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BARBARA Cusack knew nothing about the flood in her home until she stepped on to the floor at 6am on the morning of the flood.

“I was woken by the rescue people who knocked on the door around 6am to see if we were okay. That was the first I saw of it,” she said.

Immediately she feared for her daughter who was just days from giving birth.

“I told her she would have to move out of the house somewhere when I saw all the damage in the area. How would she get to a hospital?” she said.

Since then Charlotte has given birth to a healthy boy Shane Joseph, but now Barbara fears the house is not safe to bring her first grandchild home.

The oil is still not working, she explained, making looking after her husband who is ill all the more difficult.

It is also making it more difficult to dry out the house and get life back to normal.

For three days after the storm, Barbara, like her neighbours, had to contend with no sewerage system, as the water got into the system and the nearby pumping station.

Barbara explained getting on with every day life is difficult as people try to dry out their houses, replace every day white electrical goods and live in fear of the next wave.

NORTH Clare is in danger of becoming an unemployment blackspot if action is not taken to reverse worrying jobs trends in the region.

Almost 74 per cent of all new people signing on the live register in the last quarter of 2013 signed on in the Ennistymon office.

Fears have also been expressed locally about the growth in the number of long-term unemployed in the area, with the overall number of people signing on in North Clare growing by almost 300 per cent over the last eight years.

These figures do not take into account the number of people emigrating from the North Clare area, meaning the over number of actual jobs lost in the area could be far greater than the official figures suggest.

The overall number of people signing on in Clare rose by 302 people between September and December of last year. Over the same time period, the number of people in the Ennistymon area office grew by 223 people, meaning that 73.84 per cent of all live register increases in the county came in the Ennistymon area.

While much of this can be explained as a result of seasonal factors, with a number of large tourism sector em- ployers located in North Clare, the continued stagnation of the county’s building industry is also a major problem in the North Clare area.

“The Government needs to be cognizant of the fact that it needs to create job, not just on the city areas but in the regions as well. Opportunities are going to have to be developed for smaller, local employers who can offer four or five sustainable jobs. There is no point getting a factory into Ennistymon, Miltown Malbay or Lisdoonvarna that could be gone in five years,” said Ennistymon businessman and Senator, Martin Conway (FG).

“The recession has hit hard in North Clare. A lot of the people who are long-term unemployed in North Clare are that because of the collapse in the construction industry. It is really difficult to get employment in the area at the moment – particularly for young men.”

The number of people singing on the live register in North Clare doubled between 2005 [637] and 2008 and 1,214. The numbers signing on have fluctuated seasonally between 1,500 and 1,700 over the last fours years. It has been suggested that the repair work in North Clare following the storm might help a number of the long-term unemployed in Clare back into employment.

THE proposal to build an interactive tradition music visitors centre in Doolin received a setback this week as an Bord Pleanála overturned the recommendations of its own planning inspector, in forcing the developers to pay for the development of pedestrian access from the proposed centre to Doolin village.

Plans to construct an interactive visitor centre including retail space, service building, as well as car and coach parking were approved by Clare County Council in August of last year. A condition on the planning was to compel the developers, Tradtime Limited, to give a special contribution of € 30,000 to Clare County Council to develop pedestrian access to the site.

In her assessment of the appeal, an Bord Pleanála own inspector, Louise Kiernan, recommended that the condition for the special contribution be lifted, describing it as “unwar- ranted”.

“The planning authority are looking for too much,” she said in her report.

“They are getting lands for free as well as provision of a footpath and lighting across the site frontage and they are still looking for a large contribution towards a footpath link.”

In a rare move, the bord of an Bord Pleanála, decided to overturn the decision of its own inspector.

“Having regard to the nature of the proposed development, the likely lev- el of usage and associated volumes of pedestrian movement associated with the proposed development it is considered that in the absence of the provision of a suitable and safe pedestrian linkage between the site and the central area of Doolin the proposed development should not proceed,” they said.

“Accordingly, it is considered that the imposition of a financial levy as a special financial contribution towards the funding of such pedestrian linkage and footpath is appropriate.”

MARTIN Clancy has lived all his life in Cloughanhincy, Quilty.

He and his wife Silvia reside on the family farm and happily planned to see out their lives in this picturesque part of the county.

Today however the 82 year old lives in fear of a wave from the Atlantic invading his home again.

“In the way things are going, if they don’t do something we are going to have to move,” he said speaking from his bungalow on Wednesday.

He was particularly worried about the next high tide, timed for early Sunday morning on February 1.

“I won’t be around here. How can we stay here? I mean you would be frightened,” he said.

