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PRESIDENT Michael D. Higgins and Nobel Prize winner Svante Pääbo will participate in a three day event organised by the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark.

The three-day symposium, which taking place in NUI Galway and the Burren this week, will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the naming of Neanderthal by Irish scientist William King.

Delegates attending the symposium, which is entitled ‘From Fossils to the Genome’, will attend a field trip to the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher Geopark.

William King’s proposal was to formally designate Neanderthal people as a separate species from ourselves. His suggestion was both extraordinary and revolutionary for its time – Charles Darwin’s masterpiece ‘Origin of Species’ had been published just five years beforehand. William King remains the first to name a new fossil human species, a privilege afforded to very few scien- tists.

The symposium will also feature a presentation from a Nobel Prize winner and one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people, Svante Pääbo.

Professor Pääbo, Director of the Department of Evolutionary Genetics at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig and the first person to sequence the DNA of Neanderthal people, will deliver the main keynote address of the symposium.

Next Monday, participants will take part in a post conference field trip through the Burren led by Christine Grant of the National Monuments Service, Michael Lynch and Michelle Comber, the Field Director for the Caherconnell Archaeology Field School.

NUI Galway’s Dr John Murray and Geopark Geologist Dr Eamon Doyle will be discussing the geology of the Burren.

“Professor King’s work represents a scientific milestone in the history of our understanding of human origins,” said Dr Murray.

DANGEROUS scenes unfolded in Shannon on Saturday night when local gardaí had to call for assistance as a stand-off developed between members of the force and soccer supporters from Moyross on a bus attempting to return to Limerick.

It is understood that the extra gardaí called to the scene, arrived in Shannon already in riot gear.

Following the stand-off, which lasted for more than 20 minutes, gardaí made an arrest and recovered items allegedly stolen from a group of local teenagers earlier that evening.

Locals watching the scenes in Shannon on Saturday night described the situation as fraught.

“It was frightening for a while. The gardaí weren’t wanted on that bus and they were slow to come off it. Thankfully the reinforcements arrived when they did, otherwise I don’t know what would have happened,” a man who did not wish to be identified told The Clare People .

Seven teenagers were in a wooded area in Drumgeely when they were approached at around 7.30pm by a group of three males. Two of the group were wearing hoodies. One of them produced a knife and demanded money from them. The suspects stole € 24 and a speaker for a mobile phone before making off in the direction of Corrib Park.

It transpired the gang had travelled to Shannon with the Moyross United soccer club from Limerick. The suspects were part of a group of supporters that travelled by bus to play local side Shannon Town.

Gardaí in Shannon were alerted and intercepted the bus before it left the area. The passengers were asked to disembark and one of the injured parties was able to identify an 18year-old man suspected of being involved in the robbery.

A HOME-MADE knife was discovered in the entrance at Ennis Courthouse following a number of scuffles that broke out on Wednesday.

Gardaí are investigating altercations which flared up between members of two families who were present in the courthouse on the day.

A fight between younger members of both families developed at the entrance at around 11am.

The courthouse was busy with sittings of Ennis District Court and the High Court underway.

People standing in the lobby area initially thought the parties were “messing about” but the incident turned serious when a male teenager was knocked to the floor and struck a number of times.

There was a large number of gardaí present inside the district court positioned between the families who were sat at opposite sides of the courtroom.

Men from either side traded verbal insults. At one point, Judge Patrick Durcan said he would adjourn court business if peace was not kept in the courtroom.

Judge Durcan said law and order was not being maintained in the courtroom and said decent citizens who had business in court were being subjected to “vile behaviour”.

Order was restored both inside and outside the courtroom. A number of people were arrested.

The knife was discovered on the floor just inside the front door at around 11.30am.

It is described as home-made, with two short blades sitting on a handle wrapped in red tape.

Gardaí are investigating the incident and are studying CCTV footage taken from cameras in the Courthouse.

The two Ennis families suspected of being involved in the fracas have been engaged in a dispute for much of the past 12 months.

This is the first violent incident to occur in Ennis Courthouse in recent months.

The building was the scene of a spate of similar fights and altercations throughout 2012 and 2013.

Last October Ennis-based solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court there were times during the year when legal practitioners feared for their safety such was the frequency of fights at the time.

ONE thousand years after his victory at the Battle of Clontarf, Brian Boru’s castle has finally been taken.

