Category: News

EVERY day Tony must park his car in his neighbours drive and jump over the sand bags to enter his own home.

The pensioner, who does not wish for his full name to be used, fears that if he lifts the sand bags his house will once again be invaded by water from the Atlantic.

Like his neighbours the Clancys and the Cusacks, Tony’s home is not on the sea front, but across the road from those homes that look on to the sea.

On June 7, he was not therefore expecting the storm to bring the high waves crashing through his neighbours’ homes, across the street and into his house and garage.

Thousands of euros of damage was done to the home he shares with his wife, as washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other household electrical goods fell victim to the water.

Two foot of seawater surrounded his home on that fateful morning, a sight he had not ever expected to see.

In the chaos that ensued as emergency services and local authority workers tried to assist, it became clear no one had expected the amount of water that invaded the homes.

“I had difficulty getting sand bags. In the end I had to fill my own using the coal bags we had,” he said.

COMMUNITY activists in Doonbeg have warned that the village and surrounding lands all the way to Cooraclare will be under water if a membrane of land holding back the sea breaks.

The land barrier at Doonbeg Bay was compromised in recent storms that did more than € 800,000 worth of damage to infrastructure of the area.

Tommy Commerford and Tommy Tubridy, both local publicans and local community activists, have now warned that if repair damage and reinforcement work is not carried out soon, the damage to the area will be more severe if there is more bad weather.

“Unless a reinforcement barrier put in there, if the sea breaks it, and it is breaking here already, you are going to have the whole area flooded right down,” said Mr Commerford pointing to land at the edge of the bay just metres from the village on the Dun- more Road.

During the storm on January 7, the land was flooded up to 150 metres from the village, reaching the 50 kilometres per hour sign at the bridge.

“The whole area down to Cooraclare will flood because it is a pure low land caucuses, shragh, land. It is a pure bog land if the membrane goes. “The membrane is only about five metres in parts of it and if it breaks it will sweep the bridge away going down and it will sweep into Shragh and down into the townlands of Cooraclare,” warned Mr Commerford. He said the county council must now look at how best to protect the land bank, as when it is compromised the financial cost and the cost to people’s lives will be significantly more. “Definitely the council need to reassess that whole area. It is a dangerous position,” he said. Two houses along the road were flooded during the storm, but reinforcement works carried out further up the bay saved more homes. The men point to armour rock just metres away that saved their homes and land, previously put under water. “That is what they wanted to do at Doonbeg Golf Course. If that was done at Doonbeg Golf Course there would have been no damage done there,” said Mr Tubridy. There are also concerns for an area across the bay at Rhynnagonnaught. The road leading to the houses in the area was compromised in the storm, and if it is not underpinned it will be completely washed away in the next storm, marooning the residents on an island similar to what happened at Kilcredaun on the Loop Head peninsula.

Clare County Council has requested € 547,500 from central government for the work.

Whitestrand and Doonmore, also experienced € 237,500 worth of damage.

Not only was the sea wall compromised, but holes were also blown open on walls across the road from the sea wall so fierce were the waves and the wind.

Local farmers and neighbours began removing stones from the road at Whitestrand last Wednesday.

As much as 6 to 7 metres of farm land and fencing was also washed into the sea as a result of the storm.

This area will also need to be reinforced with rock armour of galleons the men maintain.

LIVING in a house overlooking Farhiy Bay in Baltard, Doonbeg is a blessing most of the year, but the storm and high tides at the beginning of the New Year made it a precarious place to call home.

Gearoid Greene along with his wife and five children were shocked as the spray from the storm and high tide of January 7 beat off the back of the house.

What made it all the more surprising was the fact that the house was far above sea level, looking down on the sea from a great height.

Shortly after 8am as the storm took hold the family were in fear of severe damage to their home and even considered moving while the storm abated.

The winds and strength of the sea blew in the stones from the periphery wall into the garden, leaving the back of the home, which faces on to the sea, exposed.

Wiring securing electric poles were also up rooted, in damage never witnessed in the area before.

As well as dealing with the clean- up of the storm and the rebuilding of the secure wall, this farming family must also contend with reseeding land covered by seawater, when and if it eventually dries, in time for this year’s harvest.

The cost of the bad weather continues to be counted.

