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A COUSIN of former Republic of Ireland soccer star Steve Finnan has pleaded guilty to drug dealing arising from the discovery of an amount of prescription drugs in Quin last year.

Father of two, Sean Finnan (22), appeared before Ennis District Court on Thursday charged with possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply at his former address at 21 The Park, Quin, on January 7, 2013.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court gardaí found 250 xanax tablets and dealing paraphernalia including a ‘tick list’ when they executed a search warrant on the property.

The court heard Mr Finnan has 57 previous convictions mainly for drugs, public order and burglary offences.

Defence solicitor Shiofra Hassett told Judge Patrick Durcan her client is currently in prison.

She said Mr Finnan received a suspended sentence at Limerick District Court earlier this month but asked for the sentence to be activated because he feared for his life outside prison.

The court heard Mr Finnan received 25 pellet wounds outside his home in Limerick city in December.

Ms Hassett said her client had been forced to leave his home and sleep rough because he could not secure alternative accommodation.

“He had serious concerns for the safety of his family and that is why he left home”, she explained.

The court heard Mr Finnan is currently being held in protective custody because of threats against his life.

Ms Hassett asked the court not to add to her client’s current term of imprisonment.

Judge Patrick Durcan noted the risk of Mr Finnan re-offending is high.

However, noting the danger to Mr Finnan’s life, his family circumstances and current sentence, Judge Durcan said he wanted to make an order that reflected the seriousness of the charge and offered the accused some hope.

He imposed sentences totaling six months but suspended them on condition Mr Finnan enter into a bond to be law abiding. Mr Finnan is due for release in August. A CA S E where it is alleged a serious public order disturbance took place at a busy shopping centre in Ennis last year may be heard in the Circuit Court, a court has heard. OnWednesday, Inspector TomKennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has not yet directed in the case. He said a book of evidence may be required for the matter. Insp Kennedy was referring to an alleged incident at Tesco’s Ennis on December 18, 2013. Four people are facing charges arising from the alleged incident. Anne Delaney (45), with an address at Waterpark Heights, Ennis, is charged with engaging in threatening, insulting or abusive behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. James Delaney (26), with an address Gordon Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis is also charged with engaging in threatening, insulting or abusive behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. James Keenan (40), with an address at 30 Childer’s Road, Cloughleigh, Ennis and a teenager are both charged with public order offences arising fromthe alleged incident at Tesco’s, Francis Street, Ennis on December 18. The cases were adjourned to March 12 for DPP’s directions. A MA N charged with having drugs allegedly worth €13,000 for sale or supply in Doora has been sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court. Keith Loftus (21), with an address at Noughaval, Doora, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. He is charged with possession of cannabis for purposes of sale or supply at Noughaval, Doora on August 6. He is also charged with unlawful possession at the same address and date. He is further charged with possession of cannabis and amphetamine for sale or supply when the aggregate market value of the controlled drugs amounted to €13,000 or more. Garda Irene O’Flynn gave evidence of serving the book of evidence on the accused. Inspector TomKennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented to the accused being returned for trial to the next sittings of the Circuit Criminal Court, on bail as set. Legal aid was approved for solicitor Daragh Hassett, one junior counsel and one senior counsel. Judge Patrick Durcan delivered the alibi warning and made the order returning the accused for trial. A MA N has appeared in court charged in connection with an incident of alleged dangerous driving in Scariff almost two years ago. DeclanWard (20), with an address at Derrynameal, Feakle, is charged driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harmat Market Square, Scariff on March 13, 2012. He is further with handling stolen property, 10 cans of cider and the use of the vehicle without the owner’s consent. The court heard Mr Ward made no response to any of the charges after caution. Legal aid was approved for solicitor Daragh Hassett. Mr Hassett said he would not be making an application for bail at this point. Mr Ward was remanded in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on February 19.

FURTHER evidence that Shannon Airport is on the right flight-path to recovery was released over the weekend with the news that the airport recorded a promising increase in the number of flight movements coming through Shannon in January.

This increase is more impressive when the effects of the recent storms are considered. Shannon Airport itself has been forced to close on a number of occasions in recent weeks and a number of flights destined to arrive at Shannon Airport were also cancelled because of difficulties at other airports.

Shannon Airport recorded an average total of 38 daily movements in January of 2014 compared to the same month in 2013. This amounts to a year-on-year increase of more than 3.2 per cent.

