Category: News

A CLARE businesswoman, who suffers from a painful and debilitating bent spine, has begun a campaign to have medicinal marijuana legalised in Ireland.

Bunratty woman Niamh O’Brien believes that legalising cannabis could benefit thousands of Clare people suffering from a variety of medical complaints and would also help stop the spread of organised crime in Ireland.

Niamh set up LCI Clare, (the Legalisation of Cannabis in Ireland, Clare branch), just two weeks ago and has already gained more than 650 friends on the organisations Facebook site. She believes that legalising cannabis for medicinal use, as has been done in many American states, could have a positive impact on people in Clare.

“To start with cannabis is an antiinflammatory, which reduces swelling and inflammation. It is a pain relief, it is used to combat depression, anxiety, to promote appetite, to help people who have Alzheimers, MS, Parkinson’s and for a variety of other conditions,” she told The Clare People yesterday.

“As it stands at present people in Ireland are being criminalised for taking a responsible attitude towards their own health and their own care. We have researched the ingredients of some of the medications that people are legally taking in Ireland today and people would be shocked and horrified if they knew what does into it.”

The membership of the Legalisation of Cannabis in Ireland has been growing in recent time. Having traditionally drawing most of its membership from Cork and Dublin, branches have been founded around the country in recent months.

According to Niamh, the current laws are forcing law-abiding people into interacting with criminal elements in order to obtain the cannabis which allows them to overcome their illness and live normal lives.

“Having to go down to a street corner and deal with criminals is not what we should be doing. In fact, this is the only situation where cannabis being seen as a gateway drug to other harmful drugs actually makes sense. You are forced to deal with people who have other dangerous substances that they want you to buy,” she continued.

“There is no guarantee in what you are getting from people like this, who are just out to make a profit. Putting people into the position where they have to deal with dangerous people who don’t care what they are selling you is not a good situation.”

To find out more about the organisation search for “LCI Clare” on Facebook.

THE taxi industry in Clare is “dying”, a well-known taxi driver has warned.

Martin White, of Ennis-based AAA Taxis and the Irish Taxi Driver’s Federation, said the high number of taxis in Clare allied to a reduced level of business is putting serious pressure on the industry.

He explained that in many cases earnings are down “60 to 70 per cent” while drivers often earn as little as € 30 for a typical 10-hour shift.

He said, “Fridays and Saturdays are good days but you can forget about it for the rest of the week. Most days we’re just sitting here on the rank looking out at the river.”

He explained that since regulation was introduced to the industry in 2000, the number of taxis operating in Clare has risen from 20 to 230.

“It’s like everywhere. Everyone is suffering. 90 per cent of drivers are self employed. They don’t get any hand outs, no medical cards. It’s hard to make a living out of it at the moment, hard for fellas that have to pay a mortgage…This is a dying trade.”

Mr White said that recent revelations of alleged bad practices in the taxi industry and at a National Car Test (NCT) centre in Dublin were not reflective of the vast majority of drivers.

He said incidents highlighted in RTE’s Prime Time expose “were not happening in Ennis” and that taxis undergo “rigorous tests” every year at the local NCT centre.

He added, “Most of the taxi drivers in Ennis are honest, hardworking guys, trying to make a living but its a dying trade.”

Mr White said the industry would be aided by a “buy back scheme” that would allow drivers to claim back the cost of a taxi license when they finish driving and by the presence in every county of an enforcement officer. “You’d have no nonsense in the industry and no cowboys,” he said.

The taxi industry is due to be discussed at today’s meeting of Ennis Town Council. Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) has submitted a motion seeking support from councillors to contact the Minister for Transport regarding the operation of the NCT and the regulation of taxis.

PARTS of Ennis came to a standstill on Thursday as huge crowds gathered to say a final goodbye to local man Niall White, who passed away last week.

Family, friends and former teammates lined Lifford Road as Niall’s coffin made the short journey from the White family home to nearby St Joseph’s Church.

Members of the three teams that Niall played for – Clare, St Joseph’s Doora Barefield and Lifford AFC – took it in turns to carry the coffin before members of the White family carried Niall to the church.

