Category: News

A NEW Ennis General Hospital Committee is needed to raise issues relating to health in the county and keep the need for investment in Clare’s health services top of the agenda.

That was the message that came from a special meeting of Clare County Council called to discuss the ailing health services in the midwest region.

Councillors were unanimous in their call for the Minister for Health to provide necessary finances to recruit essential frontline staff for the HSE West.

The councillors were careful to add that Ennis General Hospital stayed within its budget for the last number of years, unlike other hospitals in the HSE West, and were punished for its competency with further cuts to its budgets.

In a letter to the Minister the councillors said, “Recognising that Ennis General Hospital has lived within its budget, it should not be cut in the upcoming budget.”

In the hour-long meeting, members of the council pointed to the dangers of staff shortages in frontline services and weaknesses within different services in Clare.

“We need a service for people under 65 years of age who have strokes in Clare,” Cllr Tom McNamara (FF).

He also raised concerns about the absenteeism figure of 12 per cent at Ennis General Hospital. A former nurse, he said the staff were under so much pressure due to staff shortages and over work that they were getting sick.

Cllr Pat Keane (FF) agreed stating the number of absenteeism would increase with the pressure.

“We have a new building here that we campaigned for for years and we can’t open it due to lack of staff,” he said.

Cllr Michael Kelly (FF) said, “Whatever we compromise for the sake of finance it should not be health.

“It is unacceptable to expect a nurse to care for 22 patients,” he added referring to The Clare People’s lead story two weeks ago.

Stating that pressure needed to be put on the health policy makers, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) said it had slipped from the agenda since the demise of the hospital committee.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) agreed that as the driving force behind the committee Peadar McNamara had passed away, it had lost momentum.

He suggested that a new committee be formed.

CLARE County Council is examining eight unfinished housing estates in Clare where they believe that safety and security has become an issue. The local authority revealed at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council that it has written to a number of developers and financial institutions reminding them of their responsibility to ensure the safety of their developments. The local authority has also confirmed that it now believes that half of the county’s Category 4 ‘ghost’ estates no longer fall into this category, the worst category of estates. According to the local authority, only three of the six housing devel- opments that have been classified by the Department of the Environment as unfinished and developer-abandoned, or Category 4 estates, should still be in the category. The council say that they intend to contact the Department of the Environment and inform them of their opinion on this. Speaking at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council, Director of Services, Ger Dollard said that the local authority is deploying “quite a lot of resources” to the issue of the Category 4 developments and said that safety was the responsibility of the developer. He was responding to a joint motion put forward by Cllr John Crowe (FG) and Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) which asked for details on the condition of so-called ghost estates in the county. “It is the responsibiity of the property owner, developer or receivers to ensure that the site is secure and safe,” said a council spokesperson. “The council has written to developers and receivers with housing developments on the unfinished list, explaining to them their responsibilities in relation to the safety of the site.” Speaking on last night’s motion, Cllr John Crowe said that some Clare estates were in a “very, very bad condition”. “There are estates which are not even one quarter finished and no place for children to play in. There are open drains and other dangers,” he said.

A MAN who taunted another man over his family’s difficulties with suicide has been fined € 200.

Michael Molloy (19), with an address at 2 Ballaghboy, Quin Road, Ennis, appeared at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

He was charged engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

The charge arose out of an incident at Abbey Street, Ennis on March 10 (2012).

Garda Niamh Browne told the court that Ennis Garda Station received a call about two men fighting outside All Bar One on Abbey Street on the night in question.

She said that when she arrived at the scene at 10.15pm, Mr Molloy was involved in an altercation with another man.

Garda Browne said she arrested the accused under section six of the public order act.

She told the court that as Mr Molloy was being brought away by gardaí, he sang lyrics about suicide from a song by the American artist Sean Kingston in the direction of the other man.

The court heard that a member of the other man’s family had committed suicide.

Mr Molloy told the court that he had been out for a drink with his wife.

He said he had been standing at the front door of the pub when he was hit in the back of the head.

He said, “I wasn’t going to let that go. I was defending myself.”

Mr Molloy accepted that he was uncooperative on the night. He said the pair had been calling each other names but denied singing songs about suicide.

Mr Molloy said he had previously been involved in altercations with the man.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said Mr Molloy had been fighting on the street when he was detected by gardaí.

Judge Patrick Durcan said Mr Molloy had given evidence that he was “set upon” on the night.

However he added that it was “curious” that no complaint had been made to gardaí.

He said he accepted Garda Browne’s evidence.

Judge Durcan said Mr Molloy had engaged in “appalling singing”.

Solicitor Daragh Hassett said Mr Molloy comes from a large Traveller family and had recently married.

He added, “He assures me he is staying away from this man. He has a young child.

“He won’t be repeating this behaviour.”

Judge Durcan imposed a fine of € 200. He said suicide was a problem that touched everyone in society.