Ireland’s en-route traffic, which means the total flights that pass through Irish airspace but do not land, decreased by 9.2 per cent in January. This decrease has been blamed mostly on the poor weather and, if a similar sized decrease was felt at Shannon Airport, it means that real flights must have shown a sizable increase to off set the effects of the poor weather.

This is in stark contrast to the number of daily movements recorded for January of 2013, which were the lowest recorded at Shannon Airport for more then a decade. These drop, which coincides with the air- port’s first month of independence from the Dublin Airport Authority, represents a 10.7 per cent year-onyear drop on the flight number from January of 2012.

“Continued strong performance in our terminal business is very encouraging. Recent announcements by a number of airlines suggests growth will continue for the remainder of the year,” said Peter Kearney, Director of Air Traffic Operations and Strategy at the Irish Aviation Authority.

SHANNON Airport’s return of profit and passenger growth in a little over a year since it was granted its independence from the Dublin Airport Authority has been hailed as “very impressive” by the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadakar.

On what as his first visit to the airport since it became an independent entity on December 31, 2012, Minister Varadkar told The Clare People that the upsurge in the fortunes of Clare’s international airport has “certainly validated the Government decision” to let Shannon chart its own future.

“To be brutally honest as minister, I didn’t think the airport would manage a profit in year one, I thought it would take three years for that to happen. That is one of the areas where we are ahead of schedule,” said Minister Varadkar.

“It has been a very impressive first year for Shannon Airport and the performance has certainly validated the Government’s decision to give the airport its independence. The financial position of the airport is very strong and last year was about stabilisation and making a reality of a merger and this year is about growth,” he added.

In its first year full year of independence Shannon reversed five years of successive passenger decline by recording a marginal increase in numbers on 2012 to just over 1.4m passengers.

Chief executive of the Shannon Group, Neil Pakey said the airport is projecting double digit percentage passenger growth this year based mainly on increased Ryanair services and increases services on transatlantic routes.

“During the last six months, we have been successful in securing new capacity and have to make sure the marketing is right and we are hopefully looking at double digit-plus growth,” he said.

“The airport has paid its own way since separation,” confirmed Shannon Group chairperson, Rose Hynes. “We are able to present him [Minister Varadkar] with a really positive report card on the airport’s first year as an independent entity. We have very strong momentum at Shannon, and the passenger growth, in particular, has been hugely satisfying.

Commenting on the return to profit, Minister Varadkar said it means that “the airport is a stronger position to invest and do things. If you are making losses, you are eating into your reserves”.

“Our priority in 2013 was to stabilise the position at the airport, stem the five-year decline in passenger numbers and increase connectivity,” continued Ms Hynes. “We are in passenger growth mode now and this will continue in 2014 and we will continue to make progress in the creation of an international aviation services centre in Shannon,” she added.

SHANNON-based mining company Mincon could be set to double in size over the next two or three years – with the prospect of more jobs coming on stream in looking increasingly possibly. That is according to Mincon’s “house brokers” Davy Stockbrokers, who in a letter to potential investors last week described the Clare company as ‘outperform’ and said it was primed for expansion.

“It has grown rapidly in recent years, while generating returns of over 20 per cent,” the Davy note said. “[The company is] a pure play on the structurally less volatile global consumable rock-drilling products industry.”

Earlier this year, the company’s two biggest shareholders gave employees € 1.2 million from their own private funds to reward them for their hard work over the years.

Company founder Paddy Purcell and Kevin Barry initiated the employee recognition plan, which excluded all members of senior management.

The money was paid to Mincon’s 140 eligible employees across the group and was based on years of service with a payment of € 1,000 per staff member per year of service.

The Shannon-based rock drilling engineering company was founded in 1977 and listed on the Dublin and London stock exchanges late last year. Many of the company’s Shannon-based employees have been there for a number of decades.

“It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Mincon Group employees that it has grown from its origins in Shannon into the interna- tional business it is today, with operations in Europe, Africa, the Americas and Australasia and with its securities quoted on the ESM and AIM,” said Paddy Purcell at the time that the payment was announced.

“As the largest shareholders in the company, Kevin and I wished to take this opportunity to show, in a tangible and meaningful way, our appreciation to the staff for their contribution in bringing Mincon to where it is today and positioning it for the next phase of its development organically and through acquisitions.”

AN ENVIRONMENTALIST has maintained that a windfarm, which is currently part of a planning application to Clare County Council, will be visible from Doonbeg Golf Course.

