Author: admin

A MAJOR event of national significance will be coming to Kilrush next May if Clare County Council’s bid to bring the National Famine Commemoration to the West Clare capital in 2013 is successful.

The local authority has formally backed Kilrush’s bid to host commemoration day, which was originally floated at a meeting of the Kilrush Town Council last May by the local historical society.

Last month the county council invited local and community organisations, historical societies, local Famine Commemoration Committees, schools and other interested parties to propose a location in County Clare to host this event in 2013.

Three submissions were received from Killaloe/Ballina, Tuamgraney/ Scariff and Kilrush, and were assessed by a specially appointed panel.

“Kilrush’s well known links with the Famine will make it a solid con- tender to host the National Famine Commemoration next year,” explained council official Congella McGuire.

“There were 20,000 people evicted in the Kilrush Poor Law Union between 1847 and 1850, representing one quarter of the entire Union population. The majority of the evictees suffered dreadfully in the work house and subsequently died. Illustrations from Kilrush at the time of the famine featured in the London Illustrated News and these illustrations are the best recognised images of the famine conditions in Ireland.

“A formal submission on behalf of the county will now go forward for Kilrush as the bid to host the 2013 National Famine Commemoration in County Clare. We will work with Kilrush to submit a very strong expression of interest to the National Commemoration Committee before the 5th October 2012. I have no doubt there will be other bids from the Munster area but Kilrush certainly has very strong credentials to be the host for 2013,” she added. 30/09/2012

FÁILTE Ireland has been urged to remove the word ‘traveller’ from material for a new € 2 million tourism initiative.

The tourism body has launched a new drive aimed a bringing more tourists to the west of Ireland.

‘The Wild Atlantic Way’ aims to increase tourist numbers and mobility through a renewed emphasis on visual and historical amenities.

However a Clare councillor is urging Fáilte Ireland to remove the word, ‘traveller’, from any reports or material associated with the Wild Atlantic Way.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said yesterday that by leaving the word in, Fáilte Ireland was issuing an “open invitation” for anyone to abuse the route.

Cllr Brennan was speaking at a meeting of Clare County Council’s Community, Enterprise, Tourism and Emergency Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) where members were given details of the new tourism drive.

Cllr Brennan’s comments came during a discussion on the lack of facilities for tourists with camper vans.

Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) described the absence of camper van facilities as a “very distinct gap” in Clare’s tourist offering.

He added, “Not alone are we not servicing it, we are actually deterring it.”

Committee Chairman Richard Nagle (FF) said Clare had suffered during summer months from illegal encampments along the county’s roads.

He said the council and gardaí had expended huge resources and time on trying to deal with problems arising from illegal encampments.

He said a change of legislation is urgently needed to deal with the issue.

Cllr Nagle added, “It creates a hugely negative impression of the tourism product on offer. We have brought it to the attention of our Oireachtas members and nothing has happened.”

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) proposed that all local authorities in the west of Ireland put pressure on the Government to bring in new leg- islation.

Director of Service Ger Dollard said it would be useful to carry out an audit of existing camper van facilities.

He said there could be opportunities for the private sector to further develop facilities in Clare.

Senior planner Gordon Daly told the meeting that the council recognized that there is a gap in the market for camper van tourism.

He added, “It’s up to the private sector to develop. If people have ideas they should come to us. We would be very happy to talk with them.”

A MAN and a woman charged with the neglect and ill treatment of seven children have been returned for trial.

The two appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. In separate charges, it is alleged that the man and woman did willfully assault, ill-treat, neglect, abandon a child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to the child’s health or seriously affect their well being, contrary to Section 256 of the Children’s Act.

The woman is facing eight charges of neglect. The man is facing six charges of neglect and two charges of sexual assault.

The alleged offences took place on dates unknown between March 2001 and July 2010. The charges relate to seven children.

The man and woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, both have addresses in Clare. Inspector John Galvin requested an amend- ment concerning the wording of two charge sheets in relation to the man.

