Category: News

CLARE’S rivers have been devastated by pollution over the last 15 years with nearly half of the county’s formally pristine waterways now polluted.

That is according to a survey released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week, which also calls for an investigation to be carried out to determine the exact cause of the rapid deterioration of the county’s waterways.

The survey has been criticised by the Clare branch of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) who say that the information is out of date and does not reflect the massive improvements made in water standards over the last five years.

According to the EPA survey, there were a total of 45 ‘high status’ or pristine river sites in Clare in 1998. This number declined to 32 in 2006, with a further decline to just 24 pristine sited in 2009. This represents a drop of more than 46 per cent in the number of high quality sites between 1998 and 2009.

Broadford, Lough Graney and Owengarney each currently boast three high status sites each with the rest of the pristine sites located throughout the East Clare water sys- tems and the rest of the county.

The Clare Chairman of the IFA, Andrew Dundas, yesterday described the EPA report as scaremongering and out of date.

“The EPA information does not take into account the massive amount of work that was done on farms building in recent years – especially in the years between 2006 and 2008 when 2.5 billion was spend on Irish farms,” he said.

“Farming is now a very highly regulated area and many of the changes suggested [by the EPA report] are already in place. We have had the introduction of the Nitrates Directive and farmers must now undertake a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before they undertake any drainage work can take place.

“This is scaremongering and the information is just not up to date. The report also identifies rural septic tanks as a main concern and we all know that that issue is being changed dramatically.

“Farmers see themselves as the caretakers of the environment and it is in our interest to ensure that pollution does not become an issue in our water systems.” The Clare People contacted the EPA in relation to this story but no comment was available at the time of going to print.

THE economic recession is hitting Lahinch Golf Club, with the annual accounts for 2012 showing that the county’s flagship course has been hit by a loss of 500 fee-paying members in the last three years.

It was revealed on Friday last that a drop in new membership numbers in the past year has contributed to a financial slide of a 46 per cent decline in profits for 2012.

The figures are contained in the latest annual report showing that the club, which celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2017, saw profits drop by € 248,084 from € 540,231 in 2011 to € 291,947 last year.

Plummeting revenues from entrance fee levies on new members is the main factor behind this drop in profits, with the figures for 2012 drop- ping by 94 per cent from € 262,999 in 2011 to just € 15,000 last year.

This rate of loss has also been magnified by over the past three years the Lahinch has lost 500 fee-paying members, a statistic that was revealed by club captain Ray Hennessy in the report to the annual general meeting that took place on Friday last.

In 2012 membership dropped by 87 from 2,772 to 2,685, a figure that follows on from the loss of 75 members in 2011, a year in which an additional 98 members were granted leave of absences from the club, although many are expected to rejoin.

In a response to tackle the dropoff in membership, the club last year slashed entrance fees for new members from € 25,000 to € 10,000 and also proposed a new intermediate category of membership.

However, the financial figures also show that the drop in membership monies have been offset in part by a seven percent increase in green fee income in 2012 to € 1.13m.

A collapse in green fee traffic post2008 saw a decline of 45 per cent in revenues from the € 1.87m that was garnered in 2007.

This drop saw the club record a combined operating loss of € 1m in 2008 and 2009.

However, a restructuring at the club that plays host to the prestigious South of Ireland Amateur Championship every year saw it return to profit in 2011 when an operating surplus of € 97,626 was recorded.

WHILE the take up of childhood vaccinations in Clare has increased significantly in the last number of years, it is still not high enough for the HSE to consider the population immune from diseases such as measles, whooping cough and certain strains of meningitis. Specialist in Public Health Medi- cine Dr Rose Fitzgerald told The Clare People that the ideal vaccination target is 95 per cent. “We know if we get 95 per cent up take we get herd immunity,” she said. The public health expert said that there has been a significant increase in the number of people having their children vaccinated in the last five years with the per centage opting for the state vaccination programme jumping from the mid 70s to 94 per cent in many cases. In County Clare there is a slight drop off in the up take towards the end of the programme which Dr Fitzgerald attributes to busy mothers returning to work after maternity leave, and a recent change in the vaccine schedule which led to some confusion. Apathy also plays a part she maintains. Figures from July to September last year show that 98 per cent of Clare parents allowed their infants to be vaccinated against tuberculosis at birth. However that number fell to 94 per cent and less for all others vaccines, with the exception of the first 6 in 1 injections at four months. This was as high as 96 per cent. Dr Fitzgerald said that it was never too late to have a child vaccinated. “Just bring the child to the doctor straight away. “The schedule might change slightly depending on the age of the child in question,” she said.

