Category: News

A SECOND major drugs seizure in the space of a month has been uncovered by a Custom’s dog at Shannon Airport.

Herbal cannabis, estimated to be worth € 50,000, was discovered at the airport on Tuesday July 23. Custom’s officers seized the drugs which were discovered in freight that arrived at the airport.

The plans to import drugs through Shannon Airport was foiled by a sniffer dog named Ollie. A spokesperson for the Office of the Revenue Commissioners confirmed that an investgation into the matter is continuing.

“Officers from Revenue’s Customs Service at Shannon Airport, yesterday (23/07/13), eized a quantity of herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of € 50,000.”

The spokesperson continued, “Following another positive indication by Customs dog, Ollie, Revenue officials discovered the drugs concealed in a consignment of freight that arrived into Shannon from Spain. Investigations are continuing.”

It is the second time in the space of four weeks that Ollie has foiled an attempted drugs importation plot at Shannon Airport.

Earlier this month Customs Officers seized herbal cannabis with an estimated street value of € 300,000 following a positive indication by Ollie.

The drugs were concealed in freight that arrived into Shannon.

The drugs were hidden in a consignment of freight that was thought to be destined for an address in Munster. Gardaí from Shannon Garda Station were assisting officers from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners with their investigation into the drugs shipment.

THE family of murdered Clare woman Emer O’Loughlin will take part in a new documentary into her death which will be shown tomorrow evening, July 30.

Hopes are high that an increase in attention for the cold case may lead to fresh information about the whereabouts of John Griffin, who the Gardaí have been tracking for more than eight years.

A number of Emer’s family were interviewed for the ‘Cracking Crime’ programme in April of this year when they came together to mark the eight anniversary of Emer’s tragic death.

It is hoped that a fresh spotlight being shined on the case may lead to new leads emerging for the Gardaí and Interpol. Indeed, there has been a great deal of attention for the case on social media in recent weeks.

A new facebook group entitled “Emer O’Loughlin – Help Catch Her Killer” was established earlier this years. Membership of the group has swelled from 600 people in early June to 2,400 now.

A number of previously unreleased images of John Griffin have also been circulated in recent week – with a particular emphasis on mainland Europe – where Mr Griffin is believed to currently reside.

Ennistymon woman Emer O’Loughlin lost her life in a mobile home in Tubber in April 8, 2005. A number of attempts have been made over the years to track down the chief suspect, John Griffin, with Interpol releasing a photograph and a description him in early 2011.

Despite a number of leads and suspected sighting of Mr Griffin in Europe, the official search has done cold in recent years.

Her body was found in the burnedout neighbouring mobile home and was only identified following DNA testing. The chief suspect in the case, John Griffin, was tracked to the Aran Island where Gardaí believe he tried to fake his own suicide before he fled the country.

Emer’s case will be featured in the first episode of ‘Cracking Crime’, which will be screened on RTÉ 1 on Tuesday, July 30, at 9.35pm.

A SECOND person in a week has been hospitalised by Dusty the Dolphin – who injured a swimmer in Doolin late on Sunday evening, July 28.

Despite repeated warning by local organisations, as well as Clare County Council, a number of people continue to swim close to the 14year-old dolphin who has taken up residence at Doolin Pier.

Clare County Council life guards stationed at Doolin Pier have taken to raising the “red flag” – which indicates that it is not safe to swim when Dusty is in the area. Despite this, people continue to swim close to the dolphin with reports of people even covering Dusty’s blowhole and pulling her fins.

The latest incident took place late on Sunday evening when a female swimmer was charged as she left the water after a swim at about 10pm.

The dolphin is believed to have struck the woman in the kidney, knocking her over and leaving her winded.

The woman received medical treated at the scene by the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coast Guard and was taken by ambulance to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick for treatment.

Her injuries were not serious but she was described as being badly bruised and shocked by the incident.

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) have put up post- ers in the area recommending that people do not swim with Dusty. The posters were distribute to premises in Doolin last Thursday and additions posters are also being placed on the Doolin ferries.

“IWDG acknowledges that many people have had a fantastic encounter with Dusty and have built up a personal relationship with the dolphin. However IWDG is very concerned that many visitors, especially in the summer, do not recognise the signals that Dusty sends out when she is not happy with their behaviour,” said a spokesperson.

“Ignoring such signs or behaving inappropriately has led on a number of occasions to aggressive interactions with some people being severly injured. If this continues, it may lead to a fatality and then there will be strong pressure to remove or destroy the dolphin.

“If you really are concerned about Dusty, you will not swim with her or at least if you do will show her the respect a wild dolphin is entitled to.”

GARDAÍ have issued a renewed appeal for information following the death of a Polish man in alleged violent circumstances in Ennis last week.

It comes as two brothers charged in connection with the incident appeared in court for a third time yesterday.

Michael and Darren Maughan, both with addresses at 20 Stonecourt, Ennis, were remanded in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court next month.

Michael Maughan (39) is charged with the murder of Piotr Nowakowski (31) at 15 Sandfield Mews, Ennis on July 23. Darren Maughan (21) is charged with assault causing harm to Declan O’Dea at the same location and date. Mr O’Dea is currently recovering in hospital.

