Category: News

THE fight against crime in Ennis has seen members of the local town council to give their backing to a proposal that aims to give an amnesty to everyone who hands over “offensive weapons” to the gardaí without fear of prosecution.

The call received the unanimous backing of members of Ennis Town Council on Monday and is now set to be taken to the floor of annual general meeting of the Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC) that’s set to take place in the coming weeks.

Independent councillor Paul O’Shea, who is also chairman of the Ennis JPC, tabled the motion before the February meeting of the council. He called on the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, to introduce a knife amnesty by providing secure bins to be placed at the public reception area of Ennis Garda Station where people could hand in their weapons. Continuing, he said the bins should also be placed in churches, supermarkets, schools and youth clubs.

“The amnesty should include offensive weapons such as flick knives, butterfly knives, swords and machetes,” said Cllr O’Shea.

“As late as last October we had an incident outside the Cathedral. Caches of weapons have discovered by gardaí year on year in our town. I think it is quite serious, and this gives people an opportunity to surrender their weapons,” he added

In calling for the amnesty to be introduced, Cllr O’Shea warned that the closure of garda stations in Clare could prompt a surge in people holding weapons to protect their properties and their person.

“With eight garda stations closing in Clare – and I believe there will be further closures – there is huge concern out there about future policing,” he said.

“People are going to be driven to have weapons to protect their properties,” he added.

“There mightn’t be too many weapons brought down to the barracks,” warned Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind). “I’d be inclined to keep a pick-axe to protect my property,” he added.

THE brother of a man whose body was concealed for 19 days in an Ennis apartment yesterday strongly critcised a decision to impose a suspended sentence on a man convicted of making a false statement to gardaí.

Ian Hassett, whose brother Frank Hassett went missing in June 2011, described the verdict handed down to Bernard Flaherty as a “fucking joke” after it was heard in Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

Bernard Flaherty (38), with an address at 3 Lifford Lodge, had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of making a false statement to gardaí on June 24 , 2011.

Last December the Court heard how Mr Flaherty wrapped the body of Frank Hassett in plastic and placed him in the shower after he died in Mr Flaherty’s apartment at 3 Lifford Lodge sometime between the hours of June 14 and 15, 2011.

A post morten, the court heard, did not establish a cause of death.

Mr Hassett (25) had been reported missing to gardaí in Ennis by his family on June 20, 2011.

Imposing a three-year suspended sentence, Judge Carroll Moran said he had never come across a sentence like it in his 15 years as judge.

Judge Moran said, “This is a most unusual case, this was extraordinary behaviour from the accused, indicative of a highly dysfunctional attitude rather than a criminal propensity.”

Immediately after the verdict was heard, Ian Hassett, who was standing in court, said, “This is a fucking joke.” Mr Hassett left the court after speaking.

Judge Moran responding by asking who made the statement. He added, “I wish people who said that would come up here and do my job, send people to prison and see how easy it is.”

The court heard how Mr Hassett’s disappearance sparked a major garda investigation in Ennis.

Gardaí interviewed 40 people and took 17 statements. Up to 14 gardaí were involved in the search while 50 hours of CCTV footage were viewed. In total, the court heard, 837 hours of Garda time were spent on the investigation.

Members of the Hassett family and local civil defence volounteers also conducted numerous searches of the River Fergus. Judge Moran said, “This was a major police operation.”

Gardaí called to Mr Flaherty’s apartment on June 24.

He requested that the interview take place at the Garda station. Summing up the case, Judge Moran said Mr Flaherty told gardaí he last saw Mr Hassett at 8.10pm outside MT Pocket’s Pub, Lifford, on June 14.

The court heard that gardaí found no evidence to corroborate the accused’s version of events. Gardaí revisited 3 Lifford Lodge on July 3. At this point, the court heard, Mr Flaherty started to cry and told gardaí that Mr Hassett’s body had been in his apartment for 19 days. Dental records and a tattoo on his body were used to identify Mr Hassett.

Mr Flaherty told gardaí that Mr Hassett called to his house on the night of June 14 looking for some place to stay.

The court heard they took anti-depressant and anti-anxiety prescribed medication and smoked cannabis.

