Category: News

TWO men that had been living rough on the streets of Ennis have secured temporary accommodation at a tourist hostel in Galway.

It emerged last week that Czech national Josef Pavelka (58) and his Polish friend Peter Baram (35) had spent a period of time living in public toilets in Ennis town centre.

The men’s living arrangements were disclosed in a report by the Probation Services at Ennis District Court where Mr Pavelka appeared on charges of public intoxication.

On viewing the report, Judge Patrick Durcan commented that it was a “scandal” that a person is “living in a toilet in a prosperous nation”.

Mr Pavelka’s solicitor Daragh Has- sett said that if it wasn’t for the help of the church, his client “would be dead”.

The court heard Mr Pavelka has chronic problems with alcohol. Ennis Town Council operates the Automated Public Conveniences (APC), more commonly known as superloos.

In a statement last week, the council said it “has no evidence of any parties using public toilets in Ennis as accommodation facilities”.

The statement continues, “Having checked with the Gardaí, a similar view has been expressed. Furthermore, the company contracted to maintain the public toilets says there is no evidence to suggest that the toilets are being used in such a manner.

The council says the toilets are “subject to an intense maintenance regime which involves a daily inspection by the said company”.

It continues, “The toilets are automated and the mechanism provides for a voice warning, an alarm activation and an automatic opening of the door after a 20 minute period. This includes an early morning inspection on at least five days each week. Ennis Town Council does not comment on individual housing circumstances, which are a personal matter. The relevant agencies and bodies have, however, been involved in addressing housing needs of the parties involved.”

Yesterday Pat Cahill, Manager of Laurel Lodge temporary accommodation centre where the men lived for two years, confirmed that Mr Pavelka and Mr Baram are now living on a temporary basis in Galway City. Mr Cahill said the men can stay in the hostel until May 7. He said the accommodation was secured following a multi-agency case conference.

Fr Tom Hogan, Ennis Parish administrator, said the men are “delighted to have a roof over their heads and a bed under them”. He said the men, who received meals from the St Vincent de Paul and the Church, “fell through cracks in the system”.

Fr Hogan said Mr Pavelka lived in public toilets for three weeks while Mr Baram lived there “on and off”.

Last Wednesday, Ennis District Court heard that Mr Pavelka was unable to take up an offer of re-patriation to the Czech Republic due to family issues. The court heard Mr Pavelka’s habitual residency has lapsed and as a result no state agencies can provide him with assistance.

A GARDA was kicked in the stomach and punched in the face during a “vicious and vile assault” at Ennis Garda Station last year, a court has heard.

Ennis Garda Claire McDermott also had clumps of hair ripped from her head when she was attacked by Ann Marie Molloy (24) on May 14 last.

Details of the assault were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Ms Molloy, with an address at Bay 2 Ballaghboy, Quin Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to Garda McDermott on May 14.

She also pleaded guilty to charges of provoking a breach of the peace and intoxication at Lifford Road on the same day.

The court heard that gardaí were called to Lifford Road after Ms Mol- loy was observed standing close to the River Fergus.

Inspector Tom Kennedy explained that Ms Molloy was arrested and brought back to Ennis Garda Station as she was intoxicated and behaving in an aggressive manner.

Sergeant Mark Murphy of Ennis Garda Station, said Ms Molloy calmed down initially after she was brought to the station. However, Mr Murphy added, Ms Molloy’s mood changed after she discovered she would be charged.

He said Ms Molloy kicked Garda McDermott in the stomach, punched her in the face and pulled out clumps of her hair.

Garda McDermott suffered a cut to her chin and bruising to her her eye.

Three gardaí were required to bring Ms Molloy unde control.

Sgt Murphy said, “Garda McDermott was clearly shaken by it.”

Ms Molloy also pleaded guilty to the theft of a wallet from a customer at an Ennis Cinema on February 12 (2013).

She also pleaded guilty to the theft of € 150 from the wallet of a member of staff at Supermac’s, O’Connell Street, Ennis on February 18 (2013).

Defence Solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client had a “difficult upbringing” and comes from a large family of six brothers and six sisters.

Ms Godfrey said her client suffers from health problems. She requested that the case be adjourned until to allow Ms Molloy engage with the Probation Services.

Judge Patrick Durcan said, “This was a vicious and vile assault.”

He said it was his view that a person who commits such an offence “deserves to be incarcerated for a lengthy period.”

