Category: News

A COURT has heard that gardaí were astonished that no-one was injured, as a result of the erratic driving of a drunk man.

Nigerian native Clement Odeh, with an address at Westwood, Ennis, pleaded guilty to two charges of dangerous driving and one charge of drink driving, arising out of an incident in Ennis on the evening of May 16 last.

Garda Francis Corey told Ennis District Court the accused drove towards Ennis, from the Lahinch Road direction.

He turned left at the Maid of Erin roundabout, before crossing a continuous white line in the direction of a Mercedes car, before he pulled back in.

Odeh continued driving, turned left at Shiel’s garage and towards the junction leading to Lee’s Road. He lost control of his car at one stage.

“All of the time a member of the public was following him and at the same time was on the phone to the Garda station,” said Gda Corey.

The garda arrived on the scene and asked Odeh to get out of the car.

“His driving was very bad… He staggered out of the car. He was very drunk,” said the garda.

He said the erratic manner in which the accused drove, and not the speed, was the issue.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said this was a ‘really bad case of driving.’

“He was very heavily intoxicated. It was a mystery he didn’t hit another car or person,” he said.

“I am astonished by the seriousness of this. He is facing two charges of dangerous driving. He could possibly be facing more charges,” added the inspector.

Analysis of a sample of breath produced by the defendant showed a concentration of 90 mgms of alcohol.

Defending solicitor William Cahir said his client, a father-of-two, moved to Ireland in 2004.

“He accepts he was heavily intoxicated. He accepts the manner in which he was driving was dangerous to the public. There was no mention of excessive speed,” said Mr Cahir.

Judge Mangan adjourned the case for three months, and ordered that a probation report be compiled.

“I don’t want him driving between now and the time this comes back to court,” said the judge. He agreed to a request by Mr Cahir to allow the ban to take effect on August 5.

PLANS for a €40 million housing development in Kilkee are facing opposition from across the west Clare resort.

Earlier this year, plans were lodged for 196 homes by Colm Kennedy, Noel Gallivan and James Rael for Kilkee Upper.

The three developers are seeking full planning permission for 116 homes and outline planning permission for 80 homes. The plan also includes the construction of a childcare facility and nursing home.

However, the plan has attracted 24 separate objections. In their objection, Jackie and Joseph Haugh said that: “Were this development to go ahead, it would be a social, environmental and economic disaster of epic proportion for Kilkee.”

In his objection, local businessman, Brian Melican said: “I live on the Dunlicky Road just a few hundred yards away from this development and we can smell the raw sewage from where it is being pumped into the sea.

“Adding more to this will destroy our beach, which is the biggest attraction in Kilkee.

Estimating that there were 1,000 holiday homes in Kilkee, Mr Melican asked “will someone in the council wake up and call a halt. We have a beautiful place but we have to protect it. Enough damage has been done. Leave it at that.

“The heart of our town is dying. Let’s rejuvenate that and don’t mind filling our green fields with houses.”

In her objection, Aida O’Kennedy claims that the proposal will only add to Kilkee’s traffic chaos and result in more sewage going into the bay.

An objection lodged by Daniel Noel Gleeson states that “as the population of Kilkee has been falling, it is clear that there is no market for permanent residences”.

Mr Gleeson said that satisfying the demand for holiday homes and apartments “will ruin this town”.

Mr Gleeson also expressed his fear over the impact that the proposed development could have on Kilkee’s Cliff Walk. He said: “This would be most disadvantageous to Kilkee.”

He added: “The enlargement of Kilkee will overload beyond its capacity, remove the character of the seaside fishing village and proliferation of holiday homes and when the economy hits a troubled spot, will result in attracting a troublesome element to Kilkee.”

A decision is due on the application next month.

IN RESPONSE to a growing number of collisions involving surfers in the water, Clare County Council is to erect signage displaying a ‘safecross-code’ for surfers at a number of Clare’s beaches.

With surfing becoming increasingly popular, the council’s Water Safety Officer, Liam Griffin confirmed that the council would be putting in place the signage at Clare’s Blue Flag beaches, Lahinch and Fanore.

Mr Griffin said, “There have been a couple on incidents lately of surfers colliding with each other in the water with one incident occurring where one surfer suffered a bad foot injury.

