Category: News

CLARE’S most senior garda has said policing will not suffer in the county, provided there are no further cuts to garda numbers. Eight garda stations in Quin, Inagh, Lahinch, Broadford, Mountshannon, Doonbeg, Kilmihil and Labasheeda will close at the end of the month prompting concern in some quarters about the effect on rural areas of the county.

Senior gardaí have met with communities in recent weeks, while last week a majority of members of Clare County Council voted in favour of a motion calling on the Minister for Justice to reverse the closures.

Councillors also agreed on a motion from the Chairman of the Clare Joint Policing Committee, Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) that said in the event of any station closures, all additional resources be allocated to mobile garda patrols.

A total of 48 gardai have left the Clare division since March 2010, including two superintendents and one detective inspector. No superintendent has been appointed to replace Supt Peter Duff who left his post in Ennis to return to Dublin last July. Crime levels have fallen in Clare by 33 per cent since 2008 but, speaking last week, Chief Superintendent John Kerin warned that the force in Clare would struggle to cope with any further reductions in resources.

He said, “We’ll play with the hand we’re dealt. I’m confident (we can continue to provide effective policing to rural areas), providing we don’t lose any more resources. We’re stretched.”

A reduction in the opening hours of district garda stations has also been proposed. Mr Kerin said it is possible that stations in Killaloe and Ennistymon could close between the hours of 9pm and 7am.

He explained, “The reality is that these stations have very few calls after 9pm. There are cases where guards are not being deployed to the full benefit of the communities they serve. It’s far more beneficial to the community to have guards doing checkpoints and other duties than being deskbound.”

Mr Kerin said that as 999 emergency calls are routinely directed to Ennis first, before being diverted to the relevant areas, there would be no delay in service in the event of station hours being scaled back.

The issue of station closures was to be discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC). That meeting was adjourned as a mark of respect to Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The meeting will now take place on March 4.

A WOMAN who sent threatening text messages to her ex-boyfriend has been advised by a judge to “grow up”.

Marcella Considine (38), with an address at 2 Delacey Park, Shannon, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, charged with offences contrary to the Postal and Telecommunications Act.

She pleaded guilty to sending, by means of telecommunications, a message that was grossly offensive, obscene or of menacing character, to a man living at an Ennis address.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the accused sent two messages to her former boyfriend on February 12 (2012) and May 23 (2012).

He explained that, in the first message, Ms Considine said she would tell everyone the man was scum.

He told the court that the accused also wrote, “I’ll fucking stab you.”

Insp Kennedy said that in the sec- ond text message, Ms Considine stated, “I’ll kill you with a knife. If you send this message to the guards, I know a lot of people in Ennis.”

He said Ms Considine has no previous convictions. Solicitor for the accused, John Casey, told the court that there was “absolutely no truth to the threats.”

He said the couple’s long-term relationship had ended. He said his client had been “very upset” with the man at the time she sent the texts.

He said Ms Considine had never acted on what she said in the text messages. Mr Casey said his client was “very apologetic”.

“This appearance in court is a lesson to her,” he added.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he was not impressed by Ms Considine’s actions.

He adjourned the case until January 2014, granting the State liberty to re-enter the case.

Addressing Ms Considine, Judge Durcan said, “You’d want to grow up.”

MANY mourners from Kilkee are expected to travel to Dundalk today (Tuesday) and tomorrow to support the popular Deloughrey family during the funeral of murdered Garda Adrian Donohoe.

The brave Garda detective was married to Caroline Deloughrey, a fellow Garda who came from a family that served the State as members of the force, and assisted the local community through volunteer organisations and life-saving bodies.

Gda Donohoe was shot in cold blood on Friday night last as he escorted a cash collection to a raid on a credit union in Lordship in Dundalk, just miles from where he lived with Caroline and their two young children, Amy and Niall.

His horrific death in the line of duty shocked the nation at the weekend, but resonated even more deeply in the seaside town that he and his family visited regularly, staying with Caroline’s parents Stephen (Stevie) and Bridie.

Neighbours of the Deloughrey family remember fondly the man described as “a gentle giant, a very nice person, very confident, honest, reliable and hard-working”, who had married the love of his life in their local church. The devoted dad was often seen on the beach playing with his young family, supporting his bother-in-law Derek when he togged out for St Senan’s or having a quiet drink with his fatherin-law in O’Mara’s or Marrinan’s.

“Stevie and Bridie would be well known by everyone here. We are just devastated for their daughter Caroline,” said one neighbour.

Another neighbour added, “Caroline is a lovely lady. Everyone here is heartbroken for her.”

