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A DISTANT RELATIVE of US President Barrack Obama has been told to pay € 500 to the court poor box after he pleaded guilty to careless driving near Ennis last year.

Moneygall man Henry Healy (29) was involved in a crash when he momentarily lost control of his car at Shraheen, Clooney at around 7pm on May 8, 2013, Ennis District Court heard on Wednesday.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court Mr Healy was driving towards Tulla when his car veered across the line of traffic and into the side of an incoming car. Insp Kennedy said, “The two cars didn’t hit head on, they hit sideways and there was a collision.” Garda Brian O’Callaghan told the court he responded to a 999 emergency call about the accident on the night. He said Mr Healy’s car “travelled quite a distance down the road on impact”.

Garda O’Callaghan said the female victim knew there was going to be an impact and braced herself for it. “I was subsequently speaking to Mr Healy. He has no recollection of it”, added Garda O’Callaghan

Mr Healy, with an address at Moneygall, Offaly, and the female occupant of the other vehicle were both hospitalized but their injuries were not serious, the court heard.

Garda O’Callaghan said, “He wasn’t speeding. He momentarily lost control before impact.”

Addressing Judge Patrick Durcan solicitor Michael Collins said his client had never been in trouble before. “I am hoping that we can come out of here today without anything on our record,” he added. Mr Collins said Mr Healy had a momentary lapse on “what I believe is a notorious stretch of road.” Mr Collins said Mr Healy is involved in tourism development and his job requires him to be constantly on the road.

Judge Durcan remarked that Mr Healy is from an “internationally recognized part of Ireland.” Mr Healy is the eighth cousin of US President Barrack Obama. He has visited the White House and accompanied Mr Obama on his historic visit to his ancestral home of Moneygall in May 2011.

Judge Durcan said: “This is a man of 29 years of age, he has an impeccable record in terms of road traffic and he has some record of service to the State,” he added.

Judge Durcan said that if Mr Healy paid € 500 to the court poor box he would strike out the charge. The money was paid into court.

A WOMAN who parked across two disabled parking bays in Ennis Courthouse acted in an “ignorant” and “insensitive” manner, a court has heard.

Judge Patrick Durcan was speaking as he imposed a € 750 fine on a mother of seven who was found to have illegally parked in disabled parking bays on May 22, 2013. Judge Durcan also disqualified the woman from holding a driver’s license for a period of six months, by way of ancillary order.

“Obviously this is an ignorant and insensitive person who would park across two disabled parking bays”, added Judge Durcan.

The woman was not present in court for the brief hearing. Judge Durcan said that he recently had to adjourn a case from Gort District Court to Ennis District Court to cater for a disabled person attending the court.

The woman who received the fine later appeared in court. Solicitor Tara Godfrey told Judge Durcan the woman was in a “very distressed state”. Judge Durcan refused an application to fix recognizance for an appeal as the case had already been dealt with.

Ms Godfrey said she would file a new application with the court requesting recognizance be fixed in the event of an appeal.

THE CLARE branch of St Vincent de Paul say they will pay for Christmas presents for children this year – if it means that families won’t be forced to use non-traditional moneylenders.

Clare SVP president, John Cullinane, is urging Clare families to contact the society now – before the pressures to go into debt to fund Christmas presents begins.

Speaking in the aftermath of a Gardai crackdown on illegal money lending in Clare, Mr Cullinane said his organisation can provide toys, food and fuel to needy families this Christmas.

“We have had some people coming to us in recent times reporting that they have gotten in trouble with money lenders but we fell that most of these people don’t actually contact the SVP,” he said.

“We feel that a large amount of people are using money lenders before they contact SVP.

“We would really urge people to contact us, especially coming up to Christmas time when families need more money.

“We would urge people not to go money lenders looking for money they should go to their local St Vincent de Paul instead.

“We will provide everything we possibly can for people and families coming up to Christmas.

“We can help people with food, clothing, toys and fuel – we are in a position to provide people in need with a wide array of materials that will help them steer clear of moneylenders this Christmas.