Defence solicitor John Casey consented to the amendments. Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of having served the books of evidence on both co-accused.

Insp Galvin said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented for both persons to be returned for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on October 16.

Legal aid was granted for Mr Casey, one junior counsel and one senior counsel. Mr Casey said, “They are very serious charges.”

Mr Casey requested a change in his client’s bail conditions to allow him to meet two of his sons.

Insp Galvin said he had “reservations considering the nature of the charges.”

Judge Durcan refused the application. The man was remanded on continuing bail, on the same terms heretofore, to appear at the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

Solicitor for the woman, Tara Godfrey, requested that the court impose reporting restrictions. Judge Durcan said reporting restrictions had previously been imposed.

He said the restrictions would continue to apply. Legal aid was approved for Ms Godfrey and one junior counsel.

The woman was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

A LIMERICK man, who stole a television and games console from a hotel in Lahinch and then promptly returned them, has been ordered to make a contribution to the court poor box.

Christopher Murphy (41) was told by a judge that he had engaged in “bizarre” behaviour in the seaside town last year.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday Mr Murphy, with an address at 2 Sheelin Drive, Caherdavin, Limerick, pleaded guilty to stealing a Black Phillips flat screen TV valued at € 500 and a Nintendo Wii valued at € 200 from the West Coast Lodge, Lahinch, on November 26, 2011.

Inspector John Galvin said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the case. Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction.

Insp Galvin told the court that the manager of the hotel contacted gardaí alleging that the accused had taken the television and games console from the hotel. The court heard that Mr Murphy had checked into the hotel under the name John Ryan.

Insp Galvin said Mr Murphy drove back to the hotel a few hours later and returned the property.

Mr Murphy admitted to gardaí that he had taken the property.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client had been staying in the hotel with his partner.

He said Mr Murphy didn’t know why he stole the items.

“It was a spur of the moment thing,” he added.

Mr Hassett told the court that Mr Murphy had become involved in a “show of bravado” with another guest, after which he drove of with the television and the Wii.

Inspector John Galvin described the sequence of events as “very unusual”. Judge Patrick Durcan said, “This was bizarre behaviour.” He ordered Mr Murphy to pay € 250 to the court poor box. The case was adjourned to October 24.

THE Department of Health said no date has been set for the downgrading of the former Accident and Emergency Unit at Ennis General Hospital to a Local Injuries Unit, similar to that opened in Nenagh yesterday (Monday).

It added that any decision to make changes to the hospital would be subject to yet another report – the Smaller Hospital’s Framework Document.

Changes to the role of the County Clare hospital within the Mid Western hospital group are already been included in numerous reports such as HIQA’s report into safety at the Ennis hospital and the acute medi- cine programme.

All reports point to what the HSE say is now policy, the changing yet again of the role of the former A and E.

However the announcement last week of the changes due in Ennis, led to political unrest.

Fine Gael Clare deputies, Joe Carey and Pat Breen, said they received confirmation from the Minister for Health, James Reilly, that no final decision has been taken in relation to services at Ennis hospital.

“I wrote to Minister Reilly seeking clarification on a number of issues, following reports locally that changes were to be made at Ennis hospital. The Minister has assured me and Deputy Carey that final decisions will not be made in rela- tion to changes at Ennis before the publication of the Small Hospital’s Framework Document,” said Deputy Breen.

“I believe our focus needs to be on improving services in the mid-west region, in order to support patient care and ensure the services provided at both Ennis and Limerick hospitals complement each other. For example, upgrading ambulance services across the county will ensure people can be transported quickly and receive the treatment they need.”

Deputy Carey said, “The reality is, despite the claims being made by Timmy Dooley [Fianna Fáil TD], people with major traumas have been treated at Limerick Regional Hospital for the past three years, since Fianna Fáil downgraded services at Ennis. What we need to do now is push ahead with acute improvements at Limerick Regional Hospital together with the development and enhancement of current services at Ennis General and the provision of those which are proposed.”

