Author: admin

A TWO-MONTH sentence has been handed down to a Shannon man who committed criminal damage in the town earlier this year.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy imposed the sentence on Mark Liddy (19) at a sitting of Shannon District Court on Thursday.

Liddy, with an address at 5 Fergus Drive, Drumgeely, Shannon, was in court to face the potential activation of suspended sentence.

The court heard that Liddy had previously been sentenced at the Circuit Court and his case had been referred back to the District Court to deal with the issue of a suspended sentence.

Liddy had been charged with causing damage to five clear white Georgian double glazed units belonging to Clare County Council at Ballymurtagh, Cross Shannon on March 23.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client had expressed remorse for his actions and was willing to pay compensation for the damage to the double glazing units.

She asked the court not to consider activating the suspended sentence and instead adjourn the matter for 12 months when her client’s sentence had expired.

Judge McCarthy convicted Liddy and sentenced him to two months in prison.

He ordered that the sentence commence on the lawful termination of the sentence he is now serving. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

THE long wait finally ended for 10 Clare people who were granted Irish citizenship on Friday. The group were among a crowd of over 600 people who attended a citizenship ceremony in Cork.

The ceremony was organised by the Department of Justice and Equality and saw people from 77 different countries granted citizenship. Attendees took an oath of fidelity to the nation and received their certificate of naturalisation.

Husband and wife Leonardo Gonzalez and Aymara Ruiz were among the delighted group of people to be named as Ireland’s newest citizens. The Cuban natives, who have lived in Ennis for the past four years, say they are happy that the wait for citizenship is finally over.

“It was a great day for us,” said Aymara yesterday. Leonardo said the granting of Irish citizenship made him feel proud. “Today I am a free man” he said.

The Clare group comprised people mainly from Cuban, Chinese, Somali and Sudanese backgrounds, explained Orla Ni Eili, coordinator of the Clare Immigrant Support Centre. She said, “It’s a new feature that was brought in by Alan Shatter (Minister for Justice) to give the process of citizenship a bit more value, make it a bit more of an event.”

Ms Ni Eili explained that applicants must wait for a minimum of three years before receiving citizenship. However she said that, in some cases, people are waiting up to nine or 10 years.

“Some of the people from Clare who were in Cork on Saturday were waiting five years. There is a big backlog of applicant cases,” she added.

AN off-duty garda fell to his death while fishing with his six-year-old son in Kilkee, an inquest into his death has heard.

Adrian Martin (46), from Carrickmacross, Monaghan, was fishing at Dunlicky, Kilkee, on August 25 last, when he fell “head first” over the cliffs. He was on holidays in Kilkee with his wife Helen and their young son Dermot at the time.

Ennis Coroner’s Court heard last week that Mr Martin went fishing with his son that morning, while his wife remained at their holiday home.

A witness at the inquest, Susan Kiely, recalled going fishing with her husband and three children shortly after 11 o’clock that morning. She said that after 12 noon a man – wearing a red jacket – and little boy arrived.

Shortly after there was a “torrential downpour”. The rain was so heavy that she went to her car for shelter with her children.

After the shower had passed, she said that she returned to where she had been. She saw the man and boy standing on a smooth area of rock, fishing. She said that the rock surface where she was standing was slippy after the rain.

She said she saw the man in the red jacket standing at the cliff edge. He was bent over. She then saw him falling “head first over the cliffs”. She said she did not know if he had slipped.

“I roared to my husband ‘he is going, he is going’,” she recalled. She said she then saw the young boy starting to move forwards to the cliff face. Her husband ran over to him and took him to safety.

Helen Martin recalled going on holidays with her husband Adrian and son Dermot.

She said they had gone fishing at around 11.20am and she expected them to return to their holiday home at 1.30pm. However, they had not returned by 2.05pm. She could not make contact with him by mobile phone.

She said that a short time later, she saw her son standing beside a garda patrol car which had stopped near their holiday home.

She said that a garda told her that there had been an accident and that her husband was dead. At 3.25pm she identified her husband’s body to a garda.

Garda Eoin Daly told the inquest that Kilkee Rescue Service recovered Mr Martin’s body from the water shortly after he fell off the cliff edge.

He said that according to witnesses, Mr Martin had slipped off and from his gardaí concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances and that it was a “tragic accident”.

A post mortem examination carried out on Mr Martin’s body revealed that he had sustained a deep laceration to the left side of the forehead, an abrasion to the left side of the nose, and fractures to the left elbow, right hip and right knee.

Death was due to acute cardio respiratory failure secondary to multiple traumatic injuries including skull fractures sustained in an accidental fall.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea returned a verdict of accidental death.

CONCERNS over the road network in the vicinity of a proposed wind farm in West Clare – which would be the biggest of its kind in the midwest if it gets the green light – have been raised.

A planning application has been lodged with An Bord Pleanála for the development of a 45-turbine win farm at Shragh, Doonbeg.

The application has been lodged by Clare Coastal Wind Power, which says it would create a huge tourism boost for the area. While Clare County Council planners say it would help to achieve the council’s target for renewables, they have expressed concerns in relation to the scale of the project.