He added, “I am not going to have people singing songs that abuse the issue of suicide.” Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

A ONGOING mystery involving the suspected finding of a rare Narwhal stranding in Liscannor Bay, was resolved yesterday with new photographic evidence revealing that it carcass removed by Clare County Council belonged to a long-finned pilot whale, and not its rare Arctic cousin.

The Kilrush based Irish Whale and Dolphin Group yesterday published new photograph of the mammal beached on Clohane strand near Liscannor last month. The photographs, which were supplied to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group by Brian and Teresa Kelly, confirmed that the mammal found in Liscannor was not a Narwhal.

In a statement, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said the Clare County Council has received “unfair” criticism about their actions in removing the whale.

“The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group were always skeptical that the whale was a Narwhal, a species nev- er previously recorded in Ireland. We record over 150 strandings per annum, making it unlikely that in missing this one, that we’d miss a species new to Ireland,” said the statement.

“Over the last few weeks there has been a lot of discussion, especially locally as to what had happened to the whale, and why Clare County Council removed it without reporting it to the IWDG.

“Clare County Council have received unfair criticism of their actions and we hope they will continue to be supportive of the IWDG by re- porting stranded cetaceans to IWDG before disposal.”

The Narwhal is a medium-sized whale that lives year round in the freezing waters within the Arctic Circle.

The whale is recognisable because of a single tusk, which all male Narwhals possess. There has never been a confirmed sighting of a Narwhal in Irish waters.

So far in 2012, four pilot whale have beached on waters along the Clare coast, with 16 washing up along the Irish Atlantic coast.

A MAN alleged to have committed a burglary in Barefield last month has appeared in court.

Michael Flaherty (26) with an address at 108 Clancy Park, Ennis, is alleged to have entered a building as a trespasser to commit theft at Drumcliffe, Ennis, on March 23.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Inspector Tom Kennedy said that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the matter.

Insp Kennedy said that it would be alleged that Mr Flaherty was in the process of burglaring the house when he was spotted by a passer by.

He said the alleged burglary took place at 2pm at a time when the house was unoccupied.

Insp Kennedy added, “It was fortu nate that this man was spotted and arrested.”

After a summary of the alleged facts, Judge Patrick Durcan said he accepted jurisdiction with the “greatest reluctance”.

Solicitor Daragh Hassett said the case would be contested. He said he is seeking disclosure from the State. Judge Durcan adjourned the matter until May 16 for a plea or a date.

MEMBERS of Clare County Council last night agreed that Aer Lingus had treated the people who use Shannon Airport as second-class citizens, after passengers were left stranded when their plane was rerouted to accommodate a DublinBoston flight.

Cllr Sean McLoughlin (FG) told the meeting that on March 29, 187 passengers were about to board a flight at Shannon for Boston when they were told there was a technical difficulty with the plane.

It emerged, however, that two of the flight’s “VIP passengers” were then flown to Dublin on the plane and the plane was used for the Dublin-Boston flight.

Cllr McLoughlin said that, on March 30, the plane was then used to take the remaining 185 stranded passengers to Boston, a day later than scheduled.

“Aer Lingus are treating people who use Shannon Airport as second-class citizens and have been doing so for years. I, for one, will be glad to see the back of the Dublin Airport Authority out of Shannon,” he said.

He called for the council to write to Christopher Mueller, CEO of Aer Lingus, “to ask him to stop the Aer Lingus practice of cancelling flights from or to Shannon and use the Shannon plane to fly to or from Dublin, when the Dublin plane is out of action.”

Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) said he used the airport on March 30 and was made aware of what had happened.

“It is an indictment of how Aer Lingus looks at Shannon Airport in the first place and Clare secondly,” he said.

He said the county manager and mayor of Clare should write to Aer Lingus and “point out how slighted they feel by the treatment of County Clare and the passengers using the airport.”

Shannon councillor Cllr Patricia McCarthy (IND) said the national airline treated Shannon with contempt and it could not be allowed to continue.

Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) raised concerns that incidents like this erode the confidence of the travelling public.

A WOMAN suffered serious injuries including a fractured finger after allegedly being hit with a metal bar in her home in Ennis last month, a court has heard.

Details of the alleged assault against Bernadette Walsh at 179 Achabhaile, Ennis, were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Alan Kilmartin (32) with an address at 14 Davitt’s Terrace, Cloughleigh, Ennis, appeared in court charged with assault causing harm to Ms Walsh on March 2 (2012).

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had not yet issued directions on the case.

Garda Sarah Murphy gave an outline of the alleged facts. She told the court that it would be alleged that on the night in question, Ms Walsh was in her home at 179 Achabhaile when she heard a knock on the door between 9.15pm and 9.30pm.

The court heard that half of the houses in Achabhaile are unoccupied. The area was described in court as a “ghost estate”.

She said that Mr Kilmartin, a security guard working in the estate, was at the door. She said that after the pair had a brief conversation, the woman went into kitchen.

