Category: News

A MAN caused € 3200 worth of damage after wandering into a holiday home in a “drunken stupor”, a court has heard.

David Quinn had been on a night out in Killaloe earlier this year when the incident occurred.

A sitting of Killaloe District Court heard that blood stains from a cut sustained by Quinn accounted for most of the damage.

Quinn (32) with an address at Killonan, Ballysimon, Limerick was charged with causing criminal damage at 42 Marine Village, Killaloe.

On Wednesday, Judge Aeneas McCarthy was told that the cost of the damage came to € 3200.

The court heard that Quinn had been attending a wedding in Killaloe. He later became locked out of his hotel room.

Solicitor Daragh Hassett said that his client had taken refuge in a nearby holiday home.

Prior to entering the house, the court heard, Quinn fell and cut himself.

Mr Hassett explained that when Quinn entered the holiday home he spilled blood on the carpet and some of the fixtures. He said his client had been in a “drunken stupor” at the time.

He said the blood stained carpet accounted for most of the cost of the damage.

Mr Hassett said that Quinn could pay compensation and requested that he be given six months to do so. Judge McCarthy ordered that Quinn pay € 3200 in compensation.

Granting him four months to make the payment, Judge McCarthy said that he expected the amount to be paid in full on April 3 (2012).

The judge added that he did not want compensation to be paid in installments.

MEMBERS of Clare’s immigrant community have hit back at claims from a local councillor that non-nationals are responsible for the majority of discrimination in the county.

Independent councillor Frankie Neylon said last week that “about 60 per cent” of discrimination is carried out by non-nationals.

Cllr Neylon was speaking at the December meeting of Ennis Town Council, where members voted against a proposal that would call on the Government to provide mandatory equality training for all local representatives.

However the Clare Intercultural Network have criticised the comments, describing them as “disappointing”. In a statement, CIN Coordinator Alphonse Basogomba said, “When he refers to racism, Councillor Neylon claims 60 pe rcent of racism in Ennis is caused by non-national residents themselves. The CIN would like to make the point that all individuals have a nationality and should be addressed as non-Irish nationals instead of non-national.

“We are also unclear where the figure of 60 per cent came from but if Councillor Neylon believes this is factual and based on researched evidence, this indicates there is a clear and urgent problem which needs to be addressed and he as a public representative should welcome all tools which will enable him and his colleagues to deal with this effectively and efficiently before someone gets seriously hurt or injured.”

He continued, “It would appear that Councillor Neylon not only rejected the training which might assist in developing a strategy for change but did not propose an alternative measure to assist with the stark statistics he has referred to.”

Cllr Neylon said that he had no problem working with people from the 26 different nationalities who live in Ennis. He told last Monday’s meeting that Ennis had always welcomed people of different nationalities.

Mr Basogomba stated, “It is unclear as to why Councillor Neylon believed the training would assist him to deal with only 26 nationalities and not all members of the town, including Irish nationals.

“The Equality Legislation comprises of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004; the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004; the National Disability Authority Act 1999. Is Councillor Neylon suggesting he doesn’t need training in any of the above areas?”

Mr Basogomba stated, “At CIN, we believe it is unfortunate that a vote needed to be taken at all on this motion, as it should be mandatory for public representatives to ensure they are aware and trained in all relevant legislation.

“This training and knowledge are legislative instruments, which assist elected representatives to fully represent their constituents.”

Orla Ni Eilí, coordinator of the Clare Immigrant Support Centre said, “It is disappointing and we hope this is the last time we hear that from our public representatives”.

AN off-duty garda fell to his death while fishing with his six-year-old son in Kilkee, an inquest into his death has heard.

Adrian Martin (46), from Carrickmacross, Monaghan, was fishing at Dunlicky, Kilkee, on August 25 last, when he fell “head first” over the cliffs. He was on holidays in Kilkee with his wife Helen and their young son Dermot at the time.

Ennis Coroner’s Court heard last week that Mr Martin went fishing with his son that morning, while his wife remained at their holiday home.

A witness at the inquest, Susan Kiely, recalled going fishing with her husband and three children shortly after 11 o’clock that morning. She said that after 12 noon a man – wearing a red jacket – and little boy arrived.

Shortly after there was a “torrential downpour”. The rain was so heavy that she went to her car for shelter with her children.

After the shower had passed, she said that she returned to where she had been. She saw the man and boy standing on a smooth area of rock, fishing. She said that the rock surface where she was standing was slippy after the rain.

She said she saw the man in the red jacket standing at the cliff edge. He was bent over. She then saw him falling “head first over the cliffs”. She said she did not know if he had slipped.

