Category: News

LAST Friday’s vote against altering the zoning of 24 acres of land in Clarecastle for the construction of a crematorium was the second time in just four days that councillors voted against crematorium plans, which the council planners had been in favour of.

While planning permission for the Clarecastle crematorium and grave- yard had not yet been granted, the proposed material contravention was the last obstacle in the way of planners issuing a green light for the proposal.

At Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, councillors decided not to sell land for a crematorium in Shannon, even though the project had been granted permission by the local authority and the council had put the land up for sale earlier this year.

The land, which is located at Illaun- managh in Shannon, was purchased by Clare County Council from Shannon Development in 2002, with planning permission granted for the creation of a crematorium in March of 2009. A proposal to sell the land was opposed by Shannon Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) who claimed that the land should be kept in local authority ownership and for the future use of the people of the Shannon area.

Cllrs Flynn’s proposal not the sell the land was then opposed by his neighbouring councillor, PJ Ryan (Ind) from Sixmilebridge, who argued that a Clare businessman should not be prevented from developing a legitimate business on the site.

The vote was held to decide the situation with the councillors voting by 14 votes to 11 to retain the land in council ownership.

The land was granted planning permission in March of 2009, with both the Shannon local area members and a full meeting of Clare County Coun- cil voting to sell the 1.29 acre site to Illaunmanagh Ltd for € 140,000 later that year.

The purchase of land never took place however and in March of last year a second developer, Jim Cranwell, applied for an extension of the planning permission for the crematorium. The land was offered for sale by Clare County Council at this time with Mr Cranwell making an offer of € 140,000 – the same amount offered in 2009.

A BRAZILIAN carer who stole his 79-year-old employer’s credit card to fund a € 3,000 spending spree in Dublin has been sentenced to four days in jail.

Rodrigo Pires (21) stole the card from the home of Hugh Weir at Ballinakilla, Whitegate, on July 12, 2014.

The English language student travelled to Dublin where he used the card to buy flights to Italy, an Apple Mac notebook, and clothes from Brown Thomas, shoes and sunglasses.

Details of the spree were heard at Ennis District Court on Friday. Mr Pires, who is originally from Sao Paulo but was staying at an apartment at Shaun Court, NCR, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one charge of theft and nine charges of deception.

The offences were committed at Whitegate and locations around Dublin city centre on July 12 and July 13. Inspector Tom Kennedy explained Mr Pires came to Dublin to study English on a student visa. He said after completing his studies, the accused decided to move to another county because he was living with Portuguese friends and not getting his opportunity to speak English.

Garda Declan Condon explained that Mr Pires lived with Hugh Weir, an author of books on the environment, and his wife at their home in Whitegate.

He spent five months helping to care for Mr Weir, who suffers from polio. Garda Condon said Mr Pires earned € 100 a week for his work.

Garda Condon said Mr Pires was due to return to Brazil when his visa expired at the end of July.

Instead, he stole Mr Weir’s credit card and travelled to Dublin where he dishonestly by deception with drew sums of cash from AIB bank. He bought flight tickets from Aer Lingus and Easy Jet, sunglasses worth € 229 and clothes and shoes from stores such Schuh, Top Man and Brown Thomas.

Gardaí arrested the accused at Dublin Airport after the bank notified Mr Weir his card was being used in various locations in Dublin.

The court heard most of the goods were recovered but Mr Weir is still owed € 1,531. Mr Pires has no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick said his client was ashamed of what he had done.

“He decided to do it in the spur of the moment. He saw the opportunity and he took it,” added Mr Fitzpatrick.

Judge Patrick Durcan said, “This is a very serious matter.” He sentenced Mr Pires to 90 days in prison but suspended the final 86 days, meaning the accused had to spend four days in prison.

Judge Durcan ordered that Mr Pires agree to leave Ireland on his release and not return for five years.

A SOLID link connecting the Burren and the Lord of the Rings may finally have been established following extensive research by a Northern Irish scholar.

Dr Liam Campbell has studied a number of edits undertaken on JRR Tolkien classic fantasy novel between 1949 and 1954, when it was first published. By painstakingly cross-referencing the individual edits with known visits by JRR Tolkien to North Clare, Campbell believes he has, for once and for all, proved the connection.

