Category: News

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.

A FARMER has been acquitted of dangerous driving causing death of a German tourist near Bunratty Castle.

However John Boyce (57) with an address at Moyhill, Cratloe, was found guilty by a jury of careless driving.

The three-day trial at Ennis Circuit Court last week heard Mr Boyce was driving a tractor at the time of the crash, which killed Inge Schmidt (76) at Low Road, Bunratty, on October 29, 2010.

Ms Schmidt was walking across a zebra crossing when she came into contact with the tractor. She died in hospital later as a result of her injuries.

In his closing speech, Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan BL, told the jury that two eyewitnesses had seen Ms Schmidt on the crossing.

He said there was consistent evidence that it had been raining on the day of the accident.

Mr Coughlan said, “The fact that there was someone on the pedestrian crossing required the motorist to stop.”

He said that there was evidence that Mr Boyce did not stop at the point of impact.

Mr Coughlan said, “Speed is not an issue. There is no suggestion that the speed Mr Boyce was traveling contributed to the accident.”

The court heard that it had been impossible for gardai to determine the point of impact.

Mr Coughlan said Mr Boyce should have approached the junction with more care. He described Bunratty Folk Park as a very busy area.

Defence Counsel, Lorcan Connlly, told the court that this was a “very different case from most dangerous driving cases”.

He said alcohol and speed were not factors in the case.

Mr Connolly said Mr Boyce had told people at the scene of the acci- dent and gardaí that he had not seen Ms Schmidt.

He said this was not a case where Mr Boyce had attempted to “pull a rabbit” out of the hat on the day of the court case.

He added, “Mr Boyce has been consistent throughout. He did not see the woman.”

The court heard that no certificate of roadworthiness is required for tractors.

Mr Connolly said, “I am inviting you to find that he (Mr Boyce) is not criminally responsible for what happened on the day.”

Mr Connolly told the jury that Mr Boyce will have to “carry the cross” for what happened on that day for the rest of his life.

After seeking clarification from Judge Gerard Keyes, the jury found Mr Boyce not guilty of dangerous driving but guilty of careless driving.

Setencing was adjourned until Tuesday.

CLARE has the second highest rate of same-sex civil partnerships in Ireland, with 15 couples from the county tying the knot since the civil partnership legislation became law in January of 2011.

According to figures released by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), Clare has the second highest incidence of civil partnerships per head of population – with only Dublin registering a higher rate of civil partnerships.

While 15 Clare couple have been granted civil partnerships, only two couples have been able to have their ceremony in the county.

According to Kilrush man and Director of GLEN, Brian Sheehan, the large uptake in civil partnerships will prove a stepping stone to full marriage for gay couples.

“It has been an incredible take-up in such a small space of time. I think once same-sex couples become more visible in Clare and other places, more and more people will see that a same-sex couple is no different from a heterosexual couple. This is people making a really profound commitment to each other,” said the West Clare man.

“I think people are starting to realise that this is a marriage, with all the same responsibilities and commitments.

“So more and more people are starting to see that gay couples should have all the same rights as other [heterosexual] couples. I think it has demystified it for a lot of people.

“When you look at the figures and see that 14 people over the age of 70 have had a civil partnership, you realise that people have been waiting for this for a long time, to have their relationships recognised. Many of these couples will have been together for 30 or 40 years.”

Under the current civil partnership legislation, there is still a legal connection between a civil partner and the biological children of his or her spouse.

This also creates issues surrounding adoption, when same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt jointly.

A MAN has been found guilty of the intimidation of two witnesses who gave evidence at a trial in Clare last year.

At Clare Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, Martin Joyce (22), with addresses at 113 Dun na hInse, Ennis and 2 St Patrick’s Mews, Clarecastle, was found guilty by a jury of the intimidation of his brother-in-law Michael Ward and Mr Ward’s wife, Rose Ward.

He was acquitted of a charge of threatening to kill Mr Ward at Shannon Airport on May 3 2011.

The Wards had travelled to Clare from England to give evidence at an arson trial against the Mr Joyce’s brother David. David Joyce was acquitted of the charge.

