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HUNDREDS of Clare farmers are facing a race against time to have works undertaken under the Farm Waste Management Scheme com- pleted by the end of year deadline.

According to a new survey released by the Irish Farmers Association last week more than one in every three farmers will miss the December deadline.

This would amount to more than 10,000 farmers countrywide and hundreds in Clare.

“The end of year deadline is un- realistic given the magnitude of the

investment that is required on Irish farms to meet the requirements of the Nitrates directive,’ said IFA President Padraig Walshe.

“IT am calling on the Government to put in place flexible arrangements to allow any farmer who has started work to be eligible for the 60 per cent grant when work is completed.”

It 1s estimated that around 33,000 farmers are either in the process of doing work or intend to start the work soon. However, for a number of different reasons, up to 10,000 farm- ers will not have completed work by the end of the year.

The main reason identified in the

IFA survey for the expected non- completion of work is a lack of availability of builders, difficulty in raising finance, the timescale for completion of work being too tight and shortage of building materials.

“Securing flexible arrangements for farmers who will be endeav- ouring to complete work under the FWM is a priority issue for IFA in the partnership talks, which have already commenced,” continued the IFA President.

The IFA survey of over 300 farm- ers who have applied for the Farm Waste Management and the Farm Improvement Scheme was conduct-

ed through a telephone survey from the 12 IFA regional offices as well as farmers who were surveyed at the IFA stand at last week’s Farm Fest Teagasc open day in Athenry.

“The survey clearly highlights the need for such a scheme with up to 97 per cent of farmers who have got approval expected to complete work under the scheme,” said IFA Rural Development Chairman Tom Turley.

“In addition, farmers who applied between the 22nd and the 31st Oc- tober 2007 closure date, up to 98 per cent would start work if they got the Department of Agriculture ap- proval.”

AN early morning fishing expedition turned to tragedy when a Moldovan man drowned after he was swept out to sea, Ennis Coroner’s Court heard last week.

Efim Lungu (30) died at Blue Pool, Doonbeg, on July 1, 2007. The in- quest into his death heard details of a statement made by Giedrius Janulis. He told gardai that at 3am on July 1, he and two of others left Limer- ick and travelled to Doonbeg to go fishing. He said that one of the three, Efim Lungu, “went down the rope to check how was the fishing below. Me and the third man stayed up on top.”

He said that at 5.45am, the “third man” saw that the waves were very high.

‘He asked him to come up until the waves calmed down and Efim said, “Vl be up in 15 minutes”.

“Shortly afterwards, a wave came from both sides and knocked Efim off the ledge and into the water. The waves were taking Efim away from the coastline and were washing him out to sea. I couldn’t see Efim. He was under the water. We waited 30 minutes to see if he could get out. We were unsure what to do. We left for Limerick after about 30 minutes.”

When they arrived back in Lim- erick, they reported it to the gardai. Kilkee Marine Rescue Service were launched a boat. Mr Lungu’s body was later recovered off Blue Pool.

Consultant Pathologist Dr James O’Driscoll told the inquest that death was due to drowning.

THE widow of a man who died from cancer said she felt cheated by the doctors at the Killaloe clinic where he received photodynamic therapy.

Bernadette Gallagher, from Mull- ingar, Co Westmeath, lost her hus- band John James through cancer of the liver, in September 2002.

He underwent photodynamic treat- ment at Mr Carmody’s clinic in Kil- laloe, in February of that year.

In court last Friday, Mrs Gallagher repeatedly broke down in the witness stand as she described how she felt that herself, her husband and their three children were “cheated and lied to” by Mr Carmody and Dr William Porter, who administered the treat- ment.

She said that Mr Carmody told them he was opposed to chemothera- py as it was “barbaric.”

Instead, he recommended photo- dynamic treatment, which, he said, was suitable for all types of cancer and would destroy her husband’s cancer. They paid €14,000 for the treatment.

She said Mr Carmody told her hus- band the treatment was ‘just like magic’ and they thought it was too good to be true.

Mrs Gallagher said that Paschal Carmody told her husband it was his mission in life to find a cure for cancer.

She said that her husband com- plained of loss of appetite and loss of energy in July 2000, which was unu- sual as “he had never missed a day from work over illness.”

He was initially told it was down to gastroenteritis, an ulcer or his gall bladder, but went for a second opin- ion in London.

