Category: News

PUBS in Ennis and throughout Clare are facing a struggle for survival, the Chairman of the Ennis branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) has warned.

Local publican Charlie O’Meara said the trade has taken a battering in the recession with turnover in some premises down 50 per cent to 60 per cent.

He said the closure of pubs in the town over the past five years has served as a blow to the local economy.

“It’s terrible to see some of the flagship pubs in the town that have gone. I was walking around the town today and to see the amount of businesses lying idle is shocking. We need that bit of continuity in businesses. It’s terrible to see new businesses opening and closing every six months,” he said.

Mr O’Meara, who now leases Moroney’s after 15 years running The Usual Place, said pubs are under enormous pressure to survive.

He explained, “Turnover is down 50 to 60 per cent but publicans are still paying the same amount out in overheads.”

He added, “I don’t think our TDs realise the pressure pubs are under. If any other industry had the rug pulled from under them like the pub trade, they would be petitioning the Government. The farmers certainly wouldn’t be quiet about it. There are an awful lot of pubs out there in trouble at the moment. They’re just hanging in there.”

Mr O’Meara said the reputation of the pub trade has also suffered in recent years.

“Certainly the pub industry has suffered a lot of negative publicity in recent years but people forget the amount of employment that pubs have provided, particularly for young people. Pubs were always a great source of part-time employment for students at college.”

He added, “We as an industry have made submissions to TDs but I don’t think they realise the pressure we are under.”

Mr O’Meara said, “The whole culture has changed. It’s more a foodbased industry now. Businesses have to adapt but I think we’re seeing the end of the traditional Irish pub.”

CLARE’S flagship tourist attraction has been targeted by graffiti with the discovery of a large spray-painted mural on the rock of the Cliffs of Moher. A piece of graffiti, measuring roughly eight foot wide and six foot tall, has been discovered on a section of cliff close to Hag’s Head.

The graffiti is located outside of the main tourist centre at the Cliffs of Moher, on a portion of cliff just off the Cliffs Walking Coastal Walking Trail. The identity of the graffiti artist is unknown but he or she could face prosecution if discovered.

The graffiti artist would have had to climb onto a narrow walkway overlooking a sheer 500-foot drop in order to complete the mural.

Because of the porous nature of the sandstone rock which makes up the Cliffs of Moher, it may take years or even decades for the design to be weathered away.

“It’s a real pity that someone felt the need to express themselves in this way and negatively impact on other visitors’ enjoyment of the natural beauty of the area,” said Katherine Webster of the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Experience.

“It [the graffiti] appears to be towards Hag’s Head and off the marked coastal trail, as well as at some considerable distance from the visitor centre. This is well outside of the visitor centre land. The Atlantic wind, rain and sea spray will wear it away over time.

“The Cliffs of Moher are a Special Protected Area and it is possible that, if the person who did this could be identified, they might face action by the National Parks and Wildlife Service [NPWS]. But I imagine identifying them and proving they were the culprit would be a very difficult task.”

The graffiti was discovered by local photographer David Olsthoorn, who was in the area shooting seascapes when he discovered the graffiti.

“It’s not an easy spot to get to. It’s a good 15-minute walk on a zig-zag path down a cliff face. It is muddy and slippery so it’s certainly not the sort of place where you’d expect to see graffiti,” he said.

“It is totally out of place there. It looks like something that should be on an alleyway in a city and certain ly not on natural rock. Personally, I think it’s a good piece of art but I don’t think it’s in the right place. There could be much worse graffiti down there, there could be something totally stupid, but I still don’t think that this is the right setting for something like this.”

A MAN found selling quantities of alcohol from a car in Clarecastle has been told he is facing a four-month prison sentence. Kevin Maughan (21), with an address at 42B Lissadyra, Ballygaddy Road, Tuam, Galway, pleaded guilty last week to handling stolen property at Clarehill, Clarecastle on October 5. The case came before Ennis District Court on Thursday. Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that Gardaí found Mr. Maughan selling alcohol valued at € 539 from the boot of his car on the date in question.

