Category: News

CLARE County Council procedures governing the taxing of vehicles are set to be reviewed after a furore was raised by the President of the Irish Road Haulage Association last week when he questionned whether it was “a deliberate policy to hinder businesses from trying to carry out their daily work”.

Eoin Gavin launched a broadside at procedures in place at the motor tax office that has relocated to Áras an Chláir, after he was told that he wasn’t allow tax more than three vehicles at one time.

“I waited for 45 minutes and, when I got to the desk, the official informed me that they could only tax three trucks at any one time and that I would have to return on another day to tax the outstanding vehicles,” blasted Mr Gavin.

According to Mr Gavin, the council subsequently agreed to tax all of his vehicles “as a once-off” and that, going forward, the policy of not taxing more than three vehicles at the one time would remain in place.

“This is an absurd situation to have to tolerate,” said Mr Gavin. “I have 17 vehicles, 13 of which are HGVs, and I invest a substantial amount of money in the local authority in road tax each year. I also employ 16 people directly from the local area and many more indirectly.

“The attitude which I recently experienced, which seems to be commonplace across county council offices around the country, is resulting in a lot of hauliers asking should we now re-register in the North of Ireland where road tax is non-existent or minimal.

“Licensed road haulage operators are seeking to tax their vehicles in order to operate in a legally compliant manner, but this is not being facilitated by tax offices. Economic recovery is reliant on a vibrant export economy and only through the utilization of HGVs will that objective be realised,” he added.

Following representations made to Shannon area representative Cllr PJ Ryan (Ind), The Cla re People understands that the Clare County Council policy is now being reviewed. “It’s only right,” said Cllr Ryan. “There has to be a streamlining of all services and this is part of that. This helps business move quicker and that’s what everyone should want,” he added.

AN assault on a taxi driver in Ennis was “blown out of the water” by the media, according to the Mayor of Ennis.

Independent Councillor Michael Guilfoyle was speaking at the January meeting of Ennis Town Council as members rejected the image of Ennis as a racist town.

Cllr Guilfoyle was commenting after a man received a prison sentence for an assault on Nigerian taxi driver Batholomew Omoifo in Ennis in June 2010.

Ennis District Court heard that Mr Omoifo suffered € 2,400 worth of damage to his teeth as a result of the assault.

Cllr Guilfoyle (Ind) told last week’s meeting that many people had been assaulted in Ennis over the years. In relation to the assault on Mr Omoifo, Cllr Guilfoyle said that when the “media got it, it turned out a lot worse than it was”.

He added, “The media have a habit of blowing things out of the water.”

He said Ennis had been portrayed as a racist town and “we’re not that type of town”.

The matter was raised by Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) who said he rejected out of hand the assertion that Ennis is a racist town.

He said, “Ennis is as open and tolerant a town as I have come across.”

Cllr Meaney said that Mr Omoifo had said he was subjected to daily racist abuse in Ennis. Cllr Meaney said he did not accept this statement, saying that he would like the taxi driver to speak at a council meeting.

He added, “I would like an opportunity to correct a media record that is starting to develop that is injurious to the image of this town.”

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said Ennis is one of the friendliest towns in Ireland, pointing to the electoral success of Taiwo Matthew and Dr Moosajee Bhamjee as proof that racist attitudes are not widespread in Ennis.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) told the meeting that he had listened to an interview with Mr Omoifo on Clare FM. He said that Mr Omoifo had praised the town of Ennis and the people of Ennis.

“It’s not all one-sided,” he added.

THE contribution of the Glynn family in Kilrush to Clare life will be celebrated this week thanks to the Clare Roots Society, which will host its first meeting of 2012 at the Civic Rooms in Drumbiggle this Thursday night.

The role played by one of the west Clare’s best known families to business in the county will form the basis of a talk to be delivered by Paul O’Brien that has been entitled ‘The Family Papers of the Glynns of West Clare 1790-1980.’

“The Glynn archive is an example of the many family archives probably still in private hands around the county, which contain vital clues for researching not only the family history of the compilers of the archive, but also that of their employees and other associated families, and local history generally,” a spokesperson for the Clare Roots Society said this week.