Friends of the Irish Environment director Tony Lowes, who in 2000 held up the construction of the course when he raised concerns in the high court about the protection of the microscopic snail Vertigo Angustior, told a Scottish newspaper that he now wants new owner Donald Trump to help back a campaign against the proposed nine-turbine wind farm.

The billionaire businessman reportedly ceased plans to build a second luxury golf course in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, following a failed legal battle to stop the construction of an 11-turbine windfarm off the Scottish coast.

Last week West Clare Coastal Windpower lodged plans for the nine 126-metre wind turbines at Carrowmore South, Einagh and Shragh, two kilometres south of Doonbeg village.

The company’s previous plan for an “industrial scale” € 200 million windfarm at the same location was refused by an Bord Pleanála last July.

Local business people said this week that they were taking a “neutral stance” on the issue, and that the previous application went through the process without any major concern locally.

Mr Lowes is reported as saying he believes people will listen to Mr Trump rather than the environmentalists on the issue.

Asked about the Trump Organisation getting involved in any such issues locally, executive vice president Eric Trump said it was not afraid of taking on important issues.

“Maybe it is too early, but we have never been afraid to tackle important issues time and time again, and we have never been afraid to take on important issues,” she told The Clare People .

“We are not afraid to take on the fight for the betterment of the community and quite frankly often times the community looks to us to lean on, to help them and for that leadership and for the resources to do so.”

THREE men found guilty of damaging a car during a religious ceremony at a graveyard outside Ennis have been given eight months to pay full compensation to their victim.

Michael Doherty (52), Patrick Doherty (34) and James Galbraith (45) were convicted in November (2013) of criminal damage.

They were ordered by Judge William Early to pay € 7000 compensation to the victim. Judge Early said if the money was paid, he would recommend a six month suspended sentence for each accused.

The case came back before Ennis District Court on Tuesday where solicitor for the Dohertys, Daragh Hassett, said his clients did not have the full amount of compensation.

Mr Hassett told Judge Early his clients had € 500.

He said Michael and Patrick Doherty are both on social welfare and required time to get the outstanding compensation.

Defence solicitor for Mr Galbraith, John Casey said his client also had € 500 for the court and required further time.

He said Mr Galbraith has moved away from Ennis and had to spend money on securing new accommodation.

“The move from Ennis, to get away from this trouble, has cost him”, explained Mr Casey.

Judge William Early agreed to adjourn the case to October to allow the men time bring the remaining € 6,000 to court.

Judge Early warned the accused he would impose the default sentence of six months in prison if the money was not paid by October.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court the men had not come to garda attention since November.

Michael Doherty and Patrick Doherty, both with addresses at St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis and James Galbraith, formerly of Lissaniska, Ennis and now living in Bettystown, Meath, all denied the charge of criminal damage at Drumcliff graveyard on March 24, 2013.

In November Ennis District Court heard mother of two Kathleen Maughan was visiting her husband’s grave when her Ford Focus car was damaged in a violent attack.

Ms Maughan told the court she saw three men armed with slash hooks and hatchets alight from vehicles and attack her car on March 24, 2013.

Ms Maughan, who is from Ennis but now lives in Cork, was one of a group of 20 people attending a blessing of the graves ceremony.

After hearing the evidence, Judge William Early said, “I believe the evidence of Ms Maughan.

“I believe she is telling the truth, therefore it must follow that I find them guilty as charged.”

Judge Early said it seemed to be the case that Ms Maughan was a “victim of one of these wretched family feuds that are all too common in the Traveller community”.

