Category: News

GARDAI investigating a robbery of a shop in Shannon last week have recovered a safe which was stolen in the raid, in the Silvermines in north Tipperary.

The Mace shop in Ballycasey was targeted by raiders between 11pm last Monday night and 6am on Tuesday morning. €13,000 in cash, contained in a safe, and a substantial quantity of cigarettes were stolen in the incident.

After gaining entry to the premises, the intruders disabled the alarm system.

Shannon gardai were investigating the possibility that phone lines in the area were cut by the raiders, while they were disabling the alarm system. It’s believed they removed a manhole cover and cut underground cables.

Several homes and businesses in the area were left without phone lines for a number of hours following the raid.

A garda spokesman confirmed to The Clare People that garda enquiries into the raid are ongoing.

“The safe that was stolen has been found in the Silvermines in Tipperary, and contained some paperwork. However, none of the money was recovered,” said the spokesman.

This latest robbery follows raids on two shops in Shannon late last year.

The Londis store in Delacey Park was targeted by a man armed with a gun, who escaped with more than €600 in cash, while a shop in Aidan Park was also robbed.

Gardai cannot say, at this stage, if the robberies are linked. Shannon gardai are continuing to appeal for information and can be contacted on (061) 361212.

ENNIS Hospital is encountering additional pressure on bed space due to a new policy of allowing people with alcohol-related problems to detox in the hospital’s wards.

Last week, The Clare People revealed that the highest proportion of admissions to Ennis’s psychiatric unit in 2004 was people with alcohol-related problems.

The figures supplied by the Health Research Board show that people with alcohol disorders accounted for 22.5 per cent, or 134 of the 597 admissions to the acute psychiatric unit in Ennis.

However, arising from a new policy put in place by the Health Service Executive (HSE), those people with alcohol-related problems are now being admitted to Ennis Hospital instead of the psychiatric unit.

Already, the Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO) has complained this year of overcrowding at the hospital and a hospital spokeswoman said that the policy of admitting people with alcohol problems is adding to the pressure on bed space.

She told The Clare People : “of course it adds to the pressure on beds as every new referral does, but we are dealing with it as we have to.”

She added that those admitted are cared for in the hospital’s wards, while an out-patient service is also provided. The spokeswoman said that psychiatrists also attend those presenting with alcohol problems at Ennis Hospital. The admissions are made to Ennis Hospital through GP, or self-referrals.

Consultant psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee said that the change in policy has freed up much needed bed space in the psychiatric unit. However, he added: “there is still pressure on beds on the acute unit.”

Dr Bhamjee said that the next report by the Health Research Board will show a very large decrease in people presenting with drink problems at the acute unit.

However, Dr Bhamjee said he has “personal reservations” over the new policy.

“The patients are not kept as long in the medical wards as they would be in the psychiatric wards. Also, the psychiatric staff would have built up a relationship with a number of the patients over a number of years,” he said.

Dr Bhamjee said that after detoxing in the medical wards, or as out-patients, patients are then referred to the Bushy Park Treatment Centre, addiction courses, or the local office of Sláinte.

On the 13 or 2.2 per cent admitted for eating disorders to the acute psychiatric unit in 2004, Dr Bhamjee said that the vast majority would be suffering from anorexia and that the age-profile of those being admitted with the condition is lowering all the time.

CLARE County Council voted against the advice of the County Manager in excluding a controversial pier from the record of protected structures (RPS) last night.

Members voted 16 to 14, with Cllr Joe Carey abstaining, to exclude Ininishmurry Pier, Cahercon from the (RPS).

Long time campaigner for the conservation of the pier, PRO for Cairde Chill an Disirt Ltd, Terence Corry said he was disappointed with the outcome of the council vote, but vowed to “keep up the struggle”.

“The pier has been eroded over years and that has been acknowledged in the manager’s report,” he told The Clare People .

“We need to have it (the pier) as a protected structure.”

The West Clare pier, which is owned by Clare County Council but leased by CW Shipping, has been at the centre of a number of local controversies over the years.

In February 2005 the council included the pier in the Record of Protected Structures. CW Shipping challenged this decision to the High Court and the issue went before the public last September.

The issue captured the attention of the whole community, with 145 submissions on the issues received by the council.

