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PARENTS of children attending Seamount College in Kinvara are calling on Education Minister, Batt O Keeffe, to clarify the future of the school before growing speculation causes a major drop in new enrol- ments.

Following the Governments deci- sion to delay the construction of a new school for Seamount earlier this month – fears have been growing that the whole project could be put in jeopardy.

After protracted discussions in 2007 the Sisters of Mercy, who own the current school building and premises, agreed to forgo closing the school until a facility was construct- ed by the Government.

The first condition on this decision however, was that the school be built without delay.

According to RESCUE, the parents eroup campaigning for the school, clarification is required urgently.

“The people of Kinvara have been waiting patiently for nearly two years since Ministers Noel Treacey and Tony Killeen stood on the stage in Seamount College and promised that Kinvara would have a new co-ed school – they told the assembled stu- dents, teachers and parents that the problem was over,’ said a RESCUE spokesperson.

“Tt is being publicly speculated that the Department of Education have appointed officials to visit Kinvara this month to inspect sites already identified for the new school, nego- tiations are at an advanced stage be- tween the Department and the Mercy

Sisters to keep Seamount College open until the new co-ed school is ready.

“These negotiations may include the lease or purchase of the existing school buildings by the department to allow the school to be developed to a co-educational model.”

RESCUE claim that the Depart- ment of Education have been unable to answer any of their questions in relation to the school’s future.

“The provision of a co-ed school in Kinvara was approved on the strength of the department’s own report of January 2008. RESCUE

questions whether the minister has ever read this report,” continued the spokesperson.

‘Before the last election, the Green Party, now partners in Government, made much noise about the provision for education in their 50 point plan. They made a specific commitment,

at national level, to second level edu- cation in Kinvara.”’

Jet FM hopes to freshen up Shannon airwaves

A DISPUTE between a furniture shop manager and a member of staff led to the employee stealing more than €3,000 worth of furniture from the store.

As aresult, the now former employ- ee was charged with five offences in connection with the disappearance of the furniture from the shop, in NJ erveveeyee

Brian McDonnell went in at night and took an assortment of furniture from his former employer at Smith- town Furniture.

McDonnell (25), of Lismorris, Cuthar Rea, Lissycasey, admitted entering the premises as a trespasser and stealing a television unit and cof- fee table, valued at €719, between November | and 6 last.

He pleaded guilty to stealing a nest of tables, six chairs, two coffee tables, a coat stand, recliner chair, foot stool and two lockers – valued at €1,773 – from the premises between October 1, 2006 and October 1, 2008.

He also admitted stealing a nail gun, valued at €7/50, between No- vember 7 and 12 last.

He also admitted entering the premises as a trespasser with intent to commit theft on November 21 Ee

Garda Bryan McCarthy told Shan- non District Court on Thursday that he arrested the accused on February 12 last. He did not make any reply when five charges were put to him. Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client was pleading guilty to WSO ENE one

Inspector Tom Kennedy, prosecut- ing, said there were a number of charges of theft.

He explained that the total value of the property taken was €3,242. While it was recovered, it had to be resold as second-hand property and €1,246 was outstanding. “It tran- spired furniture was disappearing from the shop,” he said.

Garda McCarthy told the court that the accused had been employed for a number of years at Smithstown Fur- niture World, Smithstown, Shannon,

which was the injured party in the case.

He said McDonnell’s employment had ceased in September or Octo- ber last and subsequent to that “‘it’s alleged the shop was burgled four abe stone

“Since he was an employee, he still had a key. He used to open the front door and disarm the alarm and remove items of furniture from the shop,” he said.

“We viewed CCTV and we ob- served Mr McDonnell. He had his

van parked at the back,” he said.

‘As far back as two years, a certain amount of furniture was stolen from the shop,” he added.

Gda McCarthy said the property was for the defendant’s own use. He said that between October 1, 2006 and October 1, 2008, other items had been taken and were found on the de- fendant’s own property.

However, Ms Godfrey said her cli- ent would refute a large part of what the garda had said.

She said that her client – who has

no previous convictions – had been friendly with his employer Noel Justice for many years and they had gone on holidays to Orlando together with their families last June.

However, the relationship between the two men broke down after that and she said her client had since “walked out” on his job.

“Mr McDonnell will say he gave Noel Justice €2,000 in May of last year, in consideration of furniture,” she said. Gda McCarthy accepted that that had been said to him and

said that when the accused was ques- tioned initially, he told gardai that a dispute between himself and Mr Jus- tice had been behind it all.

Ms Godfrey said her client discov- ered that stamps had not been paid in respect of his employment and “un- der tremendous pressure” he went to the premises and took the furniture.

