Category: News

THERE have been calls for homes in Ennis to be provided with their GPS co-ordinates to avoid delays and confusion with the emergency services.

In a motion submitted to yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area, Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) stated, “In the absence of a digital post I request that assessment is undertaken of resources required and / or methodology available to every house in the Ennis West Area with their GPS coordinates.”

Cllr Meaney told the meeting that Ireland is one of the few developed countries that does not operate a digital postcode system.

He said that at time when calls to the emergency services pass through call centres, a digital postcode would lessen the chance of confusion on call outs.

Cllr Meaney explained that people handling the calls are not familiar with townlands and address in many rural areas.

Speaking from personal experi ence, Cllr James Breen (Ind) told the meeting that had ambulance services made it the home of his late brother in law on the main Ennis to Ennistymon road, then “it might have made a difference”.

In response to Cllr Meaney’s motion, Town Clerk Leonard Cleary stated, “There is merit in this proposal. However there are some challenges in responding to it in the current economic climate. At present Clare Local Authorities is experiencing the impact of 200 vacant staff positions and multi-million budget income reductions. The impact is greatest in the effort to sustain existing even at a tailored back level.”

Mr Cleary said the views of the Council could be conveyed to An Post “or other stakeholders who may be in a better position to contribute to the solution.”

Cllr Meaney added, “If a means could be found to do this on a resource neutral basis, it would certainly help.”

CLARE County Council has no plans to send its staff to doorsteps around the county demanding the household charge. According to a spokesperson for the local authority, there are no plans at present to send council staff to collect the controversial tax, as there has been no communication from the Department of Environment and Local Government. It is also unknown how many Clare people have paid or registered to pay the € 100. “There is no figure for the amount paid by the council, other than to say the vast majority of household charge payments made are done online or via the postal system,” the spokesperson said. However, the local authority is giving every chance to the majority of the county’s householders who have yet to pay to meet the March 31 deadline by opening the council offices – Aras Contae and Chláir on Saturday. All owners of residential property in Ireland are liable for the household charge on each residential property they own from January. This includes those properties that are liable for the € 200 charge on Non-Principal Private Residences (NPPR). Owners of Irish residential properties who live outside Ireland are also required to register for and pay the household charge. Householders have until Saturday to pay the € 100 charge, after which financial penalties apply on an increasing basis. The late payment fee to apply in the case of a household charge paid within six months of the due date is 10 per cent or € 10. Later than six months and not later than 12 months after the due date, it rises to 20 per cent of the amount due. With just five days to go, an estimated 1.2 million householders nationally have yet to pay.

A 67-YEAR-OLD man who has pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault will be sentenced in May.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was due to be sentenced at Ennis Circuit Court yesterday. However Judge Caroll Moran said that given the “very serious nature of the abuse” he was not happy to pass sentence immediately.

He adjourned sentencing until May 14. “I will finalise it then,” he added.

The assaults occurred over a twoyear period in Clare in the late 1960s when the man was in his twenties and the victim was a young teenager.

The court heard that the man, who now suffers from health problems, was arrested by Gardaí in July 2009. His barrister, Mark Nicholas said his client had co-operated and owned up to the abuse. He said his client had expressed remorse about his crime to Gardaí during interviews. Mr Nicholas said that this was in no way meant to minimise the hurt suffered by the victim. He said, “What happened was despicable, disgraceful and should not have happened.”

Mr Nicholas paid tribute to the victim’s bravery in coming forward.

Mr Nicholas told the court that the man had received a very poor education, is illiterate and could be regarded as someone who is in a “lower intellectual bracket”.

He said he suffered from Jacobs Syndrome, a sex chromosome ab- normality. He said the man has been the care of the Clare Health Services since 1984. He said the man’s significant regime of monitoring and antitestosterone medication is closely supervised by medical professionals and the man’s family.

The court heard that the man has been placed on sex offender’s register. Mr Nicholas said the moniker of “pedophile” will forever be attached to the man.

The victim, who is now in his 50s, previously told the court that he twice tried to commit suicide to end what he called the “pain of my life”.

In a victim impact statement, the man said the accused had robbed him of his “innocence, childhood and my sanity”.

THE widespread targeting of oil for the purposes of theft has been described by a judge as “despicable” and “appalling”.

Judge Patrick Durcan was speaking at Ennis District Court last Wednesday at the case of a Limerick man.