Mr Maughan had 72 cans of Bulmers, 72 cans of Budweiser, 48 cans of Carlsberg, 48 cans of Guinness, two bottles of Huzzar vodka, one bottle of Tequilla, one bottle of liqueur, two bottles of Powers whiskey and cigarettes valued at € 132.

On hearing the “array” of alcohol discovered by gardaí, Judge Patrick Durcan said, it was “better than any you’d find in any cocktail bar in the county.” Insp Kennedy said Mr Maughan told gardaí he purchased the alcohol in Northern Ireland and intended to sell it in the South.

However the court heard that the accused later told gardaí that his wife bought the goods for € 160 from a man in a van in Crusheen. The court heard Mr Maughan has a number of previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Shiofra Hassett said her client suffered a serious head injury as a teenager and that the injury allied to a dependency on drugs had led Mr Maughan to make “very bad decisions.” She said Mr Maughan sold the alcohol because he was under pressure to pay off a drug debt.

She added, “He should not have done this. He is apologetic.”

Ms Hassett said Mr Maughan has taken steps to deal with his drug problems and is seeking employment. Judge Patrick Durcan said it that he had a four-month prison sentence in mind. He adjourned sentencing until April 3 to allow for a report from the probation services.

THREE men described by a Judge as being “armed to the hilt” outside a post office in Ennis last summer could have caused “huge injury and hurt”, a court has heard.

Details of the incident, which occurred at 11.30am at Bank Place, Ennis on June 6, 2012, were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Michael Carr (22), with an address at Rose Cottage, Clarecastle and Martin Faulkner (23), with an address at Rose Cottage, Clarecastle were both charged with offences un der the firearms and offensive weapons act. Mr Carr pleaded guilty to the possession of a golf club intended by him unlawfully to cause injury to, incapacitate or intimidate a person.

Mr Faulkner pleaded guilty to possession of a timber bat intended by him unlawfully to cause injury to, incapacitate or intimidate a person.

A third man – Michael Mongans (23), with an address at Clarehill, Clarecastle, also appeared in court in connection with the incident at Bank Place. He pleaded guilty to possession of a machete.

Garda Trevor Shannon, of Ennis Garda Station, told the court that the three men became involved in a dispute between two other parties outside the post office.

The court heard the men had brought the weapons to intimidate another man who fled into the Bank of Ireland. The man did not sustain any injuries, the court heard.

Garda Shannon said the weapons were not recovered and the three accused men fled the scene.

The men were subsequently identified from CCTV footage of the area.

The court heard Mr Faulkner and Mr Carr have no previous convictions. Mr Mongans has previous convictions.

Solicitor for Mr Faulkner and Mr Carr, Daragh Hassett, said his clients had arrived at the “tail end of the dispute” and had been put under pressure to get involved.

He said Mr Carr is a “law abiding man” who had never been in trouble with the gardaí before. Mr Hassett said Mr Faulkner had never been to court before. He added, “He wishes to apologise profusely for his behaviour on the day.”

Solicitor Tara Godfrey said Michael Mongans’s attendance at the post office was “entirely coincidental.”

She told the court that her client suffers from depression and is the father of a seriously ill infant.

Judge Patrick Durcan said the people of Ennis had been confronted with the sight of three men actively involved with other third parties.

He said the timber bat and golf club were not for sporting purposes on the day while “there was no good purpose to have the machete.”

He said the three accused were “armed to the hilt” and could have caused “huge injury and hurt.”

Judge Durcan described the behaviour as “blaggardly”, “insolent” and “thuggish”. Noting Mr Faulkner and Mr Carr had shown a level of total cooperation with gardaí, he imposed 100-hour community service orders on each accused. Their cases were adjourned until March 20.

Of Mr Mongans, Judge Durcan said he had brought the most serious of the three weapons and the one that was most lethal. Mr Mongans was sentenced to six months in prison. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

GARDAÍ are appealing for information following an armed raid on an off-license in Kilkee last week.

A man carrying a knife entered the Next Door off-license, O’Curry Street, Kilkee on Monday, February 11. He threatened the lone member of staff to hand over the money.