Those in favour of including the pier on the list of protected structures argued that the pier was a unique part of the maritime history of the area, and asked that it be “restored” to its original state. Those who are not in favour of changing the status of the pier believe the inclusion could risk the future of development and employment in the area.

Last night the county manager told the council, in front of a packed public gallery, “on balance the pier should be included in the Record of Protected Structures.”

In his report to the council the manager said the inclusion of the pier in the RPS would not “place undue constraints upon the incorporation of the structure into the future economic development of the site or general area.”

Kildysart County Councillor Oliver Garry (FG) proposed the pier be listed.

The ensuing debate became quiet heated amid allegations of two documents contradicting each other on the same issue being on file in the council’s offices.

County Manager Alex Fleming said as far as he was aware, the allegations made by Cllr Tom Prenderville (FF) referred to an employee that worked in a private capacity for an individual as far back as 1999 before any development plan.

Mayor Pat Keane adjourned proceedings for 10 minutes to allow Cllr Prenderville show the documents and/ or explain his comments to other councillors. When the council returned it voted to reject Cllr Garry’s proposal after some more debate.

The public gallery was as divided as the council, with some members of the public leaving disappointed, while others said simply “smiles all round, smiles all round”.

THE number of suicides in Clare last year was half the 2004 figure.

Provisional figures obtained by The Clare People show ten suspected suicides in 2005, compared to the previous year’s total of 20.

The provisional number is the lowest total in five years – there were 13 suicides in 2003, 12 in 2002 and 13 in 2001.

All the victims last year were male and nine were single, with the tenth married, but separated. The figures show that men under the age of thirty are most at risk with five taking their own lives.

The next largest grouping are those aged over fifty with three taking their own lives.

There was one person under the age of 20, one in his thirties and one in his forties.

The deaths of two other people who lost their lives in the River Fergus last year remained “unexplained” and cannot be categorised as suicide.

Last year was the first time in a number of years when no suicide took place at the Cliffs of Moher. In 2004, four people lost their lives at the Cliffs.

Two men took their lives over the recent holiday period. However, from July to December no suicide took place in the county.

The figures also show that the largest proportion of suicides took place in rural parts of west Clare.

In response to the figures, consultant psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee told The Clare People : “the drop in confirmed suicides is a good sign, but we cannot be complacent and it is too early to identify a trend.

Dr Bhamjee added: “suicides have traditionally been underreported, while I would be very concerned at the number of single men under the age of 30 that have taken their lives.

“Anyone that is feeling suicidal should contact the Samaritans who are available 24 hours a day.”

Dr Bhamjee said that he was not surprised that all the suspected suicides were males last year. He said: “the normal ratio is four to one in favour of males.”

West Clare-based councillor, Tom Prendeville said that the largest proportion of victims coming from west Clare doesn’t come as a surprise as the area is a disadvantaged area.

“One suicide is too much and it is an area that we need to look at even further in terms of education and awareness that would allow early intervention,” he said.

CLARE FM’s profits have dropped by almost a fifth, partly because of rising staff costs, according to figures recently supplied to the Companies Office.

To the end of 2004, Clare FM secured a profit of €92,000, which was €21,000, or 18.5 per cent, down on 2003. Turnover increased during the period, to €1,505,000, but so did costs. The figures also show that the station secured €1.505 million in advertising revenue in 2004, up on the 2003 figure. Staff numbers increased by one to 34, and costs by 11 per cent, from €660,000 to €734,000. The station’s managing director, Liam O’Shea was appointed to the Board during 2004 and has the second largest number of shares held by a member (20,365). The board member with the highest number of shares is Michael Evans, with 30,000.

Clare FM’s drop in profits coincided with a drop in market share and listenership in 2004. Figures published in August of that year show that listenership had dropped 7 per cent. However, the most recent figures show that market share increased by 5 per cent. And the station’s long-term future is secure after it obtained a 10-year licence from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) in 2002. Clare FM – which started broadcasting in 1989 – was sole applicant for the continuation of the licence.

Meanwhile, the station yesterday launched a new opt-out service for south-east Clare, Clare FM 2, in a bid to secure more listeners. This involves the return of Ger Sweeney to present an afternoon country music show, initially for three hours per day.

