Category: News

A FOUR-year-old girl was examined at the sexual assault unit in Galway on Friday, amid allegations that she was assaulted by a man in Shannon.

Gardai in Shannon were alerted to a home in the town last Friday afternoon by a woman, who alleged that the toddler was subjected to a sexual assault.

The young girl, from Shannon, was taken to Galway where she was examined, while gardai launched an investigation into the allegations.

“We are investigating a complaint of alleged sexual impropriety against a four-year-old girl. We are following a certain line of enquiry,” said Superintendent John Kerin.

“A file will be prepared and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions,” added the Garda superintendent.

THE Department of the Environment and Local Government gave strong indications last evening (Monday) that it would sanction new plans for a sewerage scheme for Scariff, Feakle and Quilty.

Responding to a query from Minister for State Tony Killeen, a department official said an informal submission under the controversial Water Pricing Policy for this scheme had been submitted, and showed savings compared to the one refused by the department last December.

The report also showed a marked increase in the number of houses that would require the service.

This reduces the cost per house for this scheme closer to a level which would be acceptable to the department.

This position has been informally communicated to the council and it is now a matter for it to formally submit proposals that would allow the department to approve a budget for the scheme,” the written response stated.

“The department would then be in a position where subject to the submission by the council, of a certificate of completion of planning, it could reach a decision on the council’s Contract Documents.”

Last week, Clare County Council officials told groups from all areas awaiting a sewerage scheme that it would use the Scariff, Feakle, Quilty Scheme as a blueprint for similar schemes throughout the county.

Earlier submissions from the council to the department for the Scariff, Feakle and Quilty Scheme and the Carrigaholt, Labasheeda, Cooraclare Scheme were rejected – on the grounds they were too expensive.

SHANNON Airport had never seen anything like this in its storied history and probably never will again. It had all to do with Taoiseach Charles J Haughey, some pomp and plenty of ceremony.

On December 22, 1987, the crown prince of Fianna Fáil took to the microphone on the Rineanna runway and asked for a round of applause.

It wasn’t for a departing Head of State – that came later on in the reign of the self-titled spirit of the nation, when he met the self-titled spirit of Perestroika, Mikhail Gorbachev on a stopover in Shannon.

Instead, it was for an American bald eagle that got lost over the Atlantic and crash landed in Castleisland. A lone eagle, not unlike the pioneer aviator Charles Lindbergh, who came to Rineanna, as the hub of world aviation was been built.

And the applause rang out for what the Taoiseach called “this magnificent young bird”. The brown-plumed eagle was momentarily taken out of its holding box and ceremoniously handed over to a US government representative, on the steps of the Aer Lingus jet, Saint Colmcille.

The bird played to the gallery, flapping his seven-foot wingspan and almost taking flight again. Charlie dived for cover, but remained unflappable as he spoke to reporters about the bird, which he christened ‘Iolar’.

“I think from every point of view, this is a very auspicious occasion. I know you will all join with me in wishing God speed to our young feathered friend and may his life be happy for many a long year in the wilds of Washington. There is an analogy between Fianna Fáil and the eagle. This young bird is full of strength and vigour,” said the Taoiseach.

THE PRINCIPAL of a Shannon college has lashed back at reports that she failed to refund fees to students, saying that her college has fallen victim to an immigration scam.

Ariston College has been temporarily suspended from the Internationalisation Register of the Department of Education.

Ann Magoufis said that the college, “has suffered by being caught in the middle of an attempt to fraudulently acquire entry visas to the country, by a group of Bangladeshis holding themselves out as students.”

A year ago, the college was invited to Dhaka in Bangladesh, by an educational agent, to interview 150 students who had reputedly expressed an interest in attending Ariston College.

“On foot of what now appears to be fraudulent documentation, the college offered places on its programmes to some 65 students,” the principal said.

“The Bangladeshi agent submitted documentation to the college in support of visa applications to be made by the college to the Department of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of these students. Under the department’s regulations, one of the requirements for a student to be granted a visa is that they must demonstrate that they have paid their fees. The college received full fees from these students in the spring of 2005. The standard practice is that the college holds these fees until a visa is granted or denied.”

After the college year had started, Magoufis was contacted by the the Department of Foreign Affairs and was told that the visas were being denied because “the applications had been supported through extensive use of fraudulent documentation,”

The principal said she was “horrified at the extent of the fraud. It was clear that many of these ‘students’ never wanted to study, but gain entry to Ireland, and thereby the EU, to work. Ariston College has fallen victim to an immigration scam.”

With valid applications being refused alongside the fraudulent ones, Magoufis said, she had no students for that academic year and had “no option” but to hold what would normally be returned to the agent, less visa and administration fees. All funds have now been returned to the students and the college expects to be reinstated on the internationalisation register in the coming weeks.

POLITICIANS have been grilled by airline and airport workers, at a meeting on privatisation plans for Aer Lingus and changes in the Shannon stopover.

Union representatives said those seeking election should be in no doubt that they would be judged on their actions in relation to these issues.

