FIGURES from the Department of Justice show that Ennis solicitor Tara Godfrey was the highest earner from criminal legal aid cases in the county for the second year in a row. The Ennis solicitor earned € 144,434 last year with solicitor Darragh Hassett second on € 96,092.
NEIGHBOURS from hell are causing house prices to fall further in some areas of Ennis, a meeting has heard.
The claim was made at the October meeting of Ennis Town Council. Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn told the meeting that estate agents in the town had told him that the behaviour of problem tennants are bringing down the value of property.
Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said he was aware of one woman who had trouble getting rent from a problem tenant. He said that the man stole heating oil from the tank when he finally left the house.
Councillors were discussing a motion tabled by Cllr Flynn calling for tougher legislation on to deal with anti-social behaviour and “neighbours from hell”. He stated there is a need for “strengthening of bad neighbours and bad tenants sections of private tenancy legislation currently being drafted”.
Cllr Flynn continued, “Anti-social behaviour in estates, whether private of local authority, is destroying peoples lives and needs also to be addressed by a range of effective legislation including terms of access or withdrawal of state benefits, low cost alcohol.”
Cllr Flynn told the meeting that the Private Rental Tenancies Board (PRTB), the body tasked with dealing with disputes between third parties and landlords, “is not effective or user friendly”.
He described the level of anti-social behaviour in some private estates in Ennis as “appalling”. Deputy Mayor of Ennis Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said he would support the motion of the reference to low cost alcohol was removed.
Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) also expressed support for the motion. “It’s a different ball game now,” she said.
Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said similar motions had been ignored by Clare TDs and Senators in the past. Cllr Neylon said the council is getting the brush off from Ministers. “They’re saying shut yer mouths or ye’ll be done away with.” Cllr Neylon said the Taoiseach should be invited to Ennis to see the problems caused by anti-social behaviour. Th e w in t e r is slo w ly a n n o u n c in g it s e lf, w it h so m e c h illie r d a ys b u t m ild e n o u g h fo r t h is t im e o f ye a r.
A LARGE dog, which savagely attacked a number of other dogs in Shannon last week, was apprehended while playing outside with 12 young children.
The dog, which was a German Shepherd/ Husky cross-breed, went on a bloody rampage last Wednesday, before it was captured by Clare dog warden, Frankie Coote.
According to Frankie, Shannon has become a major blackspot for dangerous dogs and he appealed for pet-owners to take care of their pets properly.
“A lady was walking a small Yorkshire Terrier on a lead. She had just come out of her gate when a German Shepherd/ Husky cross-breed grabbed her dog by the neck and, in one snap, killed it. She was terrorised by the incident, understandably” said Mr Coote.
“I was on my way down to this incident when I received another call from the gardaí to say that another dog had been attacked. I found the dog in a housing estate running around with 12 or 14 very young children.
“I was able to capture the dog and, luckily enough, he had not attacked any young persons at that time. He was desperate to meet any small dogs and he would have killed anyone that he came across.”
The owner of the dog has been located and the owner has given permission for the dog to be put down.
“This a big issue with large dogs in Clare. If a small pet dog goes a bit wild, it can be controlled, but these [big] dogs could do serious damage. That dog in Shannon could kill another dog with one bite – that could just as easily have been a child,” continued Mr Coote.
“Shannon has become the blackspot in Clare when it comes to dangerous dogs. It really has. I’ve had major problems in other areas in the past – in Ennis and Kilrush and other areas – but Shannon really is a big problem and it is showing no sign of getting better just yet.
“People need to realise just what their dogs are capable of doing.”
A PROPOSAL to introduce X-Factor style auditions for buskers in Ennis has been rejected by members of Ennis Town Council.
Fine Gael’s Mary Coote Ryan was among four councillors who voted against the motion put forward by her party colleague Johnny Flynn at the council’s October meeting.
In a notice of motion, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) called on “Ennis Town Council draw up street entertainment byelaws to deal with busking and the provision of small street public performance spaces (spotaí ceol) to enable performers book at targeted time”.
Cllr Flynn told the meeting that similar byelaws had been introduced in Dublin while other areas such as Galway, Killarney and Westport auditioned buskers. He said he had brought forward the motion to ensure there is a high standard of singers and musicians performing on the streets of Ennis. He said his proposal would give opportunities for young musicians to perform. Supporting the motion, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said the quality of some of the buskers in Ennis could be questioned.
She said the proposal could pave the way for a busking festival to bring the best performers from Ireland and around Europe to Ennis.
However the Deputy Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind), told the meeting that he strongly opposed the motion, saying, “we are tying ourselves in knots with byelaws”.
He said there are only four or five buskers regularly performing in Ennis every week.