According to Dr Campbell, who will speak at next month’s Burren Tolkien Society Festival, some of the discovered passages read like a virtual road map to the Burren.

“I have evidence of late passages which were put into the book in the 1950s by Tolkien. Once you are aware of the chronology of the book, and when he edited certain section, you can see some of the later edits which when written up read like a road map to the Burren,” said Dr Campbell.

“Many people say that the Lord of the Ring was finished in 1948, before his visits to Ireland, but I also uncovered a letter between Tolkien and his editor from April of 1953 in which he says ‘at last I have finished the book’.

“I know that he did a major rewrite of the whole book in 1952 with his son, and that took place after he came to the Burren and experienced the place.”

Dr Campbell will reveal specific passages from the book, which is the second most published book of all time, which have a distinctive Burren influence, and is keeping the exact details close to his chest until the Burren Tolkien Society Festival in August.

“It is true to say that if I was to read some passages to you, and told you it was a tourist guide to the Burren, you would not bat an eye lid. I can’t speak on which sections of the book have these passages but I will reveal that during the talk,” continued Dr Campbell.

“There is a deep connection between the book and the Celtic mythology. I would almost say that so much of the information about the Elves in the book comes almost directly from Celtic mythology.”

For more on the Burren Tolkien Society visit www.burrentolkiensociety.ie.

AN ENNIS man who stole bottles of spirits from Dunnes Stores has avoided jail but has been ordered to do some “pick and spade” work around the town. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Patrick McCarthy (21) was ordered to do 200 hours of community service in lieu of four months in prison, after pleading guilty to theft and public order offences.

Mr McCarthy admitted stealing bottles of vodka, Jack Daniels whis- key and Captain Morgan’s rum from Dunne Stores on February 4.

He further admitted stealing rum and whiskey from Dunnes Stores on February 9. Those bottles were later recovered, the court heard.

Mr McCarthy, with addresses at Woodlawn, Lahinch Road, Ennis and Ballaghboy Halting Site, Quin Road, Ennis, also pleaded guilty to being intoxicated to such an extent to be in breach of the public order act at Ballaghboy on May 14.

After being told Mr McCarthy had a number of previous convictions for theft, public order and drugs offences, Judge Patrick Durcan said the accused had an “appalling record”.

“He’s got a masters degree at this stage”, Judge Durcan said.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court her client had a very difficult childhood. She said Mr McCarthy started taking head shop type drugs, aged 15 and has had serious problems with alcoholism.

The court was told he is currently awaiting sentence in the Circuit Court on a criminal damage matter.

Judge Patrick Durcan imposed pris- on sentences totaling four months but substituted them for 200 hours of community service.

He said this was a time of the year when Ennis is in competition for the Tidy Towns.

The Judge said he was sure the local authorities in Ennis would appreciate a few “pick and spade merchants” doing work around the town.

He remanded Mr McCarthy on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on September 17 for a pre-sentence report from the Probation Services.

A MAN who threw a pint glass at a car during an altercation outside a country and western concert in Ennis has received a suspended prison sentence.

Martin McDonagh (19) hurled the glass at a car containing two people outside Treacy’s West County Hotel on June 8, 2014 Ennis District Court heard on Wednesday.

The incident occured while singer Nathan Carter was performing inside the Limerick Road venue.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court Mr McDonagh was refused entry to the concert.

He said the accused went out to the car park where he became embroiled in a verbal argument with two people in a car.

The court heard the two people were shouting at McDonagh, saying they were going to fight him.

Insp Kennedy said Mr McDonagh responded by calling them “scumbags”.

The gardaí were called. Mr McDonagh was restrained by two detec- tives but managed to escape and pick up a pint glass, which he threw at the car. No one was injured.

Mr McDonagh, with an address at Drumbiggle Drive, Ennis, pleaded guilty to engaging in behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

A charge of criminal damage against him was struck out following an application from the State.

Defence solicitor William Cahir said his client was not intoxicated on the night.

He said Mr McDonagh was previously involved in another case where he assisted the gardaí. He said that was why the people in the car verbally abused his client.