“My client had become so annoyed, so antagonised by the situation, his judgment was clouded. He accepts he shouldn’t have dealt with it in the way he did,” she added.

“He is mortified. He is embar- rassed. He is upset. Everything that was taken was recovered. My client has instructed me to pursue Mr Jus- tice separately for the €2,000,” she said.

“To use a colloquial term, he lost it. He felt that Mr Justice was not giving him satisfaction in any respect. He took the furniture, which in his mind was rightfully his. He should have taken a case against Mr Justice for either the money or the furniture,” added Ms Godfrey.

Noel Justice then took the stand and asked by Judge Joseph Mangan had there been a dispute, he said, “Yes.” Referring to the €2,000, he said that the accused had received furniture to the value of €1,520 and he had noti- fied him that a voucher for €480 was available for him in the shop “when he returned the items he had taken. . . He wasn’t happy with that.”

Ms Godfrey put it to Mr Justice that her client had €1,316 in court and that would ensure the witness would not be at any loss. He replied, “Td much prefer to seek legal advice off my own solicitor before I could decide what I could do.”

The solicitor said her client was well respected in his community.

Judge Mangan imposed a fine of €300 on one of the charges and took the others into consideration. He fixed a bond in the event of an ap- peal.

MAYOR of Clare, Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) is leaving frontline poli- tics when her term in office finishes in June.

She will not stand in the upcom- ing local elections for Fine Gael, and confirmed that she would not be run- ning as an independent candidate.

On Friday last, Cllr Taylor Quinn announced her intention to leave elected politics for now, although she warned she was not leaving politics.

“Sometimes people go on a leave of absence and on this occasion I am taking a break. I am not saying I am quitting politics but I am not seeking a nomination to run as a Fine Gael candidate,’ she told the party’s Kil- rush convention on Friday night last.

The west Clare woman has had a distinguished career in politics as the only Clare Fine Gael TD ever to sit on the front bench. She was a mem- ber of the Seanad and a member of Clare County Council for 30 years. She followed her father, Frank Taylor, into the world of politics.

A MAN whose heroin addiction costs him €100 a day is a threat to society and has a ‘dysfunctional lifestyle’, according to gardai.

In objecting to bail for the father- of-two, who faces five drug-related charges, gardai said he was a flight risk. After hearing that the accused injects himself three times a day and his addiction costs him €100 a day, Judge Joseph Mangan refused to grant bail.

Emmet Curley, (28), of Rineanna View, Shannon, is accused of posses- sion of cocaine and ecstacy for sale or supply, at Tullyvarraga, Shannon, on April 11, 2008.

He is also accused of possession of cocaine, ecstacy and cannabis, on the SENSO Esl Kom ;

Garda Sean O Murcht told Shan-

non District Court last Thursday that he arrested the accused the previous morning in Cork City.

Mr Curley was brought to Shannon Garda Station, where he was charged with five alleged offences.

He did reply to each of the charges when they were put to him, said the garda. In reply to one, he said, “I apologise. I had a serious problem with coke at the time.” In reply to another charge, he said, “I apologise for being involved in ecstacy as I don’t take them but they were for my friends, so I picked them up.”

His response to another charge was, ‘“T apologise for having the ecstacy as I don’t take them. They were for my friends,” while in reply to another charge, he said, “I apologise about the cocaine as I had a serious prob- lem at the time.”

Replying to the fifth charge, he said,

“T had that for my own personal use to help me sleep as I have an anxiety problem.”

Judge Mangan asked what quantity of drugs would the State be alleging was involved. The garda said it was €1,700 in total.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the DPP would be consenting to summa- ry disposal of the case in the district court, but only on a plea.

However, defending solicitor Jen- ny Fitzgibbon said she wasn’t in a position to comment on that at this stage. She sought bail for her client, but Inspector Kennedy said the State would be resisting this.

The solicitor said her client has been living in accommodation pro- vided by the Simon Community in Cork for the past couple of months.

Inspector Kennedy said that two of the charges were for alleged sale or

supply of drugs.

“They go back to last April when they were detected. Shortly after that, he left the area and his whereabouts was not known until yesterday. Garda O Murcht went to Cork looking for him. It was fortuitous that he found him on the street in Cork,” he said.

Garda O Murchu then explained that the accused had left Shannon in ALbn ten

“I was made aware that he was in Cork city, but that he was living rough. When he was stopped by gardai in Cork city, he was giving his Shannon address,” he said.