“I roared to my husband ‘he is going, he is going’,” she recalled. She said she then saw the young boy starting to move forwards to the cliff face. Her husband ran over to him and took him to safety.

Helen Martin recalled going on holidays with her husband Adrian and son Dermot.

She said they had gone fishing at around 11.20am and she expected them to return to their holiday home at 1.30pm. However, they had not returned by 2.05pm. She could not make contact with him by mobile phone.

She said that a short time later, she saw her son standing beside a garda patrol car which had stopped near their holiday home.

She said that a garda told her that there had been an accident and that her husband was dead. At 3.25pm she identified her husband’s body to a garda.

Garda Eoin Daly told the inquest that Kilkee Rescue Service recovered Mr Martin’s body from the water shortly after he fell off the cliff edge.

He said that according to witnesses, Mr Martin had slipped off and from his gardaí concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances and that it was a “tragic accident”.

A post mortem examination carried out on Mr Martin’s body revealed that he had sustained a deep laceration to the left side of the forehead, an abrasion to the left side of the nose, and fractures to the left elbow, right hip and right knee.

Death was due to acute cardio respiratory failure secondary to multiple traumatic injuries including skull fractures sustained in an accidental fall.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea returned a verdict of accidental death.

THE newly refurbished Moore Street should be given special designation by the Department of the Environment as a pilot project capable of kick-starting new life into the economy of the west Clare capital.

That’s according to members of Kilrush Town Council, who on Thursday backed a move to approach Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, seeking ‘special status’ for the street as the refurbishment works are finally completed ahead of this Saturday’s party to mark what has been hailed as “the rebirth of Moore Street”.

The refurbishment works were due to be completed on Friday last, but have been delayed by a week due to the scale of the work involved and the recent inclement weather.

“It’s all systems go,” Kilrush Town Clerk John Corry told last Thursday night’s monthly meeting of the local authority.

“It is a very significant job and they have made substantial progress. Kerbs are being installed at the moment and the contractor is on site this Monday commencing the tarmacadam works.

“There will be a lot of progress made within a couple of days and the contractor is envisaging completion by the 16th or 17th of December. A temporary order for the closing of the road from the 10th December through to the 23rd of September appeared in the paper. It won’t be required for that length of time,” Mr Corry added.

“We needed to get it done and there was never going to be a right time to do it. The contractors are out there morning, noon and night and they are giving it socks to have it ready,” said Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Ian Lynch.

The call for a special incentive scheme for new traders was proposed by Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF), who said “we have to go one step further now.

“It’s one thing to rejuvenate the street itself and get the road done, but there are still a lot of vacant premises on Moore Street. I do believe that this Council, in its wisdom, should make an application to the Minister for the Environment, so that we can use Moore Street as a pilot project and get it designated so as to new people into those vacant premises and bring life back to the street.

“What has been done has been tremendous but we need to go that little bit further. It would really put the icing on the cake – there has to be a concession, whether it’s rates or whatever for people who go in there.

“People who own the properties have to be prepared to offer pepper corn rents. It is a very exciting time for Moore Street,” added the former town mayor.

A MAN who found 42 road signs belonging to Clare County Council dumped in Ennis “threw them into” his van, a court has been told.

Patrick Ward (25), of Corrach Buí, Rahoon, Galway, was charged with handling stolen property at Ballycorey, Ennis, on November 19, 2010.

Inspector John Galvin told Ennis District Court on Friday that the accused was stopped on the road with 42 road signs belonging to the county council, which were valued at € 4,000.

“They were confiscated by gardaí and returned to the council so they are not at a loss,” said Inspector Galvin.

The court was told that the accused has several previous convictions including for theft.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said that her client is currently serving a 22-month sentence in jail. She asked the court not to extend this sentence.

Judge Angela Ní Chondúin said, “He has a pretty bad record.”

Ms Godfrey told the court that the father-of-two saw the signs dumped on the Lees Road in Ennis and “threw them into the van.”

“He realises he shouldn’t have taken them,” she said, adding that her client hoped to sell them in Galway for scrap.

The judge said, “He knew what he was at. He knew the value of it.

“ Don’t be using his children as an excuse, with his track record.”

Judge Ní Chondúin imposed a 10month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

“Maybe between this and then he will learn.

“I haven’t extended his time but it is up to him if he learns. I doubt it,” added the judge.

THERE is now “light at the end of the tunnel” for residents of John Paul Estate in Kilrush – the town’s biggest council estate that’s now in the final stages of a major refurbishment overhaul costing over € 1.5m.

These positive vibes for residents in Kilrush Town Council’s biggest property was sounded out as details of the final two phases of the redevelopment programme was revealed to members of the local authority by Town Clerk, John Corry.