Representatives of all three teams formed an exemplorary guard of honour after the ceremony as mourners queued for almost an hour to pay their respects to the family.

A talented sportsman, Niall played both hurling and football for St Joseph’s Doora Barefield. He had been a member of the Clare senior football panel for the past three years, having previously represented his county at minor and under 21 level.

Niall was also a committed soccer player and had been a key member of Lifford’s junior team in recent years.

Items carried to the altar reflected Niall’s love of sport and music. They included a pair of football boots, a Doora Barefield jersey, a Clare jersey, an Abercrombie and Fitch hoodie and an iPod.

Hundreds of mourners filled the church, with more people standing outside as Fr Jerry Carey and family members paid warm tributes to Niall.

Niall’s parents Pat and Mary and his sister Ciara listened on as Fr Carey recalled Niall’s warm personality, saying he had an “electric smile” that would brighten up a room “stronger than any words would”.

Niall’s uncle recalled arriving at the White household last week and seeing a pile of photographs of Niall in his nephew’s room. He described Niall as a popular young man with a wide circle of friends. He said everyone that knew Niall has their own favourite memories or shared moments. He said Niall was a “truly kind and loving person”, adding that in order for a person to love they had to be loved. He said, “You were loved and you will be in our hearts for eternity.”

A 29-YEAR-OLD man has received a suspended sentence in connection with the possession of almost € 8,000 worth of cannabis.

Maurice Crotty, with an address at 11 Bridge View, Roslevan, appeared at Ennis District Court on Friday.

Garda Alan Kelly told the court that the accused had been charged after Gardaí recovered a large amount of cannabis, a small amount of amphetamine, € 2340 in cash and a weighing scales. Garda Kelly said the value of the cannabis was € 7945.

He said the man had not come to garda attention since the drugs were found and added that he believed the man “had learned from his error”.

Solicitor for the accused, John Casey, said his client had made a full admission to gardaí and had since completely dissociated himself from drug dealing.

He explained that his client had been given drugs to sell along with drugs he had used himself. Mr Casey said this was not meant to act as an excuse, that it had been his client’s decision to do it, adding, “He had to do what he was told”.

He said the man had played hurling at underage level for Clare, had won numerous sports awards and had recently been named badminton player of the year.

He said his client believed that the discovery of the drugs by Gardaí had been ‘the best thing to happen to him.’

“It’s a serious charge. He knows it’s a serious charge”, he added.

Mr Casey said the man, who was previously a factory worker, had stopped taking drugs and was now on a good path.

Asking that a custodial sentence not be imposed, he said that if his client went to prison, “he would meet the people he has been trying to avoid for the past few months”.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a four-month prison, suspended on the condition that the man be of good behaviour for two years and that he consented to a community service order of 150 hours. He ordered the man to appear back before court on July 15.

TWO mothers are hitting back against the recession by setting up Ireland’s first ever online craft fair.

Fondelifair.com is the brainchild of Alice Quinlan who decided to set up the website to offer craft-makers in Clare and around Ireland a place to meet, talk and sell directly to customers.

Crafters can sell everything from photographs to jewellery to knitwear.

Originally from Killaloe but now living in Ennis, Michelle Harding is Fondelifair’s creative director.

Michelle, a former Clare FM presenter, said, “We had absolutely no chance of getting a job and, both being keen crafters, we couldn’t find anywhere online where we could sell our crafts. This site is for anybody who would be good enough in their craft that they could sell online. There are people out there who might be at home, feeling down and depressed at the moment because they can’t get work, and this is a great opportunity for crafters to get back to their pas- sion and sell their goods.”

The site provides information on upcoming craft shows and events taking place around the country. Members can also upload images of their products.

Michelle explained that while members to date have enjoyed free membership, following the website’s launch, crafters will pay an annual fee of € 25 and have only to pay Fondelifair.com a five per cent commission on their sales to cover running costs.

Michelle added, “We are averaging approximately three new sign-ups a day since the site went live and that was before we launched officially on Monday. And we haven’t even advertised either. We have had huge interest and we’ve been very busy. It’s going brilliantly so far. We really need to be looking after each other in these tough times and this interactive web community is a great way for people to buy and sell their own unique goods.”

