Category: News

A 30-YEAR-OLD man was arrested in connection with an arson attack on a house near Kilkee in the early hours of Sunday.

A vacant house at Lisdeen, Kilkee, was set alight at around 2am. Substantial damage was caused to the interior of the house, causing damage worth several thousand euro.

A man from west Clare was arrested a short time later. He was detained at Kilrush Garda Station, before being released without charge. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

There was no-one in the house at the time. One unit of Kilkee fire brigade attended the scene. It took firefighters almost two hours to quench the blaze.

Gardaí say they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.

“The house was completely destroyed by smoke inside and we are satisfied it was set on fire maliciously,” said a Garda spokesperson.

“The man we arrested is from the area and is known to gardaí,” added the spokesperson.

Gardaí believe that diesel was used to light the premises.

Separately, gardaí are investigating a fire that caused extensive damage to a forest in Lissycasey on Sunday.

The fire broke out at lunchtime and raged for several hours, before being brought under control at around 8pm. Four units of the fire brigade and a water tanker fought the blaze throughout the evening.

Gardaí are appealing for members of the public who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area on Sunday to contact them.

A CAMPAIGN by two Clare Steiner Schools for official recognition has hit a snag with the news that the Department of Education has been unable to process their application for recognition.

The Department of Education has informed Clare VEC that it is currently not in a position to process the application for recognition of the two primary schools at Raheen Wood School Tuamgraney, Scariff and Mol an Óige, Ennistymon.

The Department has cited technical difficulties in the dual application as the reason for the delay. The difficulty in the process is believed to centre on the issue of Clare VEC serving as patron for both schools.

However Clare VEC believe that the Department have wrongly interpreted the regulations concerning patronage and believe that the organisation is entitled to serve as patron for both Mol an Óige and Raheen Wood.

CEO of Clare VEC, George O’Callaghan, confirmed the delay at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the board.

He said that he would be meeting with Department officials to further discuss the matter.

The Board of Clare VEC had previously accepted a proposal to become conditional patron of the schools provided both received official recognition from the Department of Education.

In order for the application process to be finalised, the schools must first agree to the curriculum as set out by the department.

In the case of Mol an Óige, recognition would allow them to pursue a permanent site for a school building.

“There was some suggestion that there might need to be a change of patron, but it is certainly the case that Clare VEC are entitled to act as patron,” said Cllr Flan Garvey (FF).

THE construction arm of controversial US conglomerate, Halliburton, has withdrawn from plans to construct the €375m Shannon tunnel.

Kellogg Brown & Root Limited (KBR) was part of the “Direct Route” consortium that was identified as having “the most economically advantageous tender” to complete the public-private partnership (PPP) project last year.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) yesterday identified “Direct Route” as the “preferred tenderer” for the project.

Construction work on the scheme – which will involve the construction of a €100 million 900-metre tunnel under the River Shannon – is due to start later this year.

In the toll scheme adopted by the NRA for the project, car drivers are to be charged €1.60 to access the tunnel. Truck-drivers will have to pay €5.46.

This is the biggest infrastructural scheme being undertaken by the NRA outside Dublin.

KBR employs 64,000 people in 43 countries around the world and as part of the Direct Route consortium would have received a portion of the estimated €456 million that would be generated in tolls from the tunnel over the first 30 years of its operation.

The other companies involved in the “Direct Route” consortium include the Austrian company, Strabag AG; John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Limited; Lagan Holdings Limited and Roadbridge Ltd.

The Texas-based Halliburton conglomerate is the biggest private contractor for American forces in Iraq and has received contracts worth some $18 billion dollars for its work there.

US Vice-President, Dick Cheney was chief executive of Halliburton in the five years immediately prior to taking office. He earned €45 million during his tenure at the world’s largest oil-and-gasservices company.

One of the many contracts that Halliburton has secured from the US Government is the €37 million deal to build prison camps in Cuba’s Guantánamo Bay for suspected terrorists. The company has had more than 35 of its contractors killed while working in Iraq.

Irish firm Roughan and O’Donovan has replaced KBR in the tunnel consortium. Construction is expected to take four years.

THE Courts Service has moved to dispel any concerns about the future of court sittings in north Clare.

A spokesperson for the service has said that steps are been taken to find a more suitable venue than than the Teach Ceol premises in Ennistymon, used for district court sittings for more than a decade.

Last week, The Clare People revealed that District Court Judge Joseph Mangan might refuse to sit in Ennistymon after September.

The judge cited cold conditions and poor acoustics as his reasons for his statement.

He said his court sitting at the Teach Ceol in September might be his last and an alternative venue would be required.

“The Courts Service is very aware of the limited facilities available to the court in Ennistymon.

“Court officials are actively involved in securing alternative and improved facilities for the court sittings.

“The regional manager and the chief court clerk for the district have visited several locations in this regard and have made efforts such as contacting the county council and different groups and auctioneers in the area, to see if facilities are available,” said the spokesman.

He said that, currently, there didn’t seem to be “any suitable venue available,” adding that the Courts Service was open to suggestions.

“We will consult with Clare court users in the coming weeks,” he added.