Garda Murphy said that it would be alleged that when Ms Walsh turned around, Mr Kilmartin was standing in the house with a metal bar in his hand. It is alleged that he assaulted Ms Walsh with the weapon. The court heard that the woman sustained fractured fingers and to receive surgical staples for lacerations to her head. Garda Murphy said Ms Walsh and Mr Kilmartin did not know each by name.

“It was an unprovoked incident,” she said. Noting the alleged facts of the case, Judge Patrick Durcan refused jurisdiction.

He remanded the accused on continuing bail to appear at Ennis District Court on June 6 for service of a book of evidence.

A MAN has been ordered to pay money to a local women’s refuge after being found by Gardaí in possession of a kitchen knife on the streets of Ennis earlier this year.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Arunas Jankauskas (29) with an address at 11 Gus Murphy’s Apartments, Mill Road, Ennis, was charged having a 12-inch kitchen knife contrary to the firearms and offensive weapons act on Parnell Street, Ennis, on February 26.

He was also charged with a public order offence, being intoxicated to such an extent that he might endanger himself or others.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said Mr Jankauskas was “staggering” on the street when he was met by Gardaí.

His solicitor John Casey told the court that his client had been drinking in a flat on the Mill Road with a woman. He said the woman had come at him with a knife. Mr Casey explained that his client took the knife away from the woman for her own safety. He said Mr Jankauskas, a car sprayer, had been on his way to the Garda station to hand in the knife when he met gardaí. He said his client had been “as drunk as a skunk” on the night. The court heard that Mr Jankauskas has no previous convictions. Judge Patrick Durcan said there was an “element of gallantry” in Mr Jankauskas’ actions on the night. He ordered him to pay € 250 to Clare Haven, a service that provides support, and refuge accommodation to women and their children experiencing domestic violence/abuse. He struck out the charges against Mr Jankausakas.

STUDENTS from Coláiste Muire will meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Dublin tomorrow as part of an ongoing campaign to make Ennis the age-friendly capital of Ireland.

The group of transition-year students are hoping Mr Kenny will support their project on Positive Ageing, which aims to tackle ageism in Ennis.

They will also present the Taoiseach with an age-friendly loyalty card during their meeting at Leinster House on Wednesday.

The meeting was arranged by local Fine Gael councillor Mary Howard.

Led by their teacher, Mrs Finola Howard, the transition-year students have set out to tackle as many of the aspects of ageism as possible.

The foundation of their project is based on the areas of age discrimination and abuse, loneliness, lack of social connection and an education in technology.

The group have submitted a proposal to Ennis Town Council for new signage to caution motorists to be more aware of elderly pedestrians.

They also put forward the idea that the time period available to pedestrians at traffic lights is insufficient and should be lengthened.

The project is the school’s entry in the annual Young Social Innovators competition, the finals of which take place on May 9.

As part of the project, the students take part in paired walking with elderly members of the community, to keep them company while walking and to run errands for them.

The students are also promoting ‘New Year, New Price’, a collabora- tion with a number of cafés and taxi companies to agree on a reduced price for OAPs, which will take effect this month.

The students will also be actively involved in the consultations for Ennis’s Age Friendly Strategy on May 3. To mark this occasion, the European Day of Solidarity, the class have invited an active retirement group to visit the school on April 27 and relive their school days.

Student Muireann O’Shea said, “Ennis, as a potentially age-friendly town, needs to adapt its structures and services to be accessible to and inclusive of older people with varying needs and capacities.

“We, as a community, need to look after our elderly. Crossing the roads is a basic function and should not cause unnecessary stress or injury to any individual, least of all the vulnerable in our community.”

The Burren will once again be in the hat when the management committee of the UNESCO World Heritage Site organisation meets in St Petersburg in the Russian Federation later this year.

It was confirmed yesterday that the Burren is one of a number of Irish locations that will go forward for possible inclusion as an official World Heritage Site. Should the Burren gain this prestigious status, it could result in thousands of extra tourists being attracted to holiday in North Clare each year.

The Burren was included on the so-called “tentative list” drawn up by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s Expert Advisory Group on World Heritage Sites. The Burren was included alongside a group application from the ‘Royal Sites’, which include Tara, Cashel, Dún Ailinne and Rathcroghan; the ‘Monastic sites’, which include Clonmacnoise, Durrow, Kells and Glendalough; and the Céide Fields in Mayo.

If the Burren succeeds in gaining UNESCO World Heritage status, it will becomes just Ireland’s fourth site after Brú na Bóinne, Skellig Michael and the Giant’s Causeway.

This is not the first time that the Burren has been close to gaining World Heritage status, having gone forward as one of Ireland’s final nominations in 2011 and 2010.

The Burren and Cliffs of Moher were granted Geopark Status earlier this year and it is thought that this might aid in the quest to be classified as a World Heritage Site.

The 36th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will take place in St Petersburg from June 24 to July 6. The committee, which is headed up by Russian diplomat Mitrofanova Eleonora, meets once a year to consider new applications for World Heritage Site status and to ensure that all current heritage sites are living up to their commitments under the programme.