Category: News

SEVEN men charged in connection with a serious disturbance in Ennis last May will face further charges.

The seven – six of them from Limerick and one from Ennis – were charged following a serious public order incident in the town, in the early hours of May 3 last.

The seven are Alan (20) and Luke (22) O’Brien, of Castleview Estate, Newcastlewest; John O’Brien (18) of 13, Ash Crescent, Newcastlewest; Michael Qulligan (21) of Knockane Road, Newcastlewest; William Kavanagh (18) of 12 Castleview, Newcastlewest; and a young person from Newcastlewest.

The seventh accused is Bernie Mongan (18) of Clancy Park, Ennis. All are charged under the Public Order Act.

Inspector Kevin Moynihan told Ennis District Court last Friday that the charges arose out of a serious disturbance on O’Connell Street, Ennis. “Further charges will be brought,” he said, and asked for an adjournment until next month.

Solicitor Daragh Hassett, who represented a number of the accused men, said some time had elapsed since the alleged incident.

Inspector Moynihan said, “This was a very serious disturbance, which requires a lot of Garda investigations. A lot of resources are involved. We are working as fast as we can.”

Judge Angela Ní Chondúin said, “I appreciate that, but I won’t wait forever.”

Mr Hassett asked that any further charges be brought on the next occasion and Inspector Moynihan said he would be confident that they would be.

CLARE Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen has vowed to hold the Taoiseach to account when the Dáil resumes tomorrow (Wednesday) over comments he made in an interview on local radio last week in which he described the closure of Shannon Airport’s only public bar as “petty.”

Deputy Breen was speaking following last Thursdays interview on Clare FM when Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said that the closure of any service at Shannon should not have anything to do with the airport’s ongoing development.

“Obviously if you have more people you require more services. If there is something petty like that going through I am sure I will hear about it during the day,” the Taoiseach said.

Earlier this month, Shannon Airport confirmed the closure of the airports only public bar “until further notice”. The Shannon Airport Authority said, “The airport has begun to implement a policy of non-replacement of seasonal staff in response to its ongoing financial difficulties. As a consequence, it will not be possible for the foreseeable future to continue operating all the current catering services in the terminal.”

Deputy Pat Breen says he will hold the Taoiseach to account over his comment on the cost-cutting measures being introduced throughout Shannon Airport when the Dáil resumes this week.

“The Taoiseach will attempt to wash his hands of the swingeing cuts taking place at Shannon just as he has with the HSE. The truth is that he heads up the Government, the sole shareholder of the Dublin Airport Authority, and must take responsibility for the savage policies being implemented to reduce the Airport cost base.”

Deputy Breen said that he has met airport workers who informed him that staff numbers were being run down in preparation for the outsourcing of food and drink facilities and critical services at the airport.

“The closure of the Marsh Point and the reduced hours for the Londis shop are the tip of the iceberg. Staff are bracing themselves for the curtailing of opening hours at other profit making ventures such as the Estuary Restaurant and the Duty Free Shop. There is also a clear attempt to shut down the Shannon InFlight catering operation by letting seasonal staff go and keeping airport operational costs artificially high through paying of overtime instead of hiring and keeping the extra staff needed,” Deputy Breen said. MINISTER for Transport, Martin Cullen TD will be at Athenry Station at noon today (Tuesday) to announce the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor, Phase 1, Ennis – Athenry. The line has been disused for passenger services for the last 30 years. Funded under the government’s transport initiative, Transport 21, this historic announcement will see a major investment into public transport for the west of Ireland.

KILKEE has secured a massive coup by persuading Oscar-winning actor, Russell Crowe (left), to participate in the unveiling of a statue dedicated to the late Richard Harris.

The Hollywood star is to take a break from filming in New York to be in Kilkee next Saturday for the unveiling of the life-size statue.

Event organiser, Manuel di Lucia, confirmed yesterday that the star was to attend and sing a song that Crowe penned in memory of Richard Harris.

THE Mayor of Kilrush this week threatened to vacate his office if councillors did not conduct the monthly meeting in an orderly fashion.