The court heard Mr Flaherty said he went to the post office the next morning. He told gardaí when he returned home, he found the deceased “blue and cold”.

He brought Mr Hassett to the shower and tried to revive him with hot water, the court heard. When this failed, the court heard, Mr Flaherty wrapped the body in plastic and left him the shower.

Counsel for Mr Flaherty, Michael Collins BL, said the accused had led a chaotic lifestyle.

A report from a consultant psychiatrist handed into court stated that Mr Flaherty does not suffer from a psychological disorder but that his problems stem from a long-standing poly-substance abuse and dependence. Judge Moran offered his sympathies to the Hassett family.

He said, “They had to suffer the trauma of losing him (Frank Hassett) and subsequently what happened afterwards.”

Judge Moran added, “They were robbed of an opportunity to say goodbye to him.”

Judge Moran said the facts in the case were unique.

He said the wasting of a police time was an aggravating factor in the case. He imposed a three year suspended sentence. Tue05February13

HUNDREDS of Clare people living in rural areas have paid out up to € 1,000 for percolation tests that they didn’t need, according to a North Clare civil engineer.

Kilfenora engineer Michael Duffy has succeeded in a judicial review against the panel system operated by Sligo County Council and 14 other local authorities in Ireland, including Clare.

As part of the review, which was heard before Justice Paul Cooke on January 21 last, Mr Duffy argued that the panel system was an illegal system while also arguing that there was no requirement under planning law for a percolation test to be carried out as part of the planning process.

Since 2004, Clare County Council has operated a panel system which requires members of the public to pay between € 600 and € 1,000 for a percolation test to be carried out by an engineer on a panel chosen by the local authority itself.

“Waste water treatment is a very important issue for everybody. I think that now [following the judgement] it is up to the Minister for the Environment to state in the planning acts and the associated legislation what the requirement is regarding who can carry out this type of work,” said Mr Duffy.

“Regarding the need for the tests in the first place, I said to the judge that all that was required under the legislation is a soil sample and a plan – so if someone presents themselves at Clare County Council with a brochure and a bucket of dirt, that is all that is needed to meet the legal criteria.

“All engineers have professional indemnity insurance. If a professional engineer certifies that he or she has assessed the site and has come up with a system where the waste water can be treated according to the regulation then that should be enough for any planning authority.

“If it turns out that that system has not been installed correctly then that engineer’s insurance should cover the situation. Then a system would develop where people could choose the best engineers and avoid the worst one, in the same way that they would while choosing a garage for their car.”

While this judgement refers specifically to Sligo County Council, it is also expected to have repercussions on the panel system in all local authorities who use it. Mr Duffy has written to the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan (FG), informing him of the judgement and its possible implications.

A spokesperson from Clare County Council told The Clare People yesterday that they are waiting for direction from the Department of the Environment and cannot comment on the implications of the judgement at this time.

“The Council has become aware of this case in recent days and that a judgement has recently been given by the High Court. The judgement applies to Sligo County Council. We understand that Sligo County Council is referring the judgement for consideration at national level,” said the spokesperson.

“Clare County Council along with all other local authorities await the outcomes in this regard which will apply to all local authorities. We are also awaiting a copy of the actual judgement to see what matters have been dealt with and to ascertain. Any appropriate advice will also be obtained from the County Solicitor as the need arises.”

PRESSURE is mounting on Iarnród Éireann to deliver a “dramatic improvement” in passenger numbers on the Ennis to Galway section of the Western Rail Corridor or they could face the consequences, including a possible reduction of services on the line. This was the thinly veiled threat made by the Minister for Public and Commuter Transport, Alan Kelly (FG), last Thursday when he expressed his concerns over the future of the € 100 million project.

The Ennis to Galway section of the line has so far failed to capture the type of passenger numbers seen on the Ennis to Limerick services and is now understood to be under threat as future cuts to services are announced by the rail provider.

A small increase in passenger num- bers has been recorded in recent months and it is hoped that further improvements expected on the line in the months ahead may boost passenger numbers further.

These improvements include the creation of new stations at Crusheen and Oranmore, as well as the introduction of online booking and special online fares.

