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A MINUTE’S silence was observed in the headquarters of Clare County Council yesterday in memory of murdered Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Members of the Clare Joint Policing Committee agreed to adjourn their planned meeting as a mark of respect to the Dundalk based garda who was shot dead in a raid on a Credit Union in Louth on Friday night.

Members expressed sympathy with the family of Mr Donohoe, whose wife, Caroline Deloughrey, is from Kilkee. Senior officers from the Clare Garda Division yesterday spoke of the shock that is being felt throughout the force. Superintendent Derek Smart, who served in Limerick when Det Gda Jerry McCabe was shot dead outside Adare Post Office in 1996, said it is a very “trying and sad time for the Garda organisation”.

He added, “We are confident that with the help and support of the community, on which we thrive, we will bring this matter to a conclusion.”

Inspector John Galvin of Ennis Garda Station said it had been heartwarming to see the outpouring of support from communities across the country. He added, “It is extremely well appreciated. We’re all grieving and we’re hurt. We’re all one big family in the Garda Suíochana and we know the person behind the uniform.”

JPC Chairman, Councillor Joe Arkins (FG) said the killing of Adrian Donohoe was a sad day for gardaí and society in general.

Extending his sympathy to the Donohoe family, Labour TD Deputy Michael McNamara said every effort would be made to bring those responsible for this “savage act” to justice.

Fianna Fáíl TD, Deputy Timmy Dooley, said the communities of Louth and West Clare had lost a brave member of the force. He added, “This brings into sharp focus the kind of threats that gardaí face.”

Fine Gael TD, Deputy Joe Carey said the murder had “shocked the nation”. Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway described it as a “horrific tragedy”.

Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said, “This is an attack on basic democracy. This was a man protecting the savings of ordinary people.” Cllr Oliver Garry (FG) said, “This is a cowardly and despicable act and I hope the people responsible are brought to justice.”

Cllr Bill Chambers (FF) said, “This was a despicable act committed against a man out doing a duty for the State.” Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) said Det Gda Donohoe’s “cold-blooded killing has shaken the nation and it shows the dangers gardaí encounter.”

A NEW Clare group, designed to help the parents of children with special needs, is helping vulnerable Clare families to come together and fight for their children’s rights.

The Clare Special Needs Parents Support Group was formed by Catherine Bourke in August of last year and already has more than 80 registered members.

Catherine, who is also a member of the DCA Warriors – a nationwide group that focuses solely on protecting families who have access to the Domiciliary Care Allowance – says that the success of the group shows how much of a need there really was for the group in the first place.

“It’s a place where parents can come if they have issues, if they need advice or if they just need to clear their head if they are having a bad day.

“It is a safe environment for parents to meet up.

“Everyone is vetted so everyone can feel comfortable sharing their own situation. It has been an amazing success so far,” said Catherine.

“The page is always there on Facebook and we have our coffee mornings.

“It gives parents of children with special needs a place to mix but it also gives the children a place to mix.

“The children don’t often establish friendships very well so this is an opportunity for them to get together.

“It can be a scary prospect for parents of newly-diagnosed children and something like this can really allow them to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Catherine is also member of the DCA Warriors, a group that has been fighting to retain Domiciliary Care Allowance for parents of children with special needs in Ireland.

“The system is no longer fair for the DCA allowance.

“You basically have to go out and prove absolutely that your child is in need, far and above the needs of other children.

“You can have a child with a full diagnosis but you still have to fight to receive your DCA,” continued Catherine.

“If you don’t receive your DCA, you also lose your Carers Allowance. So this is a massive threat hanging over a lot of familes. T

“hey [the Department of Social Protection] have taken DCA away from so many parents – but [that] doesn’t take away the disability.”

To find out more about either group, search for “Clare Special Needs Parents Support Group” or “DCA Warriors” on Facebook.

THERE is immediate help for people with suicidal intentions, thoughts or people who may have attempted to take their own lives 24 hours a day, seven days a week in Clare.

According to the HSE this service is provided out of hours through the region’s accident and emergency service as a liaison mental health nurse liaises between the emergency service and the mental health serv ices.

Bernie Carroll, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, said the nurse is available from 4pm to 3am through A&E at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick.

In Ennis however as the A&E is no longer available 24 hours a day, the liaison nurse is available from 4pm until 8pm through the A&E department.

The nurse can then be contacted through the out of hours GP service – Shannondoc after 8pm.

Ms Carroll said that even outside of these hours people should present to the hospitals and the psychiatrist on call will see them.

The liaison nurse or psychiatrist will then assess the patient and the most appropriate course of action for the individual is taken.

Ms Carroll added that if anyone is worried about their mental health however, the best person to call is their local GP.