There, it was discovered he had a large tumor in the stomach and also a problem with his liver. In Septem- ber 2000, his stomach, spleen, pan- creas and one-third of his liver were removed. That December, he got the all-clear, but after Christmas, he got lumps under his arm.

In January 2001, he started chemo- therapy and again got the all-clear that May. In November 2001, it was

revealed that the cancer had returned to the liver and the chemotherapy was resumed.

She said she visited Dr Paschal Carmody in January 2002, having herself been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. Whilst there, she said she mentioned her husband’s ill- ness to Dr Carmody.

“He went on to tell me it was a shame he hadn’t come to him be- cause they had hit on a miraculous or magic cure.

“He was totally against chemother- apy. He said if any member of his family had cancer in the morning, he wouldn’t let them have chemothera- py, as it was barbaric and killed all the good cells,” she said.

She said her husband was out in the car and Dr Carmody “opened the door and invited” him in.

“T was excited. Dr Carmody started to explain to my husband about the photodynamic treatment.

‘He said it was his mission in life to find a cure for the people of Ireland, the people who suffered from cancer. My husband said, ‘Surely my cancer is too severe’. He said it was suitable for all cancer,” she said.

“My husband said, ‘It sounds like magic.’ Dr Carmody laughed and said, “Yes, just like magic.’ We thought it was too good to be true,” she said.

“We were ecstatic. We couldn’t be- lieve what we had hit on. I had for- gotten why I went there. I’d forgotten it was about me,” she said.

“J (her husband) said, ‘Imagine we ve found it and we weren’t even looking for it.. He used to pray a lot. He thought it was his prayers answered. J couldn’t wait to tell the kids,’ she said.

She said her husband was given herbal remedies to build up his im- mune system and was on 66 tablets a day.

“He didn’t call them tablets. He called them bullets, they were so big,” she said.

She said their daughter Lisa, who was nine or 10 at the time, asked Dr Carmody, “You’re not going to hurt my dad” and he said “No.”

Their son Tecwen, now 23, asked Dr Carmody would he keep his dad’s cancer at bay. She said he replied, ‘“We’re not alone going to be able to hold it at bay, we’re going to destroy it. Aren’t we Bill?”

“Bill Porter replied, “Yes’,’ she said.

She said after her husband under- went the treatment in February 2002, the tablets were making him very ill. She phoned Dr Carmody and he ad- vised her to open up the capsules and put them into a milkshake, but that made ‘J’ even more ill.

She said her husband began to spit up “black. It was almost gooey. I rang Dr Porter. He was excited over

the phone. He said it was the cancer dispersing. My kids were so excited and so was my husband and every time it happened he told us ‘I got rid of more of it’,’ she said.

On February 18, 2002, she said they returned to Killaloe, where “Dr Por- ter said to us that he was clear, that my husband was clear of cancer.”

Senior Counsel for the Prosecution, Denis Vaughan-Buckley asked her did he mean “Cured?” and she re- plied, “Yes.”

Her husband had been due to attend the Mater for his fourth session of chemotherapy around this time, but cancelled it.

However, a CT scan in London on March 6, 2002, revealed that the can- cer had not gone.

“It was slightly larger than what it was in the previous scan. The doctor could see large quantities of herbal remedies in the lower bowel,” she nee

Her husband phoned her from Lon- don and said, ‘It’s back. It’s not gone. It’s lies.’

‘I was so angry I got through to the East Clinic. Carmody was not avail- able. I spoke to Dr Porter. I called him, I’m sorry, a lying bastard, that he didn’t know what he had done to my family. I said, “Stop making false promises to people’,” she said.

‘He said, “You know, Mrs Gallagh- er, it works on some people but not on everybody.’ I said, “Why did you tell us it would work. You are one bastard, you didn’t say that when you were taking his money’,” she said.

Asked by defence counsel Pat Mar- rinan did she bear a great deal of animosity towards Drs Carmody and Porter, she replied, “I feel cheated, I feel my husband and my children were cheated. What provoked me into making the phone call was hear- ing my husband’s voice in London and hearing he was upset. Both of them lied to me.”

Mr Marrinan’s cross-examination is due to resume today, ‘Tuesday.

A MEETING to set up a Community Alert scheme in Tulla last week was “very well supported” according to local organisers.

The gathering was attended by a wide representation of local or- ganisations, who heard Garda Liam O’Grady explain the relevance of the Community Alert scheme and how it operates.

“There was good interest and a lot of local organisations were repre- sented on the night,” said Rose de

Courcy, one of the organisers of the night.