Speaking last Thursday, Minister Kelly said that the costs associated with the service meant that there was a clear need to improve passenger numbers. He also expressed his hope that the new commercial plan currently being drawn up by Iarnród Éireann would encourage people to use the service more.

Minister Kelly said that it would not be his choice to close any rail lines, but there were “concerns” about the usage of a number of passenger lines on the network.

A PERSON living in Clare is 10 times more likely to die by suicide than on our county roads, yet preventing death by suicide seems to be way down the Government’s list of priorities when it comes to funding.

There is just one resource officer for suicide prevention in the midwest region – looking after three counties including Clare.

This professional with a vast wealth of experience is described by HSE area manager Bernard Gloster as “one of the HSE’s most valuable resources”.

However those dealing with people at risk of suicide on a daily basis say more resources are needed.

Concerns have already been raised that the psychiatric nurse specialising in assessing patients out of hours is often redeployed due to staffing issues in other areas of the mid-west region’s hospitals.

Now Pieta House say that not only should that specialist nurse not be redeployed, but more are needed.

As the recession eats more into public funding, figures suggest that there are also more people at risk of suicide, as life gets significantly more difficult.

The Samaritans in Clare receive more than 40 calls in confidence every day from people in crisis.

The organisation, which receives no Government funding and is manned by up to 100 volunteers in Clare, also met in confidence with 295 people face to face last year.

The newly-appointed director of the local branch said that the numbers of calls have increased significantly since the recession.

“Everyone is different. Some peo- ple are very anxious, distressed, lonely, in financial difficulties or have relationship problems,” she said.

Pieta House – the suicide and selfharm crisis centre – receives just 15 per cent funding from the Government.

Tom McEvoy, Funding and Advocacy Department, for the organisation in the mid-west said that the charity is being strongly supported by the community, an indication of how much the service is needed.

Pieta House is to open four more houses in the coming year, bring- ing the number of houses to nine. However more needs to be done at national level to tackle the issue, according to former psychiatric nurse and member of the HSE West Health Forum Cllr Tom McNamara.

“We are going to have to take it on the same way as we tackled the road deaths.

“There are more people loosing their lives through suicide than ever died through the road deaths,” he said. The councillor said that an organisation similar to the Road Safety Authority needs to me employed to deal with the issue.

PIETA House Mid West is helping children as young as eight and people in their eighties from Clare in the battle against suicide and self harm. Tom McEvoy, Funding and Advocacy Department, with the suicide and self-harm crisis centre in the mid-west area said 659 people were helped by the service in Limerick last year. A further 100 family members were also counselled at the centre. Mr McEvoy said the significant increase in the number of people seeking assistance could be attributed to growing awareness of the organisation, but added that there is also a huge increase in the number of people requiring help. The majority of those needing assistance are young men aged 15 to 26 years old, supporting the statistic that 25 per cent of deaths among this age group is by suicide. Pieta House is targeting this demographic this year through a pilot project with the GAA in Limerick and a Mind Our Men campaign throughout the mid-west. “We are going through a male crisis in the country at the moment. We are particularly interested in reducing male suicide this year,” he said. Mr McEvoy explained that 90 per cent of calls made to Pieta House is by a mother, sister, partner or female friend of a man in crisis. “Women are better talkers and better at spotting issues,” he said. The Pieta employee, based in Ennis, advised however that if someone is calling Pieta House they should do so with the full knowledge of the person they are calling for. “If you think someone is suicidal ask them once the moment is right or you have an opportunity,” he said.

“Often people need to be asked if they are all right or need help,” he added.

“It is all about talking – male to male, male to female,” he said.

The prevention and intervention service continues to fundraise for its life-saving services in the Clare area.

The organisation is currently looking for volunteers to take part in its national bag pack on February 15 and 16 at Tesco in Kilrush and Ennis.

The flagship event – Darkness into Light walk – will take part in Lees Road on May 11.

More than 1,200 people took part in the Clare event last year.

“The community aspect of our ethos is our strength. We are reliant on the community to keep Pieta House open,” explained Mr McEvoy.

Those wishing to volunteer during the fundraisers can contact Tom on 087 2430700 or through tom@pieta. ie.

If you need to contact Pieta House Mid West urgently call 061 484444.

