused planning permission arising from the failure of the proposed development to provide for an adequate mix of uses in the town centre location.

As a result, the board ruled that the proposal would be premature in the absence of an agreed master plan and would constitute disorderly development.

The board inspector pointed out that the original masterplan for the town centre identified as a key principle, the increased provision of nonretail cultural, entertainment and night time facilities.

However, in their appeal, Mr Boland’s company said that every cultural, community or cultural floorspace offered to local and central Government in the redevelopment of Shannon Town Centre had been spurned.

The developers expressed frustration at the lack of involvement of the public sector in the redevelopment of Shannon town.

“In the original masterplan, it was envisaged that there would be significant public sector commitment to the achievement of goals: Clare County Council District Offices; the Courts Service and a Community Arts Centre.

“It was intended that there would be early delivery of theatre cinemas, hotel and other elements.

“There is a need for public service providers to take responsibility for the provision of public services as originally envisaged in the masterplan, rather than placing total reliance upon private sector initiatives.

“If there has been a failure to achieve all the provisions of the masterplan to date, a significant amount of that failure arises from the indifference of the local, regional and public authorities to participate in the urban regeneration programme.”