Category: News

PROSPECTIVE home owners in East Clare can shelve the idea of buy- ing a small family home and instead pick up an entire housing estate, for just € 400,000. The partially finished estate, which is located less than a five-minute walk from the centre of Killaloe, contains two completely finished show houses, 14 houses which require some work, two in shell condition and nine at the foundation stage. Taken all together, the guide price values the estate at just under € 15,000 per house. But that’s not all, the sale also includes a second 6.3 acre site where planning permission had previously been granted for 50 houses. The entire 10-acre property is being offered to the market jointly by Harry Brann and Savills of Cork. Speaking to The Clare People yesterday, Denis O’Donoghue of Savills said there has been a lot of interest in the site since it came on the market last Wednesday. “The interest levels have been really really high, both locally and from all over Ireland. We haven’t got a serious offer yet but we have a large number of people coming to take a look at the estate over the next two weeks,” he said. “The estate is located right in the village of Killaloe. It is about a twominute walk to the river and you’d would certainly be in the middle of the village after a five-minute walk. This really is a unique opportunity for someone. “The notion of owning an entire housing estate of houses in a location like Killaloe for this price really is something that has captured people’s imaginations.” All development contributions have been paid on the estate and phase one works also have access to mains services, which would facilitate a quick completion for that section of the project.

MORE Travellers live in Ennis than any other town in Munster, while the county capital ranks as third nationally among towns when it comes to being home to members of the Travelling community.

These are just two statistics in the seventh bulletin report from the 2011 National Census of Population entitled ‘Religion, Ethnicity and Irish Travellers – Ethnic and Cultural Background in Ireland’ that presents a profile of the various religions in Ireland along with more detailed results on ethnicity and Irish Travellers.

The report, which was published on Thursday last, shows that there are now 533 Travellers living in Ennis – the highest number of any town in the province and third in Ireland behind Tuam which is home to 669 Travellers and Navan which has a Traveller population of 625.

Irish Traveller households have a significantly lower home ownership rate than the general population with one in five (20.2 per cent) households owning their home compared with 69.7 per cent for the gen- eral population.

The average number of rooms in Irish Traveller households was 4.3, compared with an average of 5.5 rooms for all private households in 2011.

Almost one in three Traveller households (30.3 per cent) with a total of 886 persons who were living in mobile or temporary accommodation had no sewerage facilities in 2011.

As a whole, the county has a Traveller population of 855. A breakdown of these census returns show that there are 203 private households among the county’s Traveller population, while there are 789 permanent housing units and 23 temporary housing units in the county.

The census returns show that there are many ethnic groups living in the county, which is evidence of the way a multicultural society has developed in Clare over the past number of decades.

There are 1, 332 people in the county that the Central Statistics Office have classified as being of an African/Black background, 1, 267 of a Chinese/Asian background, 1,025 of a mixed background and 9, 574 of a non-Irish white background.

THE number of flights coming into Shannon Airport continues to drop, despite a general turnaround in the fortunes of Irish airports. According to new figures released by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), an average of just 55 commercial daily flight movements took place at Shannon Airport during the month of Septem- ber. This figure represents a reduction of 7.3 per cent on the same month in 2011. This comes in the context of a mini-revival in the airport sector in Ireland generally in recent months, with both Dublin and Cork airports showing positive figures in the late summer and early autumn. Trends nationally over the last three months have shown a dramatic turnaround, with Dublin Airport largely responsible for this. Indeed, figures for Dublin Airport in September show a 5.5 per cent increase compared to the same month in 2011. Cork Airport has also recorded some gains in recent months, while Shannon Airport has recorded ongoing reductions every month this year. While the IAA figures represent the number of flights coming through Shannon Airport and not the number of passengers, it is not good news for the Clare airport, especially with Knock Airport moving closer to passing it out as Ireland’s third biggest airport. The Mayo airport has opened a number of new routes in recent months, including regular flights to Barcelona, Frankfurt, Milan and Paris. The numbers travelling through Knock Airport grew by more than 10 per cent last year to around 700,000 people. While the exact timetable for the decoupling of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority has not been finalised, it is now a possibility that Shannon Airport may begin its time as a standalone airport as Ireland’s fourth most used airport, and not its third.