WITH Valentine’s Day just weeks away, Clare women have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fulfil their partners’ childhood dreams by buying them their very own working fire engine.

Shannon Airport last week placed two working fire engines on the market – a 4×4 Rapid Intervention Vehicle (RIV) and an 8×8 Foam Crash Truck (FCT). Both vehicles are made by the now defunked Irish company Timoney and have seen active duty in the airport over the last 27 years.

While the vehicles are likely to attract a lot of interest in the business sector, according to Shannon Airport’s Chief Fire Officer, Pat O’Brien, much of the interest is likely to come from private individuals and collec- tors.

“The RIV was designed to be first on the scene for all airport incidents. It has V6 turbo-charged diesel engine which is still in excellent working condition,” said Pat.

“The FCT is a bigger truck and has a V8 turbo charged engine. It is designed to carry 2,000 gallons of water and has a foam capacity of around 800 litres. Both of these vehicles would have been at the very top of the range when they were commissioned in the 1980. They have been out of active service for around two years now but are still in great condition. Their engines have been very well maintained.”

While no asking price has been given for the vehicles, interest is believed to be high, with enquiries being received from Ireland and the UK.

“With something like this, I would expect there to be a big interest from collectors and people who want to restore the vehicles. There is also a large commercial interest in vehicles like this. They are sometimes used in quarries or recycling plants to help keep down the dust,” continued Pat.

“Even to be broken up, the component parts do have a lot of value. It would be a shame to see them broken up though. You don’t get many miles per gallon but Timoney is no longer in operation and these vehicles are something special.”

Anyone hoping to own their very own fire truck can call Shannon Airport on 061 712622 and make a bid.

A WEST Clare man has received a six-month prison sentence after he was convicted of handling a number of stolen items including telescopes and a butter churn.

In sentencing Francis Talty, Judge Patrick Durcan said that while the 23-year-old had not stolen the property, he had benefitted from the goods being taken.

Mr Talty, with an address at Clohen Beg, Cree, pleaded guilty to handling stolen property at Clohen Beg, Cree on October 5 (2012).

The court heard that the items – one brass telescope; one blue telescope; wooden clock radio; wooden pram and doll; one brass horn; weather clock; Hi Fi system; gas lamp; microwave and a butter churn – were stolen from a holiday home in North Clare between August 30 and November 2 (2012). Mr Talty was not charged with the original theft.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that gardaí discovered the items when they visited Mr Talty’s home on a different matter on October 5. Mr Talty subsequently told gardaí that the items were stolen but that he did not steal them. Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett described Mr Talty as a bright student who had considered studying law in college. He said Mr Talty had become involved in drugs and had developed an addiction.

Mr Hassett told the court that Mr Talty has stopped taking drugs and is “very embarrassed” by his actions.

He said the “extraordinary list” of household items found in the house would have been of little value to his client.

Insp Kennedy disputed this, saying the property had value. He said Mr Talty, who has previous convictions, has a “very bad record.”

Judge Durcan said Mr Talty, unlike many who come before the court, had had opportunities in his life.

He said the accused comes from a part of Clare where thefts have become frequent.

He said that while Mr Talty seemed remorseful and intelligent, “he had committed a very serious crime.”

He imposed a six-month prison sentence. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal. Mr Talty also pleaded guilty to committing criminal damage at a house on Flag Road, Miltown Malbay on January 1 (2013). Judge Durcan took the offence into consideration when passing sentence.

A MARRIED couple have received jail sentences after being found in possession of a stolen table at their home in Ennis last year, following a lengthy hearing during which the judge described one of the defendant’s evidence as a ‘cock and bull story’.

Martin Joyce (22) and Annie Joyce (22), both with addresses at 113 Dun na hInse, Ennis were found guilty of handling stolen property at Ennis District Court on Tuesday.

The couple, who were each sentenced to five months in prison, had denied the charge of handling stolen property at their home on June 4, 2012.

The court heard Mr Joyce has 33 previous convictions and Ms Joyce has 60 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences.

In passing sentence, Judge Patrick Durcan said those in receipt of stolen property often commit a more serious crime than those who steal goods.”

He added, “The message must go out that there is no incentive to carry out behaviour of this type.”