Cllr Brennan added, “I’ve never seen an influx of buskers into Ennis, not even for the Fleadh Nua. There is no music on the streets of Ennis.”
Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said there is a need to allocate specific areas for busking. However, he said the introduction of byelaws could cause problems for the council and performers.
Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said Ennis “cannot compete” with towns like Westport because they have more hotels. He said the town should be looking to capitalize on the opportunities created by new coach parking facilities.
Town Manager Gerard Dollard said that while he agreed with the sentiment of the motion, the drafting of new byelaws would require the allocation of significant resources, which the council cannot spare. Mr Dollard said there is also a view that byelaws would take from the spontaneity of street busking.
He added, “I don’t think there is a significant issue with busking on the streets of Ennis.” The motion was put to a vote. Councillors Tommy Brennan, Mary Coote Ryan, Frankie Neylon and Michael Guilfoyle voted against. Councillors Johnny Flynn and Mary Howard voted for. Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind) was not present at the meeting due to another commitment. Cllrs Peter Considine (FF) and Brian Meaney (GP) had left the meeting prior to the vote being taken.
THE Socialist Workers Party (SWP) are planning a major protest in the Clare area to oppose the septic tank registration charge.
Latest figures have confirmed that more than 8,000 people in Clare have registered their septic tanks with the Local Government Management Agency – less than 50 per cent of the total estimated number of septic tanks in the county.
Ennistymon representative for the Socialist Workers Party, Keith Cargill, says people believe that the charge is unfair on rural dwellers.
“There is no sense of fairness in this. People in Clare have already paid for these septic tanks so this is a double payment for something that people in urban areas get for free,” said Mr Cargill.
“We have a strong SWP presence in parts of Clare and plans are already in motion for a major protest to take place in the next few weeks. I’m not sure at this stage how it might work out, we may organise a combined protect with the SWP in Limerick but people are not happy with this and they do want something to be done.
“I think most people appreciate that the Social Workers Party is a very small organisation nationally, but we are growing. We have some members in Clare and the membership is growing all the time. It is growing slowly but it is growing.
“I think that we are the only party out there who are putting forward a counter-economic argument than everybody else. I think a lot of people are very bitter with the politics at the moment.
“There was a hope for change but that has proved to be more of the same. It now seems like there really is nothing between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael except what happened in the Civil War.
“Services are being cut, not just in rural areas but in urban areas as well, and people are not happy with it. There is a lot of disgruntlement out there and people are starting to voice there annoyance at what is going on.”
THE festive season could come to the streets of Ennis earlier than usual following a proposal to switch on the town’s Christmas lights in November.
Ennis Town Council is proposing to pedestrianise Abbey Street and O’Connell Street on December 15, 22, 23 and 24.
According to the council, the imminent opening of the Inner Relief Road would facilitate improved traffic flow during the period.
The council is now inviting submissions from members of the public. The matter came before last week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council. Town clerk Leonard Cleary stated that a previous attempt to pedeistrianise Ennis’s man streets was abandoned after traders blamed the policy for a fall in business.
Mr Cleary said the proposal had been brought forward to October to allow “adequate time to progress consultation/procedures following the December meeting”.
He continued, “The implementation of pedestrianisation in Ennis remains an objective of the council as stated in the Ennis and Environs Development Plan. The purpose of the pedestrianisation of these streets on the dates specified is to facilitate shoppers and the general public in terms of ease of movements on days that traditionally would be busy in the town.”
Consultation will now take place with the Gardaí in relation to traffic management. Mr Cleary said discussions have yet to take place with the business community.
Last December parking was applicable to the town’s 759 off-street and 783 on-street public car parking spaces up to 12pm daily on Saturdays during the festive period.
Ennis Chamber of Commerce has called for the council to repeat its 2011 policy. According to Mr Cleary, a proposed Christmas parking incentive will be discussed at the council’s November meeting.
Town manager Gerard Dollard appealed for businesses and members of the public to engage in the consultation process. Mr Dollard said the council is aware of the view that O’Connell Street should be pedestrianised only.
Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) welcomed the proposal, saying that the council should consider switching on the town’s Christmas lights in mid-November to capitalise on and boost festive shopping.
Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said the street radio initiative introduced in 2011 should be repeated this year.
Looking ahead to next year, Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) urged the council to hold the 2013 St Patrick’s Day parade on a Sunday.
The comment prompted Mr Dollard to jokingly remark, “Let’s get over Christmas first!”
AN Ennis man has been sentenced to five months in prison for what a judge described as an “absolutely reprehensible and appalling” assault in a bookmakers earlier this year.
A 59 year old man was spat at and kicked in an Ennis bookmakers on March 5 (2012).
Sean Moroney (41), with an address at 31 Dalcassian Park had pleaded guilty to assault, intoxication and provoking a breach of the peace.