AN ENNIS man verbally abused staff in a Chinese take away in a row over barbecue sauce, a court has heard.

John Mongan (34) also told gardaí to “fuck off” after they were called to the incident on the Mill Road, Ennis on February 16 (2013).

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to charges of intoxication and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

Solicitor John Casey told the court that his client was drunk on the night and the row started after Mr Mongan received the wrong food order.

Judge Patrick Durcan asked what the accused had ordered on the night.

Mr Mongan said he ordered barbecue spare ribs but had not received any barbecue sauce.

Mr Casey said, “He’s not impressed with his behaviour and he accepts he was one hundred per cent wrong.”

Laughter could be heard around the courtroom during the brief court hearing.

Mr Mongan, with an address at 71 Glenina, Ennis, apologised in court for his behaviour on the night.

He said, “I’m very sorry your honor, to the gardaí and the Chinese restaurant.”

Mr Casey said his client’s behaviour was inexcusable.

He added, “He does view this seriously and he is concerned by this.”

The court heard the father of four has a previous conviction for a public order offence.

Judge Durcan said, “I regard this as a serious matter because of the previ- ous conviction.”

He said fast food operators provide a good service.

He said it is not acceptable that people abuse members of the gardaí.

Judge Durcan imposed a twomonth prison sentence, suspending it on condition that Mr Mongan be of good behaviour and law abiding.

Judge Durcan warned Mr Mongan that he would have to control his drinking.

He added, “If you come back here and you are convicted of a public order offence, you will be leaving in the first Paddy wagon I can find.”

THERE were 236 Clare people on a waiting list for home help hours at the end of last year as the county receives the lowest access to hours in the HSE West region.

Figures released by the HSE show that Clare receives just 1.46 hours of home help per head of capita compared to Roscommon who receive 4.67 hours per citizen.

“This is a huge discrepancy in the same are under the same management structure,” said HSE West Forum member Cllr Tom McNamara (FF).

“There is no equality of delivery of service here,” he said.

Bernard Gloster, Area Manager, HSE Mid West PCCC, admitted that a reduction of home help hours during the last three months of 2012 resulted in Clare being under its targeted hours by 750. This has been restored in 2013.

However 87 Clare people were still remaining to be assessed for home help hours at the end of 2010, while a further 149 were waiting to be allocated hours following assessment.

Cllr McNamara said the inequality in providing hours was of great concern.

He said disparity in the allocation of the number of home help hours in Clare and Limerick-North Tipperary was extreme.

Limerick-North Tipperary received 2.71 hours compared to Clare’s 1.46 he argued.

“Regarding the differences quoted by the councillor for Clare and North Tipperary and East Limerick, it should be noted that between one quarter and one third of this target is for the Limerick area. While this leaves some difference still between Clare and North Tipperary, that is historical and had many reasons. Home help hours are not equally divided on the over 65 population across the country,” said Mr Gloster.

“County Clare has more access to older people’s beds than North Tip- perary and this is a factor when considering the overall resource provision to older people,” he added.

“County Clare has more investment in day services expansion than North Tipperary. In 2013 a new day centre funded by the HSE has opened at Carrigoran, Newmarket on Fergus, (€ 100,000) and enhancement of the centre in Clarecastle (€ 50,000) with no such expansion in North Tipperary. This is substantial in providing services to older people. County Clare is at an advanced stage of planning for further day provision for people with dementia through the Alzheimer’s society with no such dedicated provision in North Tipperary.”

BOOKS of Evidence have been served on two men alleged to have damaged a family home in Ennis last year.

Michael Molloy (20) and Patrick McCarthy (19) are both charged with committing criminal damage at Westbourne Court, Watery Road, Ennis on October 28.

It is alleged that both accused did without lawful excuse damage two car windows, two glass door panels and a 51” flat screen TV and glass stand intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.

Both men appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Mr Molloy has an address at 2 Ballymaley Halting Site, Ennis.