Thomas Kiely (18), with an address at Barnakyle, Patrickswell, Limerick, pleaded guilty to being in possession of a fuel-siphoning pump in Sixmilebridge last year.

The court heard that Kiely and another man were found in possession of a pump, a funnel and four, fivegallon plastic drums that could be used in the cause of or in connection with a theft. Inspector Tom Kennedy said a car was stopped at in the Cappa Lodge area of Sixmilebridge on December 15, 2011. He said the siphon pump was found concealed under the bonnet of the car.

Insp Kennedy explained that Kiely was subsequently arrested and admitted to Gardaí that he was in the process of surveying areas where he might find diesel to siphon.

The court heard that Kiely has no previous convictions.

Solicitor Michael O’Donnell said his client came from a good family and is currently working. Mr O’Donnell said his client had been placed under curfew by his father. “He accepts he was wrong”, he added.

Judge Patrick Durcan noted that the targeting of oil tanks had become “all too common”. He described it as the “most appalling, most mean, despicable type of offence.”

Judge Durcan said the message must go out “loud and clear that you cannot go around with a siphon concealed in the bonnet of a car”.

Judge Durcan added, “He has brought shame on his family for generations to come”.

Noting the accused’s previous good record and his appearance in court, Judge Durcan ordered that Kiely carry out 150 hours of community service in lieu of three months in prison.

He said, “This community work should be served in the rural community that he attempted the defraud.”

Judge Durcan added, “It’s a despicable offence and one that has become much too prevalent”. He adjourned the matter until April 25 for the preparation of a report by the Probation and Welfare Services.

A CAR enthusiast who attempted to “drift” around a roundabout on the outskirts of Ennis last year has been described as being “all gearbox and no brain box”.

Judge Patrick Durcan was speaking as he ordered Ennis man Shane O’Sullivan (20) to pay € 350 to the disabled driver’s association.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, O’Sullivan, with an address at Rockmount Cross, Kilrush Road, Ennis, pleaded to a charge of driving without due care and attention.

Garda William Delaney of Ennis Garda Station told the court that on August 13, 2011, he observed the accused drive a car in an attempt to drift around a roundabout at Killoo West, Ennis.

Garda Delaney explained that drifting involved driving at speed and pulling the handbrake in order to manoeuvre the car in a 180-degree angle.

Garda Delaney said the road was quiet at the time. He told the court a “convoy” of around seven cars were present at the time.

The court heard that O’Sullivan has no previous convictions.

Solicitor Stephen Nicholas told the court that the incident occurred on a ring road on the outskirts of Ennis between 1am and 2am. He said there was no traffic on the road, which was lit. Mr Nicholas said there were no houses on or off the road.

Requesting that the court deal leniently with the matter, Mr Nicholas said his client was in the process of carrying out an interview that could set him on a career path.

Judge Durcan said, “It’s a good example of all gear box and no brain box, that’s how I would sum up this man.”

Noting O’Sullivan’s guilty plea, good record and age, Judge Durcan ordered that he pay € 350 to the disabled driver’s association on or before April 31.

He adjourned the matter until May 1. Judge Durcan said young people must understand that when they get behind the wheel of a car, “they take possession of the most dangerous weapon they will ever have”.

PLANS are in place to extend one of West Clare’s tourist and family attractions. Clare County Council is considering ambitious plans to add a museum and craft units to the Vandeleur Walled Gardens.

Under the blueprint for the future of the historical garden, the old stable block on-site is to be re-developed along with a maritime-themed museum and a small number of craft units. It is also proposed to enhance the entrance to the garden and provide an entrance from the main top car park.

All of these ambitious plans will be carried out subject to funding.

“It is expected that these works, if approved, will begin towards the end of the year,” said marketing manager for Kilrush, Siobhan Garvey.

Meanwhile, the Board of Kilrush Amenity Trust Ltd this week made the decision to extend the offer of free entry to the Vandeleur Walled Gardens for the remainder of 2012. Following the success of the free entry trial in August 2011, it was decided to offer free entry again from October 11 to April 12. However, the Board has now agreed to extend this offer further to include all of 2012.

As it is, the Vandeleur Centre complex currently includes a coffee shop selling home-baked treats, breakfast and lunch from 10am to 5pm daily.