He stressed that this was not part of a plan to move all of the rural courts into the newly-renovated courthouse in Ennis, where both the Ennis and Shannon court sittings currently take place.

“He has gone through the normal

process. The decision was one of the GARDA Pat Keating, who was last Assistant Commissioner,” he said. month acquitted of threatening his Keating, a father-of-one, had deformer girlfriend, has been reinstatnied, during the Circuit Court trial, ed to his duties at Shannon Garda threatening his ex-girlfriend over the station. phone.

Eavan Drysdale told the jury she The 33-year-old, who hails from

felt her life was in danger due to a west Clare, went on trial at Ennis

threat from him. She said he told her Circuit Court, accused of threaten-

on the phone on August 18, 2004 ing mother-of-two Eavan Drysdale,

that she was the next Geraldine Kisover the phone, in August 2004. He

sane – a woman who was shot dead had been suspended from the force

by her ex-boyfriend in Shannon in since the allegations were made.

2001, before he then turned the gun The decision to reinstate him was

on himself. made last week by the Assistant Garda Commissioner in charge of Ms Drysdale said Garda Keating personnel, Catherine Clancy. It is had also phoned her to say: “I’m understood he will return to his dugoing down and you’re going down ties at Shannon Garda station tomorwith me.” row (Wednesday) evening, where he However Garda Keating said the has been based for most of his 10 allegations were “lies” and shattered years in the force. his career and his life.

A source close to Keating told The “She made a promise, going back Clare People that he was “delighted to day one that she was going to deto be returning to Shannon Garda stroy me. Regardless of what hapstation, having been under suspenpens here in court today or any day, sion for the past 19 months.” my career is in ruins.

His colleagues in the Garda Rep “My life is in ruins. She has been resentative Association (GRA) had successful,” he told the court in evicalled for his return to the force, in dence. the wake of the trial. They said it was Arising out of a separate incident, his right, given that he was acquitted Keating will appear before Ennis of the charge before the court. District Court next month, accused

Clare Chief Superintendent Liam of a public order offence in Shannon, Quinn confirmed to The Clare Peoin March 2004. That is a less serious ple this week that Garda Keating charge than that which he faced in had been reinstated. the Circuit Court.

A FIVE-FOUR decision by the members of An Bord Pleanala has saved the former Holywell restaurant building in Ballyvaughan from demolition.

The building will be transformed into a language centre, following the Appeals’ Board overturning of a decision by Clare County Council.

Twice previously, the appeals board had refused planning to Wolfgang and Sibylle Dietls to retain the restaurant, forcing the couple to shut down the business last September and relocate to Ennistymon.

If the board had refused the plan to transform the building into a language centre, Clare County Conncil was set to go into the Circuit Court to demand the demolition of the building.

In explaining its decision, the Board stated that the present proposal to retain the extension for purposes directly related to the main established education/language school use, rather than a new commercial use. They said it would be acceptable in terms of its visual impact and would not set a precedent for further commercial development in this area.

A modified extension will comprise of two classrooms, a study, games room, toilets, kitchen and students’ dining area, all at Newtown, Ballyvaughan.

“We are very happy with the decision and it makes life easier for us. We will be putting in classrooms now into the building,” said Wolfgang Dietl.

In their appeal, the Dietls claimed that a decision to refuse permission would compromise the viability of the entire school and would have the most serious repercussions for the whole of the Holywell venture.

They stated, “The education/language school and restaurant were dependent on each other to make the enterprise financially viable. If the language school is to survive as a stand-alone business, it is crucial for us to have the necessary facilities to increase their student intake.

“Holywell has not only acted as a language school and restaurant, but also as a cultural and social facility for the village which is devoid of such amenities . . . it has hosted concerts, lectures, a film club along with evening classes in languages, computers, traditional music workshops, yoga and creative writing. These unique and educational events are focused at and for the benefit the local population.”

THE Irish Concrete Federation (ICF) has secured High Court judicial review proceedings against Clare County Council’s contentious Development Contribution Scheme.

As a result, a freeze has been imposed on any development charges that the council has imposed on quarry operators who have secured planning permission since the High Court granted the judicial review.

Last month, the council ordered that Whelan Limestone Quarries Ltd pay €239,000, as a result of securing a large-scale extension to its Fountain operation.

The payment is now frozen, though a final decision has yet to be made on the application as all parties have appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

The chief executive of the ICF, John Maguire, confirmed that the Federation had secured High Court judicial review proceedings.

It is the second challenge to planning related issues against Clare County Council in the space of 12 months. Last year, the Whelan Group was successful in a High Court action to have Cahercon pier de-listed on the Clare County Development Plan.

It is understood that the basis for the ICF action is not charges, but the lack of consultation carried out by Clare County Council in establishing the charges.

The ICF is also taking action against Louth County Council on similar grounds.

Grounding affidavits have been lodged with the High Court and the case is expected to come before the High Court before the Summer.

The ICF is expected to tell the High Court that it wasn’t consulted at all by the council on the charges being set. The practice with other local authorities was to provide for a six week consultation period after setting the charges for each sector.

Mr Maguire said that the charges set by Clare County Council in relation to quarries were higher than average, pointing out that a small number of local authorities set no charges against quarries.