It had been alleged that Mr Joyce told Mr Ward that he would never be able to come back to Shannon and that he would be shot if he gave evidence at the trial.

It was alleged that Mr Joyce also told Mr Ward that there would “guns in court waiting for him” if he gave evidence.

Mr Ward told the court that he “felt very terrified” when he saw Mr Joyce entering the arrivals hall of Shannon Airport.

Mr Ward was with his wife and two children at the time.

The jury was shown CCTV footage of the encounter between Mr Joyce and Mr Ward.

Asked about Mr Joyce’s body language on the day, Mr Ward said, “he looked ready for action.”

He said, “I just felt very terrified to be honest with you.” Rose Ward said she got a “terrible fright” when she saw Mr Joyce.

“I got very badly disturbed when I saw him,” she added. The court heard that Ms Ward went to the airport police.

She said, “I was afraid that something that was going to happen. I was afraid Martin was going to do something bad.”

Patrick O’Neill of Shannon Airport Police told the court that Ms Ward seemed “very upset” at the time.

Mr Joyce was arrested two days after the incident. When asked by gardaí why he had come to Shannon, Mr Joyce said he was bringing his child to the doctor. Mr Joyce told gardaí that Mr Ward called him names at the airport. He denied threatening his brother in law.

Counsel for the accused Pat Whyms BL said every detail of the CCTV footage vindicated Mr Joyce’s account of what happened. He said his client had urged gardaí to review the CCTV.

Mr Whyms added, “This is a man begging for the objective evidence to be shown so he can be vindicated.” He said there was no evidence that Mr Joyce had threatened Mr Ward.

Mr Whyms said there were inconsistencies in Mr Ward’s evidence.

He added, “The evidence in this case has come nowhere close to the standard of proof required.”

It took the jury 89 minutes to unanimously find Mr Joyce not guilty of threatening to kill Mr Ward but guilty of intimidation.

After a further 36 minutes of deliberation the jury unanimously found Mr Joyce guilty of the intimidation of Rose Ward.

Judge Gerard Keyes adjourned sentencing to October 16. Mr Joyce was granted bail subject to conditions.

THE number of people signing on the live register in Clare has dropped to its lowest level in more than three years – but it is emigration and not job creation which is credited for the drop.

According to new information from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), a total of 9,674 people signed on the live register in the county in September. This is the lowest number on the live register since May of 2009, and represents a month-on-month drop of more that five per cent.

While some of this drop can be attributed to students returning to third-level education, emigration is considered to be the main driving force behind the record low.

According to Rita McInerney, CEO of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce, job creation has been flat in the county in recent months, with some sectors making gains while other sectors are being forced to let people go.

“It is slow at the moment and it is very different from one sector to the next. The retail sector is certainly having a difficult time of it but hopefully that will change coming up to Christmas,” she said.

“Export businesses in the county are doing well and that is good news, they employ a lot of people, but if we are to see some new job creation, we really need people to get back to spending again.

“Emigration is certainly a big factor in all of this. It is one of the unavoidable outcomes of a recession. It is about people looking at their options and deciding what is best for them and their family, whether that be going back to education or emigration.”

The numbers signing on in Clare last month were 300 down on the September 2011 figures and 500 down on the same month in 2010.

A NEW initiative to support local community groups to access Leader funding for projects that upgrade buildings and structures of heritage value has been launched by the Clare Heritage Forum.

The Community Built Heritage Animator Programme will run until autumn 2013 and kicks off with a series of local seminars that will help communities identify projects and explore the technical and funding aspects of conservation works.

The seminars will take place over the next two weeks starting on Tuesday, October 16, in the Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe, and Thursday, October 18, in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis.

The following week’s events are in the Stella Maris, Kilkee, on Tuesday 23 and Falls Hotel, Ennistymon on Thursday 25. All seminars are from 7.30 to 9.30pm.

Dick Cronin, Architectural Conservation Officer with Clare County Council, is inviting local groups to the seminars or to get in touch to explore the potential of projects in their communities.