Mr McCarthy has addresses at 2 Ballaghboy, Quin Road, Ennis.

The court heard Mr McCarthy has a new address at An Páirc Bruach na Abhainn, Ennis.

Garda Irene O’Flynn of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of serving the books of evidence on solicitors for each accused.

Inspector John Galvin said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented to both men being returned for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

Legal aid was approved for Tara Godfrey, solicitor for Mr McCarthy and one Junior Counsel.

Legal aid was approved for Daragh Hassett, solicitor for Mr Molloy, and one Junior Counsel.

Judge Patrick Durcan delivered the alibi warning.

Both accused were remanded on continuing bail. THREE men charged in connection with disturbances that allegedly occurred at a wedding in Ennis last year have had their cases adjourned for a month. Three men – Jimmy Doherty (39), John Doherty (47) and Simon Doherty (41) – have been charged with offences arising out of an incident that occurred at Ennis Cathedral, O’Connell Street, on October 11 (2012). Jimmy Doherty, with an address at 8 Maiville, Kilrush Road Ennis, and Simon Doherty, with an address at The Cottage, Granard Road, Edgeworthstown, Longford, are both charged with the assault of John McDonagh.

They are also charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. John Doherty, with an address at 60 Abbeyville, Ennis, is charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. John Doherty is also charged with assault causing harm to John McDonagh.

In February the court was told that the alleged incident occurred during a wedding ceremony. Judge Durcan declined jurisdiction, saying the nature of the alleged injuries and the allegation that a religious service was disrupted were seriously aggravating factors. The case was to be referred back to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). On Wednesday, Inspector John Galvin told the court that more time was required for DPP’s directions. He requested the cases be adjourned until April 24. Defence solicitor John Casey consented to the adjournment. The men were remanded on continuing bail to appear again in court on April 24.

AN OUTBREAK of whooping cough in the community has been attributed to a “fading in the immunity with age” of a childhood vaccine.

Cases of pertussis, more commonly known as whopping cough, has doubled in the last year from 217 cases in 2011 to more than 444 cases in 2012, with a number reported in Clare.

The illness can be fatal if contracted by infants, and public health specialists are now calling on pregnant women to be vaccinated against the disease, even if they were previously vaccinated as a child.

First year students in secondary schools are also been vaccinated against whopping cough as part of a routine secondary school vaccine programme, as the vaccine is now considered to have a ten-year life span.

Dr Rose Fitzgerald, Specialist in Public Health Medicine based in the mid-west, said the most at risk from pertussis are babies less than two months as they are too young for the vaccine.

The HSE is therefore putting emphasis on pregnant women and recommending they be offered Tdap vaccine between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy to enable protection of the very young baby via the transfer of maternal antibodies.

Close family adult contacts of babies born before 32 weeks are also recommended vaccination if not vaccinated.

Siblings of these babies should be age appropriately vaccinated.

As many as 32 per cent of whopping cough cases occur in case where children are less than six months old.

A MAN who head-butted a garda after an all night drinking session has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service.

Ennis Garda Colin Egan sustained a chipped tooth after he was assaulted by John Nihill (25) at the Hawthorns Estate at 9am on New Year’s Day.

Mr Nihill, with an address at 25 the Hawthorns, Limerick Road, Ennis pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court on Wednesday to assault causing harm.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of cannabis.

Inspector John Galvin told the court that gardai were called to a disturbance at the house on the morning of New Year’s Day.

He said Mr Nihill was very aggressive and appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant.

Insp Galvin said the accused jabbed his finger at Garda Egan, telling him, “I’ll do you if you come out from behind that uniform.”

Mr Nihill was arrested. As he was being led away from the house, the court heard, Mr Nihill lunged forward and head butted Garda Egan in the face.

Gardaí used pepper spray to restrain Mr Nihill.

Insp Galvin said Garda Egan suffered a chipped tooth but was back to work within a day or two of the incident.

Gardaí searched the house and found cannabis valued at € 40, that Mr Nihill said belonged to him.

Defence solicitor John Casey said his client had been drinking since 6pm on New Years Eve and had stayed up all night playing poker with friends.

An ambulance attended the house after Mr Nihill’s partner injured her foot in a fall, the court heard.

Mr Casey said his client, a father of one, became agitated when gardaí arrived at the house.

