Category: News

THE announcement that funding is finally to be granted for the construction of a rescue station for the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard brings to an end a campaign lasting more than two decades.

Over the years, the Doolin Unit has grown into Ireland’s busiest unit of the Coastguard, regularly responding to multiple call-outs during busy days.

Long delays were experienced securing the land needed for the facility and gaining planning permission only for funding, which had been “ringfenced” by previous administrations, failing to materialise.

The campaign for a new centre has gathered momentum over the last 10 years. Indeed, the tragic deaths of three Clare youths in the waters off Doolin in November of 2005, and the week-long search which ensued, inadvertently did much to raise the issue in the public and political consciousness.

It was reported in The Clare People at the time that facilities were so cramped at Doolin that bodies recovered from the sea had to sometimes be stored in a small 25 by 30 foot room, which could also be in use by up to 18 Coastguard volunteers at the same time.

“This facility was deemed necessary in the mid-90s. Even then, more than 20 years ago, it was clear that this was badly needed,” said North Clare Senator, Martin Conway (FG).

“It was obvious even then the location was primitive. There were no changing facilities, no shower facilities, no facilities to lay out a body that had been recovered from the sea. A lot of equipment had to be located in the homes of volunteers, boats had to be located in the back of Mattie Shannon’s house.

“It was totally unacceptable given how busy the unit is and how strong the need is to put together a wellequipped crew quickly in an emergency situation. It was appalling to think that the busiest unit in the country was also one of the worst equipped.”

Funding for the facility was first announced by the Department of Transport and the OPW in 1997 – but this projected failed to materialise. Funding was also said to be “ringfenced” by several TDs and ministers during the Celtic Tiger period but this funding was found to have escaped from the fencing when issues surrounding the site and planning were resolved a number of years ago.

CLAIMS that government support of Shannon Airport is in breach of EU competition laws have formally been brought to the attention of the European Commission by Fianna Fáil senator Marc Mac Sharry.

The Sligo senator who initially voiced his opposition to government plans for Shannon’s independence in December has pressed ahead with a threat to lodge a complaint to the Directorate General for Competition of the European Commission, saying support for Clare’s international air- port is tantamount to “unfairly distorting airport competition”.

Senator Mac Sharry made his move as he hit out at what he describes as the Government’s breach of European Competition Laws, in the “manipulation of a process which will ensure the demise of Ireland West Airport” at Knock.

“I am a supporter of Shannon Airport and any measures that can possibly assist in its growth and performance. However, measures announced by Minister Varadkar will unfairly pitch Shannon Airport against Knock, as it stands to benefit from an estimated total investment of € 300million.

“There is no national strategy on aviation. The Government must take a strategic approach to our airports and empower both Knock and Shannon to perform to their potential, as drivers of growth in the economy.”

“In supporting Shannon, yet ignoring Knock, the Government is unfairly distorting airport competition, but also destroying the potential of the Northwest region to flourish. It is anti-competitive and simply unlawful. The Government must therefore immediately commit to support Knock Airport, acknowledge its strategic importance to the national ef- fort and take steps to provide similar proportionate measures to level the playing field with Shannon.”

The complaint over government support of Shannon has been lodged with the Commission under Article 107 (1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.”

“We must take a strategic and fair approach to Aviation Policy; Shannon must be supported, but we must also provide support equally to Knock, to enable both to perform to their potential without distorting the consumer-friendly competition that rightly exists between the two,” said Senator Mac Sharry.

CLARE schools are to “feel the squeeze” of reduced capitation grants announced as part of the budget, a meeting has heard.

At their monthly meeting in Ennis last week, members of Clare VEC discussed the likely impact of education cuts in Clare.

In a report to members, the Chief Executive Officer, George O’Callaghan, stated that the 2013 allocation to the VECs will be reduced by € 13.2 million.

“Notwithstanding the reduction there will be no reduction in the level of services provided in 2013. However VECs will be required to manage within their existing cash reserves on hand.”