Paul O’Brien did his BA (History & Philosophy) in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. He graduated in 2010 and commenced a research Masters in History. However, due to the large amount of primary source documents, he successfully transferred to the PhD programme in March 2011.

O’Brien is employed as a history tutor at Mary Immaculate College. He is the chairperson of the Mary Immaculate College History Society, an active member of the Kilrush Local History Group and also works as a docent at the Hunt Museum, Limerick.

The Glynn family archive consists of approx. 20,000 documents. The main body of the records relate to the operational and administrative processes of M. Glynn & Sons.

The documents take the form of leases, contracts, accounts, insurance certificates, commercial and private correspondence, legal and court documents and photographs. The date range is c. 1790 – 1980. O’Brien was given access to the archive by Mr. Charlie Glynn, in 2009.

The physical condition of the material was in good although some of the documents were in a fragile state and this has resulted in some being illegible owing to exposure to moist and damp conditions, which has resulted in moulding and foxing.

Following professional consultation the entire archive has been removed from its original boxes and is now locked in a dry and safe environment. Most of the records survive in their original form, others are in transcript form. The transcripts are handwritten, printed and typed.

The is a cover charge of € 5 for nonmembers.

A JUDGE has dismissed a case against a former Clare hurler taken over signs allegedly erected on the side of a road.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy dismissed the case against Niall Gilligan (35), a member of Clare’s 1997 All Ireland hurling winning team, citing issues with the chain of evidence.

Clare County Council brought the case against the well known Sixmilebridge based auctioneer, alleging that Gilligan had erected a sign on the road near O’Callaghan’s Mills contrary to Section 19 of the Litter Pollution Act.

Mr Gilligan, a key member of the Clare team that won last year’s All Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship, represented himself in the proceedings.

Eugene Joyce, Environmental Patrol Warden with Clare County Council, told the court that he had been on duty near O’Callaghan’s Mills on October 19, 2010.

He said he saw a sign for Gilligan’s auctioneer firm on the side of the road. Mr Joyce took a photograph of the sign.

Solicitor for the Council, Lisa Walsh, said this constituted an offence under Section 19 of the Litter Pollution Act.

She added that the sign was visible from a public place and that Gilligan had not obtained permission from the landowner to plant the sign.

However during the course of the proceedings, Judge McCarthy questioned an official document handed in by the Council.

He said the County Manager should have signed the document as he is “chief executive and all authority derives from him to his subordinates”. The court heard that the document granting Mr Joyce the authority to give evidence on the Council’s behalf had been signed by one of the Council’s Director of Services.

Judge McCarthy said, “This man (Gilligan) is representing himself and I have to see that he gets a fair trial”. He added, “The chain of evidence has to be complete and you have to prove it beyond reasonable doubt.’’

Judge McCarthy said that as the defendant was not legally represented, he had a duty to see that he received a fair trial.

“In accordance with that full duty, I am putting you on full proofs,” he added.

Judge McCarthy asked if the Council was willing to proceed with the case. Ms Walsh said the Council would “proceed briefly” with the case.

After hearing the Council’s case against Mr Gilligan, Judge McCarthy dismissed it. He told Gilligan he was not required to say anything on the matter.

As Mr Gilligan attempted to speak, Judge McCarthy said;

“There is a saying, when you’re not in a hole, you don’t have to start digging one for yourself”.

On the matter of costs, Gilligan told the court he is self- employed and had been forced to pay someone to fill in for him on days he appeared in court.

He sought costs to cover “loss of earnings”. Judge McCarthy made no order regarding costs.

A NIGERIAN doctor who made history by becoming the first immigrant to be elected to public office in Ireland has said that Ennis is “absolutely” not a racist town.

Taiwo Matthew, who was elected to Ennis Town Council in 2004, said yesterday that he has never been subjected to racist abuse since moving to in Ennis in 1999.

He said, “Me as a person, not at all. I’ll be honest. I will tell you that I have never experienced (racism) and I would not trade Ennis for any town in Ireland. I say that sincerely. Everybody might have a different opinion but I can tell you that even within the African population, the majority of people will tell you that Ennis is one of the best towns.”

Mr Matthew lost his seat at the 2009 local elections. He said his success in getting elected in Ennis would not have been possible without the support of a broad section of the community.