“It is so easy when a moneylender calls to your door.

“It is very tempting to avail of it at the time but then when you are paying back at interest rate of 300 per cent or more, people can get caught in a cycle with the money lenders and become trapped by the weight of their debt.”

The St Vincent de Paul carries out an assessment of all applications to prevent people who don’t need it from accessing their services.

“However, once a person or family have passed the application, they is funding in place to help them with a variety of materials in the run up to Christmas.

People thinking of using money lenders are also urged to contact Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).

THE DEVELOPMENT of a new road layout at Blakes Corner in Ennistymon is back on track – with An Bord Pleanála agreeing to fund an Environmental Impact Statement [EIS] into the development.

Progress on the development has been virtually stalled since October 2011 – when the Save Ennistymon’s Heritage group indicated its intention to refer planning permission for the project to An mBord Pleanála – should Clare County Council and the National Roads Authority [NRA] go ahead with planning without first completing an EIS.

This tactic had previously been used by objectors to a new pier in Doolin to delay progress on that development. Clare County Council has made a number of unsuccessful requests that funding be made available by the NRA over the past two years.

A council spokesperson confirmed yesterday that NRA funding will be made available next year to complete the EIS. “Clare County Council has received confirmation from the NRA that the required funding will be provided during 2014 to enable the Council, in conjunction with the NRA, to proceed with the EIS in relation to resolving traffic issues at Blakes Corner, Ennistymon. Work on this EIS will begin once this funding has been received,” said a council spokesperson.

The news comes on the foot of cor respondence between Lahinch Councillor Bill Slattery (FG) and Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, earlier this year.

“This matter has dragged on for a considerable time and no progress is being made on the issue. The lack of progress has been very frustrating,” he said. “We are now getting the money that we need for the EIS.

“This means that we can proceed right away with procurement of consultants to do this work and make a submission to An Bord Pleanála. I also received an assurance from Tom Tiernan [Senior Engineer with Clare County Council], that the steps leading down to Blakes Corner will be back-filled soon. This will make the situation there much safer.”

Once the EIS is completed Clare County Council/NRA will be in a position to go ahead with planning permission for the junction. This plan could see the front of Blakes and Linnanes building demolished and rebuilt on a site a number of metres back from the junction.

THE BOOK of evidence has been served on a man charged in connection with an alleged stabbing in Shannon last year.

Darren Lindsay (22), with an address at Cronan Grove, Shannon, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

The accused is charged with assault causing harm to a man at Cluain Airne, Shannon on September 30 (2012).

Inspector Tom Kennedy applied for an amendment to be made to the charge sheet concerning the location where the alleged offence is alleged to have taken place.

Defence solicitor Oonagh Moylan objected to the amendment, saying it changed the nature of the charge.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he was overruling Ms Moylan’s objection and granting the amendment.

Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of serving the book of evidence on solicitor Oonagh Moylan for her client Darren Lindsay.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consented to the accused being returned for trial to the next sessions of the Circuit Criminal Court.

Legal aid was approved for Ms Moylan and one junior counsel. Judge Durcan delivered the alibi warning to the accused and made the order returning the man for trial.

A CONSTRUCTION company, who objected to plans by Clare County Council to sell land in Shannon for the creation of a crematorium earlier this year, have lodged its own plans to build a crematorium in Clarecastle.

Fenloe Properties Ltd have lodge plans with the local authority to construct a chapel and crematorium furnace on lands at Ballaghfadda on the Kildysart Road.

The plans also include a cemetery, remembrance and memorial gardens and a car park – with a planning decision not likely to be made until February of next year.

In October of this year a solicitors letter was sent by Fenloe Limited to Clare County Council – regarding plans by the local authority to sell land in Shannon to an unnamed developer for the creation of a crematorium.

The council had already granted planning permission for the development of a crematorium on that site in 2007 – but this project never came to fruition.

A council spokesperson confirmed yesterday that it had received a letter from Fenloe Properties and because of that letter – the matter had not been discussed at the November meeting of Clare County Council.