The matter came before Ennis District Court on Wedneday for sentence.
Inspector John Galvin told the court that Mr Moroney entered the premises at 2.45pm on the day in question. The court heard that he spat at a customer and attempted to kick him.
Gardai escorted Mr Moroney from the premises. Insp Galvin said the accused was in a highly intoxicated state. The court heard that Mr Mo- roney has a number of previous convictions for public order offences and assault.
Solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client, a father of one, has had significant difficulties with alcohol.
She said the victim in the case had made a remark about her client’s father on the day in question.
Ms Godfrey said, “He apologises to the injured party but he said something that was quite cruel.
She urged the court to consider or- dering Mr Moroney to engage with the Probation services.
Judge Patrick Durcan said the accused had a record that was “unsavory in the extreme”.
He said he “absolutely abhors” assaults that involve spitting, saying there is an added element of insult in that type of assault.
Judge Durcan added, “They are not manly assaults. They are cowardly assaults.”
He described the incident in the bookmakers as “absolutely reprehensible and appalling.” He said he had to balance the accused’s guilty plea, his “battle with the demon drink” against the nature of the assault.
Judge Durcan sentenced Mr Moroney to four months in prison for the assault.
He imposed another month for provoking a breach of the peace. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal. Judge Durcan said it was time for Mr Moroney to “wake up.”
ONE of Clare’s largest entertainment venues would be forced to “close its doors” if it did not receive local authority funding, a meeting has heard.
Director of Glór, Gemma Carcaterra told last week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council that it was also “imperative” that Glór maintain its current staffing levels in order to be in a good position when the economy picks up.
She said the biggest challenge fac- ing Glór is the management of limited resources.
Ms Carcaterra said that Glór must also lessen its reliance on local authority funding in the future. Glór employs 33 people and has an annual turnover of € 1.25 million.
The Ennis venue receives funding from Clare local authorities and the Arts Council.
In a presentation to councillors, Ms Carcaeterra said Glór makes a net contribution of € 850,000 per year to the local economy.
Following questions from Cllr Brian Meaney (GP), Ms Carcaeterra said that Glór’s end of year financial position would be “very positive”. She said that it was her understanding that Glór does not have an outstanding financial liability.
Town manager Gerard Dollard said, “We’re not starting out with historical debt. It’s about how we fund Glór into the future.”
Cllr Meaney said it was important that at a time when the council is facing difficult budgetary choices, the exact financial position of Glór is known.
Ms Carcaterra also confirmed that Café Noir, the company running café facilities at the venue, pays a small rent to Glór.
She described the three-year partnership with Café Noir as “crucial” to ensuring there is life in the venue throughout the day.
Originally from the midlands in England, Ms Carcaterra has worked as director of Glór for the past 12 months.
She told the meeting that 600,000 people had passed through the doors of Glór since it opened in 2001. 35,000 people attended 255 events in Glór in 2011. A breakdown of the figures shows that 5,000 attended music events; 6,000 attended theatre shows while 9,150 schoolchildren, teachers and parents visited the venue.
Ms Carcaeterra also praised staff, describing them as “highly knowledgeable, professional and loyal”.
Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Considine (FF) praised the work of Glór staff, saying Ms Carcaterra is implementing an “ambitious plan”.
Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the council had contributed on average € 240,000 per year to Glór since it opened in 2001. He said the venue should play a central role in events for The Gathering next year.
A MAN has been sentenced in 11 months in prison for a theft and criminal damage offences committed in Gort last month.
Brendan Sherlock (19), with an address at 41 Dromard, Lahinch Road, Ennis received the sentence at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.
Mr Sherlock pleaded guilty to the theft of a laptop and a quantity of cash from an apartment on Station Road, Gort on dates unknown between August 28 and 29.
Garda John Keating told the court that Mr Sherlock may have been invited into the premises. He said the laptop had not yet been recovered.
The court heard that Mr Sherlock also admitted breaking the window of a car parked on George’s Street, Gort on September 5. € 200 worth of damage was caused to the car.
The court heard that the accused stole alcohol from Aldi on September 6. Mr Sherlock has a number of previous convictions.
Solicitor Elaine Murphy told the court that her client comes from a large family in Ennis. She said Mr Sherlock’s mother had passed away after giving birth in 2008.
Ms Murphy said her client had been addicted to drink and drugs and had committed the offences to “feed his habit.” She said Mr Sherlock apologised for his behaviour and had cooperated with gardaí. Garda Keating said Mr Sherlock’s problems purely stemmed from drink and drugs.
Judge Durcan said he was considering remanding Mr Sherlock for six weeks in order for him to address his addiction problems. He said the court must be seen to act otherwise the gardaí in Gort would be inundated with complaints from “goodie, goodie” organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce. The court heard that the Mr Sherlock would be a suitable candidate to engage with the Probation services.