However he said he was willing to adjourn the case to allow for a presentence report from the Probation Services. The case was adjourned until June 12. A MAN charged in connection with a public order incident on the Kilrush Road in Ennis has had his case adjourned until June. Anthony McDonagh (26) is charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at Maiville, Kilrush Road Ennis on February 28 (2013). Mr McDonagh, with an address at 37 Maiville, Kilrush Road, Ennis is also facing a charge of being intoxicated in a public place.

The case was adjourned until last Wednesday to allow for directions to issue from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the State has not received the directions. He said a counter allegation has been made in the case and this is currently the subject of investigation.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said a complaint has been made to the Garda Ombudsman.

Insp Kennedy requested that the case be adjourned until June 5. Judge Patrick Durcan agreed to the adjournment, but said that the “DPP needs to get a move on.”

MORE Kilrush businesses will close under the new local government structure, that will see a new Clare County Council take over the responsibilities of Kilrush Town Council, its longest serving member has warned.

Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) said, “When Clare County Council takes over we will see rates going up and more Kilrush businesses going to the wall unfortunately,” he said.

Kilrush businesses have shown a consistency when it comes to paying the rate in the last number of years.

A total of 76 per cent of commercial rates have been collected in the town for 2012, and the figure continues to rise as some cash strapped businesses have opted to pay the local tax in instalments.

At the end of 2012 more than € 221,000 was colleted in rates from businesses in the West Clare town, up € 5,000 on the previous year.

The most up to date figures also show that write offs were down from more than a € 107,000 at the end of 2011 to € 71,678.50 on December 31, 2012.

Kilrush Town Council accounts also show that business people in the town managed to pay a substantial amounts of the rates owing from 2012 during the first month of this year – almost € 28,000.

At the end of 2012 uncollected rates reached € 123,532.49, but this had dropped to € 95,744.51 by the end of January.

Describing commercial rates as “a crucial part of our funding”, town clerk John Corry said that Kilrush Town Council is making every effort to recover these outstanding payments, while being mindful of the economic climate.

He explained that the local authority had engaged various methods of payments with businesses, including payment by instalment.

“We are trying to be as flexible as we can,” he said.

“The outstanding balance for 2012 continues to reduce due to the instalment payment we have introduced,” he said.

At the end of 2011 the rate collection in Kilrush was also 76 per cent, making it the highest collection rate in the county.

A MAN alleged to have broken into a pub in Ennis allegedly used kegs of beer to force open the rear entrance, a court has heard

Michael Maughan (38) is charged with entering the Diamond Bar and Wilson’s Photographic Shop on O’Connell Street as a trespasser on March 22 (2013).

It is alleged that he stole cash of € 3700, 12 bottles of spirits valued at € 300, an iPod valued at € 200 and cash and cigarettes valued at € 1400 from the Diamond Bar.

Mr Maughan is alleged to have stolen an Apple iMac valued at € 800 and four Nikon cameras valued at € 400 from Wilson’s.

He is further charged with causing criminal damage to windows of four cars in Paddy Quinn’s car-park, lower market street, Ennis on the same night. Mr Maughan, with an address at 20 Stonecourt, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

The alleged facts of the alleged burglaries were outlined in court to allow Judge Patrick Durcan to consider jurisdiction.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the cases.

Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged that Mr Maughan gained access to the Diamond Bar using kegs of beer to force open a rear entrance. Insp Kennedy said it would be al- leged that the accused stole cash and goods from the Diamond Bar and a number of items from Wilson’s.

The court heard that none of the property has since been recovered. Judge Durcan said he would accept jurisdiction.

Defence solicitor William Cahir said the charges would be contested and that he required time for disclosure.

Bail was approved for Mr Maughan subject to conditions. The case was adjourned.

A TEENAGER felt afraid of a “Fagin” type character in Ennis when he committed a number of crimes in the town last year, a court has heard.

The 16 year-old pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court on Wednesday to multiple offences committed be tween July and December 2012.

The teenager was one of two people who stole a car from Castlewood Park, Ennis on July 31 (2012).

On August 31, the teenager was seen by gardaí driving the car.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that gardaí activated lights on the patrol car and indicated for the driver to stop.

Insp Kennedy said the car kept going before flipping and crashing just outside Ennis.

The court heard that the boy was thrown 15 feet from the car. He was transferred to hospital and his injuries later required him to wear a back brace for a period of six months.