Sarah Conway of Home Gallery Interiors, Kilrush Road, Ennis gave evidence that a three legged table went missing from the store in May 16, 2012.

The court heard that Martin and Annie Joyce later admitted to being in the premises on May 16.

A garda search of their car and home at Dun na hInse, carried out on May 16, did not uncover the missing table. The couple were not charged with the theft of the table.

The court heard that gardaí called to the couple’s home on June 4, 2012 on a separate matter.

Garda Colin Egan, of Ennis Garda Station, told the court that he noticed a table similar to the one reported stolen from Home Gallery Interiors in May.

He said that when he asked the couple where they had got the table, Martin Joyce became aggressive, picked up the table and threatened to smash it.

Garda Egan added, “They didn’t tell me where they got it, how much they paid for it. They wouldn’t tell me anything about it.”

Ms Conway said that when the table was returned to the shop by gardaí, the marble top had been replaced by glass.

Ms Joyce denied that the table had been stolen, saying that it had been a present from her mother.

Judge Patrick Durcan refused an application from Defence Solici tor Tara Godfrey to have the charge against her clients struck out.

Judge Durcan said, “I am compelled to absolutely accept the evidence of Garda Egan which was quite clear.

He added, “I am compelled that the story outlined by Annie Joyce is a total cock and bull story.”

Judge Durcan said the couple were guilty of the offence.

Ms Godfrey told the court that Mr Joyce, who is currently on remand awaiting sentence for witness intimidation, is participating in a pilot programme from the Department of Justice aimed at negotiating peace with feuding Traveller families in the Midlands.

She said her client had previously suffered from a drugs problem and that his “upbringing had been one of extreme cruelty and violence.”

Ms Godfrey added, “As parents of three children they are horrified to find themselves in this situation.”

Judge Durcan said that for many businesses crimes of this nature are a “tipping point.”

He said the accused’s record of previous convictions weighed “heavily” on him.

He imposed sentences of five months each. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

OFFICIAL records show that four times more people from Clare died by suicide than on the county’s roads last year, and those working in the field of suicide prevention say the number in reality is much higher.

Yesterday (Monday) there were seven cases of suspected suicide listed for the coroner’s court relating to deaths last year.

Preliminary figures from the CSO suggest that there were eight deaths by suicide in 2011, but local Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention Bernie Carroll maintains that when the preliminary figures are finalised they will be higher.

She also pointed to the number of undetermined deaths recorded every year, including drowning and gun shot wounds, many of which are thought to be people taking their own lives.

“A number of road traffic accidents in Ireland are considered to be suicide but that is difficult to prove so it is returned as an undetermined death,” she said.

Suicide is the leading cause of death in men aged 15- to 34 years in Ireland, accounting for a quarter of all deaths in this age group.

The rate of suicide in Clare is aver- aged at 13 per 100,000 of the population, making it the 10th highest county in Ireland for deaths of this nature. And while young men remain the most likely to die by suicide, the number is increasing across the age demographic.

“Information coming from the CSO would suggest we could expect a rise in suicide for young women,” warned Ms Carroll.

On average there are 500 suicides in Ireland every year, but when the figure includes undetermined deaths that number is as high as 600.

As many as 1.5 per cent of all deaths are thought to be suicide.

As well as dealing with cases of suicide, emergency services in Clare dealt with 16 attempted suicides in the Ennis district, four times more than death by suicide, last year.

Ireland has had the highest increase in suicide. The number of people dying by suicide in Ireland began to rise significantly in the 1970s and peaked in 1998. As many as 80 percent of those that die from suicide in Ireland every year are men.

Ms Carroll explained that the break down is best explained by the methods each gender is more likely to use when taking their own lives.

The majority of male suicides in Ireland were by hanging, while women were more likely to overdose on drugs giving emergency services time to save them.

Ms Carroll also works to make people aware of intentional self-harm.

While the country has a National Register for “self harm” the majority of people who hurt themselves do not present for any medical assistance.

“It is important to note that not everybody who engages in self harm wants to die. Roughly 600,000 people engage in self harm but the majority do not seek help as it is very much secret.”

While more women that men self harmed in the past, latest studies show that the number of men selfharming has increased.