KILRUSH town councillor Tom Prendeville (FF) will not be standing down when the council meets this evening (Tuesday).
The father of the council threatened such drastic measures at last month’s meeting of the council, if parking is- sues outside a local primary school were not resolved within the month.
He told
TWO Kilrush brothers who beat a man with a golf club and stabbed him in the buttocks in the West Clare town two years ago have received prison sentences.
Daniel and Martin O’Brien were jailed last week for what a Judge described as a “concentrated effort” to assault the man at Place De Plouzone, Kilrush, in March 2011.
Daniel O’Brien (24) punched the man and stabbed him in the buttocks with a sharp object. Martin O’Brien (31) struck the victim four or five times with a golf club.
Ennis Circuit Criminal Court heard on Friday that the brothers assaulted the man over an alleged debt to Daniel O’Brien.
Daniel, with an address at The Square, Kilrush, and Martin, with an address at the Bungalow, Wood Road, Kilrush, initially denied the charge of assault causing harm at Place De Plouzone, Kilrush on March 1 (2011).
However the court heard that after the victim gave evidence at their trial in Ennis last October, the brothers changed their pleas to guilty.
The court heard that the man declined to give a victim impact report, indicating that he was satisfied with the evidence he had given.
Counsel for Daniel O’Brien, Brian McInerney BL, told the court that his client had been a chronic heroin addict at the time of the offence.
He said Mr O’Brien has since kicked his heroin habit and removed himself from the circle of people he had previously associated with.
Mr McInerney said his client, who is currently serving a prison sentence, has remained drug free while incarcerated.
He asked the court to consider suspending a portion of his client’s sentence.
Counsel for Martin O’Brien, Mark Nicholas, said his client had also been a drug user.
He said Mr O’Brien has since stablised his lifestyle.
Judge Gerard Keyes noted that Daniel has 23 previous convictions while Martin has 35 previous convictions.
He said the use of the golf club and sharp object showed the “viciousness” of the assault.
He said the man was “in essence beaten into submission.”
Judge Keyes added, “Neither of the two of you have shown remorse or offered an apology for your outra- geous behaviour.”
He said that on the evidence of Daniel O’Brien’s previous convictions, he had “displayed a violent temperament from an early age.”
Judge Keyes said Martin O’Brien had a propensity to violence.
He said that despite initially acting as peacemaker, Martin O’Brien turned violent and “viciously assaulted” the victim with a golf club.
Judge Keyes said he was satisfied the man had been seriously tramautised by the incident.
He sentenced Daniel O’Brien to three years in prison, suspending the final 14 months.
Judge Keyes sentenced Martin O’Brien to three years in prison, suspending the final 18 months.
Both men were also ordered to refrain from communicating with the victim.
A NUMBER of prominent environmental organisations came together last week to question the public consultation process being undertaken in relation to a giant Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) fish farm planned for six miles off the Fanore coast.
An Taisce, Coastwatch, the Irish Seal Sanctuary and the Irish Wildlife Trust released a joint statement last week in which they requested that all consultation documents related to the project be made public.
The controvertial fish farm has seen the creation of a rift between the two government fisheries agencies with BIM and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) taking opposing position over the development.
The situation took a dramatic turn last week when BIM released the finding of a Irish Marine Institute study, which claimed that sea lice created by the farm would not cause any significant difference to the local wild salmon population.
IFI struck back in recent days, claiming the 1 per cent threat to wild salmon stocks predicted in the Marine Institute study could be the “tipping point” for wild salmon stocks.
“We welcome the fact that there is now a clear acceptance of the negative impact of sea lice on juvenile salmon and the debate can now progress to identify the best methodologies to reduce or eliminate this impact. IFI would also like to see similar progress in relation to the issue of escaped farmed salmon,” said an IFI spokesperson.
“In recent years approximately five per cent of all juvenile salmon going to sea return back to their native rivers as adults to spawn. Precisely because natural mortality rates of salmon are high, even a proportionally small additional mortality from sea lice can amount to a large loss in salmon returning.
“To put this average of 1 per cent reduction in return rates, as reported by the Marine Institute, in context, if 3,000 salmon return to a river, and this represents a five per cent return rate, a reduction in the return rate to four per cent translates into a reduction of 20 per cent of the adult salmon – 600 fewer fish returning.”
TWO men who attempted to have an altered cheque lodged to a bank account in Ennis have received prison sentences.
