Category: News

CILLIAN Griffey is the youngest candidate in the country so far nominated to contest the local elections.

The Fine Gael young gun will run for the first time ever in the Ennis Municipal Area alongside four more seasoned campaigners.

Putting his name forward to seek a place on the Fine Gael ticket did not come easy for the 23 year-old from Ballymaley.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make but I am passionate about the party and about the community I want to represent,” he said.

“Recent events have shown us all that we need to fight for our nation’s future. I, like you all, am angered and sickened by the plight of unemployment and emigration. My single resolve is to contribute to the re-energising of the values and passion for public service that our party stands for.

“I joined the party in 2005 when I thought we needed a change. The Government was getting stale. I felt there were not enough young people in politics. By me doing this I hope to encourage more young people,” he told The Clare People .

From a farming family he was instrumental in setting up the Ennis Macra na Feirme branch, as well as extending the Young Fine Gael East Clare Branch to include the whole county.

The business support manager at HR Locker in Lahinch has no illusions about how difficult it will be to complete in an election as the new kid on the block.

“I am realistic. As I am not as well known I need a bit of a head start,” he said.

The Doora Barefield clubman is also secretary of the Ballyalla Lake Working Group and has volunteered with the Clarecare Homework Club.

A DECISION on bail for a 78 yearold man charged with rape and indecent assault is due to be made at Ennis District Court tomorrow.

The man is facing 24 counts of indecent assault and one count of rape contrary to the Offences Against The Person Act 1861. It is alleged the alleged offences were committed between 1971 and 1980 in areas of Clare.

The man is currently in custody on remand following a bail application at Ennis District Court Wednesday.

The court heard the man denies all charges and intends to contest the case fully. He was originally brought before the court on Thursday, October 10.

On Wednesday, defence solicitor John Casey told the court his client was applying for bail. Inspector Michael Gallagher said the State strongly objected to bail for the man, who was described in court as a Jehovah’s Witness.

Detective Garda Donal Corkery told the court gardaí objected to bail on a number of grounds including the seriousness of the charges and their belief the accused is a flight risk. The court heard the man has lived in a number of countries around the world. Det Corkery said he believed the accused would leave the jurisdiction if granted bail.

The accused’s wife told the court the couple intend to remain in Ireland for the duration of legal proceedings. The man told the court he has no reason to leave the country. “I’ve no intention of running. I’m going to face these charges,” he said.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he was reserving judgment on bail to tomorrow. The man was remanded in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on Wednesday, October 23. Reporting restrictions have been placed on the case.

THREE members of the same family charged over a row that occurred in the grounds of Ennis Courthouse earlier this year will be sentenced next month.

Adjourning sentence at Ennis District Court last week, Judge Patrick Durcan said, “It’s just the gross lack of regard for law and order is what troubles me.”

His comments came as a solicitor admitted there were times this year when legal practitioners feared for their safety due to a spate of disturbances.

Details of a public order incident were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday where Michael Molloy (19) and sisters Laura Molloy (22) and Rose Mahon (23), all with addresses at Bay 2 Ballaghboy Halting Site, Quin Road, Ennis pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening and / or abusive behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at Ennis Courthouse on June 19.

Laura Molloy and Rose Mahon also pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the directions of garda.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court the altercation developed when two groups of people met in the grounds of the Courthouse on a day of scheduled sitting of Ennis District Court.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said Michael Molloy was pursued into the courtroom by a woman who “read him chapter and verse.”

The court heard Laura Molloy then received a phone call from the woman who told her she wished to make peace. A large number of people then gathered outside the Courthouse where a dispute developed.

“Not only was there no peace talks but war had been embarked upon” explained Mr Hassett.

Mr Hassett said there had been a period in the first half of the year when the Courthouse had been the venue for a number of rows and dis turbances. However he told Judge Durcan there had been a significant improvement in recent months.

“There was a period in here, two months, where you would fear for your safety,” he added. Mr Hassett said his clients wished to apologise profusely to the gardaí and court. Judge Durcan said it is important that people can come into the court and not observe “wild west lawlessness”.

He said it was his job to ensure respect is maintained and given.

He said this was a most serious offence and he required time to consider sentence. The case was adjourned to November 6.

A BOOK of Evidence is due to be served next month on a 70 year-old man accused of rape.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, made his second appearance at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

He is charged with three counts of raping and two counts of sexual assaulting a male.