“A number of surfers wouldn’t have a clue on what to do in the water. It is a wonderful sport, but it can be dangerous for beach users if a surfer doesn’t know the basics.

“It is becoming more and more common for lifeguards to rescue surfers as some of them are very poor swimmers.”

Tom Buckley of the Lahinch Surf Shop and the West Coast Surf Club first called on the council to erect such signage three years ago.

He said, “There is a need to erect a ‘safe cross code’ at the surfing beaches.

“With each board that we sell, we also provide safety instructions for surfers on the water.

“We would be delighted to see the signage erected.”

Ennis surfer Brian Nevin was injured at Lahinch in a collision last Tuesday, needing hospital treatment and seven stitches to a bad gash on his left foot.

He told The Clare People , “Mine was a small injury, but I feel that it is only a matter of time before somebody is seriously injured and even killed in the water.”

“Not wanting to sound dramatic but surfboards can weigh up to 10kg in weight and conceivably reach speeds of 15km and 20km per hour. This can definitely cause serious injury.

“From my experience some water users are just not paying any heed to other water users.

“I don’t know why this is, maybe people are just not educated in the ways of safe water use.

Describing the incident, Mr Nevin said, “I had travelled about three or four metres when I noticed another surfer getting to his feet.

“I shouted to him that I ‘was on it’ but he either didn’t care or didn’t hear.

“The top of his board collided with my foot and he fell off, I continued along the wave but noticed blood on my board so I got out of the water.”

THE jury in the trial of five antiwar protesters accused of criminally damaging a US aeroplane at Shannon Airport was sent to a hotel last night, after it failed to reach a verdict.

The jury, which deliberated for four hours yesterday, is expected to resume deliberations this morning at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The five accused have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval plane, property of the United States Government and to glass door panels, property of Aer Rianta at Shannon Airport, Clare on February 3, 2003.

They are Ciaron O’Reilly (46), an Australian national, Nuin Dunlop (34), a US citizen and counsellor, Damien Moran (26), Karen Fallon (35), a Scottish marine biologist, all of Rialto Cottages, Rialto; and Deirdre Clancy (36), a copy editor of Alverno Apartments, Clontarf.

The jury has been told that a garda was on duty in the hangar at 3.45 am when five people came running in carrying hammers and an axe or mattock.

Evidence was given that they were shouting “words of God” and went to the front, side and rear of the aircraft using the items to hit the plane. They then knelt in a circle and prayed until gardaí arrived to arrest them.

Copies of the Bible and Koran, Rosary and Islamic prayer beads, candles, flowers, St Bridget’s crosses and photographs of distressed children were among the items found at the scene in the form of a shrine at the doors to the hangar.

One of the accused, Nuin Dunlop, told the jury she “had a pretty good idea” that she might be arrested.

Ms Dunlop denied that her actions were political and calculated to draw attention to activities at Shannon. She also denied that she and her co-accused had anticipated that they would be brought to trial and looked forward to it.

Another of the accused, Karen Fallon told the jury she believed that her actions saved lives. When asked if the placement of a shrine outside the airport hangar was a stunt to gain publicity, she said,

“Not at all. It was a commemoration for the dead.”

Ciaron O’Reilly said he decided to take direct action at the airport to “non-violently disarm the war machine deploying from Shannon” and “enact the prophesies of Isaiah to beat our swords into ploughshares and study war no more”.

AS the population of Ennis town has increased by as much as 7.5 per cent in the last four years, its town council is now proposing to extend the town’s boundary.

A management committee has been set up by the local authority to investigate the possibility of extending the boundary of the county town.

Clare County Councillor Tommy Brennan (FF), who is also a member of the town council, proposed that the town be extended to the Ennis by-pass. This would make a natural boundary, he said. Such a move would not affect Clarecastle, which is anxious to hold on to its own identity.

“I proposed the extension because there is no land within the boundary for building on,” he added.

Fine Gael County Councillor Joe Carey said that any proposals to extend the boundary “are at embryonic stage”. The Clarecastle councillor said he understood that there are a number of houses in Bandon Lane that do not have a vote in the town council while their neighbours do. He said that a change might help resolve this situation.