Inspector Kennedy said the accused was giving the Shannon address as it was “convenient” for him. “He has no address. He has a dysfunctional lifestyle. He is addicted to substances by his own admission. He represents a flight risk. He’s in a vulnerable po-

sition and he is also a threat to soci- ety, he said.

Garda O Murchu explained that the accused is addicted to heroin. “He’s injecting himself three times a day, at a cost of €100 a day,” he said.

Mr Curley told the court that his wife has been encouraging him to return to their home for the past two months, but “because of my problem with heroin I didn’t want to go home to my kids.”

He said he gave his Shannon ad- dress to gardai in Cork as he still con- sidered it as his home address.

“I begged for money in Cork to feed my habit, which I’m afraid of. I never committed any crime in Cork. I am not a threat to society,” ater BCG

Judge Joseph Mangan remanded Mr Curley in custody to reappear in court later this month.

KATE Winslett warmed up for her best actress triumph at Sunday night’s Academy Awards ceremony with a Clare hooley in honour of her agent, Hylda Queally from Barefield, who was honoured at a prestigious pre-Oscar event in Hollywood.

The ‘Oscar Wilde; Honouring the Irish in Film’ award was presented to the Clare woman by Ms Winslett who said she was delighted that her “long-time friend and agent” was be- ing honoured. The star of the award- winning movie

AN additional 20 charges have been brought as part of an investigation into the discovery of a haul of sever- al thousand euro worth of jewellery, which was stolen from several homes in Ennis late last year.

The jewellery was discovered in November, after a major investiga- tion, “Operation Ennis’, was set up to tackle the spiralling rate of daytime burglaries in Ennis.

An Iranian national, Ali Reza Ve- layati, was charged in November with entering three houses – at Ard na Greine; Dun na R1, Tobartaoscain; and Ard Aoibhinn, Limerick Road, Ennis – as a trespasser and stealing aia oes

SU sloma eT Comey Mm NaloMn (AW o) UJ a’amr-NE (orees edly taken from the house at Dun na Ri was €1,950, while €500 worth of jewellery was allegedly taken from the house at Ard Aoibhinn.

Velayati (40), of Avondale, Kilrush Road, Ennis, was also charged with handling stolen jewellery, at Oakwood Drive, Ennis, on November 8 last.

He re-appeared in court last Friday where the court heard he had been charged with another 20 alleged of-

fences, the previous day.

He is charged with 19 counts of theft of jewellery or cash from houses on various dates between September 19 and November 8 last.

The total amount of jewellery list- ed on the charge sheets 1s €48,050,

along with 5,000 dollars.

The homes are in various parts of Ennis, including Clon Road, Shan- non Park, St Senan’s Road, Elm Park, Glensheen, Cahercalla Estate, Tulla Road, Tobartaoscaoin, College Grove, College Green, Abbey Court,

Victoria Court, Oakpark, Bramble Lane, Glenina and Inis Carraig.

He is also charged with handling €50,150 worth of stolen jewellery and €8,500 cash, at his home on No- (ole mC Ee

Garda Cyril Page told Ennis Dis-

trict Court that the accused did not make any reply to 10 of the charges after caution.

Sergeant John Cunningham told the court that in reply to the other 10 charges, the accused said, “I will talk to my lawyer.”

Inspector John Galvin told the court that the new charges will form part of a book of evidence which is due to be served next month.

Defending solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client had been “deprived of his liberty” for two months and was led to believe he would be facing up to 50 charges, when, in fact, he is now facing 24 charges.

Inspector Galvin said he under- stood the book of evidence would be ready for the next date. “This is the final chapter. These are the final charges,” he said.

Judge Joseph Mangan heard that the accused is currently on bail and said he would not mark it peremptory against the State.

IT was a comfortable victory in the end for champions Rock Rovers, but the thin line between victory and defeat was graphically illustrated in this full-blooded Sunday morning cup tie.

Rock, in their first defence of the title they won so sensationally in the County Grounds last May when beat- ing cup specialists Bunratty, were a goal down at half-time courtesy of Danny Scanlan’s brilliant finish in the 13th minute.

Throw in the fact that the Manus defence was in an uncompromising mood in that first half, snapping at the heels of their more vaunted op- ponents and not yielding an inch, let alone a clear-cut chance at goal.

But most of all throw in the fact that three minutes into the sec- ond half opportunity knocked for Michael Geraghty to put Manus into the dreamland of being 2-0 up on the cup champions and on the road to the last 16.

Geraghty was one-on-one with Rock keeper Leonard Keane — it looked easier to score than miss, but the latter prevailed when Geraghty blasted the ball wide from just inside the area.