As a farmer and a man from the west coast of Clare, Mr Clancy has battled with the elements all of his life, and has learnt to live with them, but January 7 last was one of the most terrorising experiences of his life.

“22 years ago we were badly flooded, “ he said referring to when the river burst its banks and the sea “came in” in the early 1990s.

“That time was bad, but this is really a disaster altogether. It is fright- ening now,” he said.

The mild spoken man said the community looked for proper coastal protection then and “they didn’t do it.”

If he and his wife are to continue living among the friends and neighbours they have known for a lifetime, then the € 2.58 million requested by the council from central Government for coastal protection work must be allocated, and the work completed as soon as possible.

AMAZING film from CCTV cameras at the playground in Lahinch during the early hours of Monday, January 6, shows massive waves sweep away recycling bins weighing half a ton as the playground disappears under water.

Clare County Council’s Paul Moroney, who monitored the footage explained that no human could have survived the ferocity of the waves and a car would have been crushed with the impact.

The senior engineer with the council’s water department showed the film to county councillors at a special meeting on Friday last in an at- tempt to depict the terrifying weather conditions the people living along the county’s coast were exposed to during the end of December and early January.

Shortly after 3am on the fateful morning a wave dislodged the bottle and can banks weighing 250kg each.

Three minutes before 5am all of the bottle banks were dislodged and moving at speed with the force of a wave across the playground.

Half an hour later the film captured the playground now under water and the final bank – the half tonne back containing wet clothes, being swept across the screen.

Just 20 minutes later, at 5.50am, the playground was full of water with none of the play equipment visible.

Mr Moroney explained that in flood hazard terms the area was calculated to be “extremely hazardous”, “making it hazardous to life”.

Just seconds later a wave took out the streetlights, and even though the cameras kept running the screen was black and the only sound came from an angry sea.

A TEENAGER who claimed she fell into debt to moneylenders has received a 15 month suspended sentence.

The 19 year-old had pleaded guilty to a string of shoplifting offences. She admitted stealing almost € 1300 worth of goods from businesses in Ennis and Clarecastle over an 11 month period.

The case came before Ennis District Court on Wednesday after sentencing was adjourned from December.

Last month, the woman told the court she owed € 1000 to a money- lender in Ennis. Asked by Judge Durcan how she would re-pay the money, the woman said, “I’ll have to give them money out of my dole.”

Her solicitor Tara Godfrey said, “I’ve done what I can to get her to make a statement but she won’t”.

Ms Godfrey said the woman fell into debt because of her cannabis addiction.

“This is not like AIB or the Bank of Ireland, the terms are quite severe. My client was afraid to be at liberty”, she added. The court heard the woman’s father and mother are both dead and her younger brother died when he was just three years old.

The woman was described in court as a “vulnerable person at the end of her tether”. The court heard she was a victim of neglect as a child.

After reading a Probation Report on the woman’s family history and apparent troubles with moneylenders, Judge Durcan said, “In my time as a Judge this is one of the saddest reports I have read.”

He remanded the woman in custody to appear again in court on January 8. On Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said this was a “difficult case”.

Addressing the woman, Judge Durcan said, “I don’t want to imprison you for 18 months but the indications are that if you are at liberty you will continue to re-offend.” Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client would agree to stay out of Ennis.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said it would be helpful for all parties if the case was finalised. Imposing a 15-month suspended sentence, Judge Durcan said the woman was a “persistent shoplifter” who had grown up in “particularly difficult personal circumstances.”