The council’s Director for Planning, Bernadette Kinsella, told The Clare People that she could “confirm that the ICF have initiated High Court judicial review proceedings in relation to our Development Contribution Scheme.”

She declined further comment.

UNIONS have told the Polish subcontractor working on the €360 million retrofit at the power station in Moneypoint to consider hiring local workers.

General Secretary of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) Owen Wills said that ZRE Katowicz (Ireland) should consider employing locally to allay fears they were not playing fair.

Last week, the ESB uncovered alleged underpayments to 66 Polish workers working on the retrofit.

The TEEU said the welders and fitters who worked for the sub-contractor ZRE Katowice, received €5.20 per hour, just over a third of the agreed rate of €18.97 per hour.

While the company disputed the figures, it admitted during the week that limited underpayment had been discovered.

The pay irregularities were uncovered when the ESB carried out an internal audit of wages.

The ESB and TEEU have said they will now be keeping a close eye on the sub-contractor to ensure it carries out its commitments to back pay the employees, and continues to pay them the agreed wage.

A spokesperson for the ESB said the company would be re-auditing the payroll in Moneypoint again in the near future.

Meanwhile the union has said that with the continued expansion of the multi million euro retrofit, ZRE Katowice should be able to continue to employ Polish workers and local workers on the same wage.

According to the TEEU, there has been a tradition in West Clare to recruit suitably qualified local labour when refurbishment takes place at the power station.

The union also vowed to continue representing all Polish workers on the site fully.

A spokesperson for the ESB told The Clare People that the retrofit contract, like all contracts of its size, was required to be advertised in the EU journal and employees sought from across the EU.

Meanwhile, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Michéal Martin described last week’s revelation as “unacceptable”.

He said the underpayment of the Polish workers was a “straightforward breach of the law”.

The multi-million euro clean-up currently underway at Moneypoint is necessary to allow the station operate past 2008. The Environmental Protection Agency has set that deadline for the station to drastically cut its levels of pollution.

THE Kilrush RNLI lifeboat was called to a fisherman in distress on Sunday evening.

A woman walking along Beal Beach, on the Kerry side of the Shannon Estuary, spotted the boat in trouble and raised the alarm.

The Kilrush lifeboat launched at 6.15pm and went to the assistance of the 17-foot opendecked angling boat with one person aboard.

The lifeboat escorted the boat to shore, returning to the station at 7.15 pm.

No one was injured in the incident.

“The Kilrush lifeboat proceeded to the area and provided standby assistance to an angling boat from Beal Beach area to Carrigaholt Pier,” a spokesperson for the lifeboat crew said.

The voluntary lifeboat crew on Sunday included, at the helm Ian Lynch, crew Noel Fulham and Charlie Glynn with John Lamb, Lifeboat Operations Manager, in charge of launching operations. Those who assisted on shore were John Kiely and John Lamb.

Press Officer for the Kilrush lifeboat Charles W Glynn again reminded those using boats, or other water bound vessels, to follow all safety procedures. Mr Glynn said to always wear a lifejacket, and do all the simple, but vital checks, including those on the engine and fuel. Always tell others where you are going, and carry some means of calling for help, such as VHF, or mobile phone, the spokesperson warned. He also reminded all sailors to keep an eye on the weather and tides.

CAHERCALLA Community Hospital and Hospice has secured planning permission for a €2.3 million upgrade of its hospital in Ennis.

If funding could be secured, it would mean 10 extra hospice beds and 10 nursing home beds at the 10year-old facility.

The hospital will now look to the statutory agencies including the Health Service Executive (HSE) to help fund the expansion of the services provided at Cahercalla, according to the Chairman of the Directors of the hospital, Fr Harry Bohan.

“Cahercalla provides an invaluable service to the community and we would like the State to look at ways it can help us to fund the new hospice,” said Fr Bohan.

“The population is growing at a huge rate and unfortunately terminal illness has taken some grip in the community. We are all the time looking at ways to expand the facility.

He said that he expected work to commence on the project during the year.

Fr Bohan added that Cahercalla was very unique in that it provided three different services under the one roof: nursing home, day surgery unit and a seven bed hospice.

He said that the ground floor of the new unit would be totally dedicated to hospice care and would consist of 10 large private ensuite bedrooms, a medical room, with a medical Jacuzzi bath where the patient could receive treatment, a sitting room and sleeping facilities for relatives who wanted to be near their relative, a number of rooms for patient activities such as music, reading, painting etc., and a conservatory overlooking the gardens.

Profits at the community-owned hospital dropped dramatically last year in the face of rising costs.

According to accounts recently returned to the Companies Office, Cahercalla recorded a profit of €50,147 last year, in contrast to the €200,533 profit achieved in 2003.

However, the facility’s financial position has dramatically improved in recent years with its accumulated debt being reduced from €888,391 in 2002 to the 2004 figure of €536,630. Cahercalla has a capital reserve of €2.539 million and total appeal fund contributions of €2.125 million.

This has left a positive balance sheet balance of €4.127 million. The accounts show that the hospital’s net income was marginally down from €1.056 million to €1.051 million last year.