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THE Mayor of Clare opted to spread Christmas cheer this year by redirecting his € 1,000 Mayoral Christmas Card Allowance to two local voluntary groups.

Each year the first citizen of the county is allocated € 1,000 from the council coffers to send Christmas cards.

This year however, as charities struggle to raise funds the mayor, Cllr Joe Arkins decided to give the funds to the Clare Filipino Community and the Clare Branch of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA).

Both charities benefited by € 500 each.

“I am delighted to contribute my Christmas card allowance to the respective fundraising efforts of both of these organisations who for very different but important reasons rely on such donations,” stated Mayor Arkins.

Commenting on his donation to the Clare Filipino Community, he said, “The entire world watched on in horror as a Super Typhoon wreaked havoc on the Philippines during November. Since then, fundraising efforts have been underway all over Ireland to assist those whose lives have been affected by the tragedy. Clare, and in particular Shannon, has a thriving Filipino community and I am delighted to pledge part of my Christmas card allowance to their fundraising efforts.”

The mayor also paid tribute to the work carried out by the Clare Branch of the IKA and its volunteers.

“I want to thank members of the association for their commitment to promoting organ donation and tireless fundraising efforts to support IKA services. I also want to pay tribute to the many donor families around Clare for their immense courage and compassion in donating their loved ones’ organs, as well as acknowledge those who carry organ donor cards,” stated the mayor.

NEWS of a major data security breach in Ennis travelled around the world in November after it was revealed that a cyber attack had taken place on the Station Road-based company LoyaltyBuild.

The Data Protection Commissioner said the credit card details of over 500,000 people across Europe may have been compromised by the data breach at Loyaltybuild.

The company was sold in 2008 by businessmen Dominic Considine, Domhnal Slattery and Sean Lyne for € 25 million to American company, Affinion.

Suspicion about a possible breach emerged on Friday, October 25, and a team of “expert forensic investigators” was appointed to determine what had happened.

On Wednesday, October 30, it emerged that a breach may have occurred and it contacted the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) on November 1.

An inspection team from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has also confirmed that the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of around 1.12 million clients were also taken.

Billy Hawkes said his office has now made contact with colleagues across Europe to inform them of the security breach.

Loyaltybuild runs special offers and incentive schemes for major retailers, utilities and service providers in Ireland, the UK, Scandinavia and Switzerland.

The ODPC said an inspection team has confirmed that the full card details of over 376,000 customers were taken.

Of this figure, over 70,000 were SuperValu customers and over 8,000 were AXA Leisure Break customers.

The details of another 150,000 clients were also potentially compromised. It said initial indications are that the breaches were the result of an “external criminal act”.

Managing director Peter Steenstrup has said he is deeply sorry for what is described as a major security breach at the company.

He urged customers to check their bank account statements and report any suspicious activity.

Mr Steenstrup said Loyaltybuild takes data security very seriously and the company is working to ensure that this will never happen again.

The Data Protection Commissioner said the criminals who breached security have all the information they need in order to use the payment cards.

LoyaltyBuild stated that the system breach was discovered last month, and that they have been working around the clock with their security experts to get to the bottom of matter.

“From the moment we first detected a suspected security breach on Friday, October 25, we immediately engaged the services of an expert forensics security team and have worked tirelessly to try to rectify this situation,” they noted.

“The DPC and the Gardaí will be kept informed of any further developments.”

DO NOT resort to moneylenders. That was the stark message to people facing financial pressures this January, a message that was to be repeated again and again through out the year.

As Clare families faced into the toughest financial weeks of the year, financial advice groups warned that illegal money-lenders should be avoided at all costs.

Twenty years after it was set up to counteract illegal money lending in West Clare, MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service) asked families under severe financial pressure not to opt for this form of short-term loan.

By the end of 2012, numerous financially-stressed families in Clare had turned to unscrupulous money-lenders, who would charge huge interest rates and threaten them if they did not pay up. As these lenders are not legal, organisations such as MABs cannot negotiate with them on behalf of the person taking the loan.