He said Mr McDonagh “let fly” with the pint glass out of “pure frustration”.

Mr Cahir said there was never any risk of anyone getting hit by the glass.

“He fully accepts he should not have done it”, he added.

Mr Cahir said his client intends moving to Galway with his wife.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he does not like incidents where people throw glasses.

Mr Cahir told the Judge that Mr McDonagh did not intend using the glass as a rocket.

“It was flung in frustration”, he added.

Mr Cahir said his client was a witness in a different case and may have been put under pressure from other sides.

The court heard he has never been involved in any disputes in Ennis.

Asked for his view on the incident, Insp Kennedy said;

“It’s hard to determine what his intentions were with the glass but he let it go one way or the other”.

Judge Durcan imposed a two-month sentence but suspended it on condition Mr McDonagh be law abiding.

In sentencing, Judge Durcan said he was taking into consideration a number of factors, including the accused’s age and the fact the glass had been thrown at a car and not a person.

He told Mr McDonagh was a “very lucky young man” not to be going to prison. A MA N accused of attempted robbery at a shop in Shannon last month has denied the charge. Ger Delaney (28), with an address at Rossbracken, Shannon, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. He is charged with attempting to rob money froma female staff member at Mace stores, Ballycasey Crescent, Shannon on June 24. During a bail application, Mr Delaney told the court,“I’mcontesting this charge. I did not commit this offence.” The State opposed the bail application brought be defence solicitor John Casey. Det Sgt Kevin O’Hagan of Shannon Garda Station outlined the grounds for the State’s opposition to bail. He said these included the seriousness of the alleged offence and alleged strength of the alleged evidence. Det Sgt O’Hagan said it is alleged that Mr Delaney entered the shop brandishing a kitchen knife.The court heard that staff resisted demands for money to be handed over. Det Sgt O’Hagan said customers in the shop at time intervened and forced the man alleged to be Mr Delaney, fromthe shop. Mr Casey cross-examined Det Sgt O’Hagan. Mr Delaney also gave evidence. He urged Judge Patrick Durcan to release himon bail. “I’mcontesting this charge. I did not commit this offence”, he added. Judge Durcan said that he was satisfied on the basis of Det Sgt O’Hagan’s evidence that he could refuse bail. He remanded Mr Delaney in custody to appear again in court on August 11. Inspector TomKennedy said directions fromthe Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) are awaited in the case. A MA N has pleaded guilty to having heroin for sale or supply in Ennis last year. Gardaí discovered heroin valued at €492 and cannabis worth €125 at the then home of Mao Kimbadi (41) in Sandfield Hall, Ennis on October 24, 2013. Details of the raid were heard at Ennis District Court onWednesday. Inspector TomKennedy told the court gardaí found 24 individual deals of heroin in the kitchen of the premises.A quantity of cannabis was also discovered. Mr Kimbadi pleaded guilty to two charges – having diamorphine for sale or supply and having cannabis for sale or supply. Defence solicitor John Casey said his client made full and frank admissions in respect of the offences. He said Mr Kimbadi sold the drugs to feed his own habit. “He’s a hopeless heroin addict caught up in a cycle”, added Mr Casey. Mr Casey described Mr Kimbadi as being on the “lowest rung of the ladder” when it comes to drug dealing. Mr Kimbadi has previous convictions for theft and drugs offences. He is currently serving a six month prison sentence. Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned sentencing to November 25. He also ordered a report fromthe Probation services. A MA N has been remanded in custody after being charged in connection with a disturbance that occurred at a house in Kilkee this month. Ciaran Fitzgerald (24) is facing five charges arising fromalleged incidents at his home at Erin Street, Kilkee and Kilrush Garda Station on July 17. Mr Fitzgerald appeared before Ennis District Court on Friday where Garda Eoin Daly gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. Mr Fitzgerald is charged with four alleged offences arising fromhis alleged behaviour at Erin Street. He is charged with engaging in behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. He is facing two separate charges of assaulting two different women. He is also charged with the criminal damage of a glass mirror. He is further alleged to have caused criminal damage to a cell at Kilrush Garda Station by allegedly urinating on the cell floor. Legal aid was approved for solicitor Fiona Hehir. Ms Hehir told the court she did not have a bail application at this stage. Judge Patrick Durcan remanded Mr Fitzgerald in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court tomorrow.