In a highly charged meeting, after which one councillor claimed there was “a ploy” to remove the female members from the authority, Mayor Stephen O’ Gorman (FF) told councillors, “If ye don’t follow standards, we won’t have a council or you certainly won’t have me as mayor.”

The mayor made the threat after he refused to allow any further discussion on a proposed amendment to the minutes of the July meeting.

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) had asked that a heated exchange between herself and Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) in July be included.

“Cllr Prendeville referred to matters on traffic management that were not even on the agenda. He also made numerous comments which I felt were personal and, on requesting that he return to the agenda, he continued with his badgering,” Cllr McMahon Jones said.

The Fine Gael councillor was also critical

of the mayor’s handing of that meeting, say ing she requested that he would, “not allow such badgering again, and instead of taking control of the situation he actually added his own views.”

Cllr O’Gorman refused to allow other councillors to comment on the minutes, which were proposed and seconded by Cllr Prendeville and Cllr Tom Clyne (Ind).

In a statement afterwards, Cllr Deirdre Culligan (Ind) said “if the badgering that went on at the July meeting is a ploy to get me or Cllr McMahon Jones out of here, you (Cllr Prendeville) are sadly disillusioned.”

“The day of women being full time in the kitchen is gone and, if you can’t take the heat, I recommend that maybe it should be you that gets out of the kitchen, because I am here for the long haul.”

The councillor, who was not at the July meeting, said she made her apologies in advance.

“That was the time for Cllr Prendeville to state if he had a problem with me, but he decided to wait and speak about me in my absence,” she said.

Cllr Prendeville reacted by saying, “This is typical of the negative attitude adopted by Cllr Culligan since she came into the council. In my opinion, she has contributed little or nothing to the positive development in Kilrush Town Council in the last two years.”

PLANS for a ‘world-class’ €20 million greyhound stadium may not be able to proceed until the completion of the €400 million River Shannon tunnel – in four years time.

This follows the National Roads Authority (NRA) making a submission to Clare County Council stating that the stadium should not be opened until the Shannon tunnel and connecting roads become operational.

In its submission, the NRA state, “The authority requests that all recommendations of the Road Safety Audit (RSA) should be conditioned on the developer and the proposed development should not be opened until the entire N7 Limerick Southern Ring Road, including all ancillary works for Clare and Meelick are fully completed and operational.”

Earlier this year, plans were lodged by the Irish Greyhound Board for the 3,000 capacity stadium with a board spokeswoman anticipating that the facility will be operational by 2008.

However, the NRA puts that timeline in jeopardy now. The Shannon tunnel is the biggest infrastructural scheme being undertaken by the NRA outside the capital and construction work on the scheme is due to commence early next year with a three to four year works programme.

The planned stadium is proposed for a site near the well-known the Two Mile Inn Hotel.

In spite of concerns expressed over the plan by the NRA, Councillor Joe Carey (FG) said that the proposed stadium “could become one of the great sporting success stories of the mid-west region.

“This is a fantastic proposal which will transform the whole greyhound experience for the general public, dog owners and trainers alike in the Clare, Limerick and greater midwest region,” he said.

“The sport of greyhound racing has grown dramatically in modern times with so many people getting involved in dog racing syndicates. The current facility at the Markets Field in Limerick is lagging light years behind such stadiums in Galway and Cork.”

Cllr Carey said that the plans lodged with the council will not only rival stadium facilities in Cork and Galway, but surpass them.

The plan is to construct the five storey stadium and a three storey office building at Meelick and will employ 100 people.

The plan is to also include betting facilities, two restaurants and four bars with a dance floor and function areas.

FURTHER concern has been expressed over the declining number of people living in the centre of Ennis.

The most recent census figures show that the population of Ennis grew by 7. 5 per cent in the period from 2002 to 2006, with the town now home to 10,305 people.

The areas of Ennis defined as rural also grew, in this case by 9.4 per cent.

