Category: News

A MAN alleged to have had drugs for sale or supply in Ennis has been returned for trial.

Sean Slattery (23), with an address at 39 Park Avenue, Clon Road, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

He is charged with the unlawful possession of ecstasy and cannabis at 39 Park Avenue, Clon Road on February 17 (2013).

He is further charged with having cannabis for sale or supply at the same location and same date.

His case was adjourned to Wednesday to allow time for the service of the Book of Evidence.

Inspector John Galvin applied to amend some of the charges against Mr Slattery.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said he could not consent to the changes.

Judge Patrick Durcan permitted the State to amend the charge sheets.

He consented to the deletion of the word ‘herb’ in two of the charge sheets.

Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of serving the book of evidence on Mr Slat- tery.

Insp Galvin told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consented for the accused being returned for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

A legal aid application for one junior counsel was approved. Judge Patrick Durcan delivered the alibi warning.

Judge Durcan made the order returning Mr Slattery for trial.

IN THE last three years the Loophead peninsula has gone from one of West Clare’s best kept secrets, to attracting thousands of visitors every year and being shortlisted as one of the top five places in Ireland to visit.

Much of the credit for the prominence of the Loop has been attributed to the local community who is working hard to promote the area and the opening of the lighthouse as a tourist attraction during the summer of 2011.

The numbers of tourists visiting the lighthouse has increased steadily since, and figures release yesterday (Monday) shows that despite the inclement weather conditions of the past two months, more than 2,000 tourists passed through its doors.

That is an average of 250 people every weekend.

The 19th century lighthouse’s opening hours will be extended to weekdays from the June bank holiday weekend and will remain open up to the end of September, attracting even more tourists.

The speculation of a local ghost is also adding to the mystery at the westerly lighthouse, with modern day ghost busters currently writing up a report of their findings in the historical building.

And the peninsula has been shortlisted in the last number of days as one of the five finalists in the The Irish Times Best Place to Holiday in Ireland competition.

For the competition – which has been running since March – members of the public were invited to nominate the places they love to holiday. The shortlist features three remote areas of natural beauty: the Glen of Aherlow, Co Tipperary; Inishbofin island, Co Galway; and Loop Head peninsula, alongside Derry city and Killarney, Co Kerry.

The Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Daly, congratulated the people of Loop head and said;

“The fact that Loophead has made the shortlist from an entry list of more than 1,400 destinations throughout Ireland is testament to the quality of the tourism product on offer. A huge amount of work is being carried out by local community groups, supported by Clare local authorities, to promote the peninsula as a visitor destination to both domestic and international tourists.”

START up companies seeking incubation facilities and enterprise support to allow them to progress from business idea stage to commercialisation are being invited to apply to the 2013 Ennis Innovate Programme.

Facilitated by the Ennis Innovate Regional Innovation Centre, the Programme supports and guides companies through the start-up process and provides them with introductions and linkages to various support bodies in the West of Ireland.

Based in Shannon Development’s Information Age Park in Ennis, the centre is funded by NUI Galway, UL, Shannon Development, Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council and supported by partners Enterprise Ireland, Clare Local Development Company, Clare County Enterprise Board.

Commenting on the Ennis Innovate programme, Gert O’Rourke, Director of Ennis Innovate said: “The aim of the centre is to provide practical support to entrepreneurs as they navigate the start-up path and provide them with introductions and linkages to relevant support bodies and processes, ultimately improving their chances of success.”

“Applicants to our programme should ideally have a number of years industry experience, and have the enthusiasm and drive necessary to develop and grow a successful business. If you’re looking for practical help and linkages to help your business grow then this programme is for you,” added Ms O’Rourke who has over 20 years experience in the micro-enterprise and SME sector.”

The Ennis Innovate Regional Innovation Centre, which was officially opened in early 2012 by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD, has already supported a number of business in the region through its Ennis Innovate Programme, including Empress Cosmetics, Fraysen Systems, Golf Voyager, Greenieland and Egan Concepts.

A number of applicants have already been accepted on to the 2013 Ennis Innovate Programme. There are a limited number of places remaining. Interested applicants should visit www.ennisinnovate.ie or email gert@ennisinnovate.ie.