People are particularly vulnerable to this type of lending at this time of year and Paul Woulfe from Clare Citizens Information said this is leading to worry and depression.

“Many people parked their problems and money concerns coming up to Christmas so the next few months are going to be difficult.

“People also borrow on the run up to Christmas and add to credit card and store cards debt which adds to the problem now,” he said. “There is help out there as long as people do not panic,” he said.

CLARE farmers were warned to be vigilant in August following a marked increase in cattle rustling – as fears grew that an organised gang could be targeting farms in the county.

An incident of suspected cattle rustling took place in Quin when more than € 10,000 wor th of cattle was taken from the farm of Anthony Flannery.

The raid specifically targeted high value animals which the thieves would likely attempt to re-sell rather than slaughter.

But to sell the animals the criminals would need to provide valid documentation and tags for the animals, which led to a belief the theft could have been part of an organised operation rather than opportunistic.

Clare ICMSA Chairman, Mar tin McMahon, told The Clare People such crimes could be enough to put already stretched farmers out of business.

“The value of this stock now to a farmer is huge. After such a costly winter farmers have been tr ying to get cattle in shape so they could get as much money from them as they could. There are loans to banks and credit to be paid and a theft life this could put someone out of business,” he said.

“These people [cattle r ustlers] would have to have a knowledge of farming and a way of disposing of these animals. If there is someone out there who is helping dispose of stolen animals then this is a very serious risk to farmers in Clare and something that needs to be brought to an end quickly.

“The Guards and the Department of Agriculture need to row in behind this quickly and bring an end to this situation,

Gardaí in Ennis investigated the incident in Quin. Among the cattle stolen were a six-year-old black Limousin cow, two other in calf cows and an Aberdeen Angus.

SHANNON suffered a major jobs blow in December when it was revealed that one of the longest serving companies in the Free Zone will close its manufacutring facility in 2014.

It was announced through a public relations firm in Dublin that Kraus and Naimer would shut down the manufacturing arm of its operation in the industial estate early in the new year.

“Production at the facility, which supplies electrical switchgear, will cease at the end of January 2014,” a statement issued by through FleishmanHilliard revealed.

The announcement was made to the total workforce of 63 by senior management from the company’s parent group in Austria.

The employees were told that “the closure is due to the business sustaining losses for the last number of years, which have been driven by the impact of weak customer demand due to the global recession.

“The decision follows previous efforts to restructure the facility and a move recently to enter short working time arrangements,” the statement continued.

“It is with deep regret we have had to make this decision which has been made due to ongoing and unsustainable losses incurred at the Shannon facility,” said Ted Naimer, Global President at Kraus and Naimer.

“We will be entering into a process with staff over coming days in relation to an orderly winding down of the facility, and thank them sincerely for the contribution they have made to the company,” he added

Kraus and Naimer established its facility, which is involved in the manufacture of a variety of electrical switches for industry, in Shannon in 1973.

SIPTU, which had been in talks with the company about strategies to maintain its operation in Shannon, said workers are shocked and angered to learn of the company’s decision to end production.

The union says further talks are due to take place at the company next week.

It will explore all avenues open to maintaining employment and if necessary trying to secure the best redundancy deals possible.

THERE were increased sightings in Ennis during August of a “rogue” fox blamed for killing three dogs in a housing estate in recent weeks.

Authorities issued a warning over the behaviour of the fox amid fears it could attack small children. County dog warden and Clare ISPCA officer Frank Coote said he has received numerous reports of sightings since highlighting the fox attacks last week.

The animal is believed to be moving through land in the Tobertascáin area of the town. Mr Coote said the fox was responsible for attacking and killing the dogs.

“To be honest I didn’t really believe it at first. It’s rare enough for something like this to happen. But I have the evidence of it, these dogs were half eaten. I interviewed the families. I took photos. These dogs were all attacked in properties,” explained Mr Coote.

Though instances of fox attacks against humans are rare, Mr Coote said there is evidence in England that it has happened before.