Ondrej Pollak (23), with an address at 9A Dun na hInse, Ennis, and Peter Sivak (22), with an address at 311 Brookville, Drogheda, Louth, appeared before Ennis District Court last Wednesday.
They pleaded guilty to dishonestly by deception inducing a member of the bank’s staff to accept a fraudulently altered cheque in the amount of € 4800 to be paid to the Bank of Ireland held at Bank of Ireland, Bank Place, Ennis.
The incident occurred at Bank of Ireland, Dunleer, County Louth on May 24, 2012. Detective Garda Claire O’Shaughnessy said the cheque had been altered from its original amount of € 22.50 to € 4800.
The court heard that Ondrej Pollak supplied the account for which the altered cheque was intended while Peter Sivak lodged the cheque in Dunleer.
Both men claimed they had been approached by a man named Tony, to carry out the transaction.
Mr Pollak said Tony requested the use of the account as his own had expired. Mr Sivak said Tony asked him to lodge the cheque in Dunleer.
Both men told gardaí that Tony agreed to pay them each € 100.
Det O’Shaughnessy told the court that gardaí did not find anyone named Tony connected with the case. She said that the accused claimed Tony was either from South Africa or Nigeria. Bank of Ireland discovered the deception and contacted gardaí. No money was removed from the account. Solicitor for Mr Pollak, John Casey, told the court that his client has lived in Ireland since he was 11. He said CCTV captured Mr Pollak checking his balance at the Bank of Ireland after the deception had been uncovered.
Mr Casey added, “He was always going to get caught. It was his account, his address.”
Solicitor for Mr Sivak, Daragh Hassett told the court his client, a Czech National, has lived in Ireland since he was 13. He said the father of two was in difficult financial circumstances when he was approached by Tony.
Mr Hassett said it was indicative of his client’s amateurism that he had signed the bank lodgment slip with his own name.
Judge Patrick Durcan said the men were not hardened criminals. He said their story involved the introduction of a “most curious character named Tony.”He added, “I do not believe one word about the existence of Tony or the responsibility of Tony.” He said the men had engaged in “criminal thievery of the worst kind”.
Mr Sivak received a six month prison sentence. Mr Pollak also received a six-month sentence but had the final two months suspended. Reco gnaces were fixed in both cases in the event of appeals.
THE owner of a well-known hotel has expressed concern that Ennis is falling behind other areas of the country when it comes to attracting tourists.
John Madden of the Temple Gate Hotel called yesterday for a more unified approach to the promotion of the county capital, saying that groups currently involved in the tourism sector are “not working together”.
Mr Madden said he is concerned that Ennis is losing tourists to areas such as Westport, Cork and Galway.
He said, “Are there too many organisations? I don’t know but we need to be acting and working together.”
“There is a huge push going on in Limerick at the moment and it just seems that we don’t have the same push in Clare,” he added.
Mr Madden was speaking at a meeting of Clare County Council’s Community and Enterprise, Tourism and Emergency Services, Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).
He said the recent purchase of the West County Hotel by the Treacy Group could also be a huge boost to the town.
Mr Madden said the hotel’s reputation as a conference venue would continue to be “crucial” to bringing visitors to Ennis.
He explained, “I remember a time when there were up on 19 or 20 conferences a year in Ennis.
“If the West County can be encouraged along, we can get back to that stage again.”
He continued, “We had the AllIreland Darts Championships in the West County at the weekend and the hotels were full.
“I saw families of players coming back to the hotel with bags after shopping in the town. If we can get more of that (type of business), Ennis will do well.”
Mr Madden said all groups involved in the promotion of Ennis should meet and agree on a unified approach.
Director of Service and Ennis Town Manager, Ger Dollard told the meeting that groups such as Promote Ennis are working to bring more tourists to Ennis.
However, Mr Dollard said that both Promote Ennis and the Clare Tourism Forum will have to “gear up for a new reality” when the responsibility for tourism promotion for the mid-west is transferred from Shannon Development to An Bórd Fáilte.
Mr Dollard said initiatives such as the recent Purple Flag are aimed at bringing more tourists to Ennis.
Mr Madden told the meeting that businesses are concerned over the time it is taking for responsibility for the newly independent Shannon Airport to be transferred away from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to the new board.
He said, “It hasn’t really transferred and it is a worry and the people that are going to suffer are businesses.”
He also called for Clare to be better promoted in the arrivals hall of Shannon Airport.
Mr Dollard said a two-person board has already been set up and further appointments are expected.
He said stands promoting Clare will be on view in new destinations serviced by Shannon, such as Phoenix and Washington.