Commenting on the new service, Clare FM’s Managing Director Liam O’Shea said: “this is hugely exciting for us as a company. We have always wanted to provide diversity of programming for our listeners and with our new state of the art Studio in Shannon we now have that opportunity.

“Our listeners in the South East of the county will be the first to experience this diversity, although any of our listeners in other parts of the county who can pick-up 95.9Mhz on their radios will also be able to tune in.”

THE provision of a hostel for homeless people sleeping rough in Clare is the priority for the newly appointed outreach officer with St Vincent de Paul.

Sandra Cox has recently taken up the post, which will see her providing support for homeless people across the county.

The Homeless Forum in Clare has said the lack of supported hostel accommodation is a major problem, in meeting the needs of the homeless.

Ms Cox, who has previously worked with the homeless in Limerick, will have a tough task ahead of her in Clare, where the number of homeless people has doubled in just two years. More than 500 people reported as homeless to the local authorities in Clare last year and Ms Cox is the first ever Outreach Officer for St Vincent de Paul in the county. Her role will be to focus on those who find themselves homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, amid difficulty acquiring a site for a hostel for the homeless.

A particular accommodation, on the outskirts of Ennis, which would provide an emergency home for 20 men, has been identified by St Vincent de Paul as suitable, but this has yet to be agreed by the relevant authorities.

“There have been three deaths in Ennis – on the streets – in the space of six years. Nobody is working with that group at the moment,” she said. “We are provided supported housing for people, by placing them in B & Bs, which is unsuitable. St Vincent de Paul is hoping to acquire houses, to be used as temporary accommodation, rather than B & Bs”.

Comparing the situation with Limerick, Ms Cox said, “Limerick is more advanced in that there is a homeless peoples’ unit and three hostels in Limerick.”

Clare people are currently referred to hostels in Galway and Limerick, but this is not satisfactory.

“People don’t necessarily want to go to Limerick or Galway. They want to stay in the area they are familiar with,” she said.

She believes people find themselves on the streets due to a variety of problems and issues, including domestic violence, alcohol and mental health issues and various family problems.

“They tend to be young males, between the ages of 18 and 25 and they are generally more town-based. You get a culture of people drinking on the streets over a period of time and they get used to it,” she added.

Anyone with queries should contact Sandra by calling Clare County Council homeless unit on (065) 6821616.

A MAN with 27 previous convictions, who stole a mobile phone from a woman’s handbag in a pub in Lahinch, has been jailed for six months.

Father-of-two Thomas McDonagh (37), of 3 Dún na hInse, Claureen, Ennis, was also jailed for one month for engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, at a Lahinch nightclub.

Sgt Mick Gallery told Ennis District Court a woman was approached by the accused and another individual at the Spinnaker bar in Lahinch on July 10, 2004. At around 1am she noticed her mobile phone was gone.

On the same night the accused went to a disco and was refused entry. He tried to force his way in past the door staff continuously for 30 minutes.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the accused has 27 previous convictions, mostly for motoring-related matters, while there was a conviction for assault, criminal damage, larceny and public order, in the 1990s.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said in the past five years, her client has not come to the attention of gardai, for assault, theft or public order offences. Ms Godfrey said her client does not recall taking the mobile phone and walking out with it, although he does accept he had it.

She asked Judge Joseph Mangan to give her client the opportunity to continue to build his life.

Judge Mangan imposed a six month sentence for the theft charge and a one month sentence for public order. He fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.

A TOY gun bought in Glasgow by a Kilkishen man and brought back through customs in Shannon landed him on a firearms charge, after gardaí declared it an offensive weapon.

Bobby Gleeson, of 21 Hillcrest Grove pleaded guilty to an offence under the Firearms Act, at Tulla District Court.

Sergeant Francis O’Grady told Superintendent Tony Kenneally that he received a complaint after a ten-year old boy was struck by plastic pellets fired from the gun.

Sgt O’Grady said a young person told him that Gleeson pulled up in a car and fired the gun at him, as he stood in the street on April 18.

“The plastic ball bearing hit him just below the groin and when I saw him a couple of hours afterwards, his leg was still marked,” said Sgt O’Grady.