THE Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton (Lab) was in Ennis on Friday to see the formation of a new organisation that will give a voice to those in receipt of social protection payments.

The Labour Minister even addressed the inaugural meeting of the Alliance of Social Protection Recipients at the Temple Gate Hotel.

The Alliance was formed to give “a voice and a platform to people in Clare who avail of social protection payments and services.”

However, the organisation formed in Clare has ambitions far beyond the county boundaries.

The new Alliance asked the minister to set up consultative groups in each region that will have more than 60 per cent of its membership made up of welfare recipients. Supported by Citizens Information Centres, these groups should meet quarterly and report directly in October to the Minister on their findings, the group maintans.

There are over 10,000 people on the live register in Clare and thousands more on 50 different types of welfare payments across a wide spectrum from children’s allowance to the old age pension.

Dermot Hayes, Chair of the Alliance of Social Protection Recipients, said that many of the rates have been cut in the last four years for vari- ous reasons or the rules have been changed for qualification.

“Welfare recipients have come under a harsh spot light in the last few years. One of the solutions to the big crisis proposed by various wellheeled pundits in the media is that the state pays far too much in welfare,” he said.

As an example, he referred to the former head of the University of Limerick Dr Edward Walsh whose various radio interviews suggest that welfare in Ireland is too generous. “Dr Walsh should remember that his retirement salary is generous and supported by the tax payer,” added Dermot Hayes.

“Fuel and food increases of 7 per cent are causing great hardship and should be a stark warming to Government. We will have to re-examine the tax shelters that have developed over the last 15 years that allow the very wealthy to pay only nominal tax while enjoying the fruits of government spending on roads, water and other services,” he said.

AS MANY as 500 jobs could be created off the North Clare coast over the next 12 months through the construction of Ireland largest ever organic fish farm.

The farm, which will located around five miles north/west of Doolin, is being put forward by the Irish Fisheries Board, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), who are currently aiming to begin spawning at the farm in the Autumn of next year.

According to BIM, the project will create 350 jobs directly through the operation and maintenance of the farm and a further 150 jobs through support industries locally. BIM are about to open a period of public consultation in relation to the development and will send a final application for a licence to government after that.

“This is a very real project and something that we are hoping to be able to put in place quite soon,” said Donal Maguire, Head of the Aquaculture Development Division at BIM.

“We would expect that the benefits of this project would be felt from Doolin north, all the way up the Clare coast.

“This is a very exciting project for fisheries in Clare and indeed for the whole West of Ireland.”

Ahead of the opening of public consultation, some opposition to the project has already been voiced – both in North Clare and the Aran Islands.

One North Clare fisherman, who asked not to be identified, said that there were fears that the fish farm could cause pollution and impact on the existing fishing in the area.

CARERS in Clare continue to face obstacles when applying for carers allowance, and that is before any budget has announced.

In the last number of weeks, one carer reported that when she applied for the € 204 carers allowance to look after her mother at home, she was refused. Instead, she was offered a € 730 nursing home subvention.

Asked if this flies in the face of Government policy, Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton said that the process is in a transitional phase.

“We are spending a lot more money on carers and we are giving carers allowance to a lot more people, including the half-way carers allowance, so we have managed to ringfence the budget to increase the number of people receiving it. That is in recognition…of the job the carers do and how vital that is, not just for the person they are caring for but indeed for the whole community,” she said.

“We have been changing the IT systems in the department in relation to all the applications for things like car ers, disability and domiciliary care allowance. And, basically, what we are doing is developing better and faster IT systems. While we are doing that, we have to have the old system and the new system running parallel so there have been some delays but certainly we are now getting into the backlog. The time it is taking has come down significantly. The fresher applications have not been facing anything like that,” she told The Clare People .

The National Carers Strategy, published earlier this year, promised to recognise, empower and support family carers. However, the Carers Association said Ireland’s 187,000 family carers are now facing cuts to home help hours, home care packages and vital support services.