The application is the largest ever lodged for a wind farm in the midwest and would have the capacity to provide energy to more than 70,000 homes.

The application did not go before the county council and instead was lodged with An Bord Pleanála. This was because the application was deemed to have met the criteria for a strategic infrastructure case and therefore should go before the Board.

The company behind the project has held an information meeting in Doonbeg which was attended by more than 100 people.

Its representatives have also met with local business and community groups.

At a meeting of Clare County Council yesterday, Councillor Oliver Garry (Fine Gael) said it was a “topical” issue in West Clare.

“Already in West Clare we have two wind farms. They are producing 32 mega watts and there is planning permission for another 100 mega watts of electricity. We have a target of 250 mega watts by 2020,” he said.

He asked what provisions are made for the local roads area and said that the network “seems pretty poor”.

County Manger Tom Coughlan said that the council cannot direct An Bord Pleanála to add conditions but can refer to conditions.

Fianna Fáil Councillor PJ Kelly said that while “beggars can’t be choosers”, they should be listened to and said that potential road damage should be considered.

Independent Councillor Christy Curtin asked, “Has there been experience of other such projects under this legislation? Has there been experience?”

Fine Gael Councillor Joe Arkins said, “A windfarm of this size is more suitable for an area that is zoned strategic. . . Should we not be making that point stronger in the submission?”

“There has to be a limit to the amount of wind turbines you see when you look out the front, the back and the two sides of your house,” he said.

Concerns raised by the planners and councillors will be included in the submission on the application to an Bord Pleanála.

BUSINESS groups are calling for people to make submissions on a proposed retail development on the Clare Road.

Ennis Town Council has re-advertised changes to a planning application from Michael Lynch Ltd who are seeking permission to develop a new district centre on the outskirts of Ennis. The developers have submitted a number of reports to the council in response to a request for further information on the proposed development.

Businesses in Ennis have previously outlined their opposition to the proposal saying it would have a damaging effect on retail activity in the town centre and lead to the creation of “ghost” shopping units.

A statement from Ennis Chamber explained, “Members of Ennis Chamber, Ennis Development Forum and Ennis Street Associations met again recently to discuss the Further Information received by Ennis Town Council in relation to the proposed development on the Clare Road in Ennis”.

“Ennis Town Council has deemed the Further Information received by the developers as significant enough for a re-advertisement of the changes to the Planning Application. Therefore anyone is entitled to make a submission to Ennis Town Council in relation to the proposed development”.

Ennis Chamber, Ennis Development Forum and Ennis Street Association will be making additional submissions to the planning process prior to the closing date for receipt of submissions, which is Friday December 16.

The spokesperson added, “The organisations are encouraging anyone with an interest in this significant proposed development for Ennis to make their views known through the planning process by making a submission to Ennis Town Council by the closing date of Friday next”.

RIVER levels in Ennis are being monitored twice a day in Ennis as authorities remain vigilant of flooding.

Records from Met Eireann show that the total accumulated rainfall recorded in County Clare from January 1 to November 30 stood at 872.2mm, more than the 845.1mm recorded during the entire of 2010.

In a statement, Clare County council says this December is also expected to see the mean rainfall total for the month being exceeded with further heavy rain forecast.

Ennis Town Manager Dollard said that river levels around Ennis are monitored twice a day and that the council would continue to monitor water levels throughout the winter period.

He stated, “Our experiences from severe flooding in Ennis, and East and North Clare in late 2009 have taught us that being prepared in advance is key to effectively managing flooding when it does occur.

As well as reviewing information contained on the council website, I would urge members of the public to visit www.flooding.ie to familiarise themselves with the range of actions that can be taken in advance of, during and after flooding events.”

Mr Dollard was speaking as Clare County Council launched an online advice and information guide to raise awareness of the importance of preparing for severe weather during winter.

The ‘Be Winter-Ready’ guide has been published on the council website, www.clarecoco.ie.

Work on flood prevention measures is currently underway at a number of locations around Ennis. Pipeline work has been completed on the Lough Girroga Flood Relief Scheme while additional site investigation works are due to start at Fioruisce on the Gort Road.

According to the council, the Watery Road/Elm Park Flood relief scheme will be placed on e-tenders. A temporary pumping system for the storm drain has been put in place at the Watery Road to cater for high river levels until permanent works are in place.

The council says it is monitoring the Fergus and Claureen river lev- els.

The planning process for the St Flannans, Toberteascain – Ballybeg Lake flood relief works has been delayed due to a requirement to carry out specialised works.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD Pat Breen has said that the Government remains committed to the construction of phase two of the Ennis Main Drainage Scheme.

Last week it was announced that the Office of Public Works (OPW) had terminated the tendering process with immediate effect.

Deputy Breen stated that Minster for State with responsibility for the OPW, Brian Hayes, is committed to funding the € 12.8m scheme, as previously outlined in the 2012 capital works programme.