“Too often politicians say they don’t see something as an issue. This was an opportunity for the people closest to these issues to make their opinions known to the politicians,” said Tony Carroll of SIPTU, the union which called the meeting and invited elected representatives and candidates.

He added that those attending “are close to the issues but they are also voters. And they will be active when it comes to voting.”

There was a good turnout at the Great Southern Hotel in Shannon with representation from both the 200 Aer Lingus members and the 500 Aer Rianta workers.

SIPTU is concerned about jobs, pay and conditions in the event of privatisation and the union argues that selling up is not the only way of accessing cash.

“For instance, there is €20 billion being made available under the Transport 21 initiative. Aer Lingus only needs €400m. We say that a State holding company could be set up to allow the airline to access funds without selling up,” said Carroll.

On the ending of the Shannon stopover, the union wants to Government to abandon interim plans, to reduce the number of landings from the US at Shannon from to one in three.

IT is expected that plans will be lodged shortly for a plant that will produce an environmentally-friendly fuel in Shannon.

The plan will lessen the county’s dependence on fossil fuels.

A presentation on Clare’s future energy needs has also been told that wave energy off Clare’s coast has the potential to produce 150 per cent of the county’s current electricity needs and that, by 2015, wind-energy could supply almost 50 per cent of those requirements.

According to the manager of the Limerick Clare Energy Agency, Pat Stephens, it is anticipated that the Shannon-based pilot project will produce 100,000 litres of bio-diesel from pure plant oil each year.

Mr Stephens said that the project had the potential to produce 20 to 40 million litres. The company involved is seeking pre-planning discussions with Clare County Council on the issue.

In a presentation to the council’s Special Policy Committee on the Environment, Mr Stephens pointed out that Clare had no tillage land, nor experience in the tillage of rape seed.

Illustrating Clare’s dependence on fossil fuels, Mr Stephens said that Clare’s motorists consume 210 million litres of petrol and diesel each year. Mr Stephens said that 89 per cent of Clare’s energy needs are met by oil.

“We cannot produce oil, but we can produce electricity from wind, water and solar energy. Clare needs 200MW of electricity for its present needs”.

Mr Stephens said that, by 2015, Clare might have wind-farms producing 87MW of power.

He said that the Clare County Development Plan had targeted to have 20MW of wind-power by 2008.

However, he pointed out that 32MW was already connected through wind-farms at Connolly (19.5MW) and Moanmore, Kilrush (12.6 MW).

Mr Stephens said that 22MW was due to be contracted for connection before the end of 2007. Mr Stephens said that it was estimated that a further 33MW would be connected before 2015.

On the potential for developing electricity from the Atlantic ocean off Clare’s coast, Mr Stephens said that the potential annual output from wave energy was between 30 and 300MW. On the energy that could be developed through energy crops and forestry, Mr Stephens said that Clare had 43,700 hectares of land under forestry, which at 14 per cent was five per cent more than the national average.

FOR 180 years, the McNamaras have been looking after the health of the people of Corofin.

This weekend marked the end of an era, with the retirement of the fourth generation of the family of GPs.

Dr Maccon MacNamara celebrated his retirement with his wife Finola, family, many friends and patients after dedicating 40 years of his life to the welfare of the North Clare village.

The towering, softly spoken doctor took over the Corofin practice from his father Donough, who was preceded by his father George.

The dynasty of doctors in Corofin began with Dr Maccon’s great grandfather Michael in 1826, with every generation there after providing a GP.

Dr Maccon joined the practice in 1966, having graduated from the University College in Galway in 1960. The popular GP had previously attended Corofin National School and later Castleknock College in Dublin, before studying medicine.

“I never considered anything else,” he said.

From a family of four, Maccon’s late eldest brother also chose a career in the medical field.

Maccon’s own six children have decided to carve out careers in other professions, but this is a fact the retiring GP is content about.

For 37 of his 40 years in the Corofin practice, Dr MacNamara ran the practice single-handedly.

“On the upside, patients had 24 hour access to you, 365 days a year,” he told The Clare People .

However, the GP admitted that the long and unpredictable hours meant family and social life could be quite restricted.

When Dr Maccon began practicing in the 1960s, the two surgeries in his dispensary area were primitive. Telecommunications and transport were not as advanced.

“The postman would come and tell you someone was out of medicine, or needed to see you,” explained Dr Maccon.

With the introduction of the public health nurse, a lot of pressure was taken off the local GP.

Three years ago, Dr Maccon purchased the medical centre in Corofin, and has since been joined by a new team of medical experts he describes as “a first division team”.

The doctor is full of praise for his practice nurse, Mary O’Brien, fellow GP Dr Fergus Glynn and secretary Geraldine Cahill.

The retiring GP will stay on in the practice in an advisory capacity.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the patients,” he said.

He is also proud of the camaraderie between the GPs in the county.

KILRUSH Town Council will recognise the town’s unique community spirit when it presents the “Gradaim Ui Rhochainn” awards this Friday at 7 pm.