The alleged offences are alleged to have taken place on dates unknown between January 1999 and September 2000.

In September, the court heard that in response to one of the rape charges, the accused said;

“That’s totally untrue.

“That never happened or with anyone else.”

In response to another rape charge, he said; “Totally deny that one.”

In response to the third allegation of rape, the man said, “Totally deny that also.”

On Wednesday, defence solicitor John Casey told the court the State had indicated the book of evidence would be ready in two weeks.

Judge Patrick Durcan remanded the accused in custody to appear again at Ennis District Court on November 6.

Reporting restrictions have been placed on the case.

A FORMER air-hostess who repeatedly breached a protection order sought by her former boyfriend has been warned that the courts are not a crèche.

Siobhan Downes (34), with an address at Childer’s Road, Ennis appeared in Ennis District Court last week charged with breaching the order on October 3.

Last month, Ms Downes avoided a jail sentence after pleading guilty to six separate breaches of a protec- tion order originally imposed by the court in February.

At the time, the court heard Ms Downes’ former boyfriend secured the order after the breakdown of the couple’s relationship.

In court last month, Judge Patrick Durcan said that Ms Downes had been unable to get over her infatuation with the man resulting in the successive breaches.

He said he would not impose a custodial sentence on condition that Ms Downes attend for regular psychiatric treatment. On Wednesday, the court heard Ms Downes had spent the past 10 days in custody after being arrested for the latest alleged breach.

Defence solicitor Turlough Herbert asked Judge Durcan to reduce his client’s bail terms from a cash lodgment of € 2000 to € 1000.

Inspector Michael Gallagher opposed the application. “This is a very serious case. I’d be loathed to accede to that request”, he said.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he had sympathy for Ms Downes, noting she has a very serious psychiatric illness. He said the court has the greatest sympathy for Ms Downes but must also protect the injured party. The court heard the man has now left the jurisdiction.

Judge Durcan reduced the terms of the independent surety required for bail to € 1000. Ms Downes was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear again in court tomorrow (October 23).

Judge Durcan warned that if Ms Downes breached the agreement again he would deal with the matter. “This court doesn’t run a crèche for middle aged people”, he added.

WHAT exactly happened behind the scenes of Clare’s thrilling All-Ireland senior hurling title win?

If you want to find out then you’re in luck, The Clare Hurling Supporters Club as part of their fundraising efforts for the upcoming team holiday, are releasing a behind the scenes DVD of their remarkable season.

The DVD, which will be available to buy in shops in November, features exclusive behind the scenes footage that includes peeks inside the Clare dressing room during championship matches, training sessions, team talks and players personal recollections of an incredible summer’s hurling.

The squad allowed a camera access to the dressing room, as well as team meetings and training sessions throughout the season and countless hours of footage are now being edited into ninety minutes of previously unseen history.

The hurlers are expected to travel for a team holiday towards the end of December and as part of the fundraising efforts for the All-Ireland champions, the supporters fund are releasing the historic DVD, an official team calendar, official Clare team Christmas cards and the official team photograph.

A MAN who told his neighbours he would burn them out of their house has been ordered to pay a contribution to charity.

Shane Constable (25) made the threat following a heated row with his neighbours in Dun n hInse, Ennis in May.

Last month Mr Constable, with an address at Dun na hInse, appeared in Ennis District Court charged with public intoxication and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour on May 9.

The court heard gardaí called to the estate to deal with a dispute between residents.

The court heard he was in one of the houses shouting at his neighbour.

Last month Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court Mr Constable shouted that he was “going to burn them out of the house.”

Gardaí arrested the accused to defuse the situation, the court heard.

Mr Constable’s solicitor, Tara Godfrey disputed her client made the threat to burn down the house.

Judge Patrick Durcan adjourned the case to hear garda evidence.

On Wednesday, Garda Colm Geary of Ennis Garda Station told the court Mr Constable did say he would burn down his neighbour’s house.

He said Mr Constable was very intoxicated and has since apologised for his behaviour. Ms Godfrey said her client was sorry for his behaviour.

She said he was a valued member of his local soccer club Lifford B and was considered a good tenant by his landlord.

Speaking in court, Mr Constable said, “I’m very sorry.”

Judge Patrick Durcan ordered him to pay € 200 to the court poor box.

He told Mr Constable he did not want to criminialise him but warned him not come before the court again.

The case was adjourned to November 13 for payment to poor box.