One of the main objectives of Com- munity Alert, Garda O’Grady ex- plained, is to be aware of the needs of and to protect older members of the community, particularly those living alone or living in isolated areas.

The garda explained about the grants which are available to buy socially monitored alarms and pen- CR THA

“Tt’s planned to set up a committee with at least one person from each area in the parish,’ said Rose.

The aim is to be aware of all of the older people living in the greater Tul- la area and to ensure that they take full advantage of the security meas- ures available to them.

“The garda said we should be par- ticularly concerned about elderly people living in more rural areas and to ensure that they have contact with the community. We would hope that the scheme would encourage people to drop in on elderly neighbours, to make sure they are ok and that they would have regular contact. We would also be helping with apply-

ing for grants for socially monitored alarms,’ said Rose.

Representatives of the GAA, the soccer club, the community council and various residents associations attended the meeting and a further meeting is now planned, to put in place a committee and to learn more about the scheme and how it can ben- efit communities.

“We’ll be organising another meet- ing in about a month and that will be attended by the gardai and a repre- sentative of Muintir na Tire,” said Rose.

CLARE’S largest hospital was left with dangerously low levels of water as a result of reduced pressure in the water mains in the Ennis area.

Ennis fire brigade had to be mobi- lised to help provide water for En- nis General Hospital yesterday. The fire service is expected to remain on standby over the next few days in case their assistance is again required.

Ennis Town Council had to shut off water in parts of Ennis in an effort to divert water to the hospital so that the fire service could pump water to the high level tanks. Ennis General Hos- pital’s main water tanks are located on the roof of the building. Because of problems with water pressure in the town water was not reaching the tanks in adequate amounts.

The hospital confirmed that pa- tients were not affected by the water problems. A spokesman added that the fire service had to be called in to help ensure that the hospitals water tanks are kept full.

Clare County Council confirmed last night that water use restrictions applying to over 30,000 customers in Ennis and its environs had been lifted.

A council spokesman said that as a result of recent intensive rainfall, the quality of raw water entering the Ennis water supply source at Drum- cliffe deteriorated significantly to a

point where its treatment could not be accommodated in the quantities required to respond to demand from Loy eb Ne Ece

Following consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health Service Execu- tive (HSE), the council decided to partially bypass the filtration system with a view to increasing the quan- tity of water that could be dispatched to consumers.

The spokesman said that the move was designed to replenish the storage levels in reservoirs, restore supply to all consumers and ensure that criti- cal areas such as hospitals and fire service had an adequate volume of supply.

“In reaching this decision, the Council, EPA and HSE are conscious that some of the water being supplied to consumers is unfiltered at the mo- ment. However, all three parties are satisfied that any risk from a public health point of view can be kept to a minimum by full implementation of the partial boil notice to vulnerable groups, which remains in place,’ said county engineer, Tom Tiernan.

“Although bypassing some water around the water filtration system in- troduces the potential risk of crypt- osporidium to vulnerable groups, the need to maintain a critical volume of water supply for personal hygiene is a higher priority for public health.” he said.

AN 8l-year-old man lost his life after he suffered a suspected heart attack at the wheel of his car in En- nis last October, an inquest into his death has heard.

William Ryan, of Highfield Park, Ennis, was involved in a two-vehicle accident at Highfield Road, Ennis, shortly before 8am on October 15, 2007.

He and two others were taken to Ennis General Hospital, following the accident. Mr Ryan, a retired civil servant, was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Ennis Coroner’s Court heard from Garda Barry O’Grady who attended

the scene of the accident. He said that road conditions were wet and dull at the time.

The inquest was told that Mr Ry- an’s car veered off the road and then collided head on with a van, on a straight stretch of road.

Consultant pathologist Dr James O’Driscoll carried out an autopsy on the body of Mr Ryan. He said it ap- peared that he had suffered a heart attack, which caused his car to go out of control and hit a van, at Highfield I Xey- Tes

He said that death was due to acute cardiac failure, associated with coro- nary atheroma.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea recorded death due to natural causes.

THE photodynamic treatment given to six cancer patients was inappro- priate, according to the Prosecution.

Presenting the State’s case to the jury at the outset, Senior Counsel Denis Vaughan-Buckley said, “It’s the Prosecution’s case that there will be ample evidence that the accused is guilty of all counts.”

“It’s the State’s case that the patients were all suffering from terminal can- cer when they went to the East Clin- ic. They all subsequently died. The medical director of that clinic was the accused, Mr Carmody,” he told Ennis Circuit Court.

