Category: Uncategorized

NO APPLICATION has been made for a taxi licence in County Clare WTA ore

According to the Commission for Taxi Regulation, the number of l- censed taxi plates remained at 196 at the end of April — the same as at the end of last December.

But there has been a decrease in the

number of hackney licences which dropped to 226 at the end of April from 237 at the end of 2008. There has also been a drop in the number of limousine plates from 46 at the end of 2008 to 41 at the end of April.

The only sector of the public li- censed vehicle business to show an increase was wheelchair accessible taxis which rose by one from 14 to 15 over the same period.

In all, the number of licences from public service vehicles has dropped from 503 to 488.

The figures show that while now having reached a plateau of 196, the number of taxi plates increased ten- fold since deregulation.

Prior to deregulation, the Ennis taxi market was one of the most re- stricted in the country resulting in exorbitant prices for one of the 20

taxi plates available. In a couple of instances, plates were sold for sums in excess of €100,000. It now costs only €6,250 to purchase a plate.

Director of Ennis-based firm, Bur- ren Taxis, Brendan Tuohy said yes- terday that the current situation is “a CN Riko uae

“If you are not a member of a com- pany like Burren Taxis and you are out on your own, it 1s very hard to

make a living. If a survey was taken of the 196 existing taxi licence hold- ers “you would find maybe a quar- ter that are not working, because the business isn’t there”.

He said that taxi drivers in Burren Taxis — which has 40 drivers — are working 70 hours a week.

Mr Tuohy added that vehicle stand- ards must be increased “as anyone can come in and be a taxi-driver”.

THE unique geology of the Burren will form the centre piece for a new festival which takes place in north Clare later this month. The Burren Rocks! festival, organised by the Ennistymon-based Burren Connect Project, will take place from May 25 to 31 in a variety of locations around north Clare.

Some highlights of the festival will include a rock identification day at the Burren Outdoor Education Cen- tre in Bellharbour on May 28 and a

caving trip, due to take place on Sat- urday, May 30,

A number of family focussed events are also taking place including a range of themed walks and illustrat- ed lectures. Many of the walks and lectures are crossover events linking the Burren’s geology to its flora, ar- chaeology and culture.

A landscape-themed art competi- tion for children and teens will also take place, culminating with the winning entries being displayed at the Burren Centre in Kilfenora. Chil- dren are also invited to help make a

sandcastle city on Fanore beach on Saturday, May 30.

“There 1s an amazing wealth of geology in the Burren but it is often hidden or overlooked,’ said geologist Dr Maria McNamara.

“The Burren Rocks! festival is a really fun way of celebrating and raising awareness of the Burren’s fantastic geology, and will hopefully become a major annual event in the Burren calendar.”

All events are free of charge and most do not require booking. For full programme details, see www.bur-

renconnect.ie/geopark/events.html. The programme is also available lo- cally at libraries, visitor centres and selected public noticeboards or for more information ring 065 7072295 or email info@burrenconnect.ie.

The Burren Connect Project was established in December 2007 with funding from the Failte Ireland De- velopment Scheme Fund, in part- nership with Clare County Council, Shannon Development, National Parks and Wildlife Service, National Monuments Service, Geological Sur- vey of Ireland and Burrenbeo.

A MAN convicted of drug dealing — for the second time — in Shannon has been handed a jail term. Father-of-three John Paul Meaney (30), of Cluain Airne, Shannon, ad- mitted possession of cocaine for the purpose of sale or supply and posses- sion of cocaine, at his home on June

6, 2008.

Garda Pat Harte told Shannon District Court that he carried out a search of the accused’s home, under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and met the accused at the door.

“He immediately brought me to the kitchen and produced a lump of white powder. He admitted the pow- der was cocaine,” he said.

He said that 14.87g¢ of cocaine, along with a silver weighing scales and small plastic bags, were found. He gave €47/0 to the garda, which he admitted was the proceeds of drug ler Nba atee

Gda Harte said the cocaine was valued at €1,200.

The court heard the accused has a previous conviction, in 2001, for the

sale or supply of drugs. A suspended sentence had been handed down on that occasion, in the circuit court. Defending solicitor Caitriona Car- mody said her client had been before the courts nine years ago, having suffered from addiction problems at the time. “He was a cocaine addict. Unfortunately there was a relapse. It was in those circumstances that

he built up debts and he arrived at these circumstances. He was very small-scale engaged in the selling of CTU UTA MAMES) OLoeCT- BOR

Judge Joseph Mangan noted that the accused has a previous conviction for a similar offence and imposed a 10- month jail term.

He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

THE NORTH Clare tourism sector will receive a boost this week with the news of a €1 million investment by Cliffs of Moher Cruises, which will create four new jobs in the lo- cality. The company is set to for- mally launch the Doolin Discovery which will allow for the creation of two new routes to and from the Aran Island.

