Category: News

SINCE we featured the work of Clare-born nun, Sr Ethel Normoyle in our last edition, support for her work with the township people of South Africa has been steadily increasing.

“There have been a lot of calls and it’s great that people are showing an interest and want to help Sr Normoyle,” said Ennis fundraiser Olive Halpin.

Lissycasey nun, Sr Ethel Normoyle has been working in the shanty towns of Port Elizabeth for 20 years. At her Missionvale centre, Sr Normoyle provides food, clothes and primary and education for families who kive in shacks made out of waste wood and sometimes nothing more durable that tin and cardboard.

Clarecastle woman, Olive Halpin, has just returned from a month living in the township, where she saw the Clare nun’s work first hand.

“A family is given a loaf of bread and something else each day. Without Sr Ethel, many of them wouldn’t even have that,” said Olive.

AIDS has laid waste the population of the township and now Sr Normoyle hopes to build a hospice where people with the virus can die with dignity.

The cost of the building project is in the region of €200,000 and Sr Ethel hopes to bring out two Irish medical volunteers who will train South African volunteers.

Anyone who would like to donate any amount to the Missionvale project can contact Olive at 087-6994599.

THE trial of an Ennistymon man accused of murdering his sister at their family home will not now go ahead this month, as had been scheduled.

Patrick O’Dwyer (20), of Shrohill, Ennistymon, is charged with murdering his 17-year-old sister Marguerite, a Leaving Certificate student, on November 29, 2004.

The date of January 24 had been set aside for the trial, last October, but The Clare People has learned it will not now go-ahead for a number of months, until a medical report on the accused has been completed.

“It is being put back. The defence’s legal team has requested this as they are waiting for a medical report and the State won’t object,” said a garda source.

It is not yet known if the trial will now go-ahead in Ennis, or elsewhere. That decision will rest with Mr Justice Paul Carney, who fixes dates for murder trials.

Mr O’Dwyer was sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court last year.

When he appeared there initially, Mr Justice Carney said he was anxious that the case should go ahead as early as possible, in an effort to provide closure for the O’Dwyer family.

The case was then put in for mention when the Central Criminal Court sat in Ennis last June.

On that occasion the court was told there were complex matters in the case and an adjournment was requested.

This was granted and the case was then put back until July in Dublin, for mention.

In July, the case was put back until October, for a date to be fixed and January 24 next – when the Central Criminal Court will sit in Ennis – was fixed for the trial to go ahead.

THE tourism industry in north Clare has received a boost with An Bord Pleanala giving the go-ahead for a hotel and holiday homes in the coastal village of Ballyvaughan.

In the face of stiff opposition from locals, Megcourt Development Ltd has secured planning permission for a prime-quay site overlooking Ballyvaughan Bay, 100 metres north of Monks pub. The development is to include a hotel and wellness centre, conference centre and 22 holiday homes.

The inspector in the case had recommended that the board refuse permission for the holiday homes, but this was overuled.

Clare County Council had granted planning permission for the scheme earlier this year.

However, Brendan & Katherine O’Donoghue, Lisnanard, Ballyvaughan, owners of lands immediately to the west of the site, and the Ballyvaughan Development Association appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

They claimed that the proposal is premature pending upgrading of the sewerage treatment system; that the holiday homes are out of character with existing development and that there has been an over-developed in Ballyvaughan of tax-incentive-led holiday homes where there are currently more holiday homes than permanent homes in the village.

The appellants were supported by An Taisce who pointed to the visual impact of the proposal and that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be lodged with the proposal.

Five years ago, Megcourt was refused planning for a hotel on the same site by the appeals board, due to the inadequate public water and public sewage system in the area.

The inspector in the present case concluded that the proposal “will not result in the destruction of the species and that the extent of development proposed is a generally modest intrusion into the significantly greater Burren landscape. Overall, I am satisfied that the hotel and wellness centre is of appropriate scale for the site, does not detract from the character of the existing buildings along this road, and will contribute, in urban design terms, to the quality of the built environment.”

However, in relation to the holiday homes, the Inspector recommended refusal, stating that they would have an unacceptable visual impact upon the scenic amenities and character of this coastal area.

In deciding to grant permission, the appeals board ruled that the entire proposal “would not seriously injure the amenities of the area, would not be prejudicial to public health, and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety”.

A 14-YEAR drought in Clonlara has ended as work began on giving the East Clare area a proper water supply.

More than 100 families in the area have waited since 1991 to get a reliable supply and have had to resort to flushing their toilets with water from the garden pond or water left over from cooking.

The supply was so bad that the emergency fire service tender had to be bought in on a regular basis so that families could wash, cook and clean their homes.

And schoolchildren in the area regularly got unexpected holidays are they were sent home because of a shortage of water in the school.

Local woman Carmel Hayes said that she has lived in Clonlara for 22 years “and I can’t remember a weekend that we had running water. It was amazing to be able to have a shower on New Year’s Day”, she said.

Another local woman, Phyllis Sheehan, said that she could “not put on the washing machine, have a wash or make the dinner when I came in from work. These are simple things that most people take for granted but we couldn’t.”