He said, “I couldn’t have done what I did. I couldn’t have been elected without the support of the people. I have always said that that is a reflection of the maturity of the people in Ennis, in their hearts and minds. You know, to elect somebody from the continent of Africa, you would have thought that was impossible. It was the first ever in the country.”

He continued, “If anybody is saying that Ennis is racist, then show me the evidence, show me the facts. I speak and I get involved with people across the community and I have never, never anywhere experienced it (racism).”

He added, “When these incidents happen, they bring it to my notice. Over the past 12 years, I haven’t had five or 10 incidents of racist abuse.”

The father of three was commenting after a man received a prison sentence for an assault on Nigerian taxi driver Batholomew Omoifo in Ennis in June 2010.

Mr Matthew said incidents of this nature are isolated and that the image of Ennis as a racist town is an incorrect one.

He said, “That would not be the perception of the population that I know, the immigrants or the indigenous population that I know. No, I won’t buy that. I have said this before, it is making a mountain out of a molehill.”

He added, “I would tell you that that incident is an isolated incident. In any bucket of grapes, you will always find a bad one. Things will happen. That would not be the perception of Ennis.”

Mr Matthew said that Ennis had welcomed immigrants at a time when other towns and cities hadn’t.

He added, “I have lived in Ennis for 12 years and, when I say I am an Ennis man, I think I have every right to say so! I have been in Ennis since 1999. I have three children. They started primary school here and my first girl is finishing in Coláiste Muire this year, doing her Leaving Cert.”

THE Ennis Access Programme has raised a total € 711 for Clare Haven Services. A raffle of a handmade quilt created by participants on the programme took place on the January 13. The lucky winner was Rita Egan, Ennistymon.

The Ennis Access Programme, which is a FÁS Local Training Ini- tiative sponsored by the Clare Local Development Company, decided to raise funds for Clare Haven Services, who provide a vital service to those suffering from domestic violence in the community.

They made their decision after attending several workshops funded by the HSE which highlighted the increasing numbers of domestic violence in the community, locally, nationally and internationally.

The learners on the Ennis Access Programme created a handmade patchwork quilt from natural fabrics and recycled materials.

The quilt is constructed in the form of patchwork and applique in rainbow colours with a black background.

The rainbow colours signify hope, and the hearts and doves symbolise love and peace.

Sue Considine, who is the Ennis Access Programme Co-ordinator, explained, “For most of us, home is a place of respect, love and safety. However, for some women, home means violence, fear and terror. Maybe it is your sister, your friend, your workmate, your mother or maybe you yourself are living with domestic violence.

“Without exception, a woman’s greatest risk of violence is from someone she knows.”

Sharon O’Mahony, the Assistant Co-ordinator, said, “Everyone has the right to safety and freedom from violence. Domestic violence is not acceptable and we stand in solidarity with abused women and those services that provide vital support in our communities.

“It is important that women are made aware of the vital services that are available to those living in our communities.”

A WOMAN alleged to have caused fire damage to premises in Shannon has been returned for trial.

Julie Ann Barry (34), with an address at 1 Gort na Rí, Ballycasey, Shannon appeared at Ennis District Court last Wednesday.

It is alleged that Barry caused damage by fire to unit 8 and 10, Block E, Caiseal Daire, Bru Na Sionna on November 4 (2010), intending to damage such property or being reckless as whether such property would be damaged, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act.

Insp John Galvin told the court that Gardaí had been due to serve the Book of Evidence before Christmas, but the accused was not in court. He said the Book of Evidence had now been served.

Insp Galvin said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented that the accused be returned for trial to the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy ordered that the woman be returned for trial. Judge McCarthy remanded the accused on bail to the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on February 14.

THE number of people signing on the Live Register in Clare broke through 10,000 mark last month, with a total of 10,368 people signing on in the county in December.

The latest figures come after two consecutive months of positive figures which had seen the Live Register figures drop below the 10,000 mark for the first time in more than two years.

The latest figures released from the Central Statistics Office show that 5,768 people were signing on in Ennis last month, while 1,671 were signing on in Ennistymon; 1,468 signing on in Kilrush; and 1,493 signing on in Tulla.