After consulting with her client, Ms Murphy told the court that Mr Sherlock did not wish meet with the Probation services.
She said, “My client wishes to have sentence dealt with today.”
He imposed sentences totaling 11 months. Judge Durcan said; “I am sorry that your client adopted the position he adopted and I hope it was for genuine reasons.”
“SIT back and enjoy the show,” the patient was told, as he settled into a night in Accident and Emergency in the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick to watch the horror show unfold.
It was 1am Saturday and although he was just admitted to the hospital by an A&E doctor, who was too concerned for his health to let him home for the night, the nurse in charge was giving him no false hopes.
He was 27th in line on trolleys in the overcrowded A&E Department waiting for a bed and the night was still young.
His bed for the night would be that trolley, and he would be lying as close to strangers as he had to his wife the night before in a loud, bright and very busy accident and emergency department.
The man in question had arrived from Clare at 7pm on Friday evening, having been referred on by his own GP.
After an hour’s wait in the waiting room he was called and assessed by a triage nurse.
Afterwards he was given a trolley situated right in the middle of a corridor.
A few hours later he would see a doctor, hours later again have an xray and hours later again the results.
Behind his head about 20 feet away was the entrance for the patients brought to the hospital by ambulance from Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary.
All hoped no one would be coming in that entrance in a hurry because there were patients on chairs and on trolleys causing more than just a small obstacle.
To the Clareman’s right was a row of chairs with patients holding arms and sides, some with blood cannula, where they had given blood samples earlier, still in their arms.
Beside them were three beds with patients on trolleys lined up perpendicular to the wall. Then a curtain and more of the same until the corridor turned left, or you went straight on to the ambulance entrance.
At his left arm just metres away was a door used by staff; beside that a chair with a patient holding his left arm; next a man on a drip trying to sleep on a trolley with “Ambulance triage point” on a sign overhead; next a collection point for blood samples with yet another two trolleys in front of that, before a door to what appeared to be a treatment room for seriously ill patients.
Yes, no one was going anywhere fast that night – nurses, patients, tea ladies or paramedics.
I wasn’t going anywhere either, as I observed over stretched, stressed staff and tired, ill and irritated patients making their way through the night.
Each area of the A&E was filled with trolleys, people on chairs and the walking wounded.
A teenage girl with a gash on her head was semi-conscious and vomiting into a paper tray held by her father.
A man in a full back brace was wheeled around at will to make way for other patients as they came and went.
Young mothers arrived with crying babies, more experienced mothers with sons who had left the hurling field early holding arms and legs, and other people with their elderly mothers who were all lined up sideby-side hoping for a quieter spot for the night.
In the mix of the physically ill and the injured were the drunks, prisoners and patients with mental illnesses who just had nowhere else to go.
For a lot of the later patients, a visit to A and E was a regular occurrence as the other services had let them down.
Staff were doing their best many using trench humour to survive the battle of the night. The few that could laugh were the lucky ones; most were beyond seeing the funny side.
“Morale is at an all time low,” I was told. It wasn’t hard to see why that was the case.
One staff member told me how she had broken down in tears earlier in the night out of pure frustration.
“How can we help anyone like this? It is the patients that will suffer,” she said.
Another employee told me they were not allowed to talk about the horrors of the service, but said to her mind it was all a health and safety issue.
In the midst of the madness was a nurse you knew had seen it all before.
She walked through the chaos adjusting drips, reassuring patients, all the time bringing in the next person for the long wait.
Here was a woman who could be of use to James Reilly and the Government, but had anyone ever asked the frontline staff what needs to be done, not the unions or the person who shouts loudest but the quite ones that gets on with the difficult job.
“We were told there would be two patients coming from Nenagh after it closed. There were 16 the other night,” said another staff member at the end of his tether. “It is getting worse, much worse.”
Among the Clare people I met was one man who walked out after a fivehour wait with a cannula still in his hands.
Some people took umbrage that they were resigned to a chair, but it was a case of “those in greatest need”.
Another couple had driven from West Clare after the woman had a serious fall.
It was 11pm, so she bypassed Ennis General Hospital and travelled all the way to Limerick to be told it was just bad bruising.
As the night went on, a rowdy drunk in danger of hurting staff or other patients was taken away by security guards to another room and, if the sounds were anything to go by, was soon sedated.
And all the while very sick people were expected to rest as they awaited their fate, many eventually making it to wards where there would be less staff on for the weekend.
The staff in the meantime moved patients around like a game of draughts, refereed drunks, and tried to appease patients who were becoming impatient, all the while trying to do their own jobs.
And this was just Friday night; Saturday would as always bring the worst of the weekend excesses. Thank God we weren’t there to see that.