The GP will then treat the patient or refer him or her to the mental health services.

As well as seeking help through the GP or the accident and emergency services, there are direct counselling options – either privately or through voluntary organisations such as Pieta House, Life Suicide Prevention Helpline, Console, Living Links, Samaritans and Red Ribbon Project.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

A WOMAN who sent threatening text messages to her ex-boyfriend has been advised by a judge to “grow up”.

Marcella Considine (38), with an address at 2 Delacey Park, Shannon, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, charged with offences contrary to the Postal and Telecommunications Act.

She pleaded guilty to sending, by means of telecommunications, a message that was grossly offensive, obscene or of menacing character, to a man living at an Ennis address.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the accused sent two messages to her former boyfriend on February 12 (2012) and May 23 (2012).

He explained that, in the first message, Ms Considine said she would tell everyone the man was scum.

He told the court that the accused also wrote, “I’ll fucking stab you.”

Insp Kennedy said that in the sec- ond text message, Ms Considine stated, “I’ll kill you with a knife. If you send this message to the guards, I know a lot of people in Ennis.”

He said Ms Considine has no previous convictions. Solicitor for the accused, John Casey, told the court that there was “absolutely no truth to the threats.”

He said the couple’s long-term relationship had ended. He said his client had been “very upset” with the man at the time she sent the texts.

He said Ms Considine had never acted on what she said in the text messages. Mr Casey said his client was “very apologetic”.

“This appearance in court is a lesson to her,” he added.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he was not impressed by Ms Considine’s actions.

He adjourned the case until January 2014, granting the State liberty to re-enter the case.

Addressing Ms Considine, Judge Durcan said, “You’d want to grow up.”

THE position of Chief Executive Officer of the new entity that will run Shannon Airport has been advertised nationally.

The appointment process will be handled by Merc Partners, a renowned executive search recruitment company based in Dublin.

The job description offered in the national newspapers highlighted the fact that the CEO of Shannon will be just that, having a wider remit beyond the operation of the airport.

The new role of CEO will include managing a broad property portfolio, much of which will be inherited from Shanon Development Company as well as being responsible for the establishment of a global aviation cluster.

This is in reference to the stated aims of the plan for Shannon encompassing the rejuvenation of the aviation industry reputation and base, which was once a mainstay for the airport and the Free Zone.

The position did not specify a salary but the successful candidate can expect annual renumeration in the six figure range.

The advertisement for the job states “remuneration will be within the guidelines set for Irish public enterprises”.

That stipulation can be widely interpreted, with some Irish Public Enterprise CEOs like those in the ESB, DAA, Bord Gais, Bord na Móna and An Post, to name but five, all commanding salaries and perks worth above € 250k per annum. A ceiling of € 250k was put on CEO salaries with State owned commercial entities in 2011.

This new post of Chief Executive could be considered to be at the higher end of the public enterprise scale, the CEO’s responsibilities being publicly seen as wide ranging and vital to the economy of the region. The new person at the helm will also have a fairly visible public profile.

The job spec highlighted the need for experience, stating that the role ‘requires an experienced and inspirational leader of exceptional calibre with aviation experience’.

The new CEO will report to the board charged with running the new Shannon entity, chaired by Clare native Rose Hynes. The position was advertised in The Sunda y Times last week as well as online.

Rose Hynes appeared before an Oireachtas Committee on Trans- port last Wednesday and outlined ambitious plans to increase passenger traffic at the airport as well as creating up to 3, 500 new jobs over the coming years through expansion and development of Shannon as an international centre of excellence in the aviation industry.

The new CEO will be expected to play a leading role in driving that aviation expansion.

While it is to be assumed there will be candidates applying for the position who already have a connection to the airport and Shannon Development Company, potential applicants currently based outside of Ireland are also expected to be in the frame.

“The role of CEO in such a new venture is seen as a very attractive one within the industry and there will definitely be foreign interest in it,” an insider told The Cla r e People .

The appointment process will not be concluded for a number of weeks and it could be as late as April or May before the successful candidate is officially named.

The New Co as Shannon Airport is currently described as, does not officially become fully automonous until July of this year.

OFFICIAL records show that four times more people from Clare died by suicide than on the county’s roads last year, and those working in the field of suicide prevention say the number in reality is much higher.

Yesterday (Monday) there were seven cases of suspected suicide listed for the coroner’s court relating to deaths last year.

Preliminary figures from the CSO suggest that there were eight deaths by suicide in 2011, but local Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention Bernie Carroll maintains that when the preliminary figures are finalised they will be higher.

She also pointed to the number of undetermined deaths recorded every year, including drowning and gun shot wounds, many of which are thought to be people taking their own lives.