Mr Dollard told the meeting that the Clare Tourism Forum will spend up to € 10,000 this year on signs at Shannon Airport. Ma n u fa c tu re rs o f Bo x P ro file Cla d d in g a n d Co rru g a te d Sh e e tin g a ls o ma n u fa c tu re rs o f No n -Drip In s u la te d Ro o fin g , All Fla s h in g s , Cla p p in g s a n d Gu tte rs e tc Sp e e d y d e live ry, ke e n e s t p ric e s fo r a ll yo u r n e e d s in Ro o fin g Ag ric u ltu ra l o r In d u s tria l
TOWN councillors from Clare’s four different authorities who plan to run for the next local election have one major fear in common, that there respective towns will be forgotten in a new larger local authority.
They say that the major driving force behind their intention to stand is to ensure that their town and the surrounding area will continue to have a voice.
“I would prefer to be standing for Shannon Town Council than Clare County Council. I think town councils have a lot to offer and I think the current situation with the councils being disbanded should be reversed,” said Shannon’s Greg Duff (Lab).
Kilrush town councillors Ian Lynch (FG) and Marian McMahon Jones (FG) know what it is like not to have town representation at county level, and it is with this in mind that they both had decided to contest a county election, even if the town councils had remained.
“It is of the up most importance that we have a strong voice from West Clare,” said Cllr McMahon Jones.
“The town of Kilrush plays a huge part in the development of West Clare. Kilrush needs a councillor on the county council to ensure that the town and West Clare are represented and the concerns and needs of the electorate served,” said Cllr Lynch.
And while Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) may be preparing to contest the county council election, he will forever be a “townie” at heart.
“Look I’m going to have to see what the results of the boundary commission are but I would be intending to go. I would like to see people from the town have someone from the town to vote for. You could have people running that wouldn’t be inclined to have the same love for the town as a townie. I’d be inclined to run just to give people in the town a chance to vote for a townie,” he said.
Cllr Michael Fleming (FG) is keen to represent his town and area but realized getting the opportunity will not be easy.
“It is going to be difficult for anyone to get elected to these new municipal districts, but for people like me who contested their first election in 2009 it is going to be even harder. But despite that I am willing to throw my hat into the ring. I would be a lot happier to run for Shannon Town Council and not this new district,” he said.
THE group charged with developing tourism in the west of the county is in limbo, as Shannon Development personnel try to find their new role in tourism, and the county council awaits news if the State body is still to take part of the West Clare Economic Task Force.
At yesterday’s (Monday) meeting of the West Clare area councillors, acting senior engineer Cyril Feeney said the area’s marketing officer had written to the body and other inter- ested groups in a bid to regroup for the coming tourism season.
“There doesn’t seem to be an appetite currently for this,” he said, adding that some organisations are involved in amalgamations and restructuring and have not replied.
“But leaving us in limbo is no good to us or ye,” he said.
The West Clare Economic Task Force is in place since 2009, and was drawn up to encourage economic and tourism development in the West Clare region.
It is made up of the council, Shannon Development and other inter- ested tourism bodies.
“I am very disappointed that the agency hasn’t come back. I think a lot of work was done up until now,” said Cllr Pat Keane (FF).
Although not all members of the Kilrush area were as convinced of the vital role the task force had played to date in developing the west.
Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) said, “The task force has been in operation over three years and not one job has been created. We would be deluded to think we have created jobs.”
The Lissycasey man argued that the Loophead Lighthouse project, and the jobs and spin-off jobs it created was the work of Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) who made it one of his pre-election pledges.
Cllrs Christy Curtin (Ind) and Cllr Keane disagreed with Cllr Kelly, and asked that the report on the work of the task force be made public.
THE only name coming from Kilkee Town Council as a possible contender for the county council election in 2014 is that of Paddy Collins (FG).
Cllr Collins is leaving his final decision until the boundary commission has decided the new electoral areas.
“On a personal level, it depends on legislation in March regarding the size of the districts. It looks like it would be impossible if seats are reduced and the constituency goes up as far as Ballyvaughan. I would need possibly 4,000 votes and there ain’t 4,000 votes back here,” he said.
In Kilrush, councillors Liam Williams (FG), Paul Moroney (Ind), and Tom Prendeville (FF) are likely contenders but again the boundary commission is reducing any commitment.
“I am not prepared to commit. I have an interest but it will depend on the boundary commission,” said Cllr Williams.