According to Clare County Council, the problems in the area were caused by low pressure.

Work to make the drought history began two weeks ago but locals will still face some dry times ahead, with warnings that the supply may be disrupted while the job is ongoing.

EDDIE Murphy is a funny man – not Eddie Murphy the comedian, but Eddie Murphy the hurling man. Being a Kerry hurling man he’d want to have a sense of humour.

He showed it off one Saturday morning a decade or so ago when John Meyler called a training session for the Kerry senior hurlers on Banna Strand. Very lonely Banna Strand as it turned out. Only two players showed.

“When Roger Casement landed here there was nobody to meet him. At least we had two,” quipped assistant manager Eddie.

Anthony Daly is a good man for a quote, but he had no need to dip into his reservoir on New Year’s Day. Instead, he nearly had his Clare hurlers dipping into icy Atlantic waters as they showed for training in Spanish Point.

Armada galleons may have floundered on the rocks off Spanish Point, but it’s from where the good hurling ship Clare set sail for 2006. A good ship that hopes to have a mighty wind in its sails in a year to September.

That’s why legends like the Lohans, Seanie Mac, Colin Lynch, Davy Fitz and Niall Gilligan togged out for another new year. In with the new on Spanish Point strand – starting out on their slog to September.

Same as it ever was for All-Ireland men who look to the future rather than dwell on past glories. So it was exactly 20 years previously when three famous footballers gathered on Banna Strand.

Lonely Banna Strand – but Mickey Sheehy, Ger Power and Seanie Walsh only needed each other for company. Mickey and Ger had seven All-Irelands, Seanie had six. Wanting one more brought them to Banna on New Year’s Day. QED Kerry won the All-Ireland in ’86.

Wanting one more like Mickey, Ger and Seanie before them, brought the Lohans, Seanie Mac et al out on New Year’s Day. It also brought out those players who have won nothing.

If they win their All-Ireland like Mickey, Ger and Seanie did 20 years ago, they’ll talk about their New Year’s Day on Spanish Point.

The slog of stamina training on the strand. Chariots of Fire stuff.

How sweet it would be for the good ship Clare.

CLARE’S top planning official has hit back at criticism by the county’s leading architects that the system is not working and needs to be radically overhauled.

In a letter to the architects, Clare County Council’s Acting Director of Service for Planning, Liam Conneally, stated that the contents of their letter prior to Christmas “undermines the working trust” that existed between the architects and the council’s planning department.

The architects had written, “We are totally frustrated by lack of consistency, poor management structure, lack of productive dialogue, poor communication and absence of a rational coherent, consistent and common-sense approach to planning within the council.”

They told Mr Conneally that they see little point in holding any further Agents Liaison Group meetings with the department “until there has been a significant and tangible overhaul of the present system which, in our view, is clearly not working.”

Now, Mr Conneally has responded, “I am disappointed at the negative tone and content of the letter. The planning service provided by the council is of a high standard and the commitment of staff to serving the public is beyond question.

“While extensive negative aspects of the ALG concept and planning service are opined, no constructive solution is put forward.

“I think your letter indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of the council as planning authority and its function to act as an independent assessor of proposals for development.”

He continued, “The council fully recognises that there is scope for improvement and continuously works towards creating a better situation. The content and circulation of your correspondence has, I feel, undermined the working trust that I thought existed between the ALG members and the Planning Department of Clare County Council.

“The only way to get work done in a constructive manner is to address the concerns of the group through the group forum itself. Unfortunately, the group as it existed became an isolated planning clinic where the individual concerns of the small group of agents in attendance were the main focus for discussion.

“I believe that the ALG idea and concept is good and that, subject to a mature common-sense approach, wider buy-in by the county’s agents and to the preparation of an agreed protocol for the group, it can have a future.

“What we need to work towards is a situation whereby the group is representative of all those engaged in the planning process and where both sides recognise that each has a major role to play.”

Mr Conneally said that he is happy to arrange a meeting of the ALG “early in the New Year to see how matters can be constructively addressed”.

SHANNON rolled out the welcome mat for half of the Chilean refugees who fled to this country in the wake of the military coup which ousted the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende in 1973.

According to records released as part of the opening of the State Archives, 99 of a total of 25,000 people forced to flee the country came to Ireland and about half of these settled in Shannon.

Garret Fitzgerald, then Minister for Foreign Affairs, informed the Dail on February 20, 1974 that the refugees would be admitted to Ireland. The remainder of the refugees who came here went to Galway, where the Committee for Chilean Refugees had hired the Continental Hotel in Salthill.

Bairbre Ni Giollarnath of the Refugees committee wrote to Dr Fitzgerald at the time, outlining how a whole football team had been taken from their homes and disappeared.

And according to the archives from the same year, Clare residents were concerned that the purchaser of Mutton Island could have been a front for the CIA as a secret military base.

In fact, the island was purchased by a Mrs Husty, who then transferred it into the name of her family company, The Vancouver and Delaware Corporation of Washington.