“A number of road traffic accidents in Ireland are considered to be suicide but that is difficult to prove so it is returned as an undetermined death,” she said.

Suicide is the leading cause of death in men aged 15- to 34 years in Ireland, accounting for a quarter of all deaths in this age group.

The rate of suicide in Clare is aver- aged at 13 per 100,000 of the population, making it the 10th highest county in Ireland for deaths of this nature. And while young men remain the most likely to die by suicide, the number is increasing across the age demographic.

“Information coming from the CSO would suggest we could expect a rise in suicide for young women,” warned Ms Carroll.

On average there are 500 suicides in Ireland every year, but when the figure includes undetermined deaths that number is as high as 600.

As many as 1.5 per cent of all deaths are thought to be suicide.

As well as dealing with cases of suicide, emergency services in Clare dealt with 16 attempted suicides in the Ennis district, four times more than death by suicide, last year.

Ireland has had the highest increase in suicide. The number of people dying by suicide in Ireland began to rise significantly in the 1970s and peaked in 1998. As many as 80 percent of those that die from suicide in Ireland every year are men.

Ms Carroll explained that the break down is best explained by the methods each gender is more likely to use when taking their own lives.

The majority of male suicides in Ireland were by hanging, while women were more likely to overdose on drugs giving emergency services time to save them.

Ms Carroll also works to make people aware of intentional self-harm.

While the country has a National Register for “self harm” the majority of people who hurt themselves do not present for any medical assistance.

“It is important to note that not everybody who engages in self harm wants to die. Roughly 600,000 people engage in self harm but the majority do not seek help as it is very much secret.”

While more women that men self harmed in the past, latest studies show that the number of men selfharming has increased.

CLARE schools are to “feel the squeeze” of reduced capitation grants announced as part of the budget, a meeting has heard.

At their monthly meeting in Ennis last week, members of Clare VEC discussed the likely impact of education cuts in Clare.

In a report to members, the Chief Executive Officer, George O’Callaghan, stated that the 2013 allocation to the VECs will be reduced by € 13.2 million.

“Notwithstanding the reduction there will be no reduction in the level of services provided in 2013. However VECs will be required to manage within their existing cash reserves on hand.”

Mr O’Callaghan told the meeting that there would be no changes to the overall teacher numbers or funding for Delivering Equality of Opportunity in School (DEIS). He said the number of resource teachers and special needs assistants have been maintained at 2012 levels.

Former Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Peter Considine (FF), told the meeting that the policy represented a cut. He said, “The numbers are being reduced and are being reduced substantially.”

Pupil teacher ratios for post leaving cert programmes will be harmonised with mainstream schools from 17:1 to 19:1.

Mr O’Callaghan explained, “This will result in a reduction of 200 PLC teaching posts and a saving of € 4 million in 2013 rising to € 12 million in a full year. However there should be no adverse impact on the number of PLC places available.”

Capitation grants for primary schools will be reduced by 0.5 per cent for primary school and by 2 per cent for secondary schools.

The new standard capitation rates will be € 176 for primary and € 306 for post primary schools.

Mr O’Callaghan said the grants are a vital source of funding for schools.

He added, “As the year goes on. We will begin to feel the squeeze.”

Commenting on the cuts to guidance counsellors in last year’s budget, Mr O’Callaghan said this had a “major impact” on schools.

“It looked innocuous enough at the time but it had a big impact,” he added.

The meeting heard that student contribution will rise by € 250 in 2013, 2014, and 2015 to a maximum of € 3,000.

There will also be a 3 per cent reduction in the income thresholds used when calculating entitlement student grants in 2013.

Mr O’Callaghan explained, “Between 1997 and 2009, the income limits were increased by an average of 4.7 per cent each year, in line with average industrial earnings. However the income limits over the past three years have remained unchanged despite and estimated drop in the average industrial wage of approximately 7.9 per cent.

THE announcement that funding is finally to be granted for the construction of a rescue station for the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard brings to an end a campaign lasting more than two decades.

Over the years, the Doolin Unit has grown into Ireland’s busiest unit of the Coastguard, regularly responding to multiple call-outs during busy days.

Long delays were experienced securing the land needed for the facility and gaining planning permission only for funding, which had been “ringfenced” by previous administrations, failing to materialise.

The campaign for a new centre has gathered momentum over the last 10 years. Indeed, the tragic deaths of three Clare youths in the waters off Doolin in November of 2005, and the week-long search which ensued, inadvertently did much to raise the issue in the public and political consciousness.

