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can reveal that a key member of Cratloe’s his- toric senior championship winning management team could be line for the team trainer’s role.

Fiach O’Loughlin, who is credited with turning Cratloe’s season around after linking up with the squad mid- term, is hotly tipped for the team

trainer’s post — the job seen as cru- cial to the re-building process to be undertaken by Ger O’Loughlin, starting with the National League DOB h Baal las

Fiach O’Loughlin’s prowess as a trainer led Cratloe to their famous county final winning day on Novem- ber 1, ironically the same day that Clare senior players met and voted no confidence in 2009 senior man- ager Mike McNamara.

He came to the training role in Cratloe via professional rugby, hav- ing been a key member and captain of Shannon’s All-Ireland League winning team in 2009. Now, his me- teoric rise in hurling could be capped with landing the plumb county senior or bae cM Oe-BUOUDOTSam [Oly

However, Ger O’Loughlin, who was ratified as new senior man- ager for “at least two years” at last

Thursday’s annual Convention in the Auburn Lodge Hotel is remaining tight-lipped on the make-up of his backroom team.

“T’m only in the job since Thursday evening so the situation is that over the next 5 or 6 days, I will hopefully have that put to bed,” he told

now has losses of over €4.5million but, according to Mr Collison, this rep- resents the full start-up costs of the newspaper since December 2005.

He said that this figure was “sig- nificantly below what we anticipated in our original business plan.”

‘The paper made a profit for the first time in September and is on course to break-even for the final quarter of the year. This was achieved through

extensive cost reductions, which cut weekly operational costs by over 50 per cent.”

“This would not have been pos- sible without the active cooperation and goodwill of staff whose sacri- fices over the past year have ensured the paper’s long-term survival’, he added.

The paper was established to chal- lenge the 100-year long dominance of The Clare Champion and _ latest ABC figures show The Champion’s circulation at 19,046 compared to The People’s 12,154.

Mr Collison said: “As a start-up operation, The Clare People had no accumulated reserves and felt the effects of the recession at an earlier stage than most of the legacy titles.”

‘This in some way proved a bless- ing in disguise as it enabled us to tackle our cost base earlier than might have been the norm. I would

expect that we will be one of the very few regional newspapers reporting break even or a profit for the final [VET to) axe) O hae

In the returns, the directors state that the key to this will be the achievement of forecasted revenues and the ability to contain costs at projected levels.”

“We initially hoped to reach breakeven during 2009 but the ex- pectation now 1s of further losses, but at approximately 45% of the 2008 levels, which in the current economic environment, 1s a positive result.”

The directors state that they and the shareholders have advanced interest free loans of €3.3million to the end of 2008 and have advanced further loans of €326,000 to the company up to September 20, 2009.

TWO people have been charged after counterfeit €50 notes were found in circulation in Shannon.

Liam Glennon (22), of Rowlagh Crescent, Dublin 2, is accused of possession of drugs for the purpose

of sale or supply; obstructing a garda at Shannon Town Centre and having four counterfeit €50 notes, on March 11 last.

Josh Hand (19), of Longstone Park, Portrane, County Dublin, is accused of tendering a counterfeit €50 note at a premises in Shannon, on March

9 last. He 1s also charged with having a counterfeit €50 note on March 11.

Garda Bryan McCarthy told Shan- non District Court on Thursday that he met the two accused by appoint- ment that morning and charged Weloveee

The garda said it would be alleged

that counterfeit ©€50 notes were cashed in shops in Shannon. A de- scription of a car was obtained by gardai and they launched an investi- gation.

He said that the accused were stopped and spoken to by gardai. A quantity of cocaine was found in the

car. He said that Mr Glennon took responsibility for the cocaine, which was valued at €250. One individual had four counterfeit €50 notes, while another had one note, he said.

Judge Joseph Mangan accepted ju- risdiction of the case and adjourned it until early in the new year.