The teenager pleaded guilty to trespassing on a farmhouse in Lemenagh, Kilfenora, on October 21 (2012) and theft of items from a house in the Lifford area of Ennis, also in October

He also pleaded guilty to his role in burglaries at houses in Westwood, Ennis, on dates unknown between December 25 and 26 and at Showgrounds View, Ennis, on dates unknown between December 26 and 27.

Defence solicitor John Casey said the boy had started hanging around with a bad crowd and had been in “freefall” when the burglaries occurred.

Mr Casey told the court there is a “Fagin” type figure in the background of some of these offences who his client is afraid of.

He said this person would give young people a lend of money or a “small bit of cannabis”.

Mr Casey explained, “No matter how much you try to pay it back, you can never pay it off. You work for it and you never get out of his debt.”

The court heard the boy had refused to identify the person to gardaí.

Mr Casey said his client is a “likeable young enough young lad”. He added, “Initially he was hanging out with the bad company but now he is the bad company.”

Judge Patrick Durcan said the teenager “gives the impression of being a lovely young lad” who had “fallen into bad, bad ways”.

He added, “I do not see a bad lad. I see a lad who is misled.” However he said a period in detention was required to “break the connection with bad company.”

The boy was remanded in detention for a full assessment.

SUPERVALU Retailers in Clare are calling on the county to get behind this year’s SuperValu TidyTowns competition.

Anthony Robinson, Queally’s SuperValu, Killaloe, Pat Haugh and Gerry Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick’s SuperValu, Ennistymon and Paul Queally, Queally’s SuperValu, Kilrush made the call as the competition officially kicked off for 2013. This year is the 22nd year of SuperValu involvement with TidyTowns and the second year of SuperValu’s title sponsorship. Last year there were 34 entries from County Clare with

Ennis winning the title of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town. Speaking at the launch Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu said;

“We are delighted to continue and build on our long term partnership with TidyTowns. Our retailers across the country pride themselves on being at the centre of the communities in which they live and trade. Throughout our 22 year association with TidyTowns, SuperValu has al- ways been passionate about doing everything we can to help our communities shine.

I would like to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of so many people across the country who have made this one of the longest running and most successful community initiatives in the world. I would encourage people to talk to their local SuperValu retailer or visit tidytowns.ie to find out more and realise the huge rewards in taking an active part in their own community.”

The closing date for receipt of entries for all of this year’s competitions is 23rd May 2013. Entry forms to the SuperValu TidyTowns competition can be obtained from the TidyTowns Unit in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government – Phone (071-9186744) or by visiting www.tidytowns.ie or www.supervalu.ie For entry to the Special Competitions please download your entry form at www.tidytowns.ie

CAMPAIGNERS against the construction of Ireland’s largest fish farm off the North Clare coast will get a chance to have their concerns heard in public as an oral hearing into the controversial salmon farm is now likely to take place.

The Department of Agriculture is currently deciding whether to allocate a license for the massive fish farm, which could create as many as 500 jobs if it goes ahead. A formal request was made by Galway City Council to the Department of Agriculture last week for a full oral hearing on the matter to take place and it is understood, because of the complex nature of the proposal, this request is likely to be granted.

The proposed fish farm, which will be located a number of miles off the Fanore coast, has divided opinions since it was first proposed in November of last year.

Indeed, the farm has even led to government agencies going to war, with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) who proposed the farm, going toe to toe with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) who oppose it.

Both organisation have submitted a large amount of technical data on the possible effects that the farm could have on the wild fish in the area and the nearby spawning rivers. Both sets of expert data contradict on a number of key points – most significantly on the amount of water pollution that the farm will create and the damage that sea lice will cause to native stocks.

More than 2,000 anglers and en- vironmentalists took protest against a proposed organic fish farm last month.

BIM claim that the fish farm would be a major employment boost in the North Clare area and could create as many as 500 local jobs. These claims have been contested by organisation such as IFI, who say that the likely number of jobs created will be closer to 40.

CLARE is celebrate Youth Work Ireland in style from next Saturday with a series of events around the county that will showcase the activities of the Clare Youth Service.

Details of the activities in the county for the week-long celebration of youth affairs in the county from April 20 to 28 have been revealed, with the Clare Youth Service staging a host of different events throughout the county providing an opportunity for people of all ages to participate, get involved and ‘Be part of it’.