There was a heated conclusion to the hearing of the case in November. A flurry of insults were fired at Ms Maughan from people sitting in the gallery A MA N accused of using a knife during alleged robberies at two businesses in Ennis last year is to be sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court. James Hayes (26) with an address at Dun Na hInse, Ennis appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Mr Hayes is charged with the robbery of a woman at Glamorize, O’Connell, Street on November 25, 2013. It is alleged Mr Hayes took €400. He is also charged with production of a knife during the course of the alleged offence. It is further alleged Mr Hayes did rob €70 froma woman at Vaughan’s Florist, Ennis on December 12, 2013. He is also charged with the production of a knife arising fromthe same alleged robbery offence. Inspector TomKennedy told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed the cases proceed to trial on indictment, meaning they will be heard in the Circuit Court. Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court her client suffers frommuscular dystrophy and his movement has become more restricted. She said the High Court had previously directed prison authorities to provide appropriate care for Mr Hayes. He was remanded in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on February 19 for service of the book of evidence. A W OMA N has appeared in court charged with child neglect at a Clare address. The 22-year-old woman appeared before Ennis District Court onWednesday. It is alleged the woman had in her care a child whomshe allegedly ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed the child, or caused the child to be assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed, in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to the child’s health or seriously to affect his or her wellbeing. The charge relates to an alleged incident at a mid-Clare address in October 2012.The alleged offence is contrary to the Children’s Act Inspector TomKennedy said he believed this was the first charge of its type he had seen come before the court where the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal. Insp Kennedy said he suspected the case may be an indictable matter and would probably have to be referred back to the DPP. He said the issue of jurisdiction would also have to be addressed. The accused was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on February 26. A JUDGE has refused jurisdiction of a case where it is alleged a man was found in possession of a slash hook near the grounds of Ennis Courthouse. Michael Keenan (23), with an address at Meelagh View, Mahon, Cork, is alleged to have had a slash hook which had a blade or which was sharply pointed at Steele’s Terrace, Ennis on November 28, 2013. The alleged offence is contrary to the firearms and offensive weapons act. The case came before Ennis District Court on Wednesday to allowJudge Patrick Durcan consider jurisdiction. Garda Francis Brennan of Ennis Garda Station told the court the slash hook was allegedly found in the back of Mr Keenan’s vehicle. Garda Brennan said it would be alleged Mr Keenan denied any knowledge of having the alleged weapon. After seeing the slash hook, Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction, meaning the case will nowproceed to the Circuit Court. Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey consented to an extension of time for service of the book of evidence.The case was adjourned to April 9. A FIFT EEN year-old boy has appeared in court charged in connection with an alleged violent disturbance in the Market area of Ennis last year. The boy, accompanied by his mother, appeared before Ennis Children’s Court onWednesday. Inspector TomKennedy told the court the case is connected to that of two other accused who will be sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court. He said that as this charge concerns a juvenile, the presiding district court Judge must decide the issue of jurisdiction and not the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The teenager is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. Insp Kennedy said the charge relates to an alleged incident at Lower Market Street, Ennis on February 18, 2013. Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged the alleged injured party’s car was attacked. He said the incident allegedly involved three people carrying weapons including hatchets and a machete. He said the alleged incident took place around 7.30pm. Judge Patrick Durcan refused jurisdiction. Insp Kennedy said a book of evidence would have to be prepared in the case. The teenager was remanded on continuing bail.

NORTH Clare farmers have pledged to fight on against the decision to sell the Ennistymon Mart to Aldi following a “fruitless” meeting in Ennis yesterday.

Three member of Ennistymon IFA met with representatives from Clare Marts for a number of hours yesterday, at a meeting facilitated by Clare IFA president Andrew Dundas.

At the meeting, a spokesperson for Clare Marts confirmed that the sale of the mart had been agreed by the board of Clare Marts, but said that contracts had yet to be signed and the sale was dependent on planning permission being granted.

Tom Clair from Ennistymon IFA said yesterday that the people of Ennistymon feel like they have been “sold-out” by their fellow farmers for a “few dollars” from a multi-national.

“The people up here will fight this to the bitter end, that is for sure. But we are desperate downhearted that this has happened,” he said.

“The way that this has come about is not right.

“After all that was gone through to get that mart there in the first place and now to have it sold out from under us by our fellow farmers. And just because they had a few dollars dangled down in front of them. It’s not right.”

Yesterday’s meeting followed a protest help by more than 20 North Clare farmers outside of Ennis Marts last Tuesday evening and a mass meeting of more than 450 people which took place in Ennistymon earlier this month.

Those opposed to the sale will now likely take to the planning system to try and block the sale going through by lodging planning applications once Aldi bring forward a proposal.

The land where the mart currently sits was gifted to the people of Ennistymon by the McNamara clan as an area for fairs.

“It is though that the mart’s deeds could yet contain a condition requiring it to be operated for agricultural purposes. The Clare People contacted Clare Marts in relation to this story but they had no comment to make.

VICTIMS of industrial abuse in Clare are preparing a mass protest against the newly formed CaraNua organisation, which they say does not represent what the vast majority of victims actually want.

CaraNua, formally the Statutory Trust Fund, was formed last month to oversee the provision of services for people who have suffered abuse at the hands of the religious orders.

It is estimated that there are between 13,000 and 15,000 survivors still alive and CareNua has a budget of around € 110 million to help gain different services for these people.

Many victims groups are against the service, and claim that the money is owed directly to them from the religious orders and the state should not get involved. Ennis resident and spokesperson for the Survivors who Standing Together group, Cathriona Barker, said that many abuse victims now feel that a massive public protest is the only was of forcing the Government to change its mind.