A KILRUSH solicitor has expressed concern that a bench warrant was left “hanging around” a garda station for more than four months before being CLARO B

However, gardai say that the war- rant was executed as soon as it be- come known that it was still in exist- ence.

The comments were made in the case of Patrick Hall (23), of Craw- ford Street, Kilrush, who is accused of urinating in public at O’Curry Street, Kilkee, on June | last.

Garda Keith Hughes told Kilrush District Court on Wednesday that he executed a bench warrant by ar- resting the defendant the previous evening in Kilrush.

Defending solicitor Eugene O’ Kelly asked the garda had he been ap- proached by the accused on a number of occasions in relation to the bench warrant. Gda Hughes said the ac- cused has asked him if there were any pending cases against him.

Mr O’Kelly said his client was granted temporary release from Lim- erick prison on November 3 last and subsequently approached the garda and asked him if there were any out- standing matters.

The garda said he encountered the accused in mid-November when “there was no discussion about a warrant. There was a discussion about pending cases.”

Mr O’Kelly put it to the garda that the accused was in court on Novem- ber 8 last. The garda said he was not Sure at that time if the warrant had been executed.

Mr O’Kelly asked the garda, “Is there something about the impending approach of Christmas to do with the warrant being executed now?” The garda said there wasn’t and Superin- tendent Michael Comyns, prosecut- ing, said gardai were not objecting to bail being granted to the accused.

Mr O’Kelly said his client “wanted to clear the decks. I am satisfied Mr Hall has turned a corner. He wants to get on with his life. It’s very unfair that a warrant that has been hanging around the garda station since July is now being executed on the eve of Christmas.”

Supt Comyns said the bench war- rant was issued in July at the time warrants were issued in the circuit court. When Mr Hall presented him- self, the circuit court warrants were executed and Garda Hughes was not aware if the district court bench war- rant had been executed.

He said that Gda Hughes then made enquiries and last week’s district court was the first sitting since No- vember 8 and he executed the bench warrant in advance of the court.

Judge Joseph Mangan adjourned the case until next month and the ac- cused was granted bail.

A POLISH national has been charged with importation of drugs, having been arrested at Shannon Airport last week.

Patryk Kamil Al Zand (31), of no fixed abode, is accused of importing a drug, possession of cannabis resin and possession for the purpose of sale or supply, at Shannon Airport, on Monday, December 14, 2009.

He was arrested after he got off a flight between Prestwick and Shan- non, having earlier travelled from Poland, on Monday of last week.

Cannabis resin, valued at €4,200, was retrieved as part of a garda in- vestigation, after the accused was

stopped by Customs Officers at S)etveveleswaWen eam

The accused was taken to hospital on Tuesday and was charged early last Wednesday.

Kilrush District Court was told on Wednesday that he did not reply when the charges were put to him.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court that the accused came into Shannon Airport with just €10 and an identification card in his posses- sion.

He said the State was satisfied that the accused does not have means and free legal aid was granted.

The accused was remanded in cus- tody to appear again in court later WTA (le)

STAFF at a convenience store in Shannon were not adequately paid when an inspection of the premises was carried out last year.

A court has heard that there were six staff employed at Londis, Bru na Sionna, Shannon, in June 2008. While the minimum wage was paid to staff, they were not paid the mini- mum rate for adults working in the grocery trade, which is marginally higher than the minimum wage.

Sa Wex Ltd, of Fergus Drive, Drumgeely, Shannon, was_ before Shannon District Court on Thursday, facing five summonses relating to an inspection of Londis, Bru na Sionna, on June 13, 2008.

It was accused of failing to keep records, contrary to the Organisation of Working Time Act.

The other four summonses related to the Industrial Relations Act — fail- ure to pay staff the correct remunera- tion rate; failure to pay staff the un- social hours premium; failure to pay staff the overtime rate and failure to display notices.

An employee of the National Em- ployment Rights Authority told the court that she visited the employer on the date in question and met a com- pany representative.