“We don’t know what has been proposed yet. We haven’t been furnished with specific details, but it will be given due and proper consideration when it comes before the area meeting of the council,” he said.

The current town boundary extends as far as the turn for Ballyalla, past the West County on the Clare Road, past the Golf links on the Miltown Malbay Road, beyond O’Sullivan and Hansbury on the Kilrush Road and as far as Hill Crest housing estate on the Tulla Road.

Raising the issue at a meeting of Councillors in the Ennis area, Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) requested a timeframe be put in place to outline when the extension would take place. Director of Services Tom Coughlan informed the meeting that a special internal working committee had been set up.

The committee would prepare a report, he said, and come back to the elected memebers of both Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council. Cllr Joe Carey (FG) said that any proposed extension would have to take into account the “culture of Clarecastle and preserve the village’s identity”

GARDAÍ have appealed to a court to impose strict bail conditions on a man who allegedly exposed himself in front of schoolgirls in Shannon.

The 29-year-old Shannon man is accused of three charges of indecency, arising out of two alleged incidents outside schools in Shannon and another at a housing estate.

It is alleged he exposed himself in front of primary school students at St Senan’s national school, Shannon, on June 24, 2004. He is also alleged to have exposed himself in front of a nine-year-old girl, at Dún an Óir, Shannon, on June 21, 2005.

A third charge relates to an alleged incident at St Tola’s national school, Shannon, on September 13, 2005, when it is a alleged he exposed himself to a female person.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Shannon District Court that gardaí in Shannon were concerned about the accused’s ongoing behaviour.

“Unfortunately the incidents have been happening during the day,” he said.

Judge Joseph Mangan asked whether incidents occur recently.

The inspector said there were recent complaints, and gardaí in Shannon felt the accused was not taking the matter seriously enough.

Defending solicitor Gearóid Howard pointed out that there were no charges in relation to recent incidents before the court.

Sergeant-in-charge of Shannon Garda Station, Sgt Dermot O’Connor said, “There is a concern with the defendant’s behaviour in Shannon at the moment. There are two incidents under investigation . . . similar to what is before the court.

“We would be dealing with daylight hours and alcohol is not a factor,” added Sgt O’Connor.

Mr Howard said his client “needs treatment and he needs it badly.”

He said various reports which were compiled – including psychiatrist and psychological reports and a report from the Grenada Institute for sex offenders – suggested that the accused was not a candidate for jail.

Inspector Kennedy said the accused tended to “hang around Shannon Town Centre. We are looking to have him confined from that.”

Judge Joseph Mangan remanded the accused on bail, on a number of conditions. These included that he not loiter alone in Shannon Town Centre and that he be confined to his home, when not working. If he was to leave his home, he must do so with a named member of his family.

He adjourned the case until later this year.

A SHANNON mother facing four charges of attempted murder was yesterday granted bail, in the High Court.

Agnes O’Shaughnessy (27), of 12 Purcell Park, Shannon, is charged with the attempted murder of her husband George, her twin boys Lee and Evan Hickey (aged seven) and her three-year-old daughter Sophie O’Shaughnessy, at the family home, on September 25, 2005. She was charged last Thursday week and brought before a sitting of Shannon District Court that day, where she was remanded in custody.

She re-appeared before Shannon District Court last Thursday, where she was remanded in custody, to appear before Ennis District Court later this week. However, a bail application by her legal team, before the High Court in Dublin yesterday (Monday), was successful.

Ms O’Shaughnessy was released on her own bail of €1,000, along with an independent surety of €5,000. She is to reside at her home, at 12 Purcell Park, Shannon.

At the court hearing last Thursday week, the accused was granted free legal aid.

On that occasion Inspector Tom Kennedy said that because of the seriousness of the charges, bail could not be granted in the District Court and Judge Joseph Mangan remanded the accused in custody.

THE 13-member traveller family that moved onto the Ennis residence of the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, without his permission have moved off his property.

The move by the Molloy family to alternative accommodation at Clare County Council’s 16-bay emergency halting site outside Ennis came as gardaí confirmed yesterday that two formal complaints were received over the presence of the Molloys from residents living at the Bishop’s Court estate.

