Category: News

A MAN who entered Shannon Garda Station “waving” a bread knife pleaded guilty to the offence and had four other charges against him dismissed, at Ennis District Court.

Sergeant James Murphy told the court last Tuesday that Michael Delaney (44), of 16 Elm House, Drungeeley Shannon, entered the public office at the garda station “waving a knife in a threatening manner,” on March 26, 2005.

He said the accused was intoxicated. The garda grabbed his arm and restrained him, before arresting him.

He was convicted of possessing a knife contrary to Section 9 (1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. After being remanded in custody for three days, Mr Delaney appeared before Judge Mangan again last Friday. On that occasion, the defendant was remanded on bail pending preparation of a probation report. He will appear again at Shannon District Court on May 18th next. As part of his bail conditions, he was ordered by the court to abstain from alcohol.

Earlier in the proceedings, Mr Delaney had four charges of breaching barring orders dismissed.

A MAN who threatened he would drive a hatchet through a woman’s head has pleaded guilty to a string of offences at Miltown Malbay District Court.

Bart Russell, with addresses at The Mews, Kilrush Road, Ennis, and Seafield Road, Quilty, is facing the charges, arising out of an incident at Seafield Road, Quilty, on July 15, 2004.

Superintendent Eamon Dolan told the court that as a result of children throwing stones, the accused followed a girl as she cycled past his home.

As a result, she was very distraught and the girl’s mother called to the accused’s home.

“He threatened he would kill her, by driving a hatchet through her forehead,” he said, adding that when gardaí arrived on the scene. Russell then attempted to hit Garda Joe O’Donoghue with the hatchet.

The superintendent told the court that the DPP consented to a summary disposal of the case, in the district court.

Defence solicitor John Casey applied to adjourn the case for two months, saying the accused was due to meet with his psychiatrist the following day. Judge Joseph Mangan agreed, and ordered that a Probation Report be compiled.

Mr Russell is also facing a charge of arson and criminal damage, at Moyglass, Mullagh, on April 18, 2005.

This case was adjourned for preparation of the Book of Evidence.

He will appear in court again next month on those charges.

GARDAI in Clare say they have not received any complaints in relation to the pyramid scheme into which several million euro has been invested across the country.

It is understood that at a meeting in Cork recently, Clare was mooted as a target area in which to set up.

The Clare People has learned that plans were afoot to hold a meeting in Clare at the weekend, with a view to recruiting people. While a Garda spokesman confirmed that gardaí were aware that such a meeting was mooted early last week, no complaints were made.

“We had information that there may have been a meeting at one of the hotels in town [Ennis] early last week but nothing came of it. We did not receive any complaints in relation to it,” he said.

Under the scheme, people are encouraged to invest a sum of money – at least €5,000. They are told that if they introduce two others, they will receive an eight-fold return on their investment. The chain starts to break down when others cannot find investors. The scheme which started in west Cork last year has attracted copious amounts of money.

Gardaí in Cork who are investigating the scam are preparing a file for the DPP on the matter.

A COUNCILLOR has been sent forward to stand trial in the Circuit Court next month in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to Galway County Council.

Cllr. Michael Fahy, who resigned from Fianna Fáil a year and a half ago when this matter first emerged, but who continues to serve as an independent member of Galway County Council, appeared before Kinvara District Court on Monday.

Supt. Paul Mockler told Judge Joseph Mangan that a Book of Evidence had been served.

Fahy, who is pleading not guilty, was remanded on his own bail of €100. He will appear before Galway Circuit Court on April 25.

Fahy, a poll-topper in the last two local elections and a member of Galway County Council for the past 25 years, faces eight charges under the Larceny and Theft and Fraud Offences Acts.

They include allegations that in 2001 and 2002, with intent to defraud, he caused amounts of £5,624 and £7,055 to be paid by Galway County Council. The money was allegedly paid to a fencing company for his own use or benefit for works included in those sums to the value of £748 and £3,702 respectively, in respect of a Community Involvement Scheme approved by the council by falsely pretending that the works had been approved by the council. He is further charged with attempting to dishonestly misappropriate €7,523 from the council in 2003. Another charge alleges he attempted to make personal gain by producing or making use of a document, which to his knowledge was false or misleading.

A MOTHER of four young children from Clarecastle has been jailed for two months after gardaí discovered almost 300 ecstasy tablets concealed in her kitchen.

Margaret Nihill (29), of 5, Lower Clarehill, Clarecastle pleaded guilty Con O’Sullivan (Killarney) pictured taking part in the BoylePoker.Com Irish Poker Tour Munster Open held in the Greenhills Hotel, Limerick on Saturday.