In a joint statement the deputies said, “Our health services are going through a major period of change, and there will be huge challenges ahead. We cannot shy away from hard choices, but what we can do is demand patient care is not compromised.” The Clare People asked the Department of Health who would make the final decision on the role of the current Local Emergency Centre and former A and E – the HSE, the minister or the cabinet?

It said the change would be subject to a final decision made on foot of the publication of the Smaller Hospital’s Framework document.

“In advance of the publication of the Smaller Hospital’s Framework Document, final decisions have not been reached,” a spokeswoman said.

“The information provided by the HSE locally in Limerick (related to Ennis hospital) is informed by the categories articulated by the National Clinical Programmes and is also informed by exigencies related to standards required by HIQA. The response sets out respective relationships between three hospitals. It also adds that no date has been set for such changes,” she added.

MORE sittings of Kilrush District Court are to be held to deal with the growing number of criminal cases coming before it.

Lengthening criminal lists have seen courts sit late into the evening and on at least one occasion as late as 8.50pm. District Court Judge Patrick Durkin said, “Two registrars have been brought out here (to Kilrush) due to the level of criminal cases.

“We are actively working to get you more (court) days,” he told the Garda Superintendent and officers of the court present.

“You don’t have enough court time here. We are looking at getting more time.”

He recalled how one night he left Kilrush court at 8.50pm and by the time he had driven as far as Ennis he was “cross eyed”.

He said it was difficult to be fresh for another sitting in just over 12 hours time.

Judge Durkin said he had also observed Inspector Tom Kennedy in Ennis having to deal with a heavy caseload, often prosecuting three days of court in a row.

He said, you cannot expect to go home late and then spend another two hours preparing for cases the following day.

Extra judges are already scheduled to come to the Clare jurisdiction for four days in October to allow for extra sittings, and to allow for longer cases to be heard, he explained.

The court services are also working to extend the court sitting days in Kilrush and Ennis on a more permanent basis, taking into account the number of courts that have been moved recently to Ennis.

CLARE organic food producers were recognised as being the very best in Ireland over the weekend with the Burren Smokehouse and St Tola’s goats cheese stealing the show at the National Organic Awards.

The Burren Smokehouse won the award for Ireland’s Best Organic Prepared Food for their smoked Irish salmon, while Inagh Farmhouse Cheese won second place and a “highly commended award” in the Organic Dairy Products section for St Tola Organic Goat Cheese Log.

Siobhán Ní Ghairbhith of Inagh Farmhouse Cheese was overjoyed with this year’s showing.

“We thrilled to receive this award. The Organic Dairy section is a growing market in Ireland with more and more excellent products becoming available to customers in supermarkets and online,” she said.

“There is a great deal more competition so we are delighted that we have held our own this year. It’s a great boost for all the team back in Inagh and reflects that hard work and high standards of the whole company.

“It is great that organic products are getting the recognition that they deserve and we thank Bord Bia for supporting organics in such trying economic times.”

The judging panel chaired by Ennis organic expert, Dr Oliver Moore, who was impressed by Clare’s strong showing in the competition.

“There was a real emphasis on hon- est, very good quality, affordable foods – foods for everyone and for everyday,” he said.

“What also heartened the judges was how some companies were clearly listening to feedback and improving their packaging as well as their product ranges, year on year.”

A DISTRICT court judge showed his determination to have his court run efficiently and on time on Tuesday last when he issued up to eight bench warrants for people missing from the body of the court when their case was called.

Judge Patrick Durkin was also annoyed when one defendant who was resident in Limerick Prison was not taken to Kilrush in time for the 10.30am start.

“I don’t see why I should drive a considerable distance, up to three hours, and members of the Gardaí can’t be here on time,” he said.

Superintendent Gerry Wall reminded the judge that it was the prison service that was responsible for getting the prisoner to court on time in this case.