Since going live two weeks ago, the website has so far attracted 177 members.

WHAT we have we hold – that was the message emanating from Shannon that held sway among delegates to last Thursday night’s Fine Gael selection convention in Bunratty to elect a successor to Senator Tony Mulcahy on Clare County Council.

Shannon town councillor Sean McLoughlin secured Senator Mulcahy’s county council seat on a 42-35 vote against Marinella Raftery from Newmarket-on-Fergus – a decision already endorsed by Fine Gael party headquarters that will pave the way for his co-option onto the council at next Monday’s monthly meeting of the local authority in Ennis.

“To keep this council seat in Shannon was important,” said Cllr McLoughlin told The Clare People after his selection convention victory in the Bunratty Manor Hotel. “It was important for me personally, but the entire branch of the Fine Gael branch in Shannon that I was a founder member of in 1994 were adamant that someone from Shannon should get Tony Mulcahy’s seat.

“Outside the Fine Gael Shannon branch, the feeling in the town was that it was Shannon people who elected Tony and that it was still a Shannon seat and that it should be kept within the town limits. That was the overwhelming opinion that I was getting.

“This is something I’ve been working towards for the last 15 years. I have an awful lot of work done for the Fine Gael party for the last 15 years – putting up posters, knocking at doors and dropping off literature. Whatever Fine Gael wanted, I did it. Church Gate collections, organising functions.

“As long as Tony Mulcahy was on the county council, I would never have stood against him. Our vote is very much entwined, but the understanding was always there that if Tony every got further in politics and moved on from Clare County Council that I would be the person to try to step into his shoes and keep the seat in Shannon,” added Cllr McLoughlin.

However, the former Mayor of Shannon has pledged to play his part in working towards securing three Fine Gael seats in the Shannon Electoral Area in the 2014 local elections.

“I have no doubt about it that there are three seats to be got in the Shannon Electoral Area for Fine Gael in the next county council election,” said Cllr McLoughlin, “and I think Marinella Raftery will be there in future.”

A PRISON sentence has been handed down to a man for his role in a “frenzied’ and “out of control attack” that took place in Ennis town centre last year.

Patrick McDonagh (32) with an address at O’Brien Street, Tullamore, Offaly had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing serious harm to Bernard McDonagh at Marketplace, Ennis on May 18, 2010.

At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Sgt Michael Moloney described details of an assault that led to Bernard McDonagh losing half of his right ring finger. He said that, on the day in question, Bernard McDonagh had driven to Ennis National School at 3pm to collect his children.

He said that the accused had been one of three men traveling in a black Toyota Avensis who had followed Bernard McDonagh to the school. He said the accused and another man launched an assault on the injured party while the car was stopped outside the school.

The court heard how Bernard McDonagh drove “furiously” away from the front of the school and ended up driving the wrong way into the market area of the town, coming to halt in heavy traffic and “very narrowly avoiding a collision”.

Mr McDonagh’s 14-year-old son, five-year-old daughter and baby granddaughter were in the car throughout the course of the incident.

Sgt Moloney said the incident was captured on CCTV. He said that the accused had got out of the Avensis, wielding an iron bar along with another man who was holding a machete. The court heard that a third man was also involved in the assault. Sgt Moloney said the men engaged in “frenzied” assault that lasted “26-27 seconds”, damaging the car and causing serious injuries to Bernard McDonagh.

The court was told that the injured man’s 14-year-old son then drove his father to Ennis General Hospital.

Bernard McDonagh suffered multiple injuries including the loss of half of his right ring finger.

Sgt Moloney said the accused was arrested a week after the incident occurred. He said the assault had arisen as a result of a feud between two Traveller families who were closely related. He said the feud was no longer an issue in Ennis as the accused man’s family had since moved to Tullamore.

Counsel for Patrick McDonagh, David Sutton said the accused was a father of three, who had worked parttime in a local garage. He said Patrick McDonagh had made himself available for arrest shortly after the incident, the only one of the three men to do so.

Mr Sutton said the man had since moved to Tullamore and had not been involved in any trouble since then. He said Patrick McDonagh had been “dragged into a family feud”.