The brothers first appeared in court on Wednesday. Garda Nadine Keane of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in respect of Michael Maughan. She said Michael Maughan made no reply to charge after caution on July 24.

Garda John Moore gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution on Darren Maughan.

The court heard Darren Maughan made no reply when charged after caution at Shannon Garda Station on July 24.

Separately, Darren Maughan is charged with assault and two public order offences at The Height, Ennis on July 22.

Both men were remanded in custody to appear in court on Friday where they were remanded to Ennis District Court yesterday.

On Monday, Inspector Michael Gallagher said the State were seeking a further two-week remand in custody.

Solicitor for both accused, William Cahir, consented to the application. The men, who have been supported in court by family members, will appear again at Ennis District Court on August 12.

Yesterday Gardaí in Ennis also re- newed an appeal for information on the incident.

Sgt Joe Downey stated, “The Gardaí in Ennis are investigating this incident and are currently engaged in collecting and collating all available evidence.

“We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or who may have information concerning this incident, to come forward and make themselves known to the gardaí in Ennis”.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have helped in any way so far in this investigation as without their help our investigations would be made much more difficult,” he added.

HUNDREDS of Clare cars are set to be forced off the roads indefinitely later this year as a change to the procedure for taxing cars could make driving a car too expensive.

That is according to Clare based community group Dealing With Debt – who believe that the proposed changed will force poorer motorist off the road indefinitely.

Under the new scheme motorists will have to declare their vehicle off the road in advance in order to avoid being penalised and having to back tax their vehicles, even if the vehicle is not being driven.

“According to the Government the new motor tax bill was introduced to deal with non-compliant motor tax payers. [Minister for State] Fergus O’ Dowd’s comments on this, in which he describes the motor tax evasion loophole, shows the lack of reality on this issue,” said DWD chairperson, Joe Corbett.

“The sad reality is that the majority of these people cannot afford the extremely high levels of motor tax especially on older vehicles. People that can afford newer Eco Friendly vehicles can avail of the relatively low taxation bands available, however less well-off people with older and larger vehicles are penalised for not being able to afford such vehicles.”

Mr Corbett says that this new system will create a situation where poorer motorists are forced to subsidise richer motorists.

“They are further penalised in the limited payment methods available – as taxing on a three month basis is more expensive than on a 12 month and no direct debit or similar methods of payment are available under the new motor tax legislation,” he said.

“The lack of public transport especially in rural areas makes a car a necessity therefore a more realistic and affordable motor tax scheme is required.

“The bill doesn’t seem to take into account everyday problems such as NCT failures, illness and such matters which are impossible to have prior knowledge of.”

A District Court Judge told a sitting in Kilrush he was sending a clear message that robbery of old ladies and young children would not be tolerated.

Judge Patrick Durcan made the comments as he handed down a suspended one-month sentence to an 18year-old Kilrush woman who robbed an elderly woman’s purse at the train station in Ennis. He also told her he would send her to prison the next time she appeared before him.

She was 17 years old at the time of the theft on January 26 this year and pleaded guilty to the theft at Kilrush District Court on Tuesday.

The teenager also pleaded guilty to public order offences and using threatening behaviour in the Market Square, Kilrush on November 26, 2012.

Judge Durcan fined her € 100 for the public order offence.

The court heard that on November 26 the girl was found fighting with another person in the Square and was using threatening behaviour.

The court also heard that on January 26, a woman in her 70s had her purse stolen in what was described by the defending solicitor as “an opportunistic crime”.

When gardaí arrested the young woman before the court she told them she had thrown the purse over a wall.

The purse was recovered but € 100 cash was missing from it.

Solicitor Fiona Hehir said her client is taking medication and is “in a better condition now than she was then”.

She added that she did not remember the incident in the Square.

Following sentencing Judge Durcan said it as obvious to him from observing the young woman in court that she had attitude problems.

“If there isn’t a change in attitude to me, the gardaí and the law you will be in prison next time you appear before me,” he said.

A NUMBER of gorse fires broke out across the county over the weekend as drought condition once calling the county’s fire services into action.

Fire-fighters were called out on Saturday night to deal with a large gorse fire near the Hand Cross in Miltown Malbay.

The fire, which was situated close to a major blaze which destroyed acres of land earlier this year, was quickly brought under control.

The Clare County Fire and Rescue Service was also called to a minor grass fire on the N18 near Ballymorris over the weekend. This fire was also brought under control quickly.

The number of gorse and forest fires taking place during the recent drought has been reduced greatly as a result of the early wet start to the year. Many forest and scrub areas, which is previous years would have been susceptible to fire, have been saved so far this year because of a larger than normal growth of green vegetation earlier in the year.

Clare chief fire officer Adrian Kelly has called on the public to be vigilant and keep a close eye on vegetation in the weeks ahead.

“As the current spell of weather is conducive to forest, bog and gorse fires, we would like to remind landowners that it is an offence under the Wildlife Act to burn growing vegetation between March 1 and August 31 in any year, on any land not then cultivated. The sad fact is that if this simple rule was adhered to, many costly and dangerous wildfires would be avoided,” he said.