O’Sullivan fought off the attentions of 89 players, including 25 professionals, to win the to possessing the drugs but denied she intended supplying them to others.

Ms Nihill faced three charges in all, two of possession contrary to Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act and one under Section 15 of the same act, of possession for unlawful sale or supply. tournament and walk away with a cheque for

€9,000 and a ticket to the Irish Poker Tour Final

(Citywest, Dublin on June 2nd).

Over €45,000 was paid out in prizes.

Garda Lorraine Mongan gave evidence of obtaining a warrant to search the defendant’s home on May 11, 2005.

She and Detective Garda Seamus McMahon, of the Divisional Drugs Unit, carried out a search of the house along with other gardaí, during which a 295 ecstasy tablets were discovered on top of a press in the kitchen.

A small amount of amphetamine (speed) was also found. Det Gda McMahon told that court that Ms Nihill told him, when interviewed a short time later, that she was “holding the ecstasy tablets for a week for someone to whom she owed a favour.”

Ms Nihill pleaded guilty to the two charges of possession in respect of the ecstasy tablets and amphetamine and was also convicted of possession for unlawful sale or supply.

Judge Mangan sentenced the accused to two months in prison, but fixed recognisance in the event of an appeal.

AER LINGUS staff at Shannon last night agreed to ballot for industrial action to oppose plans to sell the airline.

In a packed meeting at the Great Southern Hotel, almost 150 SIPTU members voted in favour of a motion in favour of holding a “protective ballot”, in the event of the company “moving towards privatisation unilaterally and without agreement on the core issues of concern to the members.”

The members also passed a vote in support of the union’s anti-privatisation campaign.

After the meeting, SIPTU’s Tony Carroll said that the members “expressed serious concern about what the future holds for everyone in a privatisation situation.”

He said the issues that were of greatest concern included job security, rewards and recognition, core numbers and other matters from the central agenda of the business plan.

It is feared that there could be widespread job-cuts after a majority stake in the airline is sold to raise an anticipated €800 million.

This could happen within three months.

For the Shannon staff, a particular issue of concern are work practice changes that would flow from a privatisation.

SIPTU has 200 members in Shannon, mostly in the ground operations and cargo sections.

“We will be going ahead with the ballot from tomorrow (Wednesday) and we would expect to have the result by Friday week,” the SIPTU official said.

The meeting was addressed by Tony Carroll and SIPTU National Secretary, Michael Halpenny.

Last week, 300 Aer Lingus staff at Dublin Airport also agreed to a protective ballot for industrial action.

At that meeting, the Dublin members decided not to allow the airline’s chief executive, Tom Mannion, address them on the planned privatisation of the company.

A union delegation has met with Transport Minister Martin Cullen, who told them that he had directed the State airline’s chief executive to discuss the implications of any planned flotation with them.

SIPTU’s financial advisers have indicated the Government may have to sell up to 60 per cent of the airline and retain a 25 per cent stake.

The remaining 15 per cent is owned by a collective employee share trust.

The developers of a €20 million plan to transform the Ennis skyline must go back to the drawing board if their plan is to receive the go-ahead.

Ennis Town Council has made a 10 page request for further information to applicants, Briarlane Developments Ltd.

Last December, the Galway-based company lodged plans with the council for a mixed use development on the banks of the River Fergus, which would connect to the town centre through the provision of a new pedestrian bridge at the Abbey St car park.

The new proposal – in common with a previous application by Briarlane turned down by An Bord Pleanala last July – seeks a sixstorey apartment block.

The building will be arranged around a central podium. The development also includes a plan to develop a 30-bedroom hotel, 58 apartments, eight commercial units and 238 carparking spaces along with one three-storey and one-two storey block.

However, consulting engineer, Paddy Coleman and Cllr Donal O’Bearra (GP) have expressed concerns over the project.

Now, the council has requested a raft of further information, though appears not to be opposed to the proposed development in principle, as it occupies zoned land adjacent to Ennis town centre.

The Town Council has told the developers that their plan “has the potential to negatively impact on the river ecology and wildlife in the surrounding area”.

In queries listed under ‘traffic’, the council states that visibility at all of the entrances – except one – are severely below the standard required from the National Roads Authority (NRA).

In relation to the impact that the developers have planned for the Harmony Row side of the development, the council says: “The proposal to build a three storey concrete structure on Harmony Row to replace the Protestant parochial single storey is not considered appropriate, owing to its height.

“The council also has serious reservations about the design of the proposed extension to the hotel where it faces Harmony Row as it is incongruous with the street-scape.