Speaking to The Clare People , Dr Walsh said yesterday that he was aware of at least one formal complaint to the Garda during the stay of the Molloys.

The family moved on to the Bishop’s Westbourne property in May while Dr Walsh was away and defied his request to move off the property.

Dr Walsh said, “I’m glad that the family has got somewhere. I like to do what I can, but obviously, my neighbours have rights too. A previous traveller family stayed on the grounds here for one and a half years and I didn’t receive any complaint.”

He added, “I’m happy that the council can provide for the family. It is a serious issue as there are 11 children there.”

The family’s two caravans are now in situ at the council’s emergency halting site on the Quin Road outside Ennis.

A spokesman at Ennis Garda Station said that two complaints were received from Bishop’s Court residents on July 7 and 9.

He said, “One complaint related to young lads scaling the walls of private properties, while the second related to a fire being lit in the grounds of the bishop’s and smoke blowing into the back gardens of the Bishop’s Court residences causing smoke damage to clothes.”

Dr Walsh confirmed he met with residents of Bishop’s Court over concerns they had on the difficulties been caused by the Molloys.

The Molloys had stayed at the Bishop’s residence for a number of months in the late 1990s and set up camp last May after returning from the UK.

The family moved to the UK after abandoning a council home they purchased through the Shared Ownership Scheme. The house remains unoccupied. The family did not want to return to the home as they believed they would get no peace there.

ONE OF Lahinch’s oldest pubs has been issued with a seven day closure order, after being convicted for permitting disorderly conduct on the premises.

Sergeant Michael Gallery told Lisdoonvarna District Court that he was on duty outside Flanagan’s bar, Main Street, Lahinch, at 11.55pm on July 30, 2005.

He said there was a very large group of people outside the premises and he had difficulty getting through the crowd. The main door of the pub was closed.

“The bar was packed. There were people upstairs and downstairs. People were carrying glasses up and down the stairs,” said Sgt Gallery.

He said there were 65 people upstairs and the licencee Olan O’Connor told him he wouldn’t let anyone else in.

Defending solicitor Michael Petty said his client had no difficulty with what the garda said.

He said the premises, one of the oldest in the town, was very well run.

Mr Petty said there was a licence to sell drink downstairs and that the ‘modus operandi’ was to take drink upstairs. “Everything is now in order. I have a fire certificate, to cover upstairs”.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a fine of €2,000 and ordered a seven day closure, to take effect after 30 days. He fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.

A TEENAGER charged with dangerous driving causing the death of two Kilkee teenagers almost three years ago is to be extradited back to Ireland from the UK today (Tuesday).

Galway native David Naughton (18) is to appear before Kilrush District Court tomorrow, in connection with an execution of a bench warrant for his arrest, which is outstanding since he absconded in February 2004.

He is accused of dangerous driving causing the deaths of Stacey Haugh (16) and Lorna Mahony (13), at Moyarta, Carrigaholt, on October 17, 2003.

Mr Naughton absconded while on bail for the charge of dangerous driving causing the deaths of the young Kilkee pair.

He was apprehended by the authorities in London in March.

Mr Naughton was jailed in London last April for offences committed in England while on the run from the courts here and was due to be released yesterday. Gardaí have now travelled to London with a European Arrest Warrant and are expected to return to Ireland later today with the teenager.

At the time of the crash, Mr Naughton was living in Westside House, a unit for homeless adolescents in Galway city, where residents are allowed to leave the unit unaccompanied.

He first appeared in court in Ennis on October 24, 2003, a week after the fatal crash.

Mr Naughton, who was 16 at the time, was remanded in custody to St Patrick’s Institution in Dublin, but was granted bail at his next hearing. He was later returned to St Patrick’s for breaching his bail conditions, but was again released after telling a court that he had been assaulted by other inmates while in custody. Soon afterwards, he fled to England.

A bench warrant for his arrest was issued at Ennis District Court when he failed to appear for a hearing in February 2004. It was the following May, when he first came to the attention of police in the UK, that it was confirmed he had fled to England.

The book of evidence has yet to be served in the case relating to the deaths of the two girls. It is expected it will be served prior to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court in October.

However, with the current backlog of criminal cases, it is unclear whether the case will be heard in 2006.