FARMERS with land around Farihy Bay in Doonbeg are facing the possibility of a serious fodder shortage next winter as hundreds of acres of farmland remain water logged as a result of damage to a nearby sluice.

The sluice was installed by the Land Commission to channel water from the land when it would inevitable flood during extensive rainfall.

Heavy rainfall, coupled with storms and high tides resulted in land covered in salty water in the last fortnight.

A blockage coming from the back of the sluice means that water cannot flow freely and drain the land, leaving up to an estimated 300 acres of prime farm land flooded with sea water.

Thomás Flanagan and Gearoid Greene are just two of more than a half a dozen farmers affected by the break down in the infrastructure.

The farmers had employed a digger to clear the sluice of rocks lodge in the large concrete pipe, but to little or no avail as waves continue to carry debris over the sluice, which then lodges at the back of the sluice and eventually gets stuck in the stones of the main flow pipe blocking the water again.

Even high land that is not susceptible to flooding is not accessible to the farmers. Mr Flanagan explained that he cannot access prime grazing land which lies high above sea level as the access road has been washed away in the storm and the surrounding land remain water logged. At least 70 acres of Mr Greene’s land, which he would have used for silage in the spring, remains under seawater, the salt content of which continues to burn the land. He said he was very concerned about how he will access fodder for his cows next year.

“There will be houses in danger if this water rises again and the sluice is not sorted,” said Mr Flanagan.

“You don’t mind if you get have rain for a day or two and the water builds up once or twice a year; it will go eventually, but the problem we have here is the bits of rubbish get stuck between the stones and it blocks the stones. It will slow down the flow every time,” he said.

“About 80 per cent of the water went down when we cleared the sluice, but it is filling again. And if we get heavy rain it will be as bad again,” said Mr Flanagan.

In the 1990s their fathers paid to have the sluice repaired, but the cost of repairing the public infrastructure this time will cost significantly more, the farmers have warned.

The farmers fear that the repair of the sluice will fall between Clare County Council and the OPW and are anxious that one of the bodies take responsibility and rectify the problem immediately.

These full time dairy farmers rely on the income from their farms to support their young families, and while the sluice remains damaged their livelihood remains under threat, they explained.

A TEENAGER who claimed she fell into debt to moneylenders has received a 15 month suspended sentence.

The 19 year-old had pleaded guilty to a string of shoplifting offences. She admitted stealing almost € 1300 worth of goods from businesses in Ennis and Clarecastle over an 11 month period.

The case came before Ennis District Court on Wednesday after sentencing was adjourned from December.

Last month, the woman told the court she owed € 1000 to a money- lender in Ennis. Asked by Judge Durcan how she would re-pay the money, the woman said, “I’ll have to give them money out of my dole.”

Her solicitor Tara Godfrey said, “I’ve done what I can to get her to make a statement but she won’t”.

Ms Godfrey said the woman fell into debt because of her cannabis addiction.

“This is not like AIB or the Bank of Ireland, the terms are quite severe. My client was afraid to be at liberty”, she added. The court heard the woman’s father and mother are both dead and her younger brother died when he was just three years old.

The woman was described in court as a “vulnerable person at the end of her tether”. The court heard she was a victim of neglect as a child.

After reading a Probation Report on the woman’s family history and apparent troubles with moneylenders, Judge Durcan said, “In my time as a Judge this is one of the saddest reports I have read.”

He remanded the woman in custody to appear again in court on January 8. On Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan said this was a “difficult case”.

Addressing the woman, Judge Durcan said, “I don’t want to imprison you for 18 months but the indications are that if you are at liberty you will continue to re-offend.” Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client would agree to stay out of Ennis.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said it would be helpful for all parties if the case was finalised. Imposing a 15-month suspended sentence, Judge Durcan said the woman was a “persistent shoplifter” who had grown up in “particularly difficult personal circumstances.”