The long-serving animal welfare officer says this is the first time that he has encountered a “rogue fox” in the Ennis area.

“I’ve met a rogue badger before up in Lees Road when it opened. It was chasing people up and down the path but it had eaten a poison. I’ve seen one rogue fox in Tulla before but never around Ennis,” he said.

Mr Coote said he would be con- cerned that the fox could attack small children. A trap has been laid in the area where the fox is though to travel through. But so far it hasn’t been caught. Mr Coote is liaising with officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Services. He said efforts would continue to trap the fox.

“It has quite bad mange and I was talking to a vet who said he would probably die during the winter anyway. But this fox is a danger and I will stay out there to try and catch it”, Mr Coote added.

AN ENNIS man has received a fivemonth prison sentence after admitting breaking into a family home in Drumcliffe earlier this year.

Stephen Moloney (34) used a rock to smash the back window of the house in Drehidngower on the outskirts of Ennis on May 22, 2013.

Mr Moloney stole € 200 from the house, Ennis District Court heard on Thursday.

Imposing a five-month sentence for burglary, shoplifting and criminal damage offences, Judge Durcan said he had to bear in mind the impact Mr Moloney’s actions had on his victims.

Judge Durcan said the confidence of the victims of the burglary at Drehidnagower “must be shattered”.

“The message must go out loudly and clearly that private living spaces are inviolable,” he added.

Detective Garda Mike Kelly of Ennis Garda Station told the court the house, which is owned by a 66year-old man and his wife, was unoccupied at the time of the burglary. He said Mr Moloney was arrested after CCTV footage of the area was viewed.

Det Kelly said the accused made full admissions but had not paid € 40 compensation to cover the cost of the broken window.

Mr Moloney, with an address at Oakwood Drive, Ennis, also pleaded guilty to theft of items including X Box games, dog food, bottles of wine and a toothbrush from Tesco, Lynch’s Centra and Boot’s Chemist between June 24 and June 29, 2013.

He also admitted throwing a rock through a window of Ennis Community College on June 27.

Insp Tom Kennedy said the accused has 69 previous convictions, with over half of those for theft.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client, a father of one, says he was drunk when he broke into the house.

Of the incident at Ennis Community College, Ms Godfrey said her client was very drunk and went to the Garda station afterwards to tell them what he had done.

Judge Patrick Durcan said Mr Moloney had gone on a “complete rampage”.

Of the burglary offence, Judge Durcan said, “I don’t know this family but its not just the pane of glass that cost € 40 that would have affected them, their sense of confidence must be shattered.”

He imposed sentences totalling five months. Recognizances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

THE sun began to shine in Clare in June and once it started, it just wouldn’t quit. As the county spent much of June soaking up the rays, the tills in north and west Clare were busy ringing as tens of thousands of tourists descended on Lahinch, Kilkee, Spanish Point, Liscannor and Fanore.

The heat-wave has been described as a Godsend for tourism industry in the county, with ‘no vacancies’ signs being dusted off in hotels and B&B’s all along the Atlantic Coast.

All of last week the roads leading to our coastal resort towns and villages were filled with families in search of the beach. Those visiting Lahinch, Spanish Point and Kilkee were forced to park a long way from the beaches as throngs of people made their way to the Clare coastline.

According to Lahinch hotelier Michael Vaughan, the past week was a reminder of the good old days. “Last week was reminiscent of the heady days of the 1970s. It was tremendous, there were droves of people coming from all over the country to rediscover seaside fun and there wasn’t a room to be had in north Clare.

“I think everyone up here went off the Prozac for a week and enjoyed the sun instead,” he said.

Michael Vaughan went on to explain that any issues arising from the hot weather were competently dealt with locally.

“We had a lot of traffic issues in the area but they are issues that we’d be happy to have any day of the week. Credit to the local gardaí, they were out on point duty and managed an unexpected situation really well.

The Cliffs of Moher is on line to record its busiest ever year, which could see the county’s leading tourist attraction hit one million visitors.