Gardaí in Killaloe are investigating the theft of a massive wooden reproduction of Brian Boru’s castle Kincora, which has been taken from a community garden in the village.

The central tower section of the castle, which is understood to be in excess of 16 foot tall, was taken last week and the local community are appealing for its safe return.

The castle, along with the large tower centre-piece, were constructed over the past six months by an army of local volunteers including members of the local Men’s Shed. The structure was built to mark the thousand year anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf and had already been used at a number of commemoration events and reenactments.

According to the secretary of the Killaloe/Ballina 2014 Committee, Brona Moriarty, the local community are desperate to get the castle back.

“It really was the most incredible structure. They worked on it for more than two months and put hundreds of hours into it. The tower itself is a really substantial structure, it would take about eight strong men to left it. It was about 16 feet high with a a thatched roof on it and beautifully designed and built,” she said.

“It would have taken a truck or a large van to move it, and a large group of people much have been involved. We would really love to get it back. It was made by the community, for the community, so maybe if the people who took it were aware of that they might give it back.

“Making the castle was such a positive thing for the community so it is quite upsetting and disheartening that it has been taken.”

The castle was designed by Scariffbased artist Nathalie El Baba.

“It’s such a big structure so it’s not the kind of thing that could have been taken easily. It’s really big, it’s the king of thing that you couldn’t really hide so we believe that a number of people must know where it is,” said Nathalie.

“Whoever took it much have take it in the middle of the night or they would have been seen. We just want it back.”

The castle was taken at some time between Friday evening, May 2, and Monday morning May 5. A local campaign was launched yesterday to raise public awareness of missing tower as well as the ‘Free The Tower’ facebook group.

A FATHER of eight has received a suspended prison sentence for his role in a row that took place outside a primary school in Ennis earlier this year.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, James Keenan (41) pleaded guilty to a public order offence that occurred on the grounds of Ennis National School on February 5, 2014.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that Mr Keenan and Michael Delaney (26) traded insults and ver- bal abuse as parents arrived to collect their children.

The court heard Mr Delaney was collecting a child from school while Mr Keenan was dropping his children off for a tae-kwan-do class.

Insp Kennedy said no blows were struck but abusive language was exchanged between the pair.

Outlining the background to the incident, Insp Kennedy said, “There is no love lost between them. That’s putting it mildly”.

He said a number of young children were in the vicinity when the row took place.

Mr Keenan, with an address at Childer’s Road, Ennis has some previous convictions for public order and theft offences.

Defence solicitor William Cahir said his client had gone to drop his children to a martial arts class and had no intention of encountering the other family.

Mr Cahir said Mr Keenan comes from a family that has lived in Ennis for a number of years. He said Mr Keenan has never been involved in disputes with other families in En- nis.

However Mr Cahir said something seems to have sparked of a dispute between the Delaney and Keenan families in this instance.

Judge Patrick Durcan said this was a serious offence committed in the presence of children.

He imposed a two-month sentence, suspended for 18 months on condition Mr Keenan enter into a bond to be of a good behaviour.

Recognizance’s were fixed in the event Mr Keenan’s intends to appeal the decision.

THREE people endured a terrifying ordeal when their car was set upon by an armed gang of teenagers in Ennis earlier this month.

Gardaí are investigating the incident, which occurred on Friday, May 2, in the Showgrounds Road area of Ennis.

Gardaí were called to the scene af- ter receiving a call of a violent disturbance at Showground’s Court on Drumbiggle Court.

The incident is thought to have occurred sometime between 11pm and midnight on the date in question.

It is believed a car parked in the area was set upon by a gang of around seven or eight teenagers.

Bottles of beer were taken from the boot of the car. The driver of the car is also believed to have been struck in the face with a bottle. The keys of the car along with a small sum of cash were also taken. The Clare People understands that one of the young males suspected of being involved in the attack was carrying a kitchen knife.

The three males who were in the car at the time were said to be “terrified” during the ordeal. One Garda source described the attack on the car and it’s occupants as “vicious”.

Gardaí have launched an investigation into the matter. At least one teenager has been arrested and questioned in relation to the incident. He was subsequently released without charge. It is thought that all those suspected of being involved are under the age of 18.

Investigations into the matter are continuing and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Mary CARROLL (née Cronin)
, 72 Rossbracken, Shannon. Laid to rest in St Mary’s Church Grounds, Rathkeale. May she rest in peace.