Ms Godfrey told the court her client wanted to thank Judge Durcan, the court services, Probation services and gardaí for their patience in dealing with the case. A T IPPER A RY man accused of illegally cultivating cannabis plants has been sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court. ColmCafferkey (32), with an address at Demense, Roscrea, is facing three charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act It is alleged Mr Cafferkey did without license, cultivate plants of the genus cannabis, at Ballymulcashel, Sixmilebridge on August 14, 2012. The accused is also charged with having cannabis for sale or supply and unlawful possession of cannabis arising out of the same date and location. Mr Cafferkey first appeared before Ennis District Court in December where a garda Inspector said the matter would be proceeding to trial on indictment. The book of evidence was served on the accused in court onWednesday. Garda Sheila McGrath gave evidence of serving the book of evidence on solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick for his client. Inspector TomKennedy told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented for the accused to be returned for trial to the next sessions of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on February 18, 2014. Judge Patrick Durcan delivered the alibi warning and made the order returning the accused for trial. Legal aid was granted for Mr Fitzpatrick and one junior counsel. A N EN N IS man has denied an allegation that he harmed a dog by throwing it against a wall a number of times. Cathal McNamara (22), with an address at Old Military Barracks, Ennis, appeared at Ennis District Court onWednesday. He is charged in connection with an alleged incident that occurred at a named address in Ennis on December 15, 2013. It is alleged Mr McNamara contravened a safety order made at Ennis District Court in June by putting the applicant in fear by allegedly using threatening and abusive behaviour. It is alleged this behaviour included the accused harming a dog by throwing it at a wall a number of times and locking himself into a roomwith a child.The alleged of fence is contrary to the DomesticViolence Act. Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said she was seeking a date for hearing. She said her client denied what is alleged against himin the charge sheet. Judge Patrick Durcan said the alleged facts, as outlined in the charge sheet, indicated this was a very serious case.The case was adjourned to April 27 for hearing. T W O W ES T Clare man charged in connection with an alleged cannabis find last year have had the charges against themstruck out. Neil Casey (35) and Mark Lyons (25) appeared before Ennis District Court onWednesday. Mr Casey, with an address at Rinemacderrig, Carrigaholt, was alleged to have cultivated cannabis plants without license at Curragh, Feakle on June 18. Mr Casey also faced further charges of unlawful possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply also at Curragh, Feakle on June 18. At a court sitting in December, Inspector Michael Gallagher said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed trial on indictment. Mark Lyons (25), with an address at Fleetrock, Carrigaholt, was charged with having cannabis for sale or supply and unlawful possession of cannabis. In December Insp Gallagher said the DPP had directed summary disposal of Mr Lyons’ case, meaning it was to proceed in the District Court. But onWednesday, Inspector TomKennedy told the court the State were seeking to withdrawthe charges as presented against both accused. He said an issue had developed on the State’s side. Judge Patrick Durcan approved the application and struck out the charges against both accused. A MA N charged with in connection with a serious assault in Ennis last summer will learn next month howthe case is likely to proceed. Michael Doherty (22), with an address at Bay 2, St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis, appeared before Ennis District Court onWednesday. He is charged with assault causing harmto a teenager at Bank Place, Ennis on August 13, 2013. Inspector TomKennedy told the court he was not in a position to give directions fromthe Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Insp Kennedy said he expected to knowthe views of the DPP by next month. Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned the case to February 2. Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett consented to the matter being put back. T H E B OOK of evidence has been served on a Shannon man charged in connection with a serious assault in a pub.AdamDoody (19), with an address at Cluain Alainn, Shannon appeared at Ennis District Court onWednesday. He is charged with committing assault causing harmat Darcy’s Pub,Tullyvarraga, Shannon on February 9, 2013. Garda Sheila McGrath of Ennis Garda Station gave evidence of service of the book of evidence. Inspector TomKennedy said the DPP had consented to the accused being returned for trial to the next sessions of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Patrick made the order and delivered the alibi warning.

A CLARE man who owes almost € 1.8 million is the largest debtor to come before the Personal Insolvency Court so far, the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) has confirmed.

The first sitting at Ennis District Court of the Personal Insolvency Court for the South Western Circuit took place on Thursday.

The case before Judge Patrick Meaghan concerned a Clare man with total qualifying liabilities of € 1.77 million. The man was seeking a protection certificate from the court to allow time to enter into negotiations with his creditors.

Figures shown to the court revealed the man had total assets of € 394,900, a monthly income of € 5,687 and monthly expenses of € 5,994.