In the 2006 census, 4,507 carers were recorded in Clare. Six years on, the number is likely to be significantly higher. According to the Carers Association, many people don’t recognise themselves as carers when it comes to the census as they believe they are “just looking after a family member”.

“We are calling on Government to stop praising carers with words, while punishing them with cuts. It’s time to turn rhetoric into reality,” said Catherine Cox, spokesperson for The Carers Association.

“Carers across the country are very fearful of what this budget will bring, with further threats of cuts to household benefits packages, free travel for carers and services for young adults with disabilities on reaching 18. All of these, against a backdrop of suspension of housing adaptation grants and increases in the costs of care in the home, are pushing many carers over the edge,” she said.

TWO FEUDING Ennis families are giving the county town a bad reputation it does not deserve according to Clare’s senior member of An Garda siochana.

At Monday night’s meeting of the joint policing committeee in Kildysart Chief Supt John Kerins described as ‘appalling’ disturbances by feuding families in the town within the last forthnight but said the gardai were determined to get on top of the issue.

To date eight people have been arrested in connection to incidents at the Maid of Erin roundabout last Sunday night week during which a garda was injured.

The Chief Supt said that more arrests would be made in the coming weeks in connection to anti-social behaviour outside the Cathedral in Ennis following a recent wedding.

Crime statistics for the county so far this year show that most crimes figures are remaining steady or decreasing with the exception of weapons and explosive offences which had increased by 32 per cent.

This figure is in the main due to the Traveller fueds according to the Chief Superintendent.

Mayor of Clare Pat Daly told the same meeting these poeple have to be stopped:

“They are gurriers. I don’t the law is strong enough, I think it is time to get them out of the town of Ennis and locked up forever,” he said.

The garda chief agreed that the incidents reflect poorly on Ennis’s reputation despite the statistics proving otherwise:

“This gives the town a bad reputation it does not deserve.

“The statistics show that it is one of the most peaceful towns of its size in Ireland,” he told the public meeting.

Cllr Joe Cooney relayed how a person moved to Ennis from East Clare and bought a house.

Due to anti-social behaviour on the housing estate that person was forced to move back to East Clare, rent a house and continue to pay a mortage for a house he could no longer live in.

“ It is not good enough,” he said.

Chief Super Kerins assured Cllr Cooney that gardai would be issuing asbos (anti-social behavioural orders) to the culprits in the coming weeks and the issue would be brought before the courts.

He explained however that it was difficult for the gardai to deal with the issue as they cannot lawfully enter a private house unless a crime is being committed.

THREE people charged in connection with a disturbance at the Maid of Erin roundabout in Ennis last weekend are due to make their third court appearance tomorrow.

Bernard McDonagh (45) and Christopher McDonagh (38) and a 16-yearold boy are alleged to have committed a number of offences arising out of the incident at a roundabout on October 14.

All three appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Bernard McDonagh, with an address at 1 Ashline, Kilrush Road, Ennis is charged with the assault of John Doherty. He also faces three charges of criminal damage and one charge of dangerous driving.

It is further alleged that Bernard McDonagh drove a vehicle in a dangerous and reckless manner which created substantial risk of death or serious harm to another.

Christopher McDonagh, with an address at 1 Davitt Terrace, Clough- leigh, Ennis, is charged with producing an iron while about to commit an assault.

He also charged with possession of an iron bar with intent to cause injury to John Doherty, Martin Doherty and Jimmy Doherty.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons is charged with possession of a hatchet with intent to cause injuries to John Doherty, Martin Doherty and Jimmy Doherty.

He is also charged with the production of a hatchet while about to com- mit an assault.

The court heard that all three accused were previously refused bail at Kilrush District Court.

Inspector Tom Kennedy requested an adjournment in all three cases for directions to issue from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Bernard and Christopher McDonagh were remanded in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on October 24. The teenager was remanded in detention to Oberstown Detention Centre.

A JUDGE has rejected a suggestion that charges against an Ennis man accused of having heroin for sale or supply should be struck out.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy was speaking at Ennis District Court on Wednesday where he granted an extension of time for the service of the book of evidence on David Joyce (23).