The Vandeleur Walled Garden offers a complete range of plants for sale and advice is available at all times from the head gardener and his staff.

Children can follow the ‘butterfly trail’ and play within the live willow structure and garden maze and, for bigger children, there is a life-size chess game on the lawn.

If the plans to extend the facility go ahead, there will be even more to attract families to the tranquil gardens on the outskirts of Kilrush town.

The garden will host an open day on Sunday, April 22 from 1pm to 5pm. This will include a local craft fair, and the head gardener will be on hand to give advice on planting, with special offers on plants sold on the day.

Nora LEAHY
of Rathflynn, Maurice’s Mills. Funeral mass onTuesday at 11 o’clock at Inagh Church with burial after in adjoining cemetery. May she rest in peace.

Kevin O’NEILL
of Ballanacragga, Newmarket-on-Fergus. Late of Carolville, SteelesTerrace, Ennis. Funeral Mass today,Tuesday, at 12 noon in Milford. Burial afterwards in Lemenagh Cemetery, Newmarket-OnFergus. No flowers please. Donations, if desired, to Milford Hospice, Limerick. May he rest in peace.

Ellen MORRISSEY (née Walsh)
of St. Patrick’sTerrace, Kilrush. Formerly of Ballynakea, Quilty,. Laid to rest in Mullagh. Donations, if desired, to Regina House, Kilrush. May she rest in peace.

Patrick (Paddy) CULLIGAN
of Lissycasey. Formerly of Ballycorane, Knock and Brooklyn, NewYork. Laid to rest in Burrane Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

William (Willie) MacNAMARA
of Inagh, Ennis. Laid to rest in Inagh. May he rest in peace.

A CZECH man who smashed a downstairs window as a woman watched television at home alone has received a five-month prison sentence.

At Ennis District Court on Friday, Michal Makula (36), with an address at 3 Churchview, Barefield, pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage.

The charge relates to an incident at Cloneyogan, Lahinch, on September 9, 2011.

Inspector Tom Kennedy explained that on the night in question, a 26year-old woman was watching television at home on her own. The court heard that at around 10.30pm she heard a car pull into the drive. A man she did not recognise then got out of the car and started banging on the window and front door of the house, the court heard.

Insp Kennedy told the court that the man then went to the back of the house and broke a window. The woman came downstairs where she saw the man who then left the scene.

Insp Kennedy said the total value of the damage was € 100. He told the court that the accused has 19 previous convictions. The court heard that Makula is currently serving a sentence for burglary and assault offences.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey told the court that her client had committed the offence at a time when he and his young family were in “crisis” and were not in receipt of any social welfare payments. She said her client had become “desperate and wild” about how to provide for his children.

Ms Godfrey requested that sentencing be adjourned for two weeks to allow for payment of compensation to the injured party.

Judge Patrick Durcan noted that this incident had occurred as a young woman watched television in bed late at night. He said the house was in a rural part of the county. Judge Durcan said it was obvious, that by breaking the glass, Makula intended to gain access to the house. “I regard this as a very serious criminal damage charge,” he added.

Judge Durcan said the message must go out that people living in rural areas are entitled to the inviolability of their homes.

Noting Makula’s plea of guilty and family circumstances, he imposed a five-month sentence to be served consecutively to his current sentence. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

A UNIQUE event has been organised by a group of Ennis teens to keep alive the spirit of one of their friends who lost her life to cancer.

The ‘C the Bright Side’ Masquerade Fundraiser will celebrate the positive outlook of the late Ciara Conroy while raising funds for the support group CanTeen Ireland.

The brave and inspiring 16-year-old passed away from cancer in 2010.

A young fashionista, Ciara kept a blog inspiring people to C the Bright Side.

When she was diagnosed with cancer, Ciara was supported by CanTeen, a nationwide support group for young people aged 12 to 25 years old who have or have had cancer.

CanTeen organise day and weekend outings throughout the year and provide a much needed supportive social network for teenage cancer patients and survivors.

A member of the organising committee said, “Ciara made many friends through CanTeen and this provided her with an unspoken support system that helped her flourish in times of difficulty and offered her strength.”

Now ten of her friends from Coláiste Mhuire and St Flannan’s College in Ennis have decided to raise awareness and support for this charity in memory of their good friend.

The masquerade fundraiser will take place on April 3, in the West County Hotel, Ennis.