However census figures also show that the core population has dropped by almost 20 per cent in the past 10 years with the town’s urban population now standing at 5,917 compared to 7,163 a decade ago.

According to Rita McInerney, Chief Executive Officer, Ennis Chamber of Commerce, the decline is a cause for concern.

“Certainly it is a concern and we have a committee together who are looking at the reasons why and seeing what recommendations can be made”.

Increased demand for commercial space is seen as one of the reasons for the fall in population and according to Mrs McInerney the town would benefit more from having an increased core population.

“The figures show there is a great demand for commercial space. It would certainly be better to have certain areas in the centre that were residential.

“The idea of having deserted streets is not ideal.

“ It is important there is a good mix of people in any town, and there are also benefits from a security point of view.”

Meanwhile, there have been calls to install a new lighting system near Clare Abbey.

Plans for a new link road to the Ennis bypass that would pass by the ancient abbey have been lodged with Clare County Council and at the September monthly Executive Meeting of Ennis Chamber of Commerce, one of the items discussed was the potential focus on Clare Abbey.

According to statement from the Chamber, “Clare Abbey will now be much more visible to motorists, both locals and visitors alike. Ennis Chamber believes this is an historic religious structure of high architectural value which should be revered.

“Therefore the chamber is calling on the Office of Public Works to develop a lighting plan in order to give Clare Abbey the attention it deserves.

This will ensure its role as a landmark symbol for Ennis, reflecting the rich heritage and culture the town has to offer.”

THE chairman of the Regional Health Forum West, made up of local representatives from the west of Ireland, including Clare, will have to elect a new chairman later today when it returns from its summer recess.

In a shock move, chairman of the forum, Sligo councillor Aidan Colleary (FF) resigned the chair, the first ever in the history of the HSE to do so.

The HSE west has a history of firsts. It was also the first of these groups ever to meet in the new look health service.

It is unknown why the Fianna Fáil councillor resigned the position mid-term, but he is to remain part of the forum.

He was supported in his nomination to head up the HSE forum by Clare Councillors Pat Daly (FF) and Bill Chambers (FF).

The deputy chair, Cllr Kieran Walsh from Limerick will lead the meeting today, and his first order of business will be to elect a replacement for Colleary.

The Fianna Fáil/Labour coalition in the HSE forum is likely to return another Fianna Fáil councillor to the chair.

The Regional Health Forum, West meetings take place every two months in Galway.

The meetings are marketed as a way for county and town councillors to bring local health issues to the HSE executive.

The other two Clare representatives on the HSE forum are Fine Gael councillor Joe Cooney and Green Party councillor Brian Meaney.

THE chairman of the Clare Association of An Taisce has warned that four large retail parks on the fringes of Ennis will have a negative impact on businesses in the town centre.

Plans for the retail parks are before Clare County Council and An Bord Pleanala. If approved, they could dramatically alter the town’s commercial landscape.

In a submission to Clare County Council, Oliver Moylan said that “if these out-of-town retail centres are allowed to continue, the town centre will be affected. What will happen in the end is the decline of retail shops on the streets and their places will be taken up by solicitors, finance houses, auctioneers and insurance companies”.

There are plans for a €50 million retail park on the Quin Road, a €25 million development at Claureen, Lahinch Road, another park as part of a €50 million development near Clarecastle and another €50 million park on the Clare Road.

“All these will bring about the decline of shopping in the town centre – the consumer choice will be gone. Note, there are five solicitors offices in Parnell Street – fatal for attracting shoppers,” said Mr Moylan, who also operates a business in Ennis town centre.

“In all honesty, do we need another retail park? Are we not overretailed?

“In the Ennis and environs plan 2003, it states that ‘no out-of-town centre retail developments will be allowed unless it can be demonstrated that no other suitable sites are available’. I put it to you that the Ennis area is amply covered in all aspects of retailing, especially with the existing seven centres.

“There are at present virtually seven retail parks in the Ennis area: town centre, Dunnes, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Roslevan and the Lynch proposal for the Limerick Road. I really must ask is there a need for another one?