According to Eugene Garrihy of the Cliffs of Moher tours, the new expansions will help attract more tourists to the Doolin area and help all businesses 1n north Clare.

‘The boat is called the Doolin Dis- covery and it is the sister ship to the boat we already operate, the Jack B. The boat will be used on the Aran Island’s routes as well as the Cliffs of Moher cruises. We are develop- ing the business; we have not gone to Inis Mor and Inis Meain before now, so these are two new routes that we are putting on because of the new boats,” he said .

‘As everyone knows all businesses in Clare, and north Clare in particu- lar, are going through a difficult time because of this recession. So I think that this is a welcome addition to the facilities that are on offer in north Clare for tourists. As well as that,

it is a substantial investment on our behalf so it shows that we are confi- dent that we can develop the business there more in the future.

“It’s a very difficult time for the tourism sector at the moment, espe- cially for the people who run hotels and bed and breakfasts. So it is all about an area being able to offer dif- ferent services to tourists. One of the big problems traditionally with tourism in north Clare is that a lot of people have traditionally gone from Kerry to Galway and bypassed a lot of north Clare.

“The Cliffs of Moher has done a lot to tackle that over the last number of years through the centre that they have build up there and the area is starting to hold more people over night. That is what we are hoping to do – even if it’s just a case of hold- ing people for one extra night in the area.

“Tt will also see the creation of four extra jobs in the area which is an ex- tra boost. The tourism businesses in north Clare are all linked together. We think that this will help other businesses in the area and we would be hopeful of getting support from the business community in the area as well.”

AN out-of-control 17-year-old boy who is ‘running wild’ around En- nis went berserk and threatened to smash up his mother’s home last Fri- day morning, a court has heard.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, 1s ac- cused of public order offences and a theft matter, arising from two sepa- rate incidents last week.

He was on bail at the time, having been charged with a public order of- fence last month.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client was pleading guilty

to the public order charges.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told Ennis District Court on Friday that gardai had responded to a call at the boy’s home at lam that morning.

He said that the boy’s mother was distraught and shocked after the ac- cused went berserk and threatened to smash up their home. She had col- lected him from town at 12.30am. When the boy became aware that the gardai were being called, he fled. He initially could not be lo- cated, but later returned home and screamed and roared. He was taken to the Garda station, where his ag- gression continued.

Ms Godfrey said that there have been on-and-off difficulties with her client over the past two years.

‘They have reached crisis point in the last six months. His mother has indicated that she cannot allow the situation to continue in that regard. She would be suggesting that he would have to leave the home,’ she SrHTOR

Inspector Gallagher said that while the boy has no previous convictions, he was dealt with under the juvenile liaison programme in the past.

In court last month, Inspector Gal- lagher described the public order offence, with which the boy was

charged on that occasion, as one of the worst such matters he had come across.

On that occasion, the boy was granted bail, with strict conditions, including that he abide by a curfew. ‘He hasn’t abided by the curfew. I genuinely feel sorry for his mother,” said Inspector Gallagher last Fri- day.

“The young fella is just running wild around town. He’s out of con- trol,” he added.

Ms Godfrey accepted that this couldn’t be denied.

The boy told the court that he was drunk when he committed the of-

fences last Friday morning. It was unacceptable to do it to my mother,” he said.

Asked by Judge Joseph Mangan does he take drugs, he said, “Some- times I smoke weed and hash.”

He was asked did he blame alco- hol for what had happened and said, “It’s the drink, but it’s half myself as well.”

Judge Mangan remanded the boy in custody to St Patrick’s Institution for a week and ordered that a Proba- tion report be carried out.

Free legal aid was granted, after the boy’s mother told the court she was unable to meet his legal fees.

FIANNA Fail added its second can- didate to the Ireland North West ticket at the 11th hour amid much disquiet from the Pascal Mooney camp.

Just hours before the close of nomi- nations, Minister for State and Don- egal South West TD Pat “the Cope” Gallagher (FF) declared as a candi- date after weeks of speculation.

He joined former senator Mooney on the ticket, vacated by sitting MEP Sean O Neachtain.

The Galway-based MEP and Mooney were selected to represent the party, but O Neachtain later withdrew his name citing ill health.

Fianna Fail failed to find a candi- date in the southern half of the vast constituency of Ireland North West,

and yesterday announced former MEP and junior Minister Gallagher as the second candidate.

The news was not welcomed in the Mooney camp, as supporters be- lieved that both men would be look- ing for votes in the north.

Announcing his candidature Min- ister Gallagher said, “We must maximise funding opportunities from Europe which is supporting Irish economic recovery through a number of different positive initia- UAVore

“Now more than ever, Ireland needs to elect people who will be able to work in Europe on a range of different policy issues that will sup- port Irish economic recovery.

“The European Union is to the forefront in helping Ireland to pull out of economic recession.”

The junior minister served in the European Parliament before be- tween 1994 and 2002.