Bernadette (Etta) JONES (née Mc
Namara)

TAOISEACH and Fine Gael Party leader Enda Kenny said this week that Fine Gael would not increase the Local Property Tax if elected to local government.

In a whistle-stop visit to the Banner County just a week after polls indicate a swing towards independent candidates and people’s dissatis- faction with the introduction of the LPT, Mr Kenny admitted that being in Government was not an easy position.

But as the Mayo man kissed babies, high fived teenagers and shook hands with pensioners it quickly became apparent that he was not about to run into the hostility he was met with an hour earlier in Limerick.

Instead, supported by the party faithful, a two person anti-abortion protest outside the Temple Gate all but went unnoticed, while the mother of a disabled child who lost her medical card had her say in a peaceful manner.

Among those waiting to meet the leader of the country was Noel O’Driscoll, originally from O’Callaghans Mills, whose late father became secretary of the local Fine Gael branch in 1922 and was there until he died 56 years later.

Mr O’Driscoll showed the Taoiseach an original Land League membership card owned by his great grandfather.

Flanked by MEP Sean Kelly, local election candidates and the county’s two Fine Gael TDs – Pat Breen and Joe Carey – Mr Kenny was remaining coy on how he believes his 16 local election candidates will fare in Clare come May 23.

“Far be for it me to guess what the good people of Clare are going to do when they go to the polls but I will say this for our party we offer a very strong team of candidates.”

“Whoever the people elect for the county council elections they need to understand that these candidates and these councillors are being given responsibility that has never been handed out before to councillors. They are going to have to make decisions about the expenditure for property charges. The Fine Gael candidates will not be voting to increase them, they will be reducing them where possible. They will have to make decisions about rates and about property charges and development plans for their own areas,” he added.

“It is not about electing people to sound off at council meetings. It is a case of electing people to make decisions, the authority being displaced down to the councils.”

A LIMERICK man said he caused noise and disturbance in Ennis Courthouse yesterday because he only got potato wedges and chicken nuggets for lunch instead of a snack box.

Eddie O’Sullivan (25) was in custody awaiting sentence for stealing money and a bus pass from a disabled man in Ennis last August.

Shouting and banging could be heard from the cell area below the courtroom where Circuit Criminal Court sat on Monday.

When Mr O’Sullivan was called for arraignment a prison officer told Judge Carroll Moran that Mr O’Sullivan was naked. Judge Moran asked that the accused be brought into the courtroom to inform him how he intended to plead to the charge.

Mr O’Sullivan subsequently appeared wearing just boxer shorts and a pair of socks. “I know I’m not dressed appropriately, I’m sorry,” Mr O’Sullivan told Judge Moran.

Mr O’Sullivan, with addresses at Parkview Apartments, Limerick and, John Street Limerick, pleaded guilty to theft of wallet, cash, bank cards and bus pass from a 50-year-old partially paralysed man at Newbridge Road, Ennis, on August 31, 2013.

Mr O’Sullivan represented himself having dismissed his legal team last week. Judge Moran told Mr O’Sullivan his case would be dealt with later in the day.

“Put on some clothes Mr O’Sullivan, you’ll feel more comfortable,” he said.

Mr O’Sullivan reappeared in court some hours later wearing a white striped hoodie; black t-shirt, jeans and runners.

Garda Cyril Paige of Ennis Garda Station said the victim, who walks with the aid of a walking stick, had stopped to rest near the Club Bridge. He said Mr O’Sullivan approached the man, distracted him and stole the items.

A passing motorist witnessed the theft. Gardaí were alerted and Mr O’Sullivan was arrested at the nearby Ennis Swimming Pool.

The court heard the accused has 121 previous convictions. Prosecuting counsel Stephen Coughlan told the court Mr O’Sullivan was on bail when he committed the offence.

Mr O’Sullivan told Judge Moran he had suffered the loss of a number of family members including the recent death in Limerick of his aunt.

Asked by Judge Moran why he had made such a racket earlier in the day, Mr O’Sullivan said he had received wedges and three chicken nuggets while other people in custody got snack boxes. He pleaded with Judge Moran not to impose a consecutive prison sentence. Noting that the accused will spend the next 18 months in prison serving another sentence, Judge Moran adjourned the case to September for a probation and psychiatric report.

A 22-YEAR-OLD man has received a suspended sentence for his role in a violent burglary at an apartment in Ennis last summer.