THE value of Clare’s water infrastructure, which will soon be transferred to the Irish Water Agency, has been estimated at more than € 400 million. Councillors at last night’s meetings of Clare County Council raised fears that this valuable public resource could be sold to a private company – and possibly even a for eign-owned private corporation.

Figures released at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council puts the total fixed assets of Clare County Council at € 637.2 million. When depreciation of € 247 million is taken into account and € 10 million of works currently being built – that brings the total value of Clare water system to € 400.1 million.

Councillors last night criticised the lack of clarity about the transfer of water resources from Clare County Council to Irish Water – and raised fears that the county’s water infrastructure could be sold to private companies in China and Singapore.

“Our water infrastructure could end up in Chinese hands – maybe we will have the Who Flung Dung corporation looking to take control of the Irish water system. We won’t have a control over the pricing structure and there will be no investment in water systems over the years,” said Cllr PJ Kelly (FF).

“Who is going to control water charges in the future? Is it going to be public representatives like this? No. It will be companies who will see every price increase as profit.”

The discussions follow a pair of water-related motions put forward by six councillors – including PJ Kelly and Pat Hayes (FF).

“There are a lot of critical issues which need to be insured if we are going to transfer to Irish Water. Irish Water should be retained permanently in Irish control. That any price increases would be list to the cost of living. That a percentage [of money collected] be invested back to infrastructure. And that all loans [on the water projects] be written off. I am not in supporter of Irish Water but if it going to happen then these points should be looked at and put in place.”

The meeting also heard that there is currently € 24.8 million owed on Clare water projects.

“Everything that we have heard to date states that the assets will remain in public ownership and we can only accept that as it stands,” said Director of Services, Anne Haugh.

“The basis of the negotiations at the moment are that liabilities will be transferred along with assets.”

DI RECTOR of Ser vices Ger Dollard is rounding up the t roops as the battle for tour ism prominence for the upcoming Brian Bor u Millennial Celebrations begins.

With Clontarf also closely linked to the historical Ir ish figure, it is his homeland of County Clare and Killaloe that plan to be central to the 2014 celebrations and al ready tourism groups from all over t he county have met to discuss a count ywide plan.

“The council has also commenced engagement with other bodies including Waterways Ireland and does see potential for the promotion of this celebration utilising the nor t h-sout h st r uct ure that exist,” said Mr Dol lard agreeing that the event has real tourism potential.

“Effor ts are also being made to have the event recognised at na- tional level in terms of var ious funding at other suppor t schemes,” he said.

The council official was responding to Cll r Pat Burke (FG) at last evening’s meeting of the council, who asked that the council set up a similar st r ucture as is being used for the Gat heri ng to build a county celebration.

He also asked t hat the programme of events be considered in the preparation of t he council budget of 2014.

The membership of the group al ready involved in drawing up the plans for Clare are Shannon Development, East Clare Heritage Centre, Killaloe Ballina 2014, Ennis Town Counci l, Scat ter y Island Group, Shannon Heritage, Clare Librar y Service, Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Clare Local Development Company, Nor th Tipperar y Leader Par tnership and Clare County Council.

DISABLED people in Clare believe that they are being lined up for major funding cuts in this year’s budget – and that a survey commissioned by the Department of Health will be used to justify these cuts.

The survey, which was commissioned by the Department of Health as part of the public consultation into the future Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant, has been completed by scores of disabled people in Clare over the past two weeks.

According to disabled campaigner Dermot Hayes, the survey has been designed in such a way as will help the Department of Health justify future cuts to disabled people.

“The question which concerned us most was in relation to the mobility allowance. It seemed like the survey was guiding people to a particular answer, and it seems to me that that answer could be used to justify taking the allowance off us down the line,” he said.

“We were asked a lot of questions about public transport but many of the disabled [Clare] people taking this survey are living in an area where they would never see a bus. That’s the reality for a lot of these people.

“I thought that the whole way that the survey was concocted was outlandish – it is like they were trying to trick people into answering questions in a way that suits themselves. We are really worried about how this survey will be used down the line and how the responses will be analyses and presented.

“At the moment I think [disabled] people are scared. They don’t want to complain for fear of what might happen to them if they do. People are just about surviving and it seems that more cuts are being lined up.”