“The Council is in receipt of correspondence and the matter is being dealt with.

An extension of planning permission has been approved by the Council.

The disposal of the lands was deferred by the elected members at the November meeting,” said a council spokesperson.

In 2007, former County Councillors Tony McMahon (LAB) and the late Sean Hillery (FF), lodged plans to build a crematorium beside Illaunamanagh graveyard in the Shannon area.

At the time concerns were expressed about the rezoning of public lands, future ownership of the land, the disposal of waste at the site.

The proposal was appealed to An Bord Pleanala in 2009 but planning was granted – contrary to the recommendation of the boards own inspector.

However, plans to construct the Shannon crematorium were never activated and the project appeared dead until reactivated by an unknown developer earlier this year.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND), who had opposed the sale of the Shannon land in 2007, said yesterday that he would keep an close watch on the Clarecastle plan.

“At this point I don’t know enough about this [planned Clarecastle crematorium] proposal, but if the land is suitable zones and meets with the requirements set out in the planning process then I would be in favour of it,” he said.

NELSON Mandela’s inspirational fight for freedom touched the lives of people around the world including that of a young priest from Scariff.

One of the closest friendships Mandela shared during the 18 years he spent imprisoned on Robben Island was with Fr Brendan Long, a native of Scariff who served as prison chaplain.

Aged 28, Fr Long was appointed chaplain to Robben Island in 1962 after a term at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Every Sunday, Fr Long would take a ferry from Cape Town to the island to hold services for the inmates.

As the prisoners’ beliefs varied, non-denominational services were held and confessions for Catholic inmates were heard,

In a 2003 interview, Fr Long recalled how the future President of South Africa would read aloud passages from scriptures.

“He once said to me: ‘If I were a communist I wouldn’t have read scripture,’ He read with great pride a psalm entitled ‘Let every creature praise the Lord’, Fr Long told a South African newspaper Mail and Guardian.

The article states “The chaplain’s weekly trips to Robben Island usually ended with a joke about them getting together for a party in freedom, little thinking this would ever come about. Their friendship continued after Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor prison on the mainland in 1982 and his release from detention on February 11, 1990”.

Fr Long returned to Ireland in the mid nineties but his friendship with one of world’s great Statesmen endured beyond the confines of Mandela’s captivity.

Mandela, who passed away on Thursday, received an honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland Galway in 2003.

He used the visit to Ireland to catch up with this old friend from Scariff who was one of the guests at the ceremony.

Reporting on the occasion, the Irish Independent described the “poignant scene” as Mandela greeted Fr Long.

Fr Long recalled meeting “the humble, highly intelligent, very spiritual Mandela and man with the very, very warm handshake”. Fr Long passed away in April 2009.

GARDA plans aimed at curbing crime in Ennis town centre over the Christmas period will be unveiled at a meeting on Monday night.

The annual Christmas Business Watch meeting will take place at Ennis Garda Station on Monday, December 16, 6.15pm-7pm.

All businesses are invited to attend the meeting. The Ennis Chamber Garda Accord was established in 2003 to formalise meetings between the business community and the local Gardaí.

Members of the Garda Crime Prevention Unit and Business Liaison Team will be in attendance to give advice to businesses on how best to protect themselves, cash and premises in the busy Christmas period. The Gardaí will also answer any question from the business community in relation to security issues throughout the year.

Businesses will also hear first-hand Ennis Gardaí’s activities in relation to Beat-on-the-Street and about conditions for Pedestrianisation in the Christmas Shopping Period. Ennis’s Purple Flag Award will also be discussed as to how the town can ensure the retention of this accolade in 2014.

The meeting comes after businesses in the Market raised concerns over “aggressive behaviour” of some groups of young people in the area.

Ennis councilor, Johnny Flynn (FG) said the concerns were highlighted at a recent meeting with representatives of businesses in the Market.