The man is a married father of one. The court heard he is an engineer currently working in Finland. His debts concern money owed to financial institutions for commercial premises in Limerick and Dublin along with two buy-to-let properties. In total, the man has 14 creditors.

The man was not present in court but was represented by Personal Insolvency Practitioner (PIP) John Hogan. The ISI were also represented in court.

Judge Patrick Meaghan said the debtor was obviously insolvent. He said he was satisfied to grant the protection certificate. He wished the man all the best. The man now has 70 days to strike a deal with creditors. Judge Patrick Meaghan said he was pleased to see members of the press attending the court sitting. He said the Personal Insolvency Court is a new jurisdiction in which there is a lot of public interest. He said that press coverage had so far been “very fair and balanced”.

He said behind every case are people with difficulties. He asked the media to refrain from identifying the debtor and his creditors. Judge Meaghan added, “It is a matter that is very topical, but hopefully with sensitivity things can be progressed.”

According to it’s website, “The mission of the ISI is to help restore people who are insolvent to solvency in a fair, transparent and equitable way.”

The ISI is an independent statutory body. It was established by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter, TD on March 1, 2013.

Speaking after the hearing, PIP John Hogan said he thought the ISI was “doing a fantastic job”.

“The only problem with the legislation is that it should have happened four years ago. It might have saved a few marriages,” he added.

Mr Hogan said half of the people who have engaged his services as a PIP (8 or 9) come from Clare.

Mr Hogan, an Ennis-based accountant, is one of two PIPs registered in Clare. The other is another Ennis based accountant, John Carmody.

THERE is a ‘huge problem’ with theft in Clare, a Judge has warned.

Judge Patrick Durcan made his comments at Ennis District Court on Wednesday as he imposed a 12month prison sentence on a Romanian man convicted for his role in a number of theft offences.

Emil Brasoveanu (27), with an address at Dun Leinn, Monivea, Galway, was part of a three strong gang who targeted small businesses in West and North Clare in a crime spree on December 17 (2013).

In December, a husband and wife Anton Makula (26) and Anca Grancea (23) of Cluain Rocaird, Headford Road, Galway city, received prison sentences for their role in the offences.

All three had pleaded guilty to various theft charges on three businesses in West Clare.

In December, defence solicitor Fiona Hehir said the couple had “stupidly got involved in the operation” because they needed money for their children’s Christmas presents.

The court heard Mr Brasoveanu wore a ladies swimsuit during the commission of the thefts.

Last month, Sgt Ronan O’Hara of Kilrush Garda Station, told the court the accused wore the swimsuit back to front.

“By wearing it back to front, you can conceal more down the back of it”, explained Sgt O’Hara.

“It’s a new one on me”, said Sgt O’Hara when asked if he had come across this type of theft before.

The businesses targeted were McGrotty’s Medical Hall, Ennistymon, William’s Pharmacy, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay Post Office. All property was recovered, the court heard.

“These people (businesses) were very specifically targeted by these people in a deliberate and organised fashion”, said Judge Durcan at the time.

Praising the actions of local gardaí and the bravery of a post office worker who helped foil the theft of a charity box, Judge Durcan said of the accused;

“Their actions are putting jobs on the line, businesses in jeopardy and leads to a situation where a commu nity could’ve been deprived of essential services.”

On Wednesday, defence solicitor Fiona Hehir said Mr Brasoveanu was an unemployed father of two who committed the offences to get money for Christmas. Judge Durcan said, “I do not believe a single word of what your client has instructed you”.

He said Mr Brasoveanu was part of a gang that had engaged in the “commercial tyranny” of small businesses in West Clare.

“The court has to look on these type of offences with the greatest severity and it does”, he added.

The court heard the accused is currently serving a prison sentence, activated by a Cork court last month.

Judge Durcan imposed a 12-month prison sentence, noting that there is “huge problem with theft in Clare.”

“You can’t have people perpetrating this type of crime against the retail sector which is on it’s knees”, he added.

ENNIS Town Council is facing legal bills of over € 500,000 arising from two separate High Court cases.

The local authority says it is “seriously concerned” regarding the number of High Court cases, which are falling to the council.

Following a number of High Court hearings, the council last year secured a settlement in relation to a case taken on the Ennis Casual Trading Byelaws 2011, which represented a challenge to the Casual Trading Act 1995. The case concerned the status of casual trading vis-a-vis market rights. According to the council’s 2014 budget report, the overall cost in this case amounted to € 147,000.