The event will allow those attending to put their best dress or suit on, as it is a formal wear event. Those who don’t have their own masks can get some at the door on the night.

The event is strictly over 16s, with parents, teachers and older friends also invited to attend.

One of the organisers, Doria Orfali, who is Ciara’s cousin, said that there would be a bar sectioned off and available to the adults only on the night.

“Entertainment for both adults and young adults will be provided separately to ensure everyone will enjoy the evening,” she said.

Tickets for the event cost € 25 and are on sale at the Irish Music Shop and the West County Hotel reception.

Special guests and entertainment include popular and upcoming band Hermitage Green, talented singer Clodagh Lawler and Spin South West DJ Eoghain Fitz.

There will also be a casino table as part of the adult entertainment on the night.

Those planning the event are hoping for a night of colour, fashion, fun and laughter – a reflection of the courageous Ciara Conroy.

KILRUSH area councillors have voted to extend the parking time of O’Curry Street in Kilkee to two hours.

The councillors were supporting a proposal by their Kilkee Town Council colleagues that asked for longer parking hours on the street and from opposite the convent to the roundabout on the Carrigaholt Road to the eastern side of Circular Road.

Shoppers and diners can now park in both these areas for two hours, where previously they were restricted to just one. It was also suggested by the Kilkee public representatives that these restrictions apply only during June, July and August from 10am to 6pm, seven days a week.

While the town council can propose such changes for the town, the county council must support them before they can be ratified and become law.

Mayor of Kilkee Elaine Haugh Hayes (FG) addressed the meeting of Kilrush area councillors on Wednesday and told them that one hour parking was insufficient for visitors and customers.

She also raised concerns about residents who live in the area and have to move their cars every day, while the parking byelaws are in place.

Cllr Pat Keane (FF) asked “Where do they go with their cars during the day?”

Director of Services Nora Kaye told the meeting that the byelaws determine the residential permits and they are not currently accommodated.

“We will look into it,” she said.

Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) suggested that a list of residents who would require a permit be drawn up before the May meting of the council and the issue be addressed again.

MAKING the new Shannon Airport debt free is key to its future prosperity and growth, business interests in the region will tell Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, this Friday when he will be the keynote speaker at a Chamber of Commerce lunch in the Oakwood Arms Hotel.

The meeting comes just as Minister Varadkar prepares to act on the Booz & Company consultants report, which put forward a number of proposal with which to create a new model for Clare’s international airport.

Now, business interests in Shannon have been urged to have their say with Minister Varadkar as D-Day for the airport fast approaches, with Chamber of Commerce president, Damian Gleeson, saying “opinions only turn into action when they are heard, and by the decision makers”.

“This is possibly the last opportunity for engagement on a very pertinent issue for the mid-west region before the final decision is made.

“Shannon Airport is a vital piece of infrastructure which supports the economic development of the midwest. Every viable option to sustaining its future must be assessed for its ability to generate meaningful economic activity for the region. As we have stated in the past, any new structure should not be overburdened with debt but supported by solid business and financial plans,” continues Mr Gleeson.

In a presentation to the Minister earlier this year, Shannon Chamber made the case that Shannon Airport should be separated from its current structure but remain under some other form of State protection / ownership to ensure its survival as a key piece of national infrastructure, for the mid-west in particular.

“We emphasised that the airport should be run with a commercially driven ethos – which in conjunction with no debt, adequate working capital and an improvement of its cost structure would eventually allow it to be self-sustaining,” says Mr Gleeson.

“Of the two options now recommended by Booz & Company, the scenario whereby Shannon moves to a local concession model giving a role to the local authorities in Clare and Limerick, to local commercial interests and to Shannon Development in a holding company, offers the most potential for Shannon’s future development. It places decision making for the airport’s future at a local level.

“As long as this proposed autonomous structure comes without debt, Shannon could look forward to a new future, whereby every avenue for its development could be examined for its innovativeness and its ability to add value, traffic and revenue to Shannon. Harnessing the support of all stakeholders in the mid-west would lead to energised thinking and a new impetus for taking the airport in a new direction.

“We hope that the Minister, in addressing attendees on Friday, will elaborate on the findings of the Booz & Company report and be forthright is his views on how he feels a very strategic piece of infrastructure, such as Shannon Airport, can be re-energised to make its rightful contribution to the national economy,” adds Mr Gleeson.