THE NATIONAL Parks and Wildlife Service [NPWS] have confirmed that illegal deer poaching in taking place in parts of Clare – but cannot comment as to whether the problem is getting worse.

This comes in the wake of an incident in the Whitegate area last month when a horse was shot dead on private property by suspected poachers.

It has also been reported locally that shooting, and night shooting in particular, is continuing in areas of the county even though the shooting season for deer has long closed – and that some people are even shooting illegally from the back of moving vehicles.

East Clare residents have also expressed their concern that poachers, using high powered rifles to shoot at night, could pose a serious risk to public health.

“We do get reports of illegal hunting. Shooting at night is illegal.

“Discharging a fire arm from a public roadway is also illegal but that would be a matter for the gardaí to deal with.

“Shooting from a moving vehicle is also illegal and would be a matter for the gardaí if done from a public road, shooting from a vehicle off-road is something that we [NPWS] would look at under the Wildlife act,” said Seamus Hassett, District Conservation Officer for the NPWS.

“We mount patrols in conjunction with the gardaí and sometimes on our own but in relation to going to court, evidence has to be gathered and you would need to have a robust and strong enough case to take them to court.

“That would entail evidence, either physical or others.

“I cannot really comment on whether the problem is getting worse in Clare or not.

“You hear anecdotal evidence that deer numbers are decreasing in some areas and also that they are increasing in others.

“So it is very difficult to give an accurate answer. But we are aware of an element of what we would consider taking place in Clare.”

Fears have been raised about the dangers of night hunting in parts of Clare – with poachers using rifled that can kill from a number of kilometres away.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service have confirmed that, under current legislation, there is no maximum power of rifle than can be used. “There is no upper limit to how powerful the rifles can be – there is a minimum power. The rifles must be of at least a .22 caliber with a minimum grain weight of 64 grains and a minimum muzzle velocity of 1700 foot pounds.

The idea of this is to insure that the rifle is powerful enough to insure that animal is dispatched humanely,” said Mr Hassett.

CLARE County Council has applied for approval from the Department of Environment to raise loans of € 1.75 million to fund an ambitious re-development of part of the Ennis Market.

Members of the former Ennis Town Council previously approved the raising of the loan to develop a covered market and other infrastructural works at Garraunakilla.

In a report to Ennis councillors, Ennis Municipal District Coordinator, Ger Dollard states, “At this point in time, formal approval has not to date been received but the Council is continuing to engage with the Department in relation to the matter. It is unlikely that any significant financial requirement will arise in the current year and it is the Council’s intention to progress the project to a shovel ready stage. At that point, it would be essential that formal funding decisions are made in relation to then project”.

“The project offers a very significant basis for rejuvenation of the area and the intention would be to follow on, subject to funding, with further phases of the Market redevelopment project.”

The proposal to re-develop Garraunakilla includes the building of a structure that according to the Council will have “multifunctional uses”. The proposed structure would consist of two adjacent pavilions with a plexi-glass roof covering the central corridor.

Mr Dollard told the meeting the construction of a covered market formed phase one of an overall re- development of parts of the town centre.

The plan also envisions developments at Barrack Street, Lysaght’s Lane and Moran’s Car Park.

He was speaking in response to a motion tabled by Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) at yesterday’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District Committee.

Cllr Mary Howard (FG) told the meeting the proposal represents a “very exciting project” for Ennis. She said covered market has the potential in time to become one of the town’s “iconic” buildings.

She said it would be beneficial if the new councillors received a full briefing the project.

Cllr Ann Norton (Ind) agreed that it would be useful if all councillors were brought up to speed.

Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) said she had concerns at how the Council could afford to take on such a costly project at a time when it is struggling to provide resources for “basic public services”.

Cllr James Breen (Ind) said he had been approached by some people in the Market area who claimed the planning notice for the development was not displayed properly in the market.

Mr Dollard said this was not correct. He said the former Ennis Town Council received a high volume of submissions in relation to the project. He said there was a high degree of knowledge among the public about the project.