“It is certainly positive times for John Paul Estate,” said Mr Corry. “We fought hard for three or four years after the completion of the first phase in 2008. There were a lot of dark days, for both ourselves and people who were residing there and for a time there was no light at the end of the tunnel, but thankfully we have got there. A lot done, more to do is the motto, but we are well on our way,” he added.

The latest and final piece of the John Paul Estate jigsaw will see the refurbishment of 21 houses, after work on 11 houses on the estate and anotehr seven on Wilson’s Road was completed last month.

“The 21 houses are mainly in Sycamore Drive, but on is on Elm Drive,” revealed Mr Corry, “and the contract has been agreed and has been entered into with the contractor L&M Keating. The contract sum is worth € 790,000, which is a significant contract. It has been broken down into two phases.

“Phase one is the refurbishment of 11 houses, which has already commenced and works are well advanced of four of the houses, four bungalows that will completed by February.

“We have to do the 21 houses over two phases because of the significant works that are involved it’s required that the houses be vacated. We had to break into two phases, so as to have enough temporary accommodation. It’s envisaged that the 21 houses will be fully complete by the end of April.

“It’s significant work when you consider what’s already been done. There are a total of 18 houses that have already been refurbished and when you add these 21 houses, it is a significant investment on the part of Kilrush Town Council.

“We were delighted with the quality of workmanship. From the point of view of the tenants who have been residing there longterm, it has certainly given them renewed hope,” added Mr Corry.

In praising the council’s housing strategy, Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Ian Lynch said “the real work begins now, because we need to build a community back there. We have to manage it and try to get people interested into managing it themselves”.

A JUDGE has described a man involved in a row in front of a child as a “blackguard”.

Judge Angela Ní Chondúin made the comment after hearing that there was background to the incident.

Michael Owsiak (24), who is originally from Poland and with an address at Kincora Park, Ennis, was charged with assault causing harm to Marek Walendziuk, at Kincora Park, Ennis, on October 16 last.

Ennis District Court heard on Friday that the accused punched the other man in the face. As a result, the victim sustained a broken nose.

The court was told that accused did not have any previous convictions.

Defending solicitor Daragh Hassett said that the victim of the assault was the defendant’s girlfriend’s former partner.

He said there were issues in relation to a young child.

He said that the injured party had been “at him verbally and physically” and his client lashed out with one punch.

“Certainly he was geed up by the other party,” said the solicitor.

Judge Ní Chondúin commented that this was a “great example in front of a child”.

Mr Hassett submitted that it was not a “straight cut case of a one man punch with no context”.

Judge Ní Chondúin said, “It’s shocking bad behaviour in front of a child. You don’t take the law into your own hands.”

She said she would normally order that money be paid to an injured party, but added, “but I am not going to enrich a blackguard particularly where there is a child involved.”

She ordered that € 400 be paid to the court poor box, adding, if the money is paid, she will strike out the charge. She adjourned the case until later this week.

THE Vandeleur Garden in Kilrush has the potential to be transformed into the new flagship tourist product for west Clare and become the county’s rival to Muckross House in Kil- larney. This new vision for Kilrush’s historic visitor attraction was unveiled at a meeting of Kilrush Town Council that took place in the Vandeleur demesne on Thursday night as county architect, Ruth Hurley, revealed plans to develop a major museum on the site. The interpretative centre-type project is set to be developed over the next two years as agencies such as Coillte, Shannon Development, Clare County Council, Kilrush Town Council, Kilrush Amenity Trust and the West Clare Economic Task Force throw their weight behind ambitious plans for the old landlord estate. The ruin of Kilrush House, the seat of the Vandeleur famil that was responsible for building Kilrush, was knocked by Clare County Council in 1973, but now the authority is to spearhead new development in the courtyard area of the estate on the back on a successful application for Leader funding. “There is an opportunity for something new here,” said Ms Hurley. “We want open up the courtyard into the centre and into a museum, so there is element of enticing people into the Vandeleur facilities. “The whole idea behind this is to get funding from Leader, with a view construction beginning in 2013. It’s about taking baby steps towards a bigger picture. A lot of places started like that. Muckross House started like that, so it’s about taking smalls steps. “The built environment is there. The heritage is there. It’s about giv- ing it a new freshness and enticing people in. With the support of everyone around the table and with the support of the people of Kilrush, hopefully we can push this forward,” Ms Hurley added.

“An initial meeting was held with Leader, just to see what their reaction was to the whole concept,” revealed Kilrush Town Manager, Nora Kaye. “Leader were very receptive to the whole visitor experience.

“There is a matching funding requirement should we be successful with Leader.