He said Mr Nihill has “no recollec tion” of the incident.

Mr Casey continued, “He normally has the demeanor of an extremely quite person…He aplogises fully and frankly for his behaviour on that morning. He has no explanation for it.”

Mr Nihill hasn’t drunk alcohol since the incident, the court heard.

Judge Patrick Durcan said gardaí had been subject to Mr Nihill’s intimidatory nature on the night.

He said he was of the view that the accused should receive a prison sentence. Judge Durcan adjourned the case for a brief period to consider sentence.

When the case resumed, Judge Durcan said he had considered the matter. He said freedom was the most important right a person has.

He said he has “no time whatsoever” for people who treat gardaí with disdain and who assault and injure gardaí.

Judge Durcan imposed a 100-hour community service order in lieu of three months in prison.

He adjourned sentencing on the drugs charge for a year. He told Mr Nihill to co-operate fully with the Probation Services.

Judge Durcan added, “In my view what you did on that night was very wrong.”

UP TO 50 people in Clare live week to week on dialysis, and most of these people are on a waiting list for a kidney transplant.

The average wait for a life saving organ donation is now up to three years according to Peggy Eustace, treasurer of the Clare branch of the Irish Kidney Association.

There are currently 36 people from Clare travelling to the haemodialysis treatment unit at the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick and to the Fresenius Unit on the Dock Road Limerick for treatment.

Clare people from the north of the county travel to Unit 7 in Merlin Park, while up to half a dozen are on home dialysis.

There are three members of three different Clare families awaiting a transplant, as in many cases the conditions that lead to organ failure are hereditary.

This year Ms Eustace and the IKA are encouraging people not just to support their fundraising efforts during organ donor week, but also to carry a donor card or avail of the organ donor section of their drivers licence.

“There is a great debt of gratitude to families of donors who give the gift of life at a very difficult time,” said Ms Eustace.

Last year 78 Irish families made that decision and 206 organ donation operations took place.

In 2010 however there was almost a record low for organ donation, 2011 was a record high and 2012, at 17 per cent less than the previous year, was below average. The Irish Kidney Association chief executive, Mark Murphy, said, “I don’t know of another European country, even of a similar size population, with such wide swings in deceased donor activity.”

Throughout this week IKA volunteers will be out on the streets, and in shopping centres throughout the county, selling ‘forget me not flower’ emblems (the symbol of transplantation), brooches, pens and shopping trolley discs. All proceeds will go towards the Irish Kidney Association’s aid for patients on dialysis and those patients who have received a kidney transplant. Donor cards will also be available.

THOSE of us who have endured years of the “hilarious” comments of “You’re Claire and you are from Clare” or other derivatives of this hilarity, can now have our ultimate revenge; there is a full weekend dedicated to us and we get lots of free stuff and discounts for a week.

Claires and Clares from all over the world are to gather in the Banner County for the weekend of June 23 as part of the ‘Welcoming Claire to County Clare, Ireland’.

Not only will the Claire/Clares be welcomed to their name sake county with a special discount card for businesses around the county, they will also be part of a world record attempt – to gather the most people of the same name in the same area.

The Mohammads of Dubai currently hold the record of 1,096, but they have yet to gather in a place called Mohammad making the Clare record attempt unique.

The quirky Gathering event is not just about encouraging support in numbers for all the Claire’s who have endured years of unfunny amateur comments, it is also a chance to promote the county on a worldwide stage.

One family from North America have already been in touch with organisers to say they will be bringing their daughter Claire to the event.

They want her first trip on as plane to land on Clare ground.

A group from Manchester are also planning to travel to support their friend Clare and benefit from the many discounts being provided through Ennis Chamber of Com- merce.

Leading the project is the Clare Volunteer Centre.

“You don’t have to be from County Clare, you may not have even heard of County Clare but you may know someone whose name is synonymous with being ‘clear, bright and famous’”, explained Sharon Meaney, Manager of the Clare Volunteer Centre.

“We hope it will encourage people to come to Clare. It will showcase the county and all it has to offer,” she said.

A special Youtube video – featuring Clare Daly from Clare – was also launched last week to promote the event and can be seen on http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=MIyn2jCxw6 w&feature=youtu.be. Information is also available on facebook and twitter. Tue2April13