The overall figure for the county marks a year-on-year drop of 251 from the 10,619 who were signing on in the county in December of 2010.

The figures do not, however, take into account the large number of people who are expected to leave the county after the Christmas period. With large numbers set to emigrate, especially from rural communities, it is likely that any drop in the January figures would be brought about by emigration rather than by job creation.

The numbers signing on are still more than 500 people short of the all-time high in the county which was recorded in February of last year when a total of 10,883 people were signing on in the county.

The biggest month-on-month increase in the Live Register was recorded in Ennis where the numbers signing on swelled by 101 people, from 5,635 to 5,736.

The largest percentage increase, however, was recorded in Ennistymon with a jump of 80 people signing on, from 1, 597 to 1,671, amounted to a five per cent increase in just one month.

The numbers signing on in Kilrush and Tulla jumped by 59 in both locations.

THE support of the public has helped the Simon Community provide vital assistance to homeless people in Ennis. The newly established Mid West Simon Charity Shop provides a source of income to allow the charity to provide a specific service on-site to the people of Clare.

Homeless or people at risk of homelessness can drop into the coffee dock to pick up literature and information on housing issues, tenant rights and the options that prevent homelessness or to be housed.

Anyone wishing to speak a professional can make an appointment to see a Mid West Simon Housing Support Officer on a Tuesday or Thursday between 2pm and 4pm. There is a focus on accessibility of information in a relaxed and informal environment.

Volunteer staff in the shop at Woodquay, Ennis, have been delighted with the support from Clare people both in terms of donations of goods and customer support. The shop has a number of events planned over the next few weeks.

Fundraising Coordinator Susan Ward said, “We realise that there is no point in holding onto winter wear that is much needed now until spring so our manager and volunteer staff are preparing for a Winter Clothes Blitz this Thursday through to Saturday (January 19 to 21).

“All winter jackets, woollies, coats and accessories are reduced by 50 per cent – huge bargains at fantastic prices. We’re also anxious to introduce the integrated coffee dock so management are offering a free cup of tea or coffee with every purchase of € 10 or more during this promotion.”

In the meantime, all incoming children’s clothing and accessories will be tagged and priced in preparation for a kids’ clothes promotion during the first week of February.

The coffee dock is open to all visitors and it is hoped it will become a favourite drop-in for the people of Ennis.

Susan explained, “The shop relies solely on the generosity of the public and management would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for their continued support and to ask the people of Clare to keep donating clothes, bric a brac, books and household ware.”

Any unwanted items of clothing or other household goods can be dropped in between 10am and 4.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

A Polish man has received a six month suspended sentence for contravening a protection order in Ennis last December.

Marian Slugocki (45) with an address at 35 Glensheen, Gort Road, Ennis appeared at Ennis District Court on Friday. He was charged with contravening a protection order and putting the applicant in fear of her life, contrary to the domestic violence act. He was also charged with engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour in Ennis last May. Slugocki pleaded guilty to the charges. Insp John Galvin said Gardaí were called to the home of Slugocki’s former partner last December after he turned up at the house. She told Gardai he rang her at 11pm looking for a nail clippers. She said that when the accused showed up, she heard glass breaking and “lots of noise”. Insp Galvin told the court that the woman had been afraid.

Insp Galvin that on another occasion in May 2011, Gardai were called to a house in Ennis. The court heard that Slugocki was “highly intoxicated”.

Solicitor for Slugocki, Jenny Fitzgibbon told the court that in relation to the public order offence, her client had got into an argument with his ex-partner.

She said that on that occasion Slugocki called the gardaí and agreed to go with them. She said that while the relationship had resumed after that, it did not go down well. She said the relationship has since ended. In relation to the protection order, Ms Fitzgibbon said her client went to the house to get a few missing items.

She said he had apologised for his actions on the night. She said it was Slugocki’s intention to go back to Poland.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy imposed a six-month sentence for the domestic violence charge.

He suspended the sentence on condition that the accused be of good behaviour for a period of two years.

For the public order charge, Judge McCarthy imposed a three month suspended sentence, on the same conditions, to be served concurrent to the previous sentence.