Cllr Prendeville said, “I will take all matters into consideration – my family, the people of Kilrush and the boundary commission. If it is favourable, I will stand.”
Cllr Moroney said his family are still young so he would have to take that into consideration. The inde- pendent councillor added that he has already been approached by two parties to run, a fact that he is also taking into consideration.
The boundary issue also proved contentious in Ennis, with Cllr Peter Considine (FF) leaving his decision until it reports.
For other councillors, the decision is more straight-forward. They will not be running in the county election.
Kilrush councillor Tom Clyne (Ind) had already decided to retire after serving 10 years on the council, but others were forced to make the decision.
In Kilkee, Mayor Clare Haugh (FF) said she enjoyed her 27 and a half years on the town council to date, but would not be contesting the county elections.
“I hope I have made a contribution to Kilkee,” she said.
Cllr PJ Lardner (FF) said “There’s enough of them there. I prefer working for the community of Kilkee as I have done since ‘94. Maybe 15 years ago but it’s a no for now anyway.”
Cllr Lily Marrinan-Sullivan (Ind) came to the realisation that being a county councillor to a vastly increased area would be a full-time job.
“I hadn’t even thought about it. I’m still hoping they’ll save the town council. I would have to say no. Well, I have a full-time job and I’m not in a position to give all my time, which is what you would have to do,” she said.
Cllr Elaine Haugh-Hayes (FG) has other priorities at the moment.
“No, not me anyway. I have no intention. I have a new baby so I’m a little busy at the moment,” she said.
In Kilrush, it was disillusionment with politics in general that will help former mayor of Kilrush, Liam O’Looney (FF), to leave the world of politics behind after the next local election.
He said, however, that the town council would be missed when it is gone.
“If I never went, I would like to see a council there.”
EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn has warned that it’s “unacceptable” that every national school in the Shannon and Newmarket-on-Fergus area remains under the patronage of a Christian Church.
Minister Quinn made his comments as the month-long school patronage survey close on Friday, just as fears have been raised locally that “pressure” was brought to bear on parents to demand that the status quo of eight Catholic schools remain in the Shannon and Newmarket-onFergus catchment.
“Ireland is a changed place and we have to reflect that change,” warned Minister Quinn, “so it’s simply not acceptable that 96 per cent of primary schools in the country be under the patronage of a Christian Church.
“The Shannon area has to play its part in that, so we have asked parents what kind of ethos they would like to have other than what’s already there. I would expect that in the Shannon region it’s not unreasonable to say of the eight Catholic schools, at least one of them should be in a position to be transferred by way of patronage to the Department of Education.
The eight Catholic schools in the survey area are Scoil na Maighdine Mhuire, Clonmoney and Stonehall in Newmarket-on-Fergus and Gaelscoil Donncha Rua, St Aidan’s, St Tola’s, St Senan’s and St Cronan’s in Shannon. A number of parents have complained that a letter circulated in Newmarket-on-Fergus amounted to pressure from the Catholic Church wanting three schools in the parish included in the survey to remain under Catholic control.
“The schools are rooted in the community and each one has its own distinct identity. A change of patronage would have major implications for staff, boards of management, parents and children,” the letter said.
The results of the survey of these schools will be made known to the Catholic authorities by the end of the month. The church authorities will then have to come back to the Department of Education within three months, ahead of a final resolution of the patronage issue by the end of the year.
“We want to reflect the change in Ireland and provide people with a choice,” said Minister Quinn. “We will assist the Catholic Church authorities in whatever way they want in identifying and selecting a school that could be reasonably transferred.
“In this day and age I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that one or two of those schools can’t change. If this is a true Republic and we accommodate and respect everyone equally. If this is the Banner County, where De Valera was elected for so many years, he would be to the forefront of a republican approach.”
A 62-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court charged in connection with a public order incident at an Ennis estate last month.
Michael O’Neill with an address at 68B Abbeyville, Limerick Road, Ennis, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.
He is charged with the production of wheel brace capable of inflicting serious injury at Abbeyville on January 21 (2013). It is also alleged that Mr O’Neill did engage in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at the same location and date. Sgt Mark Murphy of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. Sgt Murphy outlined a summary of the alleged facts of the case. He said gardaí were called a number of times to a disturbance at Abbeyville at 1.20am.
He said it would be alleged that the accused came out of his house and started roaring obscenities at another man. Sgt Murphy said it would be alleged that Mr O’Neill took out an item from the boot of his car. Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction. Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court that her client is disputing the alleged facts of the case. Mr O’Neill was remanded on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on March 13.