It was reported in The Clare People at the time that facilities were so cramped at Doolin that bodies recovered from the sea had to sometimes be stored in a small 25 by 30 foot room, which could also be in use by up to 18 Coastguard volunteers at the same time.

“This facility was deemed necessary in the mid-90s. Even then, more than 20 years ago, it was clear that this was badly needed,” said North Clare Senator, Martin Conway (FG).

“It was obvious even then the location was primitive. There were no changing facilities, no shower facilities, no facilities to lay out a body that had been recovered from the sea. A lot of equipment had to be located in the homes of volunteers, boats had to be located in the back of Mattie Shannon’s house.

“It was totally unacceptable given how busy the unit is and how strong the need is to put together a wellequipped crew quickly in an emergency situation. It was appalling to think that the busiest unit in the country was also one of the worst equipped.”

Funding for the facility was first announced by the Department of Transport and the OPW in 1997 – but this projected failed to materialise. Funding was also said to be “ringfenced” by several TDs and ministers during the Celtic Tiger period but this funding was found to have escaped from the fencing when issues surrounding the site and planning were resolved a number of years ago.

THE prospect of Ennis General Hospital becoming a rudderless satellite of the Limerick-centred Health Service Executive has raised its head following the revelation that the flagship facility of Clare’s health service has no manager as of Monday of this week.

Frank Keane, who acted as the onsite manager of Ennis General over the past three years, has vacated the position to take up a new appointment as maternity and child health directorate manager in Limerick.

In bidding farewell to Ennis, Mr Keane admitted that staff at Ennis General were “unsure and concerned” with the situation at the hospital, with a slew of public representatives fearing the worst for a facility that has been severely downgraded over the last number of years.

“Look at what happened when we had absentee landlords in Ireland,” blasted former Mid Western Health Board member Cllr Joe Arkins, before adding that “management of Ennis General Hospital from Limerick will be a complete disaster and shows what the HSE thinks of health services in Clare”.

These words have been echoed by HSE Forum West member, Brian Meaney, on the back of confirmation that the high dependency unit at Ennis General has been removed because of staffing difficulties at the hospital.

“There has been no inter-action, explanation or any other communication informing the elected members on the HSE West Forum of what is proposed,” said Cllr Meaney. “Ennis will be out in limbo, its cause will not be fully articulated at corporate governance level within the HSE Mid West.

“Frank Keane has done a fantastic job in progressing a number of projects and Ennis benefitted from his time there, but now we have no indication of what process is going to be put in place to manage a hospital like Ennis.

“If a manager is not appointed to Ennis it will remain rudderless and will be a further downgrading of a hospital that has been completely denuded of its service, which we have accepted. The fear is that the hospital will simply morph by inaction and auto-pilot into a minor injuries unit,” he added.

Mr Keane has said that Ennis General Hospital “has a future, but a different future” and that services at the facility “are going to evolve in 2013”.

As part of this process, the Accident and Emergency Unit, which was downgraded from a 24-hour to 12-hour (8am to 8pm) service in 2011, is set to become a medical assessment and local injuries unit. Tue22January13

CLAIMS that government support of Shannon Airport is in breach of EU competition laws have formally been brought to the attention of the European Commission by Fianna Fáil senator Marc Mac Sharry.

The Sligo senator who initially voiced his opposition to government plans for Shannon’s independence in December has pressed ahead with a threat to lodge a complaint to the Directorate General for Competition of the European Commission, saying support for Clare’s international air- port is tantamount to “unfairly distorting airport competition”.

Senator Mac Sharry made his move as he hit out at what he describes as the Government’s breach of European Competition Laws, in the “manipulation of a process which will ensure the demise of Ireland West Airport” at Knock.

“I am a supporter of Shannon Airport and any measures that can possibly assist in its growth and performance. However, measures announced by Minister Varadkar will unfairly pitch Shannon Airport against Knock, as it stands to benefit from an estimated total investment of € 300million.

“There is no national strategy on aviation. The Government must take a strategic approach to our airports and empower both Knock and Shannon to perform to their potential, as drivers of growth in the economy.”

“In supporting Shannon, yet ignoring Knock, the Government is unfairly distorting airport competition, but also destroying the potential of the Northwest region to flourish. It is anti-competitive and simply unlawful. The Government must therefore immediately commit to support Knock Airport, acknowledge its strategic importance to the national ef- fort and take steps to provide similar proportionate measures to level the playing field with Shannon.”

The complaint over government support of Shannon has been lodged with the Commission under Article 107 (1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.”

“We must take a strategic and fair approach to Aviation Policy; Shannon must be supported, but we must also provide support equally to Knock, to enable both to perform to their potential without distorting the consumer-friendly competition that rightly exists between the two,” said Senator Mac Sharry.