Mr Joyce, with an address at 85 Dun Na hInse, is charged with unlawful possession of diamorphine at 90 Dun Na hInse, Ennis on May 30 (2012).

Mr Joyce is also charged with having diamorphine for purposes of sale or supply at the same location and date.

New charges of cannabis possession and having cannabis for sale or supply at the same location and date have now been brought against Mr Joyce.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed that all charges would be proceeding on trial on indictment. He requested that the case be adjourned until November 7 for service of the book of evidence.

Defence Solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court that she was not consenting to a further adjournment.

She said the State had been informed in September of the DPP’s directions in relation to the heroin charges.

She said 42 days had elapsed between her client’s first appearance in court and his latest court appearance.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said there had been “significant operational issues” in the case.

He said the gardaí had now received clarity as regards the cannabis charges.

He said all the charges would be going forward as part one book of evidence.

Pointing to ongoing delays in the State’s case, Ms Godfrey suggested that the original charges against her client should be struck out.

“There was something happening in the background that we didn’t know about”, she added.

Judge McCarthy said he was satisfied by the explanation given by the State.

He extended time for service of the book of evidence.

Mr Joyce was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on November 7.

A WEST Clare publican accused of assaulting a customer at his home on a Sunday morning during the Willie Clancy Festival has had the charges against him dismissed

Unemployed bricklayer Kieran Flynn (35) alleged Sean Malone (52) showed up at his home on July 3 (2011), punched him around the head and pulled off his underwear during a 10-minute assault.

Mr Malone, with an address at The Lane Miltown Malbay, pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault causing harm.

The court heard that Mr Flynn had been on a 13-hour drinking session the previous day.

Mr Flynn, who admitted being very drunk, ended the day in Malone’s Bar where an altercation developed between he and Mr Malone’s partner Fiona White.

The court heard that Mr Flynn was thrown out of the bar.

Pointing to a lack of medical evidence, Judge Patrick Durcan dismissed the charges.

He said, “There has to be a doubt in mind and there is. I accordingly dismiss the charge.”

Judge Durcan said he had no reason “not to believe” Mr Flynn’s evidence. However he said this was a case where there was a conflict between the evidence of a drunk man and sober man.

Judge Durcan said that if a man had been “thrashed” in the manner described by Mr Flynn you would expect that medical evidence would have been produced to support that claim.

Over the course of three hours and 35 minutes, the court heard evidence from 11 witnesses including three other publicans in Miltown Malbay.

Mr Flynn alleged that Mr Malone had been “crying with temper” during the alleged altercation, adding that Mr Malone told him that he had insulted his parents on the night previous.

Mr Flynn’s partner, Cora Griffin (26), said he had a “bruised hand and buttocks” when she saw him.

His sister, Annette Cotter, said her brother was “lying on the floor naked from the waist down.”

She claimed there was blood spat- tered on the walls and that her brother was in agony.

A number of defence witnesses said Mr Flynn had been heard in Miltown on the previous day talking about a fight he had been in with another man.

Publicans Martin Flynn (Flynn’s Bar) Gerard Clancy (Clancy’s Bar) said Mr Flynn had been in their bars in the early afternoon on July 2. They said he had blood and scrapes on his knuckles.

Mr Clancy said he advised Mr Flynn to go home and sleep it off. He added, “He’s not awkward. He’s a lovely lad.”

Staff at Malone’s Bar also gave evidence that Mr Flynn was in a “very irritable mood” on July 2.

Ms White said Mr Flynn verbally abused her in Malone’s Bar and pushed her.

Mr Malone told the court that he asked Mr Flynn to leave his premises on July 2 because he was “beyond control.”

Mr Malone said he called to Mr Flynn’s the next morning because he was concerned for his well being. Insp Tom Kennedy said Mr Malone and other witnesses had attempted to “discredit” Mr Flynn.

This was rejected by the witnesses and Judge Durcan who said he did not “quibble” with the evidence given by the publicans.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said evidence had been given that Mr Flynn had spoken of being in a fight with another man on July 2.

He said there were “large doubts and inconsistencies in the State’s case.” Judge Durcan dismissed the charges.