Ms Godfrey told the court her client wanted to thank Judge Durcan, the court services, Probation services and gardaí for their patience in dealing with the case. A T IPPER A RY man accused of illegally cultivating cannabis plants has been sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court. ColmCafferkey (32), with an address at Demense, Roscrea, is facing three charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act It is alleged Mr Cafferkey did without license, cultivate plants of the genus cannabis, at Ballymulcashel, Sixmilebridge on August 14, 2012. The accused is also charged with having cannabis for sale or supply and unlawful possession of cannabis arising out of the same date and location. Mr Cafferkey first appeared before Ennis District Court in December where a garda Inspector said the matter would be proceeding to trial on indictment. The book of evidence was served on the accused in court onWednesday. Garda Sheila McGrath gave evidence of serving the book of evidence on solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick for his client. Inspector TomKennedy told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented for the accused to be returned for trial to the next sessions of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on February 18, 2014. Judge Patrick Durcan delivered the alibi warning and made the order returning the accused for trial. Legal aid was granted for Mr Fitzpatrick and one junior counsel. A N EN N IS man has denied an allegation that he harmed a dog by throwing it against a wall a number of times. Cathal McNamara (22), with an address at Old Military Barracks, Ennis, appeared at Ennis District Court onWednesday. He is charged in connection with an alleged incident that occurred at a named address in Ennis on December 15, 2013. It is alleged Mr McNamara contravened a safety order made at Ennis District Court in June by putting the applicant in fear by allegedly using threatening and abusive behaviour. It is alleged this behaviour included the accused harming a dog by throwing it at a wall a number of times and locking himself into a roomwith a child.The alleged of fence is contrary to the DomesticViolence Act. Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said she was seeking a date for hearing. She said her client denied what is alleged against himin the charge sheet. Judge Patrick Durcan said the alleged facts, as outlined in the charge sheet, indicated this was a very serious case.The case was adjourned to April 27 for hearing. T W O W ES T Clare man charged in connection with an alleged cannabis find last year have had the charges against themstruck out. Neil Casey (35) and Mark Lyons (25) appeared before Ennis District Court onWednesday. Mr Casey, with an address at Rinemacderrig, Carrigaholt, was alleged to have cultivated cannabis plants without license at Curragh, Feakle on June 18. Mr Casey also faced further charges of unlawful possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply also at Curragh, Feakle on June 18. At a court sitting in December, Inspector Michael Gallagher said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed trial on indictment. Mark Lyons (25), with an address at Fleetrock, Carrigaholt, was charged with having cannabis for sale or supply and unlawful possession of cannabis. In December Insp Gallagher said the DPP had directed summary disposal of Mr Lyons’ case, meaning it was to proceed in the District Court. But onWednesday, Inspector TomKennedy told the court the State were seeking to withdrawthe charges as presented against both accused. He said an issue had developed on the State’s side. Judge Patrick Durcan approved the application and struck out the charges against both accused. A MA N charged with in connection with a serious assault in Ennis last summer will learn next month howthe case is likely to proceed. Michael Doherty (22), with an address at Bay 2, St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis, appeared before Ennis District Court onWednesday. He is charged with assault causing harmto a teenager at Bank Place, Ennis on August 13, 2013. Inspector TomKennedy told the court he was not in a position to give directions fromthe Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Insp Kennedy said he expected to knowthe views of the DPP by next month. Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned the case to February 2. Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett consented to the matter being put back. T H E B OOK of evidence has been served on a Shannon man charged in connection with a serious assault in a pub.AdamDoody (19), with an address at Cluain Alainn, Shannon appeared at Ennis District Court onWednesday. He is charged with committing assault causing harmat Darcy’s Pub,Tullyvarraga, Shannon on February 9, 2013. Garda Sheila McGrath of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of service of the book of evidence. Inspector TomKennedy said the DPP had consented to the accused being returned for trial to the next sessions of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Patrick made the order and delivered the alibi warning.

ONE hundred per cent of the € 23.76 million requested by Clare County Council from central government must be forthcoming and soon if the local authority is to begin restoring the storm ravaged county. That was the message from county councillors at a special meeting on Friday, during which warnings were issued that lives will be lost if the infrastructure is not repaired immediately.

Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) said that one such urgent case was the main thoroughfare to the tourist attraction – the Cliffs of Moher.

“If something isn’t done at that location and other locations highlighted in this report, what is going to happen? Is it that that road will simply collapse and it is very close to that now? And if the road collapses, without ever talking about loss of life, it is going to result in a huge loss to the local economy, the main way to the cliffs will be collapsed and it will cost millions then. Whatever it is going to cost now that the road it there it will cost a lot more to be rebuild,” said the North Clare councillor.

He added however that priority must be given to people displaced by the storm and sea swells.

“We need a swift response from central government and a swift allocation of funds to start this work as a matter of urgency,” he said.

Cllr Michael Hillery (FF) was not confident that the close on € 24 million will cover the cost of the “damage I have seen along the coast line”.

Senior engineer with Clare County Council Tom Tiernan said the coun- cil will be working hard to restore local authority infrastructure.

He said the council’s focus would also be in making serous inroads into the village of Kilbaha in the coming weeks and Clahane north of Liscan nor “where serious damage has been done and a number of other areas where access is seriously curtailed”.

“We are a long way from having Lahinch ready for what is needed for the tourist season, but we will achieve it. This is something that is obviously very important to the county during the tourist season.”

THERE is a ‘huge problem’ with theft in Clare, a Judge has warned.

Judge Patrick Durcan made his comments at Ennis District Court on Wednesday as he imposed a 12month prison sentence on a Romanian man convicted for his role in a number of theft offences.

Emil Brasoveanu (27), with an address at Dun Leinn, Monivea, Galway, was part of a three strong gang who targeted small businesses in West and North Clare in a crime spree on December 17 (2013).