Mr O’Callaghan told the meeting that there would be no changes to the overall teacher numbers or funding for Delivering Equality of Opportunity in School (DEIS). He said the number of resource teachers and special needs assistants have been maintained at 2012 levels.

Former Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Peter Considine (FF), told the meeting that the policy represented a cut. He said, “The numbers are being reduced and are being reduced substantially.”

Pupil teacher ratios for post leaving cert programmes will be harmonised with mainstream schools from 17:1 to 19:1.

Mr O’Callaghan explained, “This will result in a reduction of 200 PLC teaching posts and a saving of € 4 million in 2013 rising to € 12 million in a full year. However there should be no adverse impact on the number of PLC places available.”

Capitation grants for primary schools will be reduced by 0.5 per cent for primary school and by 2 per cent for secondary schools.

The new standard capitation rates will be € 176 for primary and € 306 for post primary schools.

Mr O’Callaghan said the grants are a vital source of funding for schools.

He added, “As the year goes on. We will begin to feel the squeeze.”

Commenting on the cuts to guidance counsellors in last year’s budget, Mr O’Callaghan said this had a “major impact” on schools.

“It looked innocuous enough at the time but it had a big impact,” he added.

The meeting heard that student contribution will rise by € 250 in 2013, 2014, and 2015 to a maximum of € 3,000.

There will also be a 3 per cent reduction in the income thresholds used when calculating entitlement student grants in 2013.

Mr O’Callaghan explained, “Between 1997 and 2009, the income limits were increased by an average of 4.7 per cent each year, in line with average industrial earnings. However the income limits over the past three years have remained unchanged despite and estimated drop in the average industrial wage of approximately 7.9 per cent.

SPECULATION is mounting over the future of one of the county’s bestknown hotels, the West County.

The Ennis hotel was listed for sale last July for between € 2.5 million to € 3 million.

Retail giant Tesco are thought to be interested in the site, which could see the area completely re-developed.

Tesco were put forward as the an- chor tenant for a proposed major retail development at Clare Road /Tobertascán.

Ennis Town Council has refused permission for the project put forward by Michael Lynch Ltd. That decision has been appealed to An Bord Pleannála.

Tesco did not respond to a request for a comment yesterday. A wellknown family-run hotel group in Leinster have also been linked with the West County, which could see substantial and much needed investment in the hotel. Staff at the West County will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of the sale.

Formerly the flagship hotel within the Lynch group of hotels, the West County was placed into receivership in February (2012).

It sits on a high-profile six-acre site on the southern approach road to Ennis town centre and its accommodation includes: 152 en-suite bedrooms; eight separate and interconnecting conference/ banqueting suites that can cater for up to 1,650 delegates; a modern leisure centre with a 20metre heated indoor pool, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

The leisure club includes a gym with more than 1,000 local members. The bar and lounge has a capacity for around 500 people. The site can accommodate 450 parking spaces.

CBRE, the firm handling the sale of the hotel, has said there had been a lot of interest in the site.

THE ambitious plans to develop a new cultural centre in Kilkishen have received the ringing endorsement of government this week, following confirmation that the project is to be grant aided to the tune of nearly € 400,000.

On Monday, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, gave the green light for the Clare Local Development Company to approve funding of € 386,193 to Kilkishen Development Limited for the new centre.

The money for the new community and cultural centre, that will be located in the old Protestant Church in Kilkishen, has been allocated under the conservation and heritage stand of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

The proposed works are estimated to cost in the region of € 550,000 and, under the plans set out by the development association, are envisaged to take up to three years to complete fully.

The church was acquired by the Kilkisken Development Association in 2011 when after many years they were given the green light by Clare County Council to develop it as a cultural centre for the parish.

The church was built in 1811 and held services right up until 1964, but lay idle for 47 years before development association’s dream of transforming the building into a place of pilgrimage for the arts in East Clare started taking shape with the launch of the Kilkishen Church Restoration Project.

“The new development will provide a supervised social and advice centre for all the community, especially young people and the aged,” a spokesperson for the Kilkishen Development Association, that is chaired by Mike Hogan, revealed.