A TRUCK driver who claimed he was unfairly dismissed lost his case after a private detective took pictures of him working on the Ennis bypass.

Thomas Lynch, Marion Estate, Kilkee made a complaint to the Employment Appeals Tribunal against employer Francis Greene, of Lisdeen, Kilkee.

Lynch was employed by Greene driving a Readymix lorry for €500 a week.

On September 25, 2004, Lynch arrived at the Moneypoint quarry for the third time that day to pick up concrete to deliver.

The quarry manager said the order had been cancelled and he could go home for the day.

Greene contacted Lynch later that day by telephone, saying the driver had cost him money.

Lynch claimed that despite telling his boss that the order had been cancelled, Greene was very aggressive towards him and Lynch said that he asked that any money owed to him be paid.

Lynch’s wife received a cheque on his behalf for €700 and his p45 the following week.

He told the tribunal that he had not worked since but when he was shown pictures of himself in the driver’s seat of a digger at the site of the Ennis bypass, Lynch said that he had been testing the machine and had not received any payment for the half-day he spent on the site.

He denied suggestions that he was working at the bypass for his brother and that he had left Green’s employment planning to do so.

In evidence, Green said that he had employed Lynch on a flat wage of €480. He said that Greene did not show up for work on September 1.

Greene said he spoke to Lynch the following day and Lynch said he wanted a wage rise. The figure of €500 a week was agreed.

Lynch took a week’s holidays later that month and two weeks’ wages were made up and paid to him.

The day after the driver returned from holiday, his employer got a call from the manager of the Moneypoint Quarry to tell him that Lynch was planning to leave.

Green told the Tribunal he went to the lorry which Lynch normally drove and saw that all of the employee’s personal belongings were gone from it.

When he contacted him, Greene said that Lynch told him he was “sick of it” and that he hadn’t been paid that week. Greene explained that he had received two weeks’ wages to cover his holiday week but Lynch said he wanted his p45.

The tribunal found that the claimant did not produce sufficient evidence that he had been dismissed.

A MID-WEST unit for disturbed children, which cost the tax-payer €10 million, has catered for just three children since it opened it 2003.

Coovagh House in Limerick closed just three months after it opened and remains shut. Severe staffing difficulties have been blamed for the continued closure.

The unit – which was purpose built to cater for children who are disturbed and require intensive attention – opened behind schedule in September 2003. Initially, it was recommended that the unit would need 38 staff for five children and this was later to be reduced to 22.

The centre now has a staff of 32 but it needs 46. The unit cost €5.1 million to build and another €5 million in wage bills, running costs and security costs, according to figures drawn up by opposition health spokesman, Richard Bruton.

“Millions in taxpayers money is being wasted while children in need of urgent special care are instead being placed in private residential units costing the State up to €10,000 per week,” Deputy Bruton said.

In a reply to queries from the opposition spokesman, the Health Services Executive said Coovagh House would re-open once the staffing quota had reached 46, including the appointment of a senior clinical psychologist and the appointment of a management advisory committee.

At the time, the HSE said it envisaged that the unit would open for referrals in December, but this was dependant on additional staff being recruited and the unit being certified by the Irish Social Services inspectorate.

THE company controlled by former GP, Paschal Carmody, Lyntondell Ltd, which was recently convicted of selling unlicensed medicines, had a positive balance of over €120,000 in its most recent returns to the Companies Office.

At a recent special sitting of Tralee District Court, Mr Carmody, Ballycuggeran, Killaloe, was fined €1,500, ordered to pay €10,000 in costs and expenses and given a 10-month sentence suspended on condition that he be of good behaviour for 12 months.

Lyntondell Ltd pleaded guilty to five summons of selling unlicensed medical supplies. The company was fined €1,000.

And according to accounts returned to the Companies Office last July, Lyntondell had a positive balance of €128,308 to the end of 2003. Mr Carmody, along with Mr Jay Daly, are listed as directors of the company.

Two other companies, Heddonvard Ltd and Tinerana Ltd, with which Mr Carmody has been involved, have not been performing as well. Heddonvard also has a previous conviction for the unauthorised supply of medicines in January 2004, when it was fined €1,000.

Its most recent returns, last June, show that the company had a negative balance of €40,736 to the end of May 2004. The accounts also listed Mr Carmody’s wife, Dr Frieda Keane Carmody, as company secretary.

In relation to Tinerana Ltd, the accounts show that Pascal Carmody served as a director with Dr Keane Carmody in 2002 and 2003, but resigned in 2004, leaving his wife as the sole member of the company.

The company had a negative balance of €100,605 to the end of December 2003 in accounts lodged last July.

Mr Carmody was removed by the Medical Council from the medical register for misconduct in September 2004.

His defence counsel Brian McInerney told Tralee District Court that Mr Carmody “has fallen very considerably from grace. This process took place almost in a fish bowl under the bright lights and glare of the media at every twist and turn”.

Mr McInerney said that the father of five children, aged between 15 and 21, “is virtually unemployed and unemployable. At the age of 58, Mr Carmody wishes to look forward now, not backwards, and to make the best of what is left of the remainder of his life.”