Landowners burning gorse, scrub, or vegetation must inform the Fire Service at least one day in advance and provide details of the location, time and duration of burning. Landowners burning within 1 mile of woodland must notify the local Garda Station and woodland owner in writing at least 7 days in advance.

THE Broadford and wider East Clare community was plunged into shock over the weekend following the untimely death of noted sportsman and community activist Tony Marsh following a tragic accident.

Seventy-year-old Mr Marsh was killed on Saturday morning when he was kicked by a horse. The tragedy occurred at around 10am in a field adjacent to his home in Main Street, Broadford.

Many tributes have been paid to Mr Marsh in the intervening days, with local community leader PJ Mason telling The Clare People that he was “a great parish man” and a “huge loss” to everyone in the village and beyond.

“Everyone in Broadford feels like they’ve lost a member of their fam- ily,” said Mr Mason. “He was tee-totaller, didn’t smoke and lived a very active life. He loved set dancing and was a great parish in every way possible.

“He lost his older brother in 1984 after an accident and then he lost his son just over three years ago. His family has suffered more than it’s fair share of tragedy.

“He was a local postman for 40 years and was very involved in hurl- ing and was an outstanding sportsman of his time and very competitive on and off the field in that he demanded high standards from everyone and from himself,” he added.

Mr Marsh had the distinction of being on the first ever Clare Under 21 hurling team that contested the first championship in the grade in 1964.

He played minor hurling for the county in 1960 and ’61, while his senior competitive debut came in a National League tie against Cork in October 1963.

He made his senior championship debut at full-back in the 4-14 to 26 win over Limerick in 1964. He was also a member of the team that contested the 1966 National League semi-final against Tipperary when Clare were beaten 3-14 to 4-7.

Away from the hurling field Mr Marsh was an outstanding horseman and a founder member of the East Clare Harriers in 1974, serving as Master of the hunt for a dozen years.

“He loved hunting and horses and it was a great passion in his life,” said Mr Mason. “He would have taken part in Hunt Chase at the RDS horseshow for a number of years. It’s a huge shock to the community.

“The most deceiving headline of all is that he’s being described as a 70year-old man.

“He was anything but a 70-year-old man, he was more like a 35-yearold in terms of energy, attitude and way of life. The description of his age doesn’t do him justice at all – he was so active and so energetic,” he added.

THE heat wave and drought of the last two weeks looks let to give way to thunderstorms and flash flooding in parts of the county later this week.

A thunderstorm warning has been issues for Clare and a number of counties in Connaught – with downpours likely to lead to localised flash flooding when and if they strike. With top soil compacted as a result of 17 rain-free days and extreme temperatures, any large downpour will run straight off the land – creating flash flooding in local areas.

While rivers across the county are currently at some of their lowest levels in recent history, a sudden over- load of rain and debris could block storm drains and prevent an extreme surge of rain water from reaching rivers.

The River Fergus was yesterday recorded at its lowest level since 1995 and the River Inagh in Ennistymon has run completely dry – leaving the towns famous cascades silent.

Clare officially entered drought condition on Saturday, July 20, following 15 days without rain. Clare County Council are appealed to consumers to restrict their use of water to essential purposes following a huge increase in demand for water since the dry spell began.

“Conservation is being urged not because of a shortage of rainfall but due to the surge in demand for water,” said senior engineer, Paul Mo- roney.

“This becomes a problem where demand exceeds the amount of water being produced by the county’s public water supplies. Every reduction, no matter how small, will contribute to maintaining supplies and your cooperation is appreciated.”

While Clare County Council have not introduced a hose-pipe ban, as was introduced by Galway County Council and Tipperary North County Council, they have urged customers to conserve and avoid washing cars, leaving taps running and watering lawns.

THE owner of a popular West Clare tourist attraction has reported losses of up to 80 per cent trade since a 12year-old sign signalling his business – the West Clare Railway – was removed.

Describing the situation as “a disaster” Jackie Whelan said the loss of trade to his business during what should have been the busiest times of the year is putting his livelihood under threat.

“If the signs are not put back up by the council we will have no choice but to open Sundays and Mondays only,” he told The Clare People .

“They [tourists] are passing up and down by us all summer and people are complaining they can’t find us,” he said.

The owner of the Moyasta-based business said that the removal of the signs is contrary to the Clare County Development Plan, which states all tourist attractions should be adequately marked.

Clare County Council said that the National Roads Authority removed all commercial signage that did not have adequate planning permission, as the signs were along a primary route and within the national body’s jurisdiction.

Mr Whelan said he has now been asked to pay out € 650 to reinstall his sign and to apply for planning per- mission.

The businessman maintains that he received the permission of Clare County Council’s area engineer more than a decade ago to erect a sign as a part of the agreement for the development of the West Clare railway as a tourist attraction.

Under the agreement Mr Whelan carried out £29,000 worth of work, including work on footpaths, lighting and landscaping in the village of Moyasta.