The council adds that the proposal to demolish a substantial part of the Abbey hostel, formerly the Club House, appears most inappropriate and will contravene policies pertaining to demolition of protected structures. Such an action would remove a significant portion of the historic fabric of the town.

A decision is expected to be made on the application later this year.

GARDA Pat Keating should know within a week if he is to be reinstated to his post at Shannon Garda station, according to the Garda Representative Association (GRA).

Gda Keating (33) was last week found not guilty of threatening a woman in Shannon, after a four-day trial at Ennis Circuit Court.

Keating is facing a public order charge in the District Court in April, in relation to a separate alleged offence in March 2004.

A source close to the garda said he was keen to return to work in Shannon, where he had been stationed for most of his 10-year career in the force.

The GRA supported Gda Keating during the trial. Its Clare spokesman Gda Tom Keane believes Gda Keating should be allowed to return to work in the short term.

“He has been acquitted. He is not guilty of anything and he has nothing to fear. He has been totally vindicated by a jury of his peers.”

Chief Superintendent Liam Quinn, meanwhile, said the decision on Gda Keating’s future rested with the Assistant Commissioner in charge of personnel, Catherine Clancy.

“There is a process to be followed and that is in train. I expect a decision will be made in the short term,” said Chief Supt Quinn. He said there was no general trend in such cases, as the Gda Keating situation was “most unusual”.

“A decision to suspend a garda is made by the Commissioner and is made on the circumstances surrounding a particular case,” he said.

Gda Keating has been suspended since allegations were made against him by his former girlfriend Eavan Drysdale in August 2004. He was acquitted of the charge of threatening her.

The case he is facing in the District Court is a more minor charge, one of engaging in offensive conduct in March 2004, an allegation which did not result in him being suspended.

A 19-year old Ennis man with 30 previous convictions is using his time in jail to try to clean up his act, a court heard.

Mark McCarthy of Millbrook House in Ennis pleaded guilty before Ennis District Court to stealing bottles of spirits worth a total of €110 from Knox’s bar on July 18 and 19 last.

The defendant’s solicitors, Ms Tara Godfrey, told Judge Mangan that McCarthy has had a serious drink problem since he was 15 years old.

When he stole the drink “he was on a binge drinking spree”, Ms Godfrey said.

But she added that he is currently serving a twelve-month jail sentence “and he is committed to using that time to wipe his slate clean.

“He is seeing a psychiatrist and he is using this time to get free of his addictions and get his health and his life back,” said Ms Godfrey.

The court heard that the stolen drinks were not recovered.

Judge Mangan sentenced McCarthy to a further two months in jail for the offences.

THE Clare GAA board will, in the next week, begin discussions with a number of property magnates who have made submissions to develop a new GAA headquarters for the county.

The Clare People can reveal that the board received 10 submissions from developers.

These submissions were tabled before the cut-off date of March 1 and offers include bids by parties from inside and outside the county.

The county board is remaining tight-lipped on the impending negotiations.

But sources have revealed that competition amongst property developers to secure Cusack Park has been unprecedented over the past month.

“There has been a great response and now the board will be sitting down to meet interested parties over the next month to see what avenue it will go down with Cusack Park. Then a document will be prepared for the clubs in April,” a county board source told The Clare People .

It’s understood that the submissions were made directly by property developers, or by auctioneers, estate agents and solicitors acting for property developers.

Developmental interest in Cusack Park was sparked by a survey by The Clare People , which revealed that 78 per cent of club chairmen in the county were in favour of selling the county grounds and building a new stadium in the environs of Ennis. This represents an overwhelming endorsement for cashing in on what has been described as “the jewel in Clare’s GAA crown” in the same year as the county gears up to commemorate Michael Cusack on the 100th anniversary of his death.

The first hints that Cusack Park could be sold came at the Clare GAA convention in December, when board chairman, Michael McDonagh, said that “we might have to develop a new stadium”.

The first bid for Cusack Park was made by a consortium involving businessmen Bernard McNamara, Sean Lyne and Noel Connellan.

In a €30 million proposal, they pledged to build a new state-ofthe-art Cusack Park on the Quin Road, in exchange for the existing ground.

The Clare People understands that the other high-profile submission has been made by Michael Lynch & Company.

The company has pledged to develop a stadium, also on the Quin Road, in return for Cusack Park.

Meanwhile, just as speculation about Cusack Park mounts, the county board has received full planning permission to develop two grass pitches and dressing rooms at the 70 acres it bought in Caherloghan in Tulla.