She said it was established during the inspection that the employer was in breach of the Industrial Relations Act. A letter was sent to the employer in July and no response was forth- coming.

The court was told that while the national minimum wage is €8.65, the minimum rate for adults working the grocery trade is €8.91.

The solicitor for the Minster for En- terprise, Trade and Employment said under legislation, employees in the grocery trade should have been paid

€8.91, on the date in question.

The National Employment Rights Authority representative said that one staff member worked 60 hours in one week. “We haven’t received all the time sheets from the employ- er,’ she said.

She said that a poster on work- ers’ rights was not displayed on the EDN

Defence solicitor Stephen Nicholas said the accused was pleading guilty to the offences.

“If you are operating a shop, you are supposed to be familiar with the legislation. The legislation is becom- ing increasingly complex. These people were not familiar with all of this,” he said.

“Five or six employees were not paid all they were entitled to but they were paid the minimum wage of €8.65,” he added.

However, the solicitor for the Min- ister said the defendants were given ample time to correct the mistakes they made.

Mr Nicholas said he was told the letters were answered, but the Na- tional Employment Rights Author- ity representative said, “There was no response to the alleged breaches. We sent five letters. We received two responses.”

Mr Nicholas said that his clients were Operating a convenience store in Shannon. “Records were not fur- nished because they were not kept,” he said, adding that the business was closed late last year. He said that €350,000 in debts have been accu- mulated. ““The company’s only asset was its lease on this property,” said Mr Nicholas.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed fines totalling €1,500 and fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

A JUDGE has been asked to excuse himself from hearing a court case, af- ter a solicitor claimed that reference was made to a defendant’s record, prior to the hearing of the case.

At Kilrush District Court on Wednesday, solicitor Eugene O’ Kelly represented a man who was charged with a public order offence.

The case had been in court original- ly in September and was adjourned on that occasion.

On Wednesday, Mr O’Kelly said to Judge Joseph Mangan, “I’d ask that you excuse yourself from hear- ing this case. I believe the State has fatally prejudiced your views on the case.”

He said that in court in September, Judge Mangan asked the State was the accused in jeopardy. The solici- tor said the judge was told that the accused was “well-recorded”’ on the Pulse system as a suspected offender for various crimes such as burglary and criminal damage.

He said this was before a hearing of the case and asked that the case be heard by a different judge who would “not be contaminated by that sort of information.”

However, Superintendent Michael Comyns, prosecuting, said he was “100 per cent” sure he did not say what had been alleged by the so- licitor. Judge Mangan adjourned the case for hearing at a special sitting of Ennis District Court next month.

ENNIS Town Council has main- tained commercial rates at the current level of 65.45 per cent in its budget for PAUnTeR

It follows similar moves taken by Clare County Council and Shannon Town Council to also freeze rate lev- els.

Town Manager, Ger Dollard an-

nounced the decision at Ennis Town Council’s annual budget meeting last week. The decision is expected to serve as a boost to local business representatives who had _ lobbied the council to cut or freeze rates at present levels.

Mr Dollard also announced a reduc- tion in council spending for the year ahead and stated that there had been a significant reduction in income lev-

els. In his report, Mr Dollard stated, “The budget as presented provides for commercial rates to be maintained at the 2009 level and for parking charg- es also to remain at 2009 levels. The current rate for Ennis is at the lower end of the scale relative to similar sized towns around the country.

He added, “The draft budget pro- poses expenditure of €12,143,853 million, which is a reduction on the

amount provided in the budget for 2009. Overall income shows a sig- nificant reduction with a fall in in- come levels evident in many service areas and in Local Government Fund Grant Allocation. The provision for the County Demand in the budget is €2,983,000 which is a one per cent increase on 2009.

Welcoming the budget, Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) urged the council to

pursue government funding in order to purchase land for the development of local authority housing.

Cllr Michael Guillfoyle (Ind) urged people to recognise that the council did not have “pocketfuls of money” to spend in the year ahead.