RYANAIR has been challenged to deliver on a promise to grow traffic out of Shannon Airport on the back of the Government decision to scrap the controversial travel tax in last Tuesday’s Budget.

The abolition of the tax, which was originally introduced by the Fianna Fáil-led government in 2009 and fixed at € 10 only to be scaled down to € 3 in subsequent years, was seen as a major stumbling block to Ryanair passenger growth out of Shannon.

Now, on the back of its abolition and Ryanair’s commitment to grow its traffic at its Irish airports by at least 1m passengers per annum from April 2014 has led to renewed hopes that Shannon can created into a lowcost hub for the budget airline.

To this end Shannon Airport executives, along with those from Dublin, Cork Kerry and Knock, were represented at meetings with Ryanair to make their pitch for enhance flights and destinations out of the airport.

“The repeal of the air travel tax helps restore Ireland’s competitiveness and attractiveness to overseas visitors from the UK and Continental Europe in particular,” says Ryanair’s Michael Cawley.

He said the meetings with airport executives were about exploring “where we can add new routes or additional frequencies on existing routes, and deliver at least 1m new passengers which will create over 1,000 new jobs as a direct result of the Government’s decision to scrap the visitor tax”.

The chief executive of Shannon Airport says the abolition of the tax represents “a very timely and proactive move by Government to support air travel as it effectively amounts to a stimulant for both our airline customers and the airport”.

“We have already begun, in this our first year as an independent airport, a recovery in passenger numbers at Shannon so this decision by Government will boost our chances of continuing in that vein and achieving the targets we have set over a five-year period as an independent entity.

“For international airports like Shannon, this initiative may help tip the balance in our favour when it comes to convincing airline customers to enhance existing and put on new services.

“We ultimately hope that this will increase our chances of growing passenger numbers and it will have a positive knock on effect for not just ourselves but for the wider business and tourism sectors in the region we serve,” he added.

SCORES of supporters of the Ennistymon Choral Society will gather in Lahinch this Saturday to mark the 40th anniversary of the much-loved organisation. The society, which is one of Ireland’s longest-running musical groups, will host a free gala concert this Saturday and has invited anyone involved over the last four decades to come along. With more and 100 local people involved in bringing the musical together each year, a large crowd is expected to mark the 40-year anni- versary. “It’s a gathering as well as a celebration. It is a thank you evening for patrons, sponsors, supporters and all the members down the years who have all worked so hard over the last 40 years. It is quite a legend for such a small area,” said Maureen Keane Brown, president of the society and member since 1974. “It took a lot of dedication and support for local people to make this possible over the last forty years. We can’t stress how grateful we are. There is so much work in putting on a production and it is so expensive now to put on a production. “Local businesses, big and small, have always been amazing to us. Even in trying times, they have been just amazing. “We have so many young people involved in the society now, alongside people who have been involved for 40 years. It really is a great way for all the talent in north/west Clare to be developed.” The free Anniversary Gala Concert will take place this Saturday, October 26, from 8pm at Seaworld Lahinch. Refreshments on the night provided by Randaddy’s in Lahinch and Febvre Wines in Dublin. The society’s 41st production will be the cowboy classic ‘Oklahoma’ which will come to the stage in April of 2014. Rehearsals for this show are due to begin in mid-November.

AS MANY as 5,770 children from Clare are to benefit from a free GP service next year according to the Minister for Finance, but local doctors said that as yet no one has spoken to them.

At the Budget 2014 forum, supported by Citizen Information Services and Alliance of Social Protection of Recipients, participants welcomed the initiative but with an element of caution.

Those speaking on behalf people with disabilities and people reliant on social welfare maintained that means testing should be introduced with the under five free GP service.

However Clare members of the National College of General Practitioners said that no direct contact has been made with GPs.

Doctors have said the free GP care scheme for five year olds and under, as proposed by the Government, will not be a “high-end” service because it will not be properly funded.

The GP organisation also warned yesterday (Monday) that some GPs might not sign-up to the plan.

Meanwhile Government representatives are adamant that the initiative, which has had a very mixed reaction, will go ahead.

Labour TD Michael McNamara said, “This is a historic and significant initiative which means that local families with children aged five and under no longer have to give a second’s thought about visiting the doctor when their child gets sick.

“There is clear evidence that people delay or avoid visiting their GP where a fee is required. Removing this cost barrier will mean that local families will be far more likely to address medical problems at an earlier stage, leading to better outcomes and treatment that is of less cost to the State.”