The survey also asks people to rate what level of disability is most de- serving of the transportation grants. This could be used by the department to divide the disabled community in Clare – and justify the removal of the transportation grants from people with less profound disabilities.

A public meeting for disabled people and their family will take place at the West County in Clare this Friday, May 24 from 10.30am to 1pm.

Guest speaker for the event will be Martin Naughton, activist and member of the Motorised Grant Department Review Group, disabled campaigner Leigh Gath and local disabled campaigners Thomas Connole and Ann Marie Flanagan.

THERE have been calls for public walkways to be developed along the River Fergus while work is underway on a major flood defence project in the town.

Work on the estimated € 7.1 million project from Bank Place Bridge to Doora Bridge has already commenced at locations around Ennis town centre.

It is anticipated that the works will take approximately 18 months to complete and will lead to the protection of 849 residential and 425 nonresidential properties on completion.

Defences including enhanced river walls, pumping stations and new drainage systems are included in the project, which is aimed at protecting Ennis against a 100-year flood event. Among the feature of the project is the installation of a pumping station in the park in front of Ennis Courthouse.

The issue of walkways was raised at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis East electoral area.

In a motion, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) stated that, subject to agreement with residents and landowners, walking and cycling paths could be put in place along the bank of the River Fergus.

He said this could be done in conjunction with the current flood protection works from Bank Place to Doora Bridge.

He added, “If this path was constructed it could ultimately be continued down to Clarecastle, linking the village with Ennis.”

Cllr Flynn told the meeting that the planned car park development near Cusack Park could create an opportunity for a river walk in the area.

Senior executive engineer Eamon O’Dea stated that the provision of walkways on the river embankments would be separate project from the Lower Fergus Certified Drainage Scheme.

He continued, “The new embankments will have a wider embankment crown than the previous embankment. Environmental assessments, consultation with landowners / residents adjacent to the embankments, risk assessments formal public consultation process and funding stream will be required for this project.”

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Daly (FF), and Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) both welcomed the proposal. Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said the Gardaí may not permit a public walkway so close to the Garda station.

Cllr Flynn also requested that regular meetings be held by the Contractor Wills Brothers Ltd with public businesses and residents affected by works.

In reply, Eamon O’Dea stated that the OPW Lower Fergus Certified Drainage contract provides for a community liaison person for the OPW and the contractor.

He continues, “The community liason persons have been in contact with householders and businesses. They recently met with businesses in the Newbridge Road and Abbey Street car park and further meetings are being arranged with residents and businesses.”

Council officials have also met with the contractor.

THE case of a 16-year-old Clare girl who a Judge said was “deprived” of a right to education is to be referred to the Minister for Children.

Judge Patrick Durcan said last week that in not receiving her constitutional right to a minimum level of education, the girl was subjected to “abuse and severe neglect” by her parents and agents of the state.

In March her parents pleaded guilty to failing to comply with lawful requirement that their daughter attend school.

The case was brought by the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB). Judge Durcan was strongly critical of aspects of the Board’s handling of the case, describing it as a “shambles.” On Wednesday, Ennis District Court heard that girl had an absenteeism rate of 68.68% from school between 2010 and 2012.

Her mother contacted the Health Services Executive (HSE) last August due to concerns over drinking. She was advised to do so after receiving an eviction notice from a local authority.

The court heard that the girl had been coming to school smelling of alcohol and hungover.

The NEWB subsequently raised the matter with the HSE. Judge Durcan said that he could not understand why over a four period, the NEWB had not referred the case to the HSE. He said, “This child has been immeasurably and permanently dam- aged.” Reading from a report submitted by the acting CEO of the NEWB, Judge Durcan said the case was not deemed to have crossed the “threshold of serious harm and neglect” that would compel the Board to contact the HSE.

He said the Court was bound to the inescapable conclusion that the failures amounted to a “serious and flagrant abuse of a child and a child’s constitutional right.”

He said one of the reasons the child had been deprived of an education was the “abject failure of the NEWB to liaise with the HSE.”

The court heard there was substantial non-cooperation from the parents with the NEWB.

The court heard that the family are from a Traveller background and there may have been “cultural” reasons why the parents did not insist their daughter go to school. However Judge Durcan said cultural issues do not give parents a right not to send their children to school.