He stated, “During the meeting the majority expressed serious concerns for themselves, their staff and customers as a result of aggressive behaviour of groups of young people

He continued, “The businesses claim that it is the same group that are causing damage to both business and negatively impact on the public perception of safety whilst shopping or strolling through their business area.

“The ability of businesses to pay rates, other local government costs, etc, they say, are directly related to the ability to trade successfully in a safe and attractive area. They believe that all the good work of both the Council and both in promoting and managing Ennis can be undone by this small sector of society”.

According to Cllr Flynn, some business owners “have witnessed tourists and locals leaving their street at haste when some hassle between the youths and or various families ‘kicks off’.”

IT WAS a weekend of star gazing in West Clare as Stereophonics front man Kelly Jones married long time love Jakki Healy in a ceremony at St Senan’s Church Kilrush, followed by reception at the five star Lodge in Doonbeg.

International stars from the world of music, film and television travelled to the bride’s ancestral home of County Clare to celebrate her marriage to the Welsh singer.

Ms Healy’s mother hailed from Kilshanny, while her father is an Ennistymon native, with the illustrator growing up in London.

On Saturday crowds gathered out- side St Senan’s Church to wish the couple well and spot the numerous celebrities in attendance.

Among the well known faces causing excitement for the crowd were Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and The Jam’s Paul Weller.

“I was only a few feet away from Ronnie Wood, although I wasn’t sure if it was him or Rod Stewart at first, I always get them mixed up,” said one excited local woman.

“They were all really nice, waving and smiling,” said another bystander referring to guests that included members of Stereophonics, Notting Hill star Rhys Ifans, actress Anna Friel, Wayne Rooney’s wife Coleen, actor Dougray Scott, his wife actress Claire Forlani and television present- er Amanda Byram.

The guests were bussed to the Lodge Doonbeg for a five star reception, but the party didn’t stop there with many of the guests making a weekend of it in West Clare.

A post wedding party was held in Tubridy’s Bar and Restaurant in Doonbeg on Sunday with family and close friends, including many famous faces enjoying food, drink and local music provided by Patrick Roche.

Kelly Jones also took to the stage at the popular Doonbeg watering hole to sing Dakota and a special rendition of “My Girl” to his new wife.

Again the couple and their guests happily posed for photos with staff and local people as the celebrations continued into the evening.

THE FIRST details of what location in Clare have been infected by Ash Dieback have been confirmed.

At last night meeting of Clare County Council it was confirmed that an area of forestry between Ennistymon and Lisdoonvarna has been infected with the contagious fungal disease.

It was also confirmed that three other positive cases of Ash Dieback or Chalara fraxinea have been found in trees bordering the M18 motorway.

The Department of Agriculture confirmed to the Clare People last month that a total of seven positive cases of the disease have been found in Clare. However, despite a number of inquires, the department has consistently declined to give any detail of the exact location of the outbreaks.

Yesterday’s information represents the first detailed confirmation of where outbreaks have taken place since it arrive in Ireland almost 13 months ago.

“Ash dieback disease has been found in at least three location close to motorways in Clare and in one plantation between Ennistymon and Lisdoonvarna,” a council spokesperson said yesterday.

The information was in response to a motion put forward by Cllr Brian Meaney (FF) who said that people with ash plantation in Clare were “ex- tremely concerned” about the spread of the disease.

At present there a total of 75 ash plantation through county with the average size of these plantation less than 10 hectares in size.

The number of instances of ash dieback in Clare has more than doubled over the last six months with Clare trees now the third most infected in Ireland.

According to figures obtained from the Department of Agriculture, a total of seven positive cases of ash dieback, or Chalara fraxinea, have been recorded in Clare so far this year – up from just three cases in May.

Coincidentally, strong hurling counties have, to date, been hit hardest by ash die back. The last three All Ireland hurling champions – Clare, Kilkenny and Tipperary – have the three highest instances of ash dieback in Ireland.

The Department of Agriculture has declined to give exact details of the location of infected trees in Clare and other counties. This follows confusion earlier this year when the department appeared to release contradictory information about the location of infected trees in Clare.