We will keep this project on a priority list, to ensure that we have a place in the queue for applications,” she added.

“I don’t see why it can’t become a reality,” said Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF). “There is massive potential here and I don’t think we have realised the true potential of the Vandeleur Walled Garden – from the historical perspective as well as modifying and adapted to modern demands,” he said. “The Vandeleur Garden is a gem,” said Cllr Liam Williams (FG), who is also a member of Kilrush Amenity Trust. “This is huge for west Clare,” he added.

PLANS to develop a new library in Ennis will be put on hold until after 2014, a meeting of Clare County Council has heard.

The council has been told that funding will not be approved until the preparation of a new library development programme.

In March, the council sought expressions of interest for the provision of a new library building. Two preferred sites emerged from the process.

Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Services Housing, Social and Cultural, told yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council that the authority had not been contacted by the developers seeking to build a five-hectare retail park on the Clare Road about the offer of a new library building.

Michael Lynch Ltd have stated that they will hand over a library “free of charge” to Ennis Town Council as part of the proposed development.

Ms Kinsella was responding to a question from Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) who, along with fellow Fine Gael councillor Tony Mulqueen, tabled a motion requesting information on plans for a new County Library Headquarters.

In her reply, Ms Kinsella confirmed, “Sixteen expressions of interest were received by the specified date. A preliminary site suitability assessment was then undertaken by an in house panel external to the directorate, and each site was assessed and ranked having regard to the criteria.”

She continued, “From this process, five sites were identified as worthy of further exploration based in order of ranking.

“The owners of these sites were then requested to provide additional information for the purpose of the council undertaking a second stage site suitability assessment.”

She explained, “At the conclusion of this process, two preferred sites emerged.

“The owners of these sites were then invited to preliminary discussions which took place in July.”

During the process, the council engaged in consultations with An Comhairle Leabharlann, representatives of which visited both sites and expressed support for the council’s proposal.

Ms Kinsella explained that, in the course of discussions, the funding application, which must be site specific, would not be considered until a new library development programme is prepared.

“This is unlikely to occur before 2014 at the earliest. In light of this updated funding situation, it was decided to defer further engagement with the owners of the preferred sites protem. They have been advised accordingly.”

Ms Kinsella said the objective to develop a new library and ancillary remains a priority for the council.

“As funding streams are identified or re-opened these sites together with any suitable sites in the ownership of the council, can be reconsidered.”

She added that “necessary infrastructural works” will now be carried out at the De Valera library “to ensure a reasonable standard is maintained in the short term to medium term”.

FIRST it stood at 9.43 per cent among general staff and was held up as the worst in Ireland – now it’s worse again as the percentage stands at 12 per cent among key frontline nursing staff.

These are the absenteeism rates at Ennis General Hospital, which have come under sharp focus again in the last week following the publication of the Health Services Executive ‘Heathstat Report’ for September.

“The issue is receiving maximum attention,” a HSE statement released to the The Clare People this Monday says. “The assistance of the Human Resources department has now been sought to assist the hospital in any additional actions required,” it adds.

According to the Healthstat figures, absenteeism rates among its 133 nurses during September were running at 12 per cent, a figure that is 8.5 per cent ahead of the target national absenteeism rate of 3.5 per cent.

These alarming figures come only three months after Minister for Health, James Reilly, pledged to put measures in place to tackle the problem at the hospital when it was revealed that absenteeism levels were running at 9.43 per cent, almost double the average for HSE hospitals around the country that stood at 4.85 per cent.

“We are putting in place a new initiative around this,” vowed Minister Reilly. “I’m not at liberty to say what it is just yet. In the next couple of weeks, I’ll be able to announce it,” he added.

In September, it was revealed in Ennis that every day an average of 22 staff were missing from the hospital’s daily workforce of 238, a rate of absenteeism that impacts on the day-to-day operation of the facility, resulting in the HSE having to employ temporary outside staff to cover for sick workers.

And a breakdown of these figures has revealed that the rate of absenteeism is worst among general support staff when it’s running at a staggering 18 per cent.

Now the Healthstat figures show that, of Ennis General Hospital’s 133 nurses, 16 were absent from work on each day in the month of September.

“The hospital accepts that the absenteeism rate is high but all elements of the HSE’s Managing Attendance Policy are being carried out,” the HSE statement says. “These include referrals to occupational health, return-to-work interviews, certification of absences etc. While the hospital’s percentages appear high currently, the amount of ‘uncertified’ sick leave is very low.

“Where uncertified sick leave is low, the hospital is viewed to have achieved an improved performance in managing attendance as the majority of sick leave is certified by medical practitioners. A recent review by management shows that a number of people are absent with long-term serious illness,” the statement adds.