In his report, Mr Dollard that initial archaeological investigations had been completed and a detailed design is being prepared so the project can be brought to tender.

CLARE County Council has been urged to “go all out” and purchase a site in the Buttermarket, Ennis for the development of a new car park in the town.

That’s according to former Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Daly (FF), who raised the issue at yesterday’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District Committee.

In a motion, Cllr Daly called on the Municipal District “to seek funding for the purchase of the site at Buttermarket, Ennis with a view to constructing either a ground floor car-park or a multi-story car park, particularly as parking in the town is at a premium presently”.

Cllr Daly told the meeting there are very few sites in Ennis that would be suitable for car-park development.

He said parking is a major issue, particularly for businesses in the town.

He said the Council should “go all out” to purchase the site, even if that meant lobbying the Department of Environment.

In his reply, Senior Executive Engineer, Eamon O’Dea said Ennis Town Council had previously “pursued acquisition of this site for the purposes of car-parking and had agreed a purchase price and paid a deposit”.

He continued, “Following examination of title and other matters, the Council on advice of the Town Solicitor and in the absence of issues being clarified by the liquidator, the sale did not proceed. The property was recently offered again for sale and the Council has again submitted a bid for the property”.

Director of Service and Ennis MDC Coordinator, Ger Dollard, said he was aware the site had recently been sold at auction and the issues around title had been resolved.

Cllr James Breen (Ind) told the meeting it is “very necessary” new parking facilities are developed in the town. Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said she fully supported the proposal.

THE FORMER home of controversial Clare novelist Edna O’Brien could be purchased and maintained by the Irish state.

Calls have been made for the State to intervene and purchase Drewsborough House in Tuamgraney after the property failed to sell at auction earlier this month.

The property, which was a central setting for O’Brien’s debut book, the partially autobiographical ‘The County Girls’, failed to reach its guide price of € 350,000 at auction.

Indeed the property, which was val- ued in excess of € 1 million during the Celtic Tiger years, was taken off the market with bidding reaching just € 200,000.

The house and adjoining land is being sold by the estate of the late Claire O’Brien, the novelist’s sister-in-law, who lived at Drewsborough with the novelist’s late brother, who ran his medical practice from the house.

According to auctioneer Noel Corcoran negotiations for the sale of the property are ongoing with one of bidders involved in the auction.

The property was described by O’Brien as “a font of inspiration” during an unveiling of a plaque in her honour at Drewsborough House in 2011.

O’Brien’s childhood there was not a happy one, as detailed in her 2012 memoir, Country Girl.

She was born in 1930 and her first novel, The Country Girls, is credited as breaking the silence on sexual matters and social issues in Ireland. The book was banned, burned and denounced from the pulpit following it publication, leading to O’Brien leaving Ireland and settling in London where she now lives.

Calls have been made for the state to acquire the house and develop it into a writers retreat and museum but to date there has been no formal government statement on the proposal.

A NEW community organisation, which aims to support people with disabilities in the Clare, will host its first meeting later this Friday. People with disabilities from across Clare are invited to come together with interested members of the public and community activists for the first meeting of The Clare Leader Forum.

“The Leader Forum provides a space for people with disabilities to talk to people who understand, without having to explain. As part of their work they will encourage all people with disabilities to come together and offer each other support, advice and exper- tise through a peer support network,” said Susan O’Brien of the Center for Independent Living.

“The purpose of the peer support network is to offer people the opportunity to make contact with others who are having similar life experiences. Through these groups a support network is established.

“This support can take the form of conversation and sharing experiences or simply listening to others. In some instances the network may decide to take an active part in promoting change or educating the public about issues they are experiencing in their area.”

Similar Leader Forums are already operating in several counties across Ireland and nationally through the Na- tional Leader Forum and the Center for Independent Living. The meeting will take place at the Junction at Cloughleigh in Ennis this Friday, July 18 at 11am. The new organisation forms as disabled Clare people have been expressed their frustration over the future of the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant. Both grants have been closed to new applicants since March of last year, which the government undertakes a review of the schemes.

While the review is taking place, no new Clare applicants have been granted access to either scheme – resulting in a number of disable Clare people being left without a suitable transport options.