Dan O’Shea, NEWB Regional Manager, told the court that there were no other child protection concerns that would have lead to the involvement of the HSE.

Judge Durcan said this was probably the most serious case he has dealt with during his time on the bench.

He ordered that the case be referred to the Minister for Children and that a meeting take place between the HSE and NEWB at the earliest possible date.

He made no order against the girl’s parents.

DISABLED people in Clare are preparing to wage war on the Government in an effort to protect themselves from “the big squeeze” which many believe is coming their way this year.

A public meeting will take place in Ennis on Friday, May 24, and disability activists are hoping to send out the message to government that disabled people living in rural areas will not be swept under the carpet.

According to co-organiser Anne Marie Flanaghan, many disable people in Clare have in the past been too scared to stand up to the Government – for fear of being given even deeper cuts.

“We are seen as a quite group in society who can be easily targetted. There are disabled people in a position to speak out, so that is why it is important for everyone who can and the family of friends of disabled people – to speak out now,” she said.

“There are a lot of disabled people in Clare who are scared. People are on the very fringes of society already and they are afraid that if we speak out that we be cut even more – that is a horrible siuation to be in.”

Clare disabled people have seen a cuts to their Personal Assistant Services and are currently bracing themselves for cuts to the Mobility Allowance and the Motorised Transport Grant.

Meeting co-organiser Dermot Hayes believes that the time has come for disabled Clare people to take the fight to the Government.

“For people to live independently you need to be able to get out and about. Disabled people are not living in any kind of luxury; we are just about surviving,” said organiser Dermot Hayes.

“There is a feeling that there is a big squeeze coming down the road for disabled people. There are sneaky cuts, and you don’t realise how much of an impact they have until they are gone.”

The public meeting will take place on Friday, May 24, at the West County Hotel in Ennis. All people with disabilities, their families, friends and interested citizens are asked to attend.

THERE have been calls for a ‘wet’ hostel to be set up in Ennis to help alcoholics.

Ennis councillor Paul O’Shea says the need for such a service, as Ennis can’t keep “exporting” people with alcohol problems to Limerick and Galway.

Wet hostels provide shelter for street drinkers while allowing them to continue to consume alcohol on the premises, unlike other homeless hostels that enforce abstinence. Cllr O’Shea said there are 324 people waiting on the local authority-housing list that are presenting as homeless.

He said a growing number of young people are ending up homeless caused by drink related problems. Speaking at the May meeting of Ennis Town Council, he said, “We don’t have wet hostels in Clare but we have Clare people that are using them in Limerick and Galway.

Councillors were discussing issues raised by the death of Czech national Josef Pavelka (52) who died on the streets of Ennis earlier this month.

His plight came to national attention when District Court Judge Patrick Durcan described as a “scandal” the fact that Mr Pavelka had spent tie living in a toilet.

On Wednesday, Ennis Town Council again insisted that it had no evidence that Mr Pavelka or his Polish friend Piotr Baram (36) had been living in the toilet.

Town manager Ger Dollard said the council never received a report that people were sleeping in the town’s two public toilets. He said, “It doesn’t seem plausible” that the men were sleeping in the toilets. Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Considine (FF) said he had sympathies for Mr Pavelka’s family. He said the story was “badly handled and a bad representation of the town of Ennis”. He said he was “very doubtful” the men had slept in the toilets as the doors open at 20minute intervals. He said the fact that Mr Pavelka had no access to services after his recent surgery was “shameful”. However, Cllr Considine added, “You can’t help people that don’t want to help themselves.”

Cllr Mary Howard described the men as “lovely craters”. “At the end of the day, he’s somebody’s son, somebody’s brother.”

Business man Kevin Keenan who runs, Formacompany.ie on O’Connell Street, said businesses had experienced problems because of people drinking in the area.

He said, “I wouldn’t wish what happened on that man to anyone. Its not they’re fault they’re alcoholics. But people are feeding their habit. They are stopping on the street to give them money. If you knew someone with a heroin habit you wouldn’t go and buy them heroin.”

Mr Keenan says he has noticed an increase in the number of people drinking in the area. “There was an Irish contingent that caused a lot of bother. They were gone for a while and now they are back. There is so such goodwill out there that people are milking it.”