Manus would have been full value for a 2-0 lead — they had dominated the first 35 minutes of the first half, forced six corners, controlling the midfield exchanges thanks to they physicality and looking dangerous up front thanks to Danny Scanlan.

His goal had class written all over it as he controlled Seanie Travers’

free with his left, dragged it onto his right foot and then hammered a low drive beyond Leonard Keane from

six yards. Ironically, Rock’s equaliser that came 40 seconds after Geraghty’s

miss was nearly a carbon copy of Manus’ opener. Greg Howard and Dean Gardiner worked the ball down

the right — Gardiner found Ashley Glynn on the edge of the six-yard box he controlled the ball with his left and then drove home the equaliser.

Rock were in the ascendancy from there on — they had the edge in fit- ness, but the game looked like going into extra-time until substitute Ro- nan Arthur struck for the lead goal with two minutes remaining.

The summer signing from Newmar- ket Celtic latched onto Barry Woods’ free and beat Blaise Talty from six yards. The icing was applied two minutes later when Shane Daniels’ free from midfield was headed home by Rowan Eade.

Rock could be on another cup run, but the 3-1 defeat definitely didn’t done Manus justice.

A MOTORIST who panicked when he saw gardai drove through a set of traffic lights and overtook cars on a continuous white line.

Brian Murphy (27), of Rineanna View, Shannon, pleaded guilty to careless driving arising out of an in- cident at Smithstown, Shannon, on October 30 last.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Shan- non District Court that the accused drove through a set of traffic lights in

Shannon and failed to yield.

He said that Murphy, who was driving a motorbike, overtook cars on a continuous white line.

He accepted that while he overtook the cars, he hadn’t inconvenienced anyone.

Murphy also pleaded guilty to a public order charge arising out of a late-night incident at Shannon Town Centre on November 15 last.

Inspector Kennedy told the court the accused hassled security staff “‘to the effect if they laid a hand on him

he would kill them.”

Referring to the driving offence, defending solicitor Eamonn Dillon said his client had taken the mo- torbike out for a spin and panicked when he saw the gardai.

The solicitor said that his client was remorseful and apologetic for his ac- tions on November 15. He said his client had not been out for some time prior to that night and unfortunately had consumed too much alcohol.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed fines totalling €500.

COROFIN Harps secured a place in the third round of the Clare Cup with a victory that was in no way as easy as the final score line suggests.

Turnpike Rovers, to an extent, were authors of their own misfortune giv- ing away two own goals before suc- cumbing to two sharply taken Noel Mullane goals. Mullane’s pair of late strikes summed up the major dif- ference between the sides on Sun- day; Corofin made the most of their chances; Turnpike blew theirs.

In an open and exciting encounter at Lees Road, Harps took the lead after 14 minutes before Pike equalised.

The remainder of the first half flared out in a series of wasted goal chances, with both sides equally cul- pable.

Pike’s profligacy was to prove the costher. After Andy Hayes inadvert-

edly became the second Pike player to put through his own net in the 58th minute, Corofin went for the kill.

The Harps line-up had a familiar look to it with one exception as cen- tre forward Gavin Dinan stepped in as emergency goalkeeper. Dinan ac- quitted himself well. The highlight undoubtedly being his 76th minute penalty save from James Ferns.

It was Dinan’s opposite number, Marty Whelan who was first to be tested with the Turnpike goalie get- ting down smartly to stop Mullane in the 4th minute.

Pike’s best chance of the opening quarter arrived in the 10th minute When Thomas Cronin’s shot was cleared of the line. Corofin took the lead soon after. John Keane whipped a low cross from the right that came of Eric Hayes and into the net.

Pike were level by the 20th minute. Donnacha Hassett’s cross from the

left was touched on by Cronin to the unmarked Stephen Burns at the back post. Cool as you like, Burns curled a low shot past Dinan to make it 1-1. Both sides had opportunities to take the lead before the break.

Cronin missed a glorious chance when he chipped inches wide in the 39th minute before Mullane and Ja- son Tierney combined for Keane to blast over from ten yards on half mnealee

Harps regained the lead shortly af- ter when Brian Halipn’s fizzed low free kick clipped Andy Hayes and trickled to the net.

Corofin’s lead was almost wiped out minutes later when Andy Hayes touched Cronin’s drive over the bar.

Mullane put daylight between the sides when he swept home in the Sede maenselbicon

Two minutes later Mullane bur- ied Corofin’s fourth goal and with it

Turnpike’s chances. Dinan kept out Fern’s penalty as the champions of 2005 and 2006 advance into familiar territory.

The Harps could be on the move ey lerem an leyue