Gardaí say he smashed a bottle of wine during the robbery in an effort to intimidate the staff.

He took the contents of the till and fled on foot. The incident occurred between 9.35pm and 9.45pm.

The man left the shop and turned left, staying on the left side of O’Curry Street and then onto Circular Road.

A garda spokesperson stated, “We are appealing for witnesses and any information concerning this robbery.”

Kilrush gardaí are investigating the matter. Kilrush Garda station can be contacted at 065 9080550.

Mayor of Kilkee, Cllr Claire Haugh (FF) said the incident has shocked residents of the quiet seaside town.

“We are all appalled. Our thoughts go out to the person who was working in the off-license on the night and was subjected to that horrific incident.

“It’s deplorable that, in this day and age, someone can go into a shop and threaten someone who is doing a day’s work. Kilkee is a lovely, quiet town. It’s a safe town. But unfortunately that didn’t apply last Monday night.”

Ms Haugh added, “At the end of the day, the fact that the person wasn’t hurt or injured is the only good thing that can be said.”

Ms Haugh believes the incident could have implications for the way businesses in rural areas operate.

“If you have a garage or a shop then something like this would make you think twice about opening late. It is horrendous that, in this country, if you are a business open at night, you can’t open in the comfort of knowing you are safe.”

Ms Haugh added, “You hear about things like this happening around the country but when it happens in your own town and to people you know, it’s a different story.”

GARDAÍ say investigations into prostitution in the Ennis area are ongoing following the arrest of two Romanian women in the Mill Road area of the town last Monday night.

The women were detained at Ennis Garda Station before being brought before Kilrush District Court on Tuesday morning.

Ann Maria Prisaca (19) and Anisoara Popa (25), both with addresses at 19 Millstream Court, Mill Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences Act 1993).

The charge states that the women did knowingly live in whole or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person and aided and abetted that prostitution.

The charge states that the offence was committed at 19 Millstream Court, Mill Road, Ennis on February 11 (2013).

The women were each sentenced to 10 weeks in prison. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

Solicitor Patrick Moylan, who represented the women in court, said they had co-operated completely with the gardaí. He said the women had become involved in prostitution in order to get money to send home to their families who live in “dire poverty” in Romania.

Mr Moylan said it had been accepted that the money was not destined for a criminal organisation.

He said the women had been in Ireland for two weeks and are eager to return to Romania.

Speaking on Thursday, Inspector John Galvin of the Clare Garda Division confirmed the arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into prostitution in the Ennis area.

Last February, an RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme focused attention on a brothel operating in the Mill Road area of Ennis.

Gardaí in Ennis confirmed at the time that the premises had been under investigation.

Garda sources told The Clare People at the time that brothel start-ups are not uncommon in Clare but that they close as quickly as they open.

Internet advertising and mobile phone technology means that brothels can be set up and dismantled within a couple of hours.

A NUMBER of prominent environmental organisations came together last week to question the public consultation process being undertaken in relation to a giant Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) fish farm planned for six miles off the Fanore coast.

An Taisce, Coastwatch, the Irish Seal Sanctuary and the Irish Wildlife Trust released a joint statement last week in which they requested that all consultation documents related to the project be made public.

The controvertial fish farm has seen the creation of a rift between the two government fisheries agencies with BIM and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) taking opposing position over the development.

The situation took a dramatic turn last week when BIM released the finding of a Irish Marine Institute study, which claimed that sea lice created by the farm would not cause any significant difference to the local wild salmon population.

IFI struck back in recent days, claiming the 1 per cent threat to wild salmon stocks predicted in the Marine Institute study could be the “tipping point” for wild salmon stocks.

“We welcome the fact that there is now a clear acceptance of the negative impact of sea lice on juvenile salmon and the debate can now progress to identify the best methodologies to reduce or eliminate this impact. IFI would also like to see similar progress in relation to the issue of escaped farmed salmon,” said an IFI spokesperson.

“In recent years approximately five per cent of all juvenile salmon going to sea return back to their native rivers as adults to spawn. Precisely because natural mortality rates of salmon are high, even a proportionally small additional mortality from sea lice can amount to a large loss in salmon returning.