The council is also currently involved in a High Court case regarding the de-regulation of the taxi industry.

In his report, town manager Gerard Dollard states, “The case has been in process for a number of years and commenced in November 2013. The case has been taken against the State (Minister and Attorney General). A number of sample cases are being heard including three involving Dublin City Council and one involving Ennis Town Council.

Mr Dollard said the council has made efforts to run the case on a cost effective basis. However the case is still at hearing and Mr Dollard told the council’s annual budget meeting that the costs at this point are in excess of € 400,000. The council recently received an interim bill from Counsel for € 191,000.

Mr Dollard states, “The council has firmly put the view to both the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport that the costs of cases involving challenges to national legislation and regulation should not fall on the local authority.”

Mr Dollard told Tuesday’s meeting the council will receive € 250,000 from the Department of the Environment towards the cost of the court cases.

Cllr Peter Considine (FF) described the bills as “crippling” and asked if the council can challenge the Department’s decision not to cover the cost of the entire legal process.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said the decision by the Minister for the Environment to part fund the legal bills represented an admission on his part that his office was responsible for the total cost. “I would go back to the Minister and say pay for all of it,” he said.

AMAZING film from CCTV cameras at the playground in Lahinch during the early hours of Monday, January 6, shows massive waves sweep away recycling bins weighing half a ton as the playground disappears under water.

Clare County Council’s Paul Moroney, who monitored the footage explained that no human could have survived the ferocity of the waves and a car would have been crushed with the impact.

The senior engineer with the council’s water department showed the film to county councillors at a special meeting on Friday last in an at- tempt to depict the terrifying weather conditions the people living along the county’s coast were exposed to during the end of December and early January.

Shortly after 3am on the fateful morning a wave dislodged the bottle and can banks weighing 250kg each.

Three minutes before 5am all of the bottle banks were dislodged and moving at speed with the force of a wave across the playground.

Half an hour later the film captured the playground now under water and the final bank – the half tonne back containing wet clothes, being swept across the screen.

Just 20 minutes later, at 5.50am, the playground was full of water with none of the play equipment visible.

Mr Moroney explained that in flood hazard terms the area was calculated to be “extremely hazardous”, “making it hazardous to life”.

Just seconds later a wave took out the streetlights, and even though the cameras kept running the screen was black and the only sound came from an angry sea.

ENNIS’ effor ts to become Ireland’s tidiest town have been boosted by a € 4,000 increase in funding from Ennis Town Council.

At the council’s annual budget meeting last week, members unanimously voted in favour of a motion to allocate extra funds to the Ennis Tidy Town’s Committee.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) proposed cutting by half money allo- cated for the mayor’s allowance in 2014.

The Ennis councillor told the meeting the money could instead be given to Tidy Towns as Ennis would only have a mayor for another six months.

It is expected that the town council will be replaced by a municipal authority after this year’s local elections.

Cll r Brennan’s proposal came in response to a suggestion put forward by Cll r Brian Meaney (GP).

A Fianna Fáí l candidate in the 2014 local elections, Cll r Meaney called on the council to increase the increase the cost of using the town’s automated public toilets from 25 cents to 50 cents.

The meeting heard the proposal would generate additional income of € 2, 000.

The council estimates it will cost € 70, 000 to maintain and service the two ‘superloos’ in 2014.

Cllr Meaney’s proposal was supported by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) who said some of the extra income should go towards tackling the “graffiti epidemic” in the town.

However it was strongly opposed by other councillors. Cllr Brennan said, “For anyone even to suggest it is disgraceful.”

The council will give a contribution of € 16, 000 to Ennis Tidy Towns. Cllr Brennan said an extra € 4,000 could be found by cutting the mayor’s annual allowance. Cll r Brennan’s motion was unanimously voted through by all nine members. Cllr Meaney’s motion was defeated by five votes to four.

Town manager Gerard Dollard told the meeting the council would also look favourably on any application from the Ennis Defibrillator Committee for community grant funding. This was after a request from Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind).

Going down on his knees as Tuesday’s meeting neared conclusion, Cllr O’Shea urged the council to provide financial support to the committee.