The family is well known in the area including Caroline’s three brothers, Derek, John and Kieran. Derek is a garda sergeant based in Limerick and Kieran has been credited with saving many lives through his years of work with Kilkee Marine Rescue Service.

The Deloughrey family have spent the weekend comforting Caroline and her two children, and now the people of Kilkee, including members of the Church choir who sing with Bridie and members of the local rescue service, will travel to show their support for the popular family.

Clare people wishing to sympathise with Gda Donohoe’s family, friends and colleagues can do so by signing a book of condolences at Ennis Garda Station, where Caroline’s sister-in-law is serving as a Garda.

THE five North Clare members of Clare County Council are to seek a meeting with Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan (FG) to get him to officially nail his colours to the mast concerning the funding impasse with sewage treatment facility at Doolin.

Councillors at yesterday’s Ennistymon Area Meeting of Clare County Council accused Minister Hogan of muddying the waters concerning the scheme. Under the Department of the Environment’s new criteria for sew- erage funding, smaller projects such as Doolin are excluded.

However, following a meeting between Minister Hogan and a deputation from Doolin, the indication was given that Clare County Council had not made an application for funding.

Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) requested a copy of all correspondence between Clare County Council and the Department of the Environment concerning the Doolin scheme.

In a letter from Minister Hogan’s private secretary, dated November 19 last, the minister invited Clare County Council to make an allocation but failed to answer specific questions about the department’s own criteria, which effectively excluded Doolin from receiving funding.

“Ultimately what this comes down to, under the present waste water programme, [is that] small towns like Doolin cannot be included. The delay in the sewerage scheme in Doolin has delayed the provision of basic infrastructure like footpaths, lighting and pedestrian crossings,” said Cllr Nagle.

“They are not included in the investment programme and if you are not there, how can you get the funding? You have to wonder why Hogan gave false hope to people.

“It is extremely regrettable that we are getting this game of ducks and drakes being played where civil servants are saying one thing in one paragraph or a letter and another thing in another paragraph.

“People have being given the impression that funding is being provided – but nothing is happening. It is totally unacceptable and people are being left in limbo.”

Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) read details of a correspondence between himself and Fine Gael officials into the minutes of the meeting. The emails, which were dated December 8, 2012, outlined the contraction of Minister Hogan’s comments to the Doolin deputation and the current criteria for sewerage projects.

Lahinch councillor Billy Slattery (FG) suggested that the councillors request a meeting with the minister and get him to clarify the situation once and for all.

“A deputation did go and met Phil Hogan and he did give a positive indication to that deputation. If this goes into 2014, the new water body will be responsible for this; Clare County Council will not have any role to play. Is that why Minister Hogan is kicking this can down the road?” he said

FISHING groups opposed to the construction of a large fish farm off the Clare coast say that they will mobilise 5,000 protesters to picket a commercial fishing expo due to take place in Galway in March.

The Irish Skippers’ Expo is a large commercial fishing expo, featuring up to 130 stands from local and international maritime and fishing industries. The event is being sponsored by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), who are currently applying to the Department of Agriculture for a licence to construct the fish farm.

More than 100 delegates from anglers and environmental groups attended a meeting last week and decided to target the second day of the Irish Skippers’ Expo, Saturday March 2, for the protest. An umbrella group called Galway Bay Against Salmon Cages or GBASC, has been formed to coordinate the mass protest.

The BIM project, which is planned for five miles off the Fanore coast, would produce up to 15,000 tonnes of organic grade farm salmon a year or effectively double Ireland’s farm salmon output.

BIM claim than as many as 500 local jobs could be created through the project, with 350 jobs coming directly through the operation and maintenance of the farm and a further 150 jobs through support industries locally.

The projects has come in for some criticism with government agency Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) coming out against it, disputing BIM’s figures for job creation and the amount of pollution which will be produced.

GBASC spokesperson, Michael Canney, last week claimed that the salmon farm would produce more waste than the entire population of Clare – or 150,000 people.

BIM CEO, Jason Whooley said the € 60 million project presents a major market opportunity for Ireland and said that people’s fears were real but unfounded.

“Organic salmon farming means there is 99 per cent water and one per cent salmon in the enclosure – very low stocking densities, which will further minimise any potential impact on the receiving environment,” he said. “It is time now to move forward together to seize this huge opportunity for Ireland before it slips from our grasp.”

RESIDENTS of a Spanish Point housing estate have been “left in limbo” with a dysfunctional sewage system which has contributed to Spanish Point beach losing its blue flag.

That is according to councillors at yesterday’s Ennistymon Area Meeting of Clare County Council, with local Cllr Michael Hillery (FF) requesting that Clare County Council take the WestPart development in charge.