“There is a population of 110,000 in Clare. Of that, only half come into Ennis to shop. The other half, especially those living in south Clare, go to Limerick to shop.

“That leaves roughly 55,000 to shop in the existing centres. It is an awfully small cake to share out. It is interesting to note that Dunnes Stores has 100,000 square feet of retail space, almost equal to the square footage of the small shops on the three main streets.”

Decisions are due on the retail park applications in the next number of weeks.

IF someone behaves like a ‘lout,’ he should accept that a criminal conviction goes with the territory, according to a judge.

Judge Angela Ní Chondúin made the comment in a public order case, before striking out the charge.

Aidan McCarthy (19), of Clarehill, Clarecastle, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in public, on Abbey Street, on September 1.

Garda Crowley told Ennis District Court that gardaí received a report that a man was walking up O’Connell Street hitting windows and the accused was subsequently arrested.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said the accused, a barman, had no previous convictions and the incident was out of character. She said her client could pay money to the court’s poor box and asked that he be given “one golden opportunity”.

Judge Angela Ní Chondúin said, “I am not mad about the idea of the poor box. I think a criminal record will straighten him up, rather than taking a few hundred euro off him. If you want to behave like a lout and get drunk in public, the criminal conviction comes with the territory. He should know a lot more about drink than others, because he is a barman.”

She then adjourned the case to allow the accused to come up with €300 for the court poor box. The money was later paid in.

“I take it we won’t see him back here again. I am striking it out,” said the judge.

FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny has not ruled out the controversial Hanly Report for Clare, but has warned that the proposed centralisation of hospital services is not based on patients’ needs.

The alternative Taoiseach also warned that the capital development programme for Ennis General Hospital was “a smoke screen” to hide “the fact that the Government does not want to improve services” at the county hospital.

Deputy Kenny said he was concerned that the Government was planning to downgrade services there “in the long run”.

In an interview with The Clare People , the Leader of the Opposition said “no services should be removed from smaller hospitals until there is a genuine alternative in place that would not affect patient care.

“Many of the plans for centralisation of hospital services around the country do not focus on the needs of the patient, but rather appear to be based on cost containment.”

He said the infrastructure for routine transfer of patients over long distances between hospitals was not in place.

“The Government has consistently refused to give any commitment on the future status of Ennis hospital, and there is every reason to be concerned that Fianna Fáil and the PDs want to downgrade it to a local hospital.”

As the country’s politicians prepare to return to the Dáil after their long summer break, Deputy Kenny criticised the Government’s lack of commitment to the Banner County, which he said can be seen from its poor job-creation record.

“New jobs are being created across the country, but Ennis is being left behind. Ennis must not become a dormitory town, with its residents forced to travel elsewhere to work,” he warned.

“Job creation depends on good transport links, and Fine Gael believes the Western Rail Corridor should play an integral role in attracting new employers.”

He said his party sees Shannon Airport as vital to the future of the mid-West and the entire country.

He added that access to the airport was vital to making Shannon an attractive destination for any airline planning to avail of Open Skies, “and if this isn’t prioritised, we will have grass growing on the runway long before 2015.

“Any loss of access to the US will impact on critical US employment in the Shannon area and risks seeing big investors pull out of the West.

“Although discussion on Open Skies has been deferred, should it become a reality, Open Skies will present opportunities for every EU and US airport, including Shannon. Equally, Shannon will face competition from every well-placed European airport, most of which have excellent onward links to almost any other mainland destination. That is why domestic links to Shannon must be prioritised,” he said.

Deputy Kenny outlined how the people of Clare had suffered a decline in quality of life in the last decade.

“The Government has given lipservice to the rights of people to build houses in their own communities, while working against this through planning regulations,” he said.

“Average house prices are up from €69,000 in 1996 (the last full year Fine Gael was in office) to €245,000 at the end of last year making it impossible for many young couples to afford their own home,” he added.

“There are 3157 primary school children in classes of 30 or more, despite Fianna Fail promises.”