“The building will act as an information centre with an interactive visual display providing information on the local area including amenities and local history.

“Local heritage artifacts will be on display. It will be a starting point for walking trails and loop walks,” the spokesperson added.

The development, which is set to be completed in 2014, will comprise two different elements – the conservation and restoration of the existing church building and the construction of a new extension.

THE community must show that it abhors recent aggravated robberies on the elderly in West Clare by standing up to these thugs and giving the gardaí every assistance.

That is the message from the gardaí in Kilrush, who are appealing again for information from anyone who may have seen something suspicious before, after or during these callous robberies.

The crimes against some of the most vulnerable people in society included an attack on the home of two elderly brothers in Lack West Kilmihil between 2am and 3.25am on Saturday, December 22.

At least two intruders, yielding iron bars, terrorised the elderly occupants and forced them to hand over what is considered to be a sizeable amount of money. The thugs then fled in a car.

On December 8 between 10.30pm and 11.30pm, three individuals broke into the farmhouse of two sisters in their 80s at Bansha, Moyasta and demanded money.

The culprits had their faces covered during the robbery.

Again on December 6, in Boo

lyneaska Kilmaley, an

older person was the

victim of an aggravat

ed robbery in their own

home.

Gardaí continue to

seek assistance in

bringing these culprits

to justice.

“This is a community

issue,” said Superin

tendent Gerry Wall.

“We are looking for

people to come for

ward and show these people the community deplores these attacks on the elderly. Older people are a very important part of our society,” he added. “We are anxious for any information.”

TWO men have pleaded guilty to the possession of weapons during a morning dispute at a post office in Ennis earlier this year.

Details of the incident, which occurred 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 under 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 is charged with possession of a machete.

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

He explained that the State would allege that all three accused were involved on two sides of a dispute that started after a man went to the post office to pick up a social welfare payment.

The court heard that an assault did not take place at the time. Insp Kennedy said that charges had been brought because it was alleged that Mr Carr and Mr Faulkner had brought the weapons to get involved in the dispute.

Solicitor for Mr Carr and Mr Faulkner, Daragh Hassett, said his clients were pleading guilty to the charges.

All three men were remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on February 13.

AN Indian engineer who stole a life jacket from an airplane potentially placed a passenger in “great danger”, a court has heard. Rohit Sharma (37), with an address at 7 Oakington Close, Sunbury on Thames, Surrey, England Twi, 65AI, pleaded guilty at Ennis District Court on Wednesday to the theft of a life jacket worth € 50 from an Aer Lingus flight on January 8.

The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the case. Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction. The court heard Mr Sharma stayed overnight in the Bunratty Castle Hotel and had been in Clare on a business trip. Inspector Tom Kennedy said that staff at Shannon Airport discovered the life jacket in Mr Sharma’s luggage when he passed through a security screening point as he attempted to board his return flight.

Insp Kennedy said, “This is no ordinary matter. I’ve never come across anything like this.”

He said that Aer Lingus were tak- ing a “very serious view” of the offence. The court heard Mr Sharma is an Indian man who is traveling on a British passport.

Solicitor Catriona Carmody told the court that her client had taken the life jacket in a “moment of madness” as a gift to his eight-year-old daughter who is taking kayak lessons.

Ms Carmody described her client as a good community man who had cooperated 100% with gardaí.

She added, “He would like to apologise unreservedly to the court, the airline and the gardaí.”

Judge Patrick Durcan said the theft of a “very essential piece of safety equipment from an aircraft that is in constant public use” is a “most serious matter.”

Judge Durcan said the accused had shown“total disregard” for other people.

He added, “He, by his criminality, potentially placed someone in great danger.”

He added that a prison sentence was “foremost in his mind.” Judge Durcan adjourned sentencing for a day to Gort District Court. He fined Mr Sharma € 1000.

A NORTH Clare man has been sentenced to four months in prison for what a Judge described as a “brutal” and unprovoked attack on the streets of Ennis last year.

John Paul Keating (21) with an address at 45 Rooska, Lisdoonvarna, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a man at O’Connell Street, Ennis on April 8, 2012.