According to year-to-date figures obtained by The Clare People , number visitors to the Cliffs are up by more than 10 per cent on last year – and are predicted to hit 961,400 by year end.

“For the Cliffs of Moher and larger towns like Ennis, the tourist number are very good at the moment, mainly because the American bus tourists are really back this year.

“So a 10 per cent increase in numbers at the Cliffs wouldn’t surprise me at all. The number wouldn’t be quite as good for local provider however – we would be aiming for a 5 to 6 per cent increase in number overall this year.”

The Cliffs of Moher is now expected to record its busiest every year in 2013 – passing out the 939,772 who visited the centre in 2007.”

A SPATE of aggravated burglaries targetting elderly people living in the West Clare area was a cause of huge concern in the community in the new year, as gardaí believed the culprits had local knowledge of their victims.

In a holiday attack, two elderly brothers were targetted in their home in Lack West Kilmihil during the weekend before Christmas.

At least two intruders, yielding iron bars, broke into the frightened men’s home between 2am and 3.25am on Saturday, December 22.

They terrorised the elderly occupants and forced them to hand over what was considered to be a sizeable amount of money. The thugs then fled in a car.

The only description available to the gardaí of the intruders was “that they were big”.

“A car with a loud exhaust was heard near the scene at the time,” a Garda spokesperson said.

This crime was very similar to burglaries committed in Moyasta on December 8 and in Boolyneaska Kilmaley on December 6. Again, older people were targetted and robbed.

In the Moyasta incident, three individuals broke into the farmhouse of two elderly sisters and demanded money.

The trio broke down the door of the rural house in Kildymo, Bansha, near the seaside town of Kilkee, between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on December 8 and entered the premises where the women had lived all of their lives.

A frightening ordeal then began for the two ladies in their 80s as the robbers ripped the phone from the wall and demanded money from them. There was very little money in the house and the thugs eventually got away with a small amount of cash from the old age pensioners’ purses. The three who had targeted the two vulnerable older women in their own home covered their faces during the robbery. Gardaí believe there may be a connection between at least two of the three burglaries. They are appealing for anyone with any information to contact them at Kilrush and Ennis Garda Stations.

IN NOVEMBER a Clare mother pledged to take her case against the Heath Services Executive who took away a medical card from her son to the gates of Dáil Éireann and straight to Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Noreen Keane from Cratloe outlined for case to The Clare People , saying that she was on the brink of having to stop buying essential medication for her eight-year-old son following the loss of his discretionary medical card.

To highlight her case Ms Keane outlined plans to stage a protest in Dublin – her last ditch attempt to force the HSE to reverse the decision.

Her son Ronan Woodhouse (8) was born with Down Syndrome and suffers from 13 related conditions including acute asthma, a cardiac condition as well as sight and hearing difficulties.

According to Noreen, the cost of medication, therapy and doctor visits for Ronan costs an average of € 2,300 per month. The HSE contacted Noreen last February, informing her that Ronan’s discretionary medical card was to be revoked.

This decision was upheld after an appeal, prompting Noreen to begin a campaign last month to highlight her son’s situation. In the last number of weeks the “Ronan’s Cause” site on Facebook has gained more than 4,000 friends.

Noreen and Ronan also protested outside the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in Limerick in October, at which time Taoiseach, Enda Kenny (FG), committed to meeting her. This meeting has yet to take place.

“They are putting my child’s life at risk by taking away this medical card. I just can’t provide all these services for him so how am I supposed to prioritise things? Should I reduce the medication that he needs or do I stop bringing him to the doctor?” she told The Clare People .

“I’m going to keep fighting for this. I’m tired, I’d be lying if I said otherwise. I am a single mother. But I am going to keep fighting for this. I don’t have any other choice. Should I stop buying oil for the house or should I stop buying his medication? Then if the house is cold he is going to get sick.

“I work full time and I’m being penalised because I work. We are a oneincome family. When the medical card was issued to Ronan eight years ago we were a two-income family so we are much worse off now than when the card was originally issued. So how can they [the HSE] say that the system has not changed?”