“To put this average of 1 per cent reduction in return rates, as reported by the Marine Institute, in context, if 3,000 salmon return to a river, and this represents a five per cent return rate, a reduction in the return rate to four per cent translates into a reduction of 20 per cent of the adult salmon – 600 fewer fish returning.”

CLARE has one of the highest rates of sheep kills by dogs in Ireland, according to new figures released by the Irish Farmers Association (IFA). Figures compiled by the IFA reveal that Clare recorded the sixth highest number of sheep kills in Ireland last year, despite having a relatively low sheep stock compared to other counties.

According to Clare Dog Warden, Frankie Coote, the number of sheep kills recorded by the IFA is only the tip of the iceberg as most kills are never reported. “There would be an awful lot more attacks than that in Clare. That is only the number reported to the IFA. The real number is likely to be much much higher.

“Just four years ago we had 42 sheep killed by two dogs in one night down in Shannonbanks. That was € 5, 500 worth of damage in one night. We were lucky enough to catch the own- ers in that case and they had to pay for the damage done. The dog owner is always liable in that situation.”

Frankie also urged dog owners to be sure that their animals are secured properly over the lambing season – even if there are no sheep flocks nearby and your dog does not have a history of violence.

“Lambs have been born all over place in the last two weeks and it is inevitable that dogs will attack sheep. Dogs will travel; if they hear sheep far off in the distance they will travel to find them,” continued Frankie.

“Dogs will come out of towns, out of villages, out of housing estates and look for sheep, but also from farm houses. The law states that dogs must be on their own property and secure.

“All dogs will attack sheep, given the opportunity. Everybody thinks that their own dog won’t attack a sheep but the reality is that 95 per cent of dogs will. Dogs gather in packs and the wildness come out with them.”

A MAN was allegedly assaulted with a slash hook during a fracas that broke out at a wedding in Ennis last year, a court has heard.

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).

None of the accused were present when the matters came before Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Solicitor for all three accused, John Casey, told the court that he had received an email from the State advising that his clients stay away from the Courthouse for “security” reasons.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that he had been in contact with the Courts Service regarding the matter. He explained that the accused’s presence had been excused for “operational” reasons.

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 at the Cathedral on October 11 (2012).

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.

Insp Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the assault charge against John Doherty.

Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged that Mr Doherty struck Mr McDonagh across the head with a slash hook.

He said Mr McDonagh received 18 stitches as a result of the alleged assault. Insp Kennedy told the court that the incident occurred during a wedding ceremony.

The court heard that it would be alleged that a fracas developed and spilled outside the Cathedral.

Judge Patrick 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 is to be referred back to the DPP. All three accused were remanded on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on March 27.

A FAMILIAR face will return to Kilrush Town Council this evening (Tuesday), when Christy O’Malley (FF) is welcomed back to the council. The former mayor of Kilrush, who lost his seat in the 2009 election, has been seconded by the Fianna Fáil party to take the seat vacated following the death of the late Cllr Stephen O’Gorman (FF) last December. At a Fianna Fáil convention on Sunday evening in the Haven Arms, Kilrush, the retired Garda sergeant was returned unopposed to take the seat. Law student Emmet Greaney, a native of Kilrush and member of the local Cumann, had also been nominated, along with Mr O’Malley, to contest the appointment. He withdrew his nomination on the night, however, and the more experienced Fianna Fáil man was returned uncontested. The soon-to-be-reappointed Cllr O’Malley is no stranger to local politics. As well as serving on the town council, he was also chairman of the Kilrush Special Olympics Committee when Kilrush Town hosted the Georgia Republic in 2003. His party colleague, Cllr Tom Prendeville, said the former mayor took some persuading as he was convinced to return to local politics. “He brings with him so much experience and expertise. I always felt he brought common sense to the council table,” he said. Cllr Prendeville added that Mr O’Malley’s selection was met with a positive response from the community as it pointed to continuity within the council. Christy will take up his appointment this evening when the February meeting of the council begins at 7pm. He will take part in just 14 more monthly meetings before the council is disbanded in 2014.