Those responsible for their own appearance were also chastised for their lethargic attitude.

One defendant was not present when the registrar called his name as he had according to his solicitor Patrick Moylan, “gone to sign on this morning”.

“Mr Moylan, I am hearing of fellas who are never in court when they are called but were there before and there after.

“If you are not at the station when the train comes you miss the train,” remarked Judge Durkin as the second bench warrant was issued.

A bench warrant was then issued for a defendant who was believed to be in the restroom at the time her case was called.

“There is no point being in the lavatory in the station when the train leaves,” said the judge.

Within 20 minutes of the court sitting four bench warrants were issued.

By lunch time the figure had more than doubled.

It later emerged that one of the defendants had gone home for a cup of tea.

Supt Wall told the court he agreed with the actions taken.

“I am in total support of what is going on his morning. We have to get some order,” he said.

In the afternoon four of the defendants came before the judge to explain their absence and had their bench warrants vacated.

A 22-YEAR-OLD Kilrush man was fined € 500 for breach of the peace after he became irate with gardaí when they stopped him on his pedal bike.

Sean McMahon, 1 Burton Street, Kilrush, was not in court when the case due for hearing was called.

Garda O’Callaghan gave evidence that at 1.20am on Friday, May 25, 2012, he stopped the defendant who was on his pushbike.

“He became very irate from the outset,” said the garda adding that it was “apparent he was highly intoxicated.”

When the garda and his colleague told him he would be arrested “he lashed out with hands, feet and head”.

Garda O’Callaghan said the defendant was then arrested in Burton Street and restrained on the way to the garda station.

“He wasn’t remanded for a while due to his level of violence,” said the garda stationed in Kilrush.

Solicitor for Mr McMahon, Hazel Hehir, asked the garda if her client was on his way home when he was stopped.

“I believe so,” replied the Garda.

“He was peacefully on the way home when you stopped him and questioned him,” she said.

She said her client was 22 years of age and lived alone. She added that he became frustrated on the night in question.

“He is going to England soon to get away from Kilrush and people he hangs around with,” she added.

Judge Patrick Durkin dismissed the section 4 intoxication charges against Mr McMahon, but fined him € 500 for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

He gave him three months to pay with 10 days default.

The judge said he took into account that he had no previous convictions but also had to consider that he did not turn up in court.

He issued a bench warrant on other matters pending against Mr McMahon.

During the afternoon sitting of Kilrush District Court Mr McMahon appeared before Judge Durkin. He told the judge he had left the court to go home for a cup of tea.

The bench warrant was vacated.

A 79-YEAR-OLD farmer was confused when he drove the wrong way up the dual carriageway near Bunratty earlier this year, a court has heard.

Stephen Costelloe had been driving to Shannon Airport to meet his son when the incident occurred on the N18 at Bunratty on January 27, 2012. At Ennis District Court on Wednes- day, Mr Costelloe, with an address at Busherstown, Moneygall, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of careless driving.

Garda Barry Doherty of Shannon Garda Station told the court that Mr Costelloe drove in the wrong direction after becoming “confused”. The court heard that the incident occurred at around 6.50pm.

Defence solicitor Tom Stamp said his client had been “very confused” on the night.

He said Mr Costelloe was very “lucky” not to have been involved in an accident.

Garda Doherty told the court that he had seen “numerous” incidents where drivers had travelled the wrong direction on the dual carriageway and motorway.

Noting Mr Costelloe’s good record, Judge Patrick Durcan ordered him to pay € 250 to the court poor box by January 9, 2013. No conviction was recorded against Mr Costelloe.

Judge Durcan said that there is an onus on drivers to drive responsibly.

However Judge Durcan added that if the fine was not paid by January, then Mr Costelloe would be convicted of careless driving.

Addressing Mr Costelloe, Judge Durcan said, “I understand completely what happened. I wish you a safe journey home.”