Cllr Mary Howard (FG) acknow- eldged the difficult financial circum- stances in which the council had pre- pared its budget.

THE acquisition of a county field for camogie was the main thread of the Clare Camogie AGM that was held in the Auburn Lodge Hotel last Wednesday evening. While the 2008 equivalent was a timultuous affair that spanned over two meetings and saw significant change at the top ta- ble, this time the executive presented an united front in the pursuit of their main goal, based on a long standing commitment from the Clare County Council to provide the organisation with a playing field.

In her annual address, Chairperson Orla Considine stressed the need to “continue to develop our game and the numbers of those that are play- ing.

“While this is relatively within our control, I also must appeal to those who can assist in this process.

“T call upon the Council to uphold the promise made to Clare Camogie all of 20 years ago to provide a play- ing field at Doora. This field has now been developed, there is a playing surface with goal posts and also a small all weather training facility attached. The field will be ready for the final touches and for playing in the new calendar year. I ask those in the position of realising this to now do so and be seen to stand behind their commitment and not let down the female population of this county yet again. Be assured that we will

not stand for anything less than the fulfillment of commitment already acknowledged. You the councilors and council management can be seen as the people who have looked at the development and appreciation of Clare Ladies in the important man- ner it deserves.”

Treasurer Michael Maher, along with announcing an annual profit of €490.89 in his report giving an over- all healthy balance of €5,695.94, also threw his support behind the iniative.

‘“T suppose one of the main reasons that you are not electing any new of- ficers, barring perhaps the PRO, 1s because of our expectation that we are going to have a pitch by this time next year. I think the people that are working in Clare camogie deserve to have the pitch and as far as I’m concerned, the only one that has to sign the dotted line is the County Manager. We have one hundred per cent support from all the County Councillors and I think that is a great achievement. It’s a great achievement for yourselves the fact that you are thought of so highly by the people that you have elected and I would ask now that the County Manager deliver the pitch.

“The promise was made, it’s there and ready to play on in early spring and it would be a great boost for eve- rybody who has worked so hard and get very little credit. So I’m asking the County Manager to deliver.”

LOW incomes families have been singled out by the Government and targeted for extra harsh treatment be- cause they don’t have a coherent voice within Irish society.

That is the opinion of Treasa Dovan- dor, founder of the Protest Against a Child Unfriendly Budget (PACUB) organisation, who believes _ that families have borne the brunt of last week’s budget.

The group, which gathered more than 16,000 signatures for a petition against the budget, feels that the deci- sion revealed last week will create a new poor in Ireland.

“We have had feedback from a lot of families who feel that on top of the loss of the Early Childcare Sup- plement and the 10 per cent cut, they have suffered a 50 per cent cut in the Government support for families. We don’t feel that any sector within so- ciety has been hit as hard. No one is

there to speak up for families and in particular low income families, there isn’t really a voice for people like us and that is why we set up this organi- sation in the first place,” said

“This budget mainly hit middle and low income families and will create a new poor in Ireland. It is a blunt instrument and something like a 10 per cent cut can send people spiraling below the poverty line and they won’t be caught.

“We are an easy target. Parents have

childcare issues and we have work is- sues. It is not easy for us to down tools and head off marching to Dublin like the pensioners did. For us parents who are carrying the shoulder of much of the cut, we seem to have no-one fight- ing our corner except for PACUB,”’ she continued.

“T think that maybe families have been beaten down and conditioned to accept cuts for the benefit of the coun- try. There is very little fight left in families. We have already taken our

hit – we have already paid our share. The public sector have seen levies and now a loss of pay and people in the private sector have seen large reduc- tions in pay and many have lost their jobs – myself included.

‘““We have paid more than our share for this mess that we had nothing to do with creating. Child poverty is now a massive concern in this country. One in seven children are on the poverty line in this country and that is before this cut in child benefit happens.