NEARLY 600 people in Clare face the prospect of a return to the dole queues in the coming months as the future of Community Employment Schemes around the county are left hanging in the balance this week. The Clare People has learned that 560 people in Clare are directly dependent on the Community Employment Schemes for work, while FÁS have confirmed that the jobs programme provides jobs and training opportunities “in every corner of Clare”. Last week’s Budget took the unprecedented decision to abolish the FÁS operated jobs support scheme and while they have been since given a temporary stay of execution, fears have been expressed locally that the county’s 32 schemes will begin the process of winding down operations over the next few months.

“This is an anti-rural Ireland measure, it just gets worse” blasted Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes.

“Communities in rural Clare depend on the Community Employment Schemes to help them survive. They are the only light in some communities. The programme as we know it is gone because the payment per worker has been reduced from € 1500 to € 500,” he added. “These schemes go into every part of Clare,” a FÁS spokesperson told

A KILLALOE man has received a three-month prison sentence after failing to pay compensation for his part in a burglary in the town in January.

James Tuohy (23) with an address at 21 Clarisford, Killaloe, was convicted at a sitting of Killaloe District Court in Ennis last week.

Tuohy and a co-accused, Vincent O’Reilly, had been ordered to pay compensation after both men were involved in the burglary of the Celtic Cat Jewelery Shop in January.

O’Reilly (21) with addresses at 4 The Rise, Cullenagh, Ballina, Tipperary and Fossabeg Scariff, did pay compensation and received a suspended sentence.

Solicitor for Tuohy, Tara Godfrey said her client would be in a position to pay compensation in a week’s time.

She said a change of address had lead to a delay in the receipt of a social welfare payment.

She told the court that at the time when the burglary was committed, Tuohy had been going through a “very traumatic” period due to his family circumstances.

She explained that he had attended the services of consultant psychiatrist and been prescribed medication. She described her client as a “very vulnerable young man”.

She said that Tuohy wanted to pay compensation but apart from social welfare payments, he did not have access to any other form of financial support.

The court heard that on the day of the burglary, Tuohy had taken medication and drank cans of Budweiser.

“He appears to have committed the offence when he was of an unstable mind”, added Ms Godfrey.

The court heard that Tuohy received a suspended sentence in December (2010) for a public order offence.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy said that Tuohy had committed burglary and been ordered to pay compensation, “He either pays it or he doesn’t”, he added. He noted that the accused “has convictions going back to 2008”.

He convicted Tuohy and imposed a three-month prison sentence. Judge McCarthy added that he would not impose the suspended sentence handed down last December. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

Solicitor for O’Reilly, Christopher Lynch told the court that his client was in a position to pay compensa- tion.

He said that since the offence was committed in January, his client has moved away from Killaloe.

He said O’Reilly did have issues with drink and drug abuse but has now sorted his life out and has enrolled in an adult education course in Nenagh.

“He’s keeping himself out of difficulty”, Mr Lynch told the court.

Judge McCarthy convicted O’Reilly and imposed a six-month prison sentence.

He suspended the sentence for a period of two years on condition that O’Reilly be of good behavior.

HEAVY rain and high winds are forecast for the West Coast this week and Clare is on high flooding alert, as the county seeks to prevent the disasters of 2009 when so much of the county was under water.

Clare County Council are monitoring river levels as the weather worsens and have urged householders to be vigilant in case of flash flooding.

“Residents of the county can visit www.flooding.ie to familiarise themselves with the range of actions that can be taken in advance of, during and after flooding events,” Ennis Town Manager Ger Dollard told The Clare People this week.

A 17-YEAR-OLD girl who got involved in “very bad company” in Ennistymon has been told by a judge that she is “on a very slippery slope”.

The girl pleaded guilty to entering the Old Convent, Deerpark, Ennistymon, as a trespasser, on October 28, 2010.

On October 31, 2010, she and another individual were involved in an incident in which a car had a front window broken, while the front seat was set on fire.

The court heard the cost of the damage amounted to € 800.

Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan told Ennistymon District Court last Wednesday that the girl went into the convent with a number of other youths “for the purpose of drinking”.

“Somebody in the group lit a fire to warm themselves,” he said.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy said that the Probation report on the accused was “very positive”.

The court heard that girl had a number of previous convictions.

Her solicitor Gearóid Williams said that the girl was aged 16 at the time of some of the offences.

“She used to come to Ennistymon. She mixed in very bad company. She spent time in Oberstown.

Since then there has been a considerable change,” Mr Williams told the court.

“She is now availing of the opportunities she is being given,” said Mr Williams.

He said that the girl has not been in Ennistymon in recent times.

“The difficulty is when she goes to Ennistymon she gets involved in bad company, much older people,” he said.

He said that his client has not been involved in any incidents since August and is now a “completely differ- ent” person.

The girl’s social worker told the court that she has made a “huge improvement” since she spent time in Oberstown.

Judge McCarthy placed the girl on 12 months probation.

“You seem to be making progress,” he told her.

“You are on a very slippery slope at a very young age.

“The court will not be as lenient with you in the future.

“I am taking a chance with you and I hope you take the chance you are getting,” said the judge addressing the teenager.