Judge Carroll Moran said the accused man’s plea of guilty entitled him to a considerable discount on his sentence.

He added that the accused had not been the “prime mover” in the assault and had been the only one to come forward to “face the music”.

He described the assault as a “fairly savage, frenzied and out of control attack”. He said the presence of three children in the car had not acted as “restraining factor” on the accused and the other two men.

He imposed a five-year sentence with the last two years suspended.

GARDAÍ investigating the theft of thousands of Euro worth of jewellery from a business in Kilrush say the break-in was “well-planned”.

Around € 150,000 worth of jewellery was stolen in the raid at Hartmann’s jewellers on Moore Street last Monday.

According to gardaí, homemade ladders were used to climb a wall at the back of the premises.

Entry was then gained via a small pane of glass by using cutting equipment. Several presentation trays of jewellery, including diamond rings, bracelets, watches and pendants, were stolen in the raid.

“It was well planned. They knew what they were doing. They had to have some knowledge of it. They would have had to know the premises,” said Kilrush Superintendent Gerry Wall.

“We are following a number of lines of enquiry,” he added.

Gardaí say they have not yet ascertained how many people were involved in the break-in to the longstanding business.

Gardaí have appealed to anyone with information to come forward, particularly anyone aware of jewellery being sold.

“We are hoping that the public will come forward, especially if the jewellery is being sold on. The local community may see some of this being sold,” said Supt Wall.

Businesswoman Maria Hartmann, of Hartmann’s jewellery, said she and her husband Michael were shocked to discover the break-in.

“This is a nightmare. It is the worst possible nightmare you could ever wake up to; your livelihood destroyed,” she told Clare FM’s Morn- ing Focus on Friday.

She appealed to anyone with information on the break-in to contact the gardaí.

“Somebody knows something and I’m begging you to do the right thing,” she said.

“This is horrific. This is what we built up over a lifetime,” she said.

Meanwhile, gardaí in Kilrush are also investigating a break-in to a pub in the town last Wednesday. A small sum of cash was taken in the breakin to the premises. Gardaí say they are not ruling out the possibility that both incidents are linked.

A SIXTY-year-old Clare school teacher who pleaded guilty to 14 sexual offences against a teenage girl will be sentenced in July.

In court in January, the defendant admitted 10 charges of the sexual exploitation of a child and four charges of the defilement of a teenage girl between September and November 2009.

The majority of the charges relate to alleged offences at a school in the county. The alleged victim was aged 15 and turned 16 during the period of time in question.

The case was adjourned to yesterday. At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Counsel for the State Stephen Coughlan said, “It’s a sensitive matter. The evidence will be lengthy.”

He suggested that the case be adjourned to the week of July 5 next, for sentencing. However, defence counsel Michael Collins BL said this would cause difficulty for him and he sought an alternative date.

The date of July 18 was fixed for the sentencing, which, the court heard, will take an hour.

The accused was initially brought before the district court in June of last year and was returned for trial to the circuit court, following a lengthy garda investigation.

EIGHTEEN-year-old Alanagh Hunt was the toast of Shannon at the weekend when she scooped the coveted Miss Clare title.

Alanagh was chosen as the winner, amid competition from 12 other hopefuls, at a function in the Queen’s Hotel in Ennis on Friday night.

Alanagh, who was cheered on by her family and friends from Shannon, is no stranger to success, having previously won the Miss UL competition at the University of Limerick, where she is currently studying for an Arts Degree.

Alanagh will now go on to represent Clare in the Miss Universe finals in Dublin on June 10, after the adjudicators – DJ Johnny Hammond, dancer Michael Donnellan, events co-ordinator Dave Shelly and last year’s winner Sinead O’Leary – deemed her to be the winner.

Comedian Danny Dowling compered the event, in front of a huge crowd on the night.

“The night was a great success. There was stiff competition,” said organiser Charlotte Casey.

“Alanagh is an amazing girl. We have no doubt she will do well and do County Clare proud. She has a fabulous personality. She is very bubbly and she is exactly what we are looking for,” she added.

The prizes Alanagh received on the night included clothes and jewellery.

All contestants had their make-up done by Susan Fox, while their hair was done by Ken Bradley on the night.