“The council have paid a private contractor to remove sewerage from this estate on at least four occasions over the last 18 months. This treatment plant is not working properly and is a health hazard in the area,” said Cllr Hillery.

“It is also very close to Spanish Point beach which, unfortunately, does not have a Blue Flag at the moment.

“Unfortunately, the bond which was put in place for this estate has elapsed. So there is no longer a bond in place to pay for this situation to be resolved.

“It states that Clare County Council cannot use funding or the lack of funding as an excuse not to take an estate in charge.

“The cost to Clare County Council of de-sludging this treatment plant is going to be more and more as this goes on.

“We would ask that Clare County Council take on this estate and al- low the residents to live a life that is reasonable and acceptable in this day and age.”

Responding to the motion, a council spokesperson confirmed that an application to take the estate in charge is currently being considered.

The spokesperson also confirmed that legal action under the Water Pollution Act is listed for hearing in the District Court on February 22.

“This is also an estate where the people living there do have to pay the household charge. That is a very big issue for the people in this estate,” said Cllr Hillery.

“A number of estates around the country have been exempted – but this one hasn’t. That is an issue for the residents.

CLARE women are waiting months and sometimes even years before they seek counsell ing following an abor tion.

Cura i n Ennis provide counselling for a range of issues related to crisis pregnancies, including abor tion. According to Cura, which is funded jointly by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and t he Irish Bishops Conference, more and more women are seeking counselling years after an abor tion has t aken place.

“There is a range of complex and difficult emotions which take place around this time [the time of an abor tion]. We would see a lot of people i n the days and weeks after an abor tion – but we would also see people years after,” said Cura spokesperson, Charlot te Keer y.

“Often times people can feel li ke they have dealt with the issue but maybe a new baby coming into a house or somet hing si milar can trigger off all kinds of emotions for a woman who has had an abor tion.

“It wil l often be somet hing that has never been discussed with a husband or a par tner or t he fam- ily at large. So we do provide after the fact counsel ling for men and women who have been affected by abor tion. We do see more and more men coming into us.” While Cura do provide free preg- nancy tests and counselling for women involved in a crisis pregnancy, they do not provide women with di rect or indi rect contact infor mation for abor tion cl inics abroad. “We will discuss all options including parenting, adoption and abor tion. The one t hing t hat we would be ver y clear about is that we do not provide contact infor mation for abor tion clinics,” continued Charlotte. “We are honest and up front with t he people who come i n and that is how it has to be. We tal k to people in an open way and we are not t here to tell people what to do. If people need suppor t t he suppor t is always t here and t hat includes counsel ling after an abor tion.” Cura in Ennis can be contacted directly on Monday evening between 7pm and 9pm and on Wednesday mor ning’s between 11am and 1pm on 065 6829905. The Cura national lo-call number is staffed from 9am to 9. 30pm. Monday to Friday on 1850 622626. The Clare People contact the Diocese of Ki llaloe in relation to this stor y but no comment was available at the ti me of going to press.

THE consultation process between State agencies and the public on the blueprint for the development of the Shannon Estuary will be kick-started in Kilrush next week.

The people of Clare have been urged to have their say in the major strategic plan for the future development and management of marinerelated industry on the estuary by attending the public consultation that will take place in Kilrush Town Council on Monday next between 4.30pm and 8.30pm.

“I encourage the people of Clare to attend the upcoming event,” said Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Daly.

“This is an ideal opportunity for people to voice their views on how best to manage this important resource. I believe that the people of Clare have a key role to play in the management of the Shannon Estuary to ensuring that future development takes place in a coherent and sustainable manner. I hope that many new opportunities will be afforded to the people of Clare, and the wider region, as a result of this plan,” he added.

The Draft Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary was launched last month by Jan O’Sullivan, TD, Minister of State for Housing & Planning and has been commissioned by a multi-agency steering group comprising Clare County Council as lead authority, Kerry County Council, Limerick City and County Councils, Shannon Development and Shannon Foynes Port Company.

The land and marine-based plan, the first of its type to be developed in Ireland, indentifies a number of strategic sites along the Estuary for future possible development in the areas of industry, tourism, energy, fishing and aquaculture and marinerelated industry.

The plan will be on display until February 15 to give the public an opportunity to view the proposals and put forward their opinions to the appointed project consultants, RPS Consulting Engineers.

On completion later this year, it is anticipated that the SIFP will be incorporated, by means of Variation, into the relevant County and City Development Plans.

AN Ennis man convicted of harassment has been ordered not to have any contact with his ex-partner.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, William Keane (39), was told by a judge not to beset, approach, or contact the woman in any way.

Mr Keane, with an address at 1 The Hawthorns, Limerick Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to harassing the woman at her home in Ennis. The incidents occurred over a 12-month period on dates unknown between October 1 (2011) and September 1 (2012).

Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction of the case after hearing an outline of the facts.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the woman reported the incidents to gardaí in April.

She said that after the relationship ended, Mr Keane delivered a letter to her home.

She said on other occasions in March (2012) and June (2012), the accused was seen walking around the house and looking in the windows.

Mr Keane was also seen standing in a lane opposite the house. The court heard that the woman installed CCTV cameras at the house.

Insp Kennedy said the woman felt in fear and reported Mr Keane’s behaviour to gardaí.

He said the activity had ceased since gardaí had become involved.

The court heard that Mr Keane, a former Dell worker, started the relationship with the woman after the end of his marriage.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said that while his client’s behaviour falls into the lower level of harassment offences, Mr Keane had made a “complete nuisance of himself”.

The court heard Mr Keane told gardaí that he did not know why he kept calling to the house.

Mr Hassett said that after the relationship broke down, Mr Keane got accommodation near the woman’s home. He said that his client had been drinking at the time he engaged in the behaviour.

Mr Hassett said the letter delivered to the woman’s home had been an invitation to meet for coffee.

Mr Hassett told the court that Mr Keane has since changed his lifestyle, is seeing a counsellor and has taken up jogging.

Insp Kennedy said the he accepted that Mr Keane’s behaviour was at the lower end of harassment offences. Mr Keane, who has no previous convictions, faced a possible € 1900 fine or 12 months in prison.

Judge Patrick Durcan said cases of this nature are very distressing for the person concerned.

He said Mr Keane had engaged in a persistent level of harassment over a one-year period. “This is very serious,” he added. He said the court has full sympathy with the injured party.

Judge Durcan said he was satisfied that Mr Keane is not a criminal and he did not want to give him a criminal record.

He said the court acknowledged Mr Keane is making efforts to get over his difficulties.

He ordered Mr Keane to pay € 500 to the court poor box. Judge Durcan also ordered the accused not to beset, approach or contact the injured party or be in any place where the injured party might be expected to be. Mr Keane apologised for his actions.

Judge Durcan adjourned the case to March 6. Addressing Mr Keane, he said, “I wish you well and commend you on your approach.”

A LITHUANIAN man who stole a laptop from a garage in Sixmilebridge has been fined € 250.

Deivydas Zigeus (35) took the HP laptop valued at € 500 from O’Malley Auto Marine, Cappa, Sixmilebridge on July 24 (2012).

Mr Zigeus, with an address at 133 Crann Nua, Portarlington, Laois, pleaded guilty to the charge of theft at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

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

After hearing an outline of the facts, Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction.

The court heard that Mr Zigeus and a friend went to the premises to have repairs carried out to a car. Insp Kennedy said that after a staff member worked on the engine, he noticed the laptop was missing.

The man suspected the two men and rang Shannon gardaí.

Gardaí called to the business and the laptop was discovered concealed in the rear foot-well of the car.

The property was returned undamaged.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client, a former construction worker, was drunk when he committed the theft.

Mr Hassett added, “It seemed a good idea at the time. It was quite a sneaky thing to do.”

The court heard Mr Zigeus is a married father who has lived in Ireland for eight years. He has no previous convictions.

Mr Hassett said his client had been in custody for a number of days prior to his court appearance and had not liked the experience of being in prison.

Judge Durcan said Mr Zigeus used an opportunity to involve himself in a crime.

He imposed a fine of € 250.

Judge Durcan said the court abhors such crimes, which he added have become all too prevalent in Clare. AN Ennis man who admitted striking his wife with a child’s scooter has received a prison sentence. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Thady Joyce (43), with an address at 114 Dun na hInse, Ennis, admitted to contravening a court imposed safety order, contrary to the domestic violence act. The court previously heard that Mr Joyce replied “I’m guilty” to charge after caution.”

“I want to go into custody with no intention of applying for bail,” he added.

Judge Patrick Durcan said that had been the first occasion that he had placed an accused person in custody on the application of the accused. Mr Joyce also declined the offer of legal representation and represented himself during proceedings. Inspector Tom Kennedy outlined details of the offence, which occurred on January 10. The court heard Mr Joyce smashed a number of picture frames, Waterford Crystal lamps and a flatscreen television in the house. Insp Kennedy said the accused also struck his wife with a child’s scooter.

The court heard Mr Joyce has 38 previous convictions, mainly for driving, drugs and public order offences. Insp Kennedy said the accused had no convictions under the domestic violence act. Asked by the judge if he wanted to say anything, Mr Joyce declined before adding, “I want you to sentence me and get it over with.” Judge Durcan imposed a 14-day prison sentence, backdating his order to January 11.