He also pleaded guilty to a separate assault at McGann’s Pub, Doolin on January 8, 2012. In relation to the assault on O’Connell Street, the court heard that the injured party was approached by the accused as he returned to his hotel.

The court heard the parties knew each other in a “peripheral way.”

Insp Tom Kennedy told the court that Mr Keating shouted at the injured party, saying “I know you from Ballyvaughan.” He said the accused followed the injured party, pulled him by the shirt and punched him in the face three times.

Medical reports handed into the court showed that the victim suffered significant damage to his mouth.

The court heard that the man had been left with dental bills of almost € 2000.

The man also required stitches to his ear and nose.

Insp Kennedy said Mr Keating has no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client had been “terribly drunk” on the night in question and had no memory of what happened. She said Mr Keating had taken steps to deal with his drinking.

She said her client apologises unreservedly. Ms Godfrey urged the court not to impose a custodial sentence.

Judge Patrick Durcan said an innocent man had been the victim of a “brutal attack” and had been “vi- ciously assaulted.”

He said Mr Keating’s behaviour on the night was of a “most appalling nature.”

He said the fact that Mr Keating was “filled with booze” and had no memory of the assault “compounds the incident.”

He said no effort had been made to pay compensation to the injured party. Judge Durcan imposed a fourmonth prison sentence. Recogances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

Mr Keating also pleaded guilty to head butting a man in McGann’s pub in Doolin on January 8, 2012. The court heard that Mr Keating had assaulted a man after being involved in a heated argument with a woman.

Judge Durcan said it was appalling that a citizen in a public place should be subjected to an unprovoked assault. He fined Mr Keating € 250 and barred him from entering McGann’s pub for 12 months. A BOOK of evidence has been served on a West Clare man charged with an assault in Lahinch 13 months ago. Paul Matthews (21), with an address at Mullagh Road, Miltown Malbay, is charged with assault causing harm at the Claremont Hotel, Main Street, Lahinch on December 12 (2011). The case came before Judge Patrick Durcan at Ennis District Court on Wednesday. Garda Irene O’Flynn gave evidence of having served the book of evidence on the solicitor of the accused. Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented for Mr Matthews to be returned for trial. Judge Durcan delivered the alibi warning. Mr Matthews was remanded on bail to appear at the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on February 12.

THERE was good news yesterday for residents of one of the areas in Ennis worst hit by floods three years ago.

Ennis Town Council yesterday signed a contract with Ward & Burke Construction Ltd for flood relief works to be carried out in the Watery Road / Elm Park area of the town.

The need for flood alleviation works to be carried out at Watery Road, Elm Park and Oakwood Drive was identified in the Ennis Main Drain- age & Flood Study Preliminary Report. The area experienced serious flooding in November 2009.

Dozens of famillies living in two local authority housing estates in Ennis – Oakwood Drive and Watery Road – were rescued from their homes by members of the army and civil defence when heavy floods struck the area in November 2009.

The € 307,000 (approx) project is being financed primarily by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme, with additional funding coming from Clare Local Authorities. Work on the project is scheduled to commence at the end of January, subject to river levels.

Welcoming the contract signing, the Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Considine, stated;

“I would like to compliment Clare Local Authorities for their ongoing efforts to improve flood defences throughout Ennis, particularly in those areas that were badly affected by severe flooding in late 2009. I look forward to these works being completed which will be very much welcomed by the residents of Watery Road, Oakwood Drive and Elm Park.”

Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, Ennis Town Council, explained that the contract between the Council and Ward & Burke Construction Ltd involves the construction of 400 metres of new river embankment and a pump station.

“There will be minimal disruption to vehicular traffic during the construction period as the works will be carried out on lands adjacent to the Rover Fergus. It is anticipated that work will commence at the end of this month, subject to river levels,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr O’Dea confirmed that the OPW is expected to announce the awarding of a contract for the River Fergus Lower (Ennis) Drainage Scheme, from Bank Place bridge to Doora bridge, in the coming weeks.