“This money was given to survivors as a good will measure by the religious orders and the state have no business putting their hands on our money and dictating to us what happens. The state are guilt party in our childhood abuse, along with the church. What’s worse is that no survivor was ever asked for their opinion about any of this,” she told The Clare People yesterday.

“The vast majority of people would like this money split up between us. If you did that, then each victim would get € 7,300 from the church. For what many people went through this would be an insult, but at least it would be our decision.

Cathriona has been in contact with a number of other abuse survivors and the possibility of a mass protest seems to be getting closer.

“I was talking to a survivors group from the UK over the weekend and the majority of people over there don’t want anything to do with this new group either,” continued Cathriona.

“As far as we can see, most of the services being offered by CaraNua are services that a person should be able to access anyway. It is things like dental care, if a person needs a hip replacement, maybe if you need a door in your house widened.”

For more about Survivors Who Stand Together visit survivorswhostandtogether.wordpress.com.

A JUDGE has asked the gardaí to investigate the circumstances in which a second teenager from Ennis was married by a man claiming to be a ‘Bishop’.

At Ennis Children’s Court on Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said, “It is disgraceful that this young man is being duped by someone who parades around pretending to be a Bishop”.

He was speaking after being told by a 17 year old boy he had recently been married by Bishop Michael Cox.

The youth – who cannot be named for legal reasons and was before the court on a trespass charge – confirmed to Judge Durcan that he paid € 100 to Mr Cox for the marriage and that he met him only once before the wedding.

He told the judge that he and his wife are expecting their first child in August. The legal age for marriage in Ireland is 18.

Judge Durcan said he wanted the issue to be brought to the attention of the State.

Addressing the teenager, Judge Durcan said, “This man is not a Bishop and he is not entitled to marry you.”

He told the boy this could have seri- ous implications for the status of his marriage, the status of his wife and the status of his child his wife is expecting.

Judge Durcan noted this was the second time in recent months he had been informed of a marriage performed by Bishop Cox for an Ennis teenager.

Last November he ordered gardaí to investigate the circumstances of a wedding of another 17 year-old performed by Bishop Cox.

At the time, Judge Durcan was strongly critical of Bishop Cox. He said the fact that the couple had paid money for the service was “appalling” and “brings things to the lowest depths.”

“I want to say loudly and clearly that anyone who masquerades as a clergy man and who takes money from young people and imbues in them a mistaken belief that he has married them, is in my view committing the most serious offence”, added Judge Durcan.

On Wednesday, Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the case is under investigation.

Judge Durcan said he also wanted the Probation Services to investigate how young people are being “duped” into paying for sham marriage ceremonies.

Probation Officer, Eoin Ryan said the case has been discussed by the service.

Bishop Cox previously attracted controversy when he ordained Sinead O’Connor a priest in 1999 in Lourdes — he is not a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church and is instead a bishop of the Latin Tridentine Church.

IRELAND’S oldest living person, Clare native Kathleen Snavely, celebrated her 112th birthday on Sunday by relaxing and getting her hair done.

Kathleen Hayes Rollins Snavely, who was born in East Clare on February 16, 1902, became Ireland’s oldest ever living person late last year when she overtook Louth woman, Katherine Plunket, and is now clos- ing in on becoming one of the oldest people ever to live on planet Earth.

Kathleen, who lives in Syracuse in upstate New York, is currently in excellent health and is now just three years from becoming one of the 10 oldest people ever to have lived. She is, however, still a long from becoming the worlds oldest person – that honour rests with Jeanne Calment, who was 122 years and 164 days old when she passed away in 1997.

Kathleen was born in Maghera near Feakle in East Clare in 1902. She emigrated to America in 1921 and set up a successful dairy, completely from scratch.

Up to two years ago, Kathleen was living independently, travelling on the bus and shopping for food, until she broke her hip and had to move into a local care centre.

Sr Kathy Osbelt, a friend of Kathleen’s, says that Snavely regularly talks about her experiences growing up in Ireland and her family.

“She talks about the wit and the appreciation for natural beauty. She is very funny and very feisty and loves a good story and to tell stories,” said Sr Osbelt.

“It is unfortunate that more people don’t know her. She is a treasure; she really is a peach.”

So far Kathleen has lived through two wars and survived 18 American presidents and two husbands. She never had any children.

Kathleen received a letter from President Michael D. Higgins last year and the centenarian bounty of € 2, 540.