He said that both himself and Mr Mooney must work together to win back the Fianna Fail seat in Ireland oye fenie

The former senator, 1s an award- winning broadcaster and journalist and a native of Drumshanbo, Coun- ty Leitrim.

Mr Mooney said he will fight to protect the farming and fishing in- dustry and push for better job crea- tion and tourism through EU sup- port. He said he will also fight to protect Ireland’s cultural, linguistic and national diversities within the European Union and for increased financial support for Irish small and medium-size enterprises.

The former senator has served on

a number of European bodies in- cluding the Council of Europe and the WEU Parliamentary Assembly. He presented several reports to the Council of Europe including ‘Wom- en’s Participation in Elections’ and ‘Europe’s response to Humanitarian Disasters’ in association with the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

He is co-author of “Women in Parliament’, now the benchmark publication acknowledging the role played by Irish women in the politi- cal process since the foundation of Some EI Koe

Mr Mooney was the first Irishman to be elected chairman of the Coun- cil of Europe Human Rights Com- mittee and has also served on the Joint House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Forum on Europe.

SIX men have pleaded guilty to af- fray, arising out of an incident in the Cloughleigh area of Ennis.

The six, who are members of two families, admitted the offence, at Ennis Circuit Court last Tuesday, re- lating to an incident in Cloughleigh, on October 11, 2007.

The accused are Christy Mongans Senior, Christy Mongans Junior and Jim Mongans, all of Shalee Drive, Ennis; Michael and Thomas Molloy,

of Gordon Drive, Ennis and John Molloy, of Clarehill, Clarecastle.

Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan, BL, told the court that the case “is part and parcel of an ongoing difficulty between various families in and around the town of Ennis”’.

He asked for an adjournment of the sentencing until next month. He said that one of the two families, the Mongans, has since moved to Cork and “there is no danger of events re- curring”.

Judge Donagh McDonagh said he

would adjourn the case if the status in place remained “and neither the twain shall meet at any time”.

“If any of you see the other coming in you direction, you turn around the other way,” warned the judge to the SPN te

Mr Coughlan informed the judge that peace has broken out and he re- plied, “I want to ensure peace con- tinues.”

THE legislation implementing the changes announced in the sup- plementary budget published last Thursday included an extension to the deadlines for tourism projects in the Shannon Region which was not included in Finance Minister Brian

Lenihan’s budget speech last month.

The Shannon Corridor Scheme was introduced in 2007 to provide tax re- lief for expenditure on certain tour- ism facilities in the Mid-Shannon area. Projects had to be submitted for approval by May 31 and had to have a planning application submit- orem ae elo OF

The May 31 deadline has been pushed out to May 31, 2010. In addi- tion, the time frame in which the ex- penditure must be incurred has been extended to May 31, 2013.

The scheme, designed to act as an incentive for both new development and refurbishment of tourism infra- structure in Clare, Galway, Tipperary,

Offaly, Westmeath and Roscommon, applies to tourism buildings such as facilities for watersports, boat rental and inland cruising, health spas, equestrian and other facilities.

Jackie Masterson, Taxation Partner with Russell Brennan Keane said that while they had met with a number of parties interested in the scheme, the deadline was proving prohibitive in the current climate and the one year extension was very welcome.

“Successful applicants have the op- tion of claiming the tax allowances themselves as a means of reducing their own tax bill annually or can use the incentive as a means of financing their project. “However difficulties in attracting investors will still re- main a challenge’, she said.

The Clare district electoral divi- sions that qualify under the scheme include Ayle, Ballynahinch, Boher- glass, Caherhurley, Cappaghabaun, Carrowbaun, Cloonusker, Coolreagh, Corlea, Derrynagittagh, Drummaan, Fahymore, Feakle, Inishcaltra North, Inishcaltra South, Killaloe, Kullo- kennedy, Killuran, Kilseily, Lack- areagh, Loughea, Mountshannon, O’Briensbridge, Ogonnelloe and Scarriff.

A DEFENDANT accused of rob- bing a man of his bus pass has been refused bail, after gardai lodged an objection.

James Liddy (34), of New Houses, Clarecastle, is accused of robbing a man of a mobile phone and wallet, which contained €90 and a bus pass, at Station Road, Ennis, on November 20 last.

Ennis District Court was told on Friday that it would be alleged the accused and two others robbed the jnerenee

Judge Joseph Mangan deaclined jurisdiction of the case in the district court. It will be heard in the circuit court.

Inspector Michael Gallagher said the State was objecting to bail, based on the seriousness of the charge and the possibility that the accused may interfere with witnesses.

Judge Mangan remanded him in custody to appear in court later this week.

2008 2008 2008 2007 2006 2006 vA0l Ore

BMW X5 3.0 SE

BMW 520d M Sport Auto BMW 3181 ES Saloon BMW 318d M Sport BMW 520d SE Saloon BMW 318d M Sport BMW X5 3.0 SE

€67,950 €47,950 €31,250 €29,950 € 24,000 €21,500 € 22,950