These events include a Youth Space Music and Film Event that will take place at Clare Youth Services headquarters on Carmody Street. A spokesperson for the youth service said this event is “aimed at volunteers and youth leaders who are interested in starting film-making projects with young people”.

Meanwhile, over 40 years of youth services in Clare will be reeled in at the West County Hotel on Satur- day, April 27, when it plays host to a ‘Youth Club Leaders Reunion’, in conjunction with a photography exhibition that will showcase the history of the Clare Youth Service and the people involved in youth affairs in the county dating back to the early 1970s.

“In addition to the events we are holding two open mornings and inviting people to call in and visit, to meet with staff and to see some of the work Clare Youth Service are doing around the county,” the youth service spokesperson revealed.

“The Junction Youth and Community Building, Cloughleigh Road, will be open from 9am to 1pm on Thursday, April 25, for people to call in, visit the building and have a cup of tea. On the same morning Clare FM will be broadcasting their show live from The Junction.

“Carmody Street is open from 10.30am to 1pm on Friday, April 26, and again encouraging people to call in meet staff and get a feel for some of the work the service does,” the spokesperson added.

GARDAÍ have admitted they are seriously concerned by a recent rise in burglaries amid fears that criminal gangs from other counties are targeting Clare.

It follows a garda appeal for information following a spate of burglaries in Ennis last week. Four homes were broken into between the hours of 8.10am and and 7pm on Tuesday April 9.

Between 11.30am and 3.15pm a house in Westfields was broken into by forcing open the front door. A gold chain office for Chartered Accountants Midwest Society was stolen. A house in Toberteascain was ransacked when the front door was forced open between noon and 4pm.

Passports, bankcards and cash were stolen between 10.30am and 4pm from a house in College Park when the rear window was forced open.

Between 8.10am and and 7pm a house in College Green was entered when glass on a side door was broken. Cash and coins in a bottle along with the contents of small safe and jewelry were stolen.

Superintendent Derek Smart of Ennis Garda Station said the burglaries are under investigation and has appealed for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the areas to contact gardaí.

Supt Smart said, “We haven’t ruled anything in or out at this stage because the investigations are very active in respect to it. But there is a strong possibility of them being connected. With a certain amount of burglaries, we have travelling criminals from all over the country that are targeting the road network. Whether or not the ones on Tuesday are connected with that, we’re not that firm yet. They could be or if it’s something more local to us. There are a still a lot of enquiries to be finished in respect of that aspect of it. We would certainly believe that we have been targeted by travelling criminals in some of the burglaries that have been committed.”

There were 364 house break-ins in Clare last year though burglaries have fallen by 31 per cent in the county over the past five years.

Supt Smart said, “I think we’re probably slightly up on where we were last year with regards to the burglaries. I would have seen an increase in it and that would be very worrying for me in that regard.” Tue16April13

MORE than 20,000 healthy Clare ash trees are currently being planted at various locations around England – in an effort to find a cure for ash dieback disease or chalara fraxinea.

Its is hoped that some of the native Clare tree could contain genetic components that might help them fight the disease or could even make them immune. If this proves successful, the Clare trees could eventually be used to restock much of the ash population in Northern Europe, which has been devastated by the ash dieback in recent years.

The Clare trees, as well as a number from Donegal, are being planted in various locations in the South East and South West of England – where the disease is already well established.

This was revealed in a draft strategy to combat the disease published jointly by the Irish and Northern Irish departments of agriculture yesterday.

The news that Clare trees could provide a possible solution to the ash-dieback crisis is cold comfort for foresters in the county. Two positive finds of the disease have already been identified in the west and east of the county and it is considered likely that more trees in the area are effected.

“We are basically waiting and holding our breath. There is noting else we can do. We are basically doing whatever the forestry services tell us at this point. We are not making any of the decisions, we are just doing what we are told,” said one Clare forester, who asked not to be identified.

“They [forestry services] are sending out letters and contacting foresters. Where the disease is found there is felling, and there is also felling at associated sites. At the moment this is mostly young trees, maybe two or three years old.

“The forestry services are now actively going around and checking sites off their on bat and they had put in place a tractability system to try and identify infected trees.”

There has been some criticism of the measure of the way in which the disease was allowed to enter Ireland. Before the disease was discovered in Ireland, no attempt was made to ban imports of ash saplings from counties where the disease was already present, because it was deemed to be against the EU fair trade rules.

However, now that the disease has reached Ireland, a ban on saplings from these locations has been implemented.