“Clare Heritage Forum, Clare County Council and local communities have been working together for many years to identify, preserve and promote the county’s rich built heritage,” said Mr Cronin.

“Right now, there is a great opportunity for community groups to conserve and enhance this heritage with Leader funding from Clare Local Development Company. We are looking for groups to propose projects and we will assist them with technical expertise in applying for Leader heritage grants,” he added.

The Animator Programme is being operated by Leahy Conway Architects who have widespread experience in the preservation and conservation of heritage structures. Conservation architect Paul Conway is encouraging groups to consider all types of structures in their area.

“It may be a flagship building but equally it may simply be the clearance of ivy in an old church or graveyard. Other examples include gate piers, mausolea, village pumps, old castles, lime kilns, follies and so on. There are many places in your community where the past lives but which could benefit from a heritage grant,” he said.

GARDAÍ in Shannon have this week renewed their appeal for information about a serious assault that took place in the town last Sunday week when a man was stabbed in his home in the Cluain Airne estate.

The man was attacked at 6.30am in the morning after he opened his front door and was then stabbed in the stomach by a man who was standing outside. The man then fled the scene.

Last week Gardaí released details of the person they believe is responsible for the attack.

He is described as being 5’8” in height and approximately 20-21 years of age. He was wearing a navy jacket with an Eircom logo on the back. Gardai say he may have had a black eye.

Now, a week on, Gardaí have released a photograph of the type of jacket being worn by the man who committed the attack.

“We hope that this picture might jog someone’s memory,” a Shannon Garda spokesperson said. “This is the kind of jacket he was wearing and we believe him to be local to Shannon and living in Shannon,” he added.

MORE than a dozen people who previously worked in the area of middle management and are now seeking employment are benefiting from a new initiative set up by the St Vincent de Paul.

The local St Joseph’s Conference of the St Vincent de Paul set up a support and information network targeted at this group, when it became apparent they were finding their new job-seeking status particularly difficult. To date an average of 12 to 15 people attend the monthly meetings, but the local SVP believe it can help even more.

Its next meeting is in the Information Age Park, Gort Road, Ennis, at 10 am on October 11.

The agenda includes a presentation from Gerard Kennedy, Clare Local Development Company, and from Michael Byrne of Acton BV.

Gerard will be outlining the activities of CLDC and the supports they have to offer and Michael will be talking on how the members can use the net to source jobs. Clare Connect is a network for unemployed supervisory and executive personnel and it meets on the second Thursday of each month in the Board Room of the Information Age Park.

Those wishing to attend would let the organisers know by emailing clareconnect123@gmail.com.

AN ILLEGAL dump, discovered in a turlough in the North Burren, has the potential to seriously pollute public and private water schemes in the Gort and Kinvara areas.

That is according to Senator Lorraine Higgins (LAB), who also described the illegal dump at Caherglassaun Lake as being a “significant” operation.

The cost of cleaning up the estimated two tonnes of rubbish which have been discovered in the waterway could also run into the tens of thousands.

The rubbish is understood to be mostly household waste, and has the potential to cause significant impact to the turlough and its surround plant and animal life. The waterway is renowned for it fish and is also a top quality natural habitat of plants and animals.

“When I was first contacted on the matter, I went to the site and it was clear this was an illegal operation of some significance,” said Senator Higgins.

“It would be a place which would have special amenity value in the area certainly, and perhaps recreational as well. More disturbing again is that if there was run-off from it, it might enter the water supply and could make people in the areas of Gort and Kinvara sick.

“I would urge people in the constituency that if anyone arrives at their door and offers to dispose of household waste for a fee that seems below market price, or any price for that matter, they are fully entitled to find out if that person has a permit to dispose of the rubbish. If they do not have a permit, I would urge people not to use them because it is the householder that will be liable for prosecution,” said Senator Higgins.

Caherglassaun Turlough is located about six kilometres to the west of Gort, just outside of the Coole Nature Reserve and 5km south-east of Kinvara. Caherglassaun is both a lake and a turlough, with a permanent lake at its centre and a large surrounding area which floods at areas of heavy rain.