In December, a husband and wife Anton Makula (26) and Anca Grancea (23) of Cluain Rocaird, Headford Road, Galway city, received prison sentences for their role in the offences.

All three had pleaded guilty to various theft charges on three businesses in West Clare.

In December, defence solicitor Fiona Hehir said the couple had “stupidly got involved in the operation” because they needed money for their children’s Christmas presents.

The court heard Mr Brasoveanu wore a ladies swimsuit during the commission of the thefts.

Last month, Sgt Ronan O’Hara of Kilrush Garda Station, told the court the accused wore the swimsuit back to front.

“By wearing it back to front, you can conceal more down the back of it”, explained Sgt O’Hara.

“It’s a new one on me”, said Sgt O’Hara when asked if he had come across this type of theft before.

The businesses targeted were McGrotty’s Medical Hall, Ennistymon, William’s Pharmacy, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay Post Office. All property was recovered, the court heard.

“These people (businesses) were very specifically targeted by these people in a deliberate and organised fashion”, said Judge Durcan at the time.

Praising the actions of local gardaí and the bravery of a post office worker who helped foil the theft of a charity box, Judge Durcan said of the accused;

“Their actions are putting jobs on the line, businesses in jeopardy and leads to a situation where a commu nity could’ve been deprived of essential services.”

On Wednesday, defence solicitor Fiona Hehir said Mr Brasoveanu was an unemployed father of two who committed the offences to get money for Christmas. Judge Durcan said, “I do not believe a single word of what your client has instructed you”.

He said Mr Brasoveanu was part of a gang that had engaged in the “commercial tyranny” of small businesses in West Clare.

“The court has to look on these type of offences with the greatest severity and it does”, he added.

The court heard the accused is currently serving a prison sentence, activated by a Cork court last month.

Judge Durcan imposed a 12-month prison sentence, noting that there is “huge problem with theft in Clare.”

“You can’t have people perpetrating this type of crime against the retail sector which is on it’s knees”, he added.

ENNIS’ effor ts to become Ireland’s tidiest town have been boosted by a € 4,000 increase in funding from Ennis Town Council.

At the council’s annual budget meeting last week, members unanimously voted in favour of a motion to allocate extra funds to the Ennis Tidy Town’s Committee.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) proposed cutting by half money allo- cated for the mayor’s allowance in 2014.

The Ennis councillor told the meeting the money could instead be given to Tidy Towns as Ennis would only have a mayor for another six months.

It is expected that the town council will be replaced by a municipal authority after this year’s local elections.

Cll r Brennan’s proposal came in response to a suggestion put forward by Cll r Brian Meaney (GP).

A Fianna Fáí l candidate in the 2014 local elections, Cll r Meaney called on the council to increase the increase the cost of using the town’s automated public toilets from 25 cents to 50 cents.

The meeting heard the proposal would generate additional income of € 2, 000.

The council estimates it will cost € 70, 000 to maintain and service the two ‘superloos’ in 2014.

Cllr Meaney’s proposal was supported by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) who said some of the extra income should go towards tackling the “graffiti epidemic” in the town.

However it was strongly opposed by other councillors. Cllr Brennan said, “For anyone even to suggest it is disgraceful.”

The council will give a contribution of € 16, 000 to Ennis Tidy Towns. Cllr Brennan said an extra € 4,000 could be found by cutting the mayor’s annual allowance. Cll r Brennan’s motion was unanimously voted through by all nine members. Cllr Meaney’s motion was defeated by five votes to four.

Town manager Gerard Dollard told the meeting the council would also look favourably on any application from the Ennis Defibrillator Committee for community grant funding. This was after a request from Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind).

Going down on his knees as Tuesday’s meeting neared conclusion, Cllr O’Shea urged the council to provide financial support to the committee.

GARDAÍ in Clare have recovered more than three quarters of a million euro worth of cannabis plants at three different grow houses on the West Clare peninsula.

Three people were arrested yester- day (Monday) during the raid of two different houses in the Kilkee area, as part of ongoing investigations into the cultivation of drugs in west Clare. On Wednesday half a million euro worth of cannabis plants were discovered in Carrigaholt by local Gardaí working as part of a national operation – “Nitrogen”.

Yesterday afternoon Gardaí in Kilrush arrested a man believed to be a Vietnamese national following the planned raid of the rented house in Kilkee. The number of cannabis plants secured in the raid will not be known until later today (Tuesday) but it has been described by Gardaí as “sizeable”.

The man in his early 50s was arrested and detained in Ennis Garda Station last night under Section 2 of the Drugs Trafficking Act.

Earlier that morning Gardaí from Kilrush discovered 200 cannabis plants, worth an estimated € 160,00, in another rented house in the Kilkee area.