This year, 17 people and groups are nominated for the award from a cross-section of artist, entertainers, volunteers and community workers.

Among those nominated are Gerardine (Ger) Rush, Toler Street, Kilrush; Antonio Cebas for his work with the Brothers of Charity in Hector St., Kilrush; Breda Roughan, Granatooha, Knockerra, Cooraclare; and Patti Lynch, John St., Kilrush who has not let her battle with Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) deter her from fundraising for the charity DEBRA Ireland. Other nominees include Vincent O’Halloran; Bridín Griffin, O’Gorman St., Kilrush; Saint V.De.P. Society, Shannon Heights, Kilrush; Robert Clancy, Barrack Road, Kilkee and the director of the Hell for Leather school and show, John Fennell.

The organisations and groups short listed for the overall award include the West Clare Dyslexic Support Group, Family Resource Centre, West Clare Women’s Forum, Irish Red Cross Kilrush Branch, and South West Clare Community Radio Ltd./Raidio Corca Baiscinn. The late Úna Coffey of Burton Street, Kilrush has also been included on the list of honours.

Two members of Kilrush Town Council have also been nominated for the award. Cllr Stephen O’Gorman (FF) has been included on the list as has Mary Prendeville and her husband Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF), who as mayor, presented the award last year.

In 1993, the council established the concept of the awards to give public recognition to the great work, commitment and dedication of Cllr. Cissie Roughan, a member of Kilrush Urban District Council from 1980-1991. Last year, the Sisters of Mercy won the town’s highest accolade, for their 150 years dedication to education in the West Clare capital.

A LIMERICK-BASED company has failed in its third attempt to transform the former AIB building in Ennis into a commercial development.

Ennis Town Council has refused Brookvale Construction permission to develop the protected 19th-century building on Bindon Street.

Brookvale had submitted plans to construct retail and other commercial outlets on the extensive site around the building, which is currently occupied by property company, the Munster Group.

The plan was opposed by Oliver Moylan, Chairman of the Clare Association of An Taisce.

“An Taisce is very anxious that the integrity of this whole area be maintained,” he stated, adding that the Brookvale plan was totally at variance with the environmental sensitivity of this part of Ennis.

In refusing permission, the town council found that the proximity, height, scale and extent of the proposed development, at its boundary to the north, would seriously injure the amenity and depreciate the value of the property due to overshadowing.

The council stated that there was no substantial difference between the new proposal and one previously refused by An Bord Pleanála.

It is the third time that Brookvale Construction has been thwarted in its plans to develop the site, since it purchased it from the AIB seven years ago.

Ambitious plans for a 71-bedroom four-star hotel at the location were refused by both Ennis Town Council and An Bord Pleanála.

In 2004, the company lodged plans to construct a pub and restaurant.

However, the plan ran into opposition from An Taisce and prominent Clare personalities, including Reverend Bob Hanna, Martin Linnane and Tony Honan.

Mr Moylan claimed that the development “would destroy the whole character of this unique area in Ennis”.

The plan was passed by Ennis Town Council, but refused by An Bord Pleanála.

A COURT has heard how the “bizarre and intimidating” behaviour of a man led to concern amongst his neighbours in Meelick.

The claims were made by a solicitor representing a man accused of a public order offence, arising out of an incident in the early hours of January 8 last.

Patrick Fitzgerald (50), of Kyleavogher, Meelick, was charged after an incident with his neighbour, Joseph Touchstone.

Mr Touchstone, a member of the army, said he saw the accused “kicking the hell” out of his front gate before 2am.

“He said he was going to run me out of the area. He said to me that I was a sick f*****. He offered me to come down and fight with him,” added Mr Touchstone. Patrick Fitzgerald denied this.

Mr Fitzgerald’s solicitor Daragh Hassett said the accused’s sister used to live beside Mr Touchstone, but sold her house because he made her life a misery.

“You are renowned in the area as a night owl, who doesn’t have curtains in the house, standing in the window late at night, staring out at people on the street. Do you accept that?” asked Mr Hassett.

“I do, with good reason,” replied Mr Touchstone, who also agreed that he played loud music late at night.

Referring to the incident, the solicitor said his client was walking home, when Mr Touchstone stared at him in a “menacing fashion” and started taking photographs of him.

Mr Touchstone denied this but admitted that he “occasionally” videotaped people on the street. He said the reason his light was on at 2am was “to see who might be trying to get me or get to my house. At one stage, I have had a brick thrown through my window.”

Mr Hassett said the witness’ behaviour was “bizarre, unusual and quite intimidating of young people” and that he stared at young girls on the street, calling them “slappers.”

Mr Touchstone said he used that expression on one occasion in the past and it has been held against him since.

Mr Hassett said concerns about Mr Touchstone’s behaviour prompted a special residents meeting to be held.

Garda Eugene Long said Mr Touchstone was hassled by children in the area, due to his “eccentric behaviour.”

Mr Hassett said his client’s behaviour was far short of what would constitute the charge he was facing.

Judge Joseph Mangan said he found the offence proven and adjourned the case for a year.