Darren Maughan (22) was one of two people who broke into 15 Sandfield Mews between 12.30 and 12.45am on July 23, 2013. He assaulted Declan O’Dea who was asleep in bed at the time.

Mr O’Dea, in a state of fear, jumped from a first floor window to escape Mr Maughan, breaking his ankle when he hit the ground, Ennis Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday. In March, Mr Maughan, with an address at Stonecourt, Drumbiggle, Ennis, pleaded guilty to entering the apartment as a trespasser and committing an arrestable offence therein, assault causing harm to Declan O’Dea.

Yesterday the court heard Mr Maughan was on bail at the time for another assault he committed in Drumbiggle Drive, on January 20, 2013, to which he also pleaded guilty.

Judge Carroll Moran yesterday gave Mr Maughan an immediate two-year prison sentence for the assault at Drumbiggle and imposed a two year suspended sentence for the offence at Sandfield Mews.

Giving evidence in respect of the burglary at 15 Sandfield Mews, Detective Inspector John Galvin (Ennis Garda Station) told the court Mr Maughan and a companion broke into the apartment after failing to gain entry.

The court heard Mr Maughan went into Mr O’Dea’s room and started to beat him “viciously” around the head. Det Insp Galvin said the victim was so fearful he jumped from the first floor window. The court heard Mr O’Dea broke his ankle and lay in bushes for a period of between 90 minutes and two hours when gardaí were called to the scene.

The court heard both parties had consumed a number of bottles of vodka earlier in the day. Det Insp Galvin agreed with prosecuting counsel Stephen Coughlan’s view that Mr Maughan had consumed a “vast” amount of alcohol.

“Intoxicated beyond comprehension is the best way I could describe it,” added Det Insp Galvin.

The court heard that between 2009 and 2014 Mr Maughan received 53 convictions for offences including assault, public order and criminal damage.

Det Insp Galvin agreed with defence counsel Lorcan Connolly’s assessment that all of Mr Maughan’s past offences arose from problems with drink.

Counsel said, “He’s not a bad lad, save and except when he’s the drink on board.” Mr Connolly said his client wished to apologise for his offence. Counsel said his client had pleaded guilty at an early stage and is undergoing a number of educational programmes in prison.

In the witness box, Mr Maughan Judge Moran “I’m stopping drinking for life when I get out. I want to change my life around.”

Judge Moran said the accused has “clearly a propensity for violence when he is drunk” and has an “appalling record”.

He imposed the two year sentence for assault at Drumbiggle but agreed to suspend a consecutive two year sentence for the offence at Sandfield on condition Mr Maughan abstain from drink and be of good behaviour for five years.

CLARE County Council has been allocated € 368,000 under the Government’s Special Resolution Fund (SRF) for Unfinished Housing Developments.

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government has approved the council’s application for funding to enable works to be undertaken at two local housing developments, namely the Aisling Estate on the Lahinch Road in Ennis and Bruachlan/An Grianan in Westbury.

Clare County Council says it will now commence a period of engagement with the relevant stakeholders at the locations concerned with a view to commencing works.

Mayor of Clare Councillor Joe Arkins welcomed the funding announcement, adding, “Engagement from all key stakeholders is critical to progressing the proposed resolution of these sites. I believe the funding enables Clare County Council to provide a solution to these unfinished estates which have been deteriorating over the past number of years and impacting negatively on the residents and the landscape in the area.”

Commenting on the background to the funding allocation, Bernadette Haugh, Administrative Officer, Planning & Enterprise, stated, “The successful application is part of the council’s ongoing focus on unfinished estates throughout the county. A team from the Planning & Enterprise section of the council has been focusing on this issue and will continue to work towards solutions on the many developments where difficulties are being experienced throughout the county.”

Ms Haugh explained that Clare County Council will now engage with the Bondholders AIB, NAMA and the owner of the land in relation to the Aisling site to agree how the proposed site resolution will be progressed. Similar discussions will be undertaken with Grant Thornton who are the appointed receivers in relation to the Westbury site.

“The drawdown of approved funding will commence immediately in order to advance the early execution of the works. Once the programme of works has been agreed Clare County Council will organise an information session with residents in the area of these development to outline how the proposed resolution process will proceed. The condition of the funding requires that the proposed works are completed by the end of 2014,” added Ms Haugh.