The sergeant said that Gleeson claimed he had not intended to hit the boy, but had aimed the gun at a stray dog. The gun was sent to the Garda HQ and after been examined, was declared illegal and an offensive weapon in the meaning of the Firearms Act.

“It was clearly written on the packaging that it should not be fired at people. It fires at quite a high velocity.”

Gleeson’s solicitor said his client had bought the gun on a trip to Glasgow and had brought it home in his luggage through customs at Shannon Airport. Gleeson wanted to apologise to the boy and his family, the solicitor said.

“The gun wouldn’t be illegal in Britain, but bring it across the Irish Sea and it is illegal – we accept that,” he added.

Judge Joseph Mangan asked “What did the dog do to incur his displeasure?”

The court heard that 28-year old Gleeson had a partner and a young child and was working as a block layer.

The boy had fully recovered, Judge Mangan was told. After hearing that Gleeson earned in the region of €600 a week, Judge Mangan fined him €1,000, with 90 days to pay the fine.

TWO former members of the Mid-Western Health Board were appointed to the new Regional Health Forum, West yesterday, less than two years after the board was disbanded to make way for the Health Service Executive.

Fianna Fail Councillors Pat Daly and Bill Chambers, who have five and 20 years respectively on the former board, were nominated to the new forum by their party peers, while Green Party member Brian Meaney was also appointed with the support of the Independent candidates and Labour’s Pascal Fitzgerald.

Fine Gael proposed the fourth and final Clare member Cllr Joe Coney to the new health forum, which will be one of just four in the country.

Clare County Council will make up 10 per cent of the Western health forum, which spans counties from Donegal to North Tipperary and Limerick.

Each city and county council will be allocated a number of representatives based on its population. The aim of the forum is to allow councillors make representations to the Health Service Executive on the range and operation of health and personal social services in their area.

The first annual meeting of the forum must take place no later than four weeks after the appointment of the final member to that forum.

The Health Service is required to arrange the first meeting of the forum and provide ongoing administrative support.

SPIRALLING wage costs are to push Clare County Council’s budget for this year over the €100 million barrier, for the first time in the local authority’s history.

In the budget presented to the 32-member Council yesterday by County Manager, Alec Fleming, the council was told that in 2006, the Council will spend €101 million this year – an increase of 8.4 per cent on the spend last year of €93 million.

The council adjourned ratifying the budget until next Monday to allow for other council business to be discussed. According to the manager’s report, however, 2006 represents almost a doubling of the council’s budget since 2000.

The largest factor behind the increase is the additional €2.5 million staff will be paid as a result of national pay agreements. The largest programme in this year’s budget was the €34 million roads programme. The County Manager told the members that he would like “to do a lot more in the area of roads” and he was making a strong case for additional cash.

He expressed concern about the level of central Government funding allocated to the council – €14.65 million for 2006.

“The increase in the fund is at the lower end of the scale when compared with other county councils, whether measured in percentage of absolute terms. Given the funding pressures outlined in this report, that is a matter for concern,” explained the manager.

Cllr Christy Curtain informed his fellow councillors that Clare was in the bottom five local authorities in the country when it came to getting an increase, citing Cllr Madeline Taylor Quinn to ask why the Banner County’s residents were being treated like second class citizens.

In a bid to finance the escalating budget, the county’s businesses are to be hit with a 5.5 per cent rates increase that will generate an additional €1.55 million. The local authority has also expanded the rates base which will bring in a further €1.1 million.

Mr Fleming also told members that the council will this year have to provide €731,000 in loan interest payments for the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre – over €300,000 more initially envisaged. Last year, loan interest on the project cost €200,000.

The anticipated drop of €1.3 million in income from the county’s waste management facility at Inagh will also place pressure on the budget.

Mr Fleming said the council has budgeted to spend €500,000 on a new water treatment system for Ennis and that the money is being sought on the understanding that it will be recouped from the Department of the Environment.

The council has also budgeted for an additional €30,000 in legal costs, pushing the total up to €100,000. A total of €15 million will be spent on water supply and sewerage scheme and the €15 million environmental protection programme.

The council also intends to spend €9 million next year on housing and €5.7 million on planning, while €7.2 million will be spent on recreation and amenity.