“The photodynamic treatment that was given to patients suffering from deep-rooted cancer was inappropri- ate,” he added.

He said that each of the 25 charges is “a separate trial in reality.”

Paschal Carmody (60), of Bally- cuggaran, Killaloe, County Clare, has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges of deception – relating to six cancer patients and their relatives – between September 2001 and October 2002.

It is alleged that he defrauded six cancer patients and their relatives of more than €80,000. According to the State, he falsely pretended the patients’ cancer would be cured by photodynamic therapy.

Mr Vaughan-Buckley gave an out- line of the details surrounding the cancer suffered by each of the six OTOL

He warned the jury, “this is a case where you couldn’t but be human and have sympathy for all the patients who died and all their next of kin

and relatives, likewise Mr Carmody, who is on trial on very serious charg- es. But you don’t decide the case on sympathy. You decide the case on the evidence before you.”

He said that seven of the charges re- late to Conor O’Sullivan from Gorey, who died just weeks short of his 16th birthday, on November 13, 2002.

He said that Conor’s parents, Derek and Christina, paid more than €9,000 to the clinic, after being told in May of that year that the boy had just six months to live.

Conor received photodynamic treatment at the clinic in July 2002, oLUUON (LOM LPR MONONOKE Ke

Another patient, John James Gal- lagher, from Mullingar, County Westmeath, died from cancer of the liver on September 6, 2002.

He said it will be alleged Dr Car-

mody described photodynamic treat- ment to him as “magic”, in January 2002, and referred to chemotherapy as “barbaric.”

Another patient, John Sheridan (58), from Kells, County Kilkenny, died on November 2, 2002, having been diagnosed with cancer of the liver the previous year.

“Dr Carmody told them (his fam- ily) John was a strong man and was suitable for photodynamic _ treat- ment,” said Counsel.

The treatment was carried out and Mr Sheridan believed Dr Carmody would cure him. However, he died at home.

A fourth patient, Mary O’Connor, moved home from Surrey to her na- tive County Cork, having been diag- nosed with lung cancer in February PAU OPA

Her photodynamic treatment com- menced on March 12, 2002, but she died on May 6.

Another woman, Josephine Dur- kan, of Beechgrove, Lucan, County Dublin, was diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2000. Her husband Kieran was told by her doctor in Feb- ruary 2002 that she had only weeks to live. She went to the East Clinic in Killaloe in March, where she re- ceived photodynamic treatment, but died on April 22, 2002.

Karen Kurvink from Holland, was diagnosed with breast cancer in Au- gust 2002 and received photodynam- ic treatment at East Clinic that Octo- ber, but died the following May.

The trial, before Judge Rory Mc- Cabe and a jury of nine men and three women, 1s expected to last four weeks.

THE backers of a new private mem- bers club for Ennis with a 24 hour chauffeur and concierge service say it will be “ultra exclusive” with a heavily vetted membership.

Earlier this year, Ennis-based build- er Jack McCarthy lodged plans with Ennis Town Council for a change of use at the former Central Buildings in Ennis Abbey Street car-park to a private members club. The newly renovated “Library” pub shares the location.

Last month, the council put the Mc- Carthy plan for the third floor of the

building on hold demanding addi- tional details on the plan.

Now, further information lodged with the plan architect Michael Leahy, on behalf of Mr McCarthy, has said that it is his client’s intention “to re-create a country club tranquil- lity within the confines of an urban SelB DOTS

Mr Leahy denied that alcohol would be sold at the venue:

“My client aims to promote an al- ternative to the perilous drinking ‘culture’. In-house pursuits are geared away from alcoholic consumption.”

He also denied that the club would be rented for parties stating, instead,

Wer-LmmUOCoMYoJOIRUD Rom S00 MOlommar-DIMEUOLB ele exclusive members only club with heavily vetted membership”.

He added that his client aimed to provide a private environment for the purpose of business and social net- Le) ee bee

“Tt will provide as a business out- post for the corporate traveller while providing an unthreatening environ- ment in which to socialise.

“The club will facilitate 24 hour teleconferencing, wi-fi and clerical Services; a 24 chauffeur and con- clerge service; chess backgammon and games area; humidor; heated smoking.”

Mr Leahy said that the proposal would be “a very select club which will not give rise to any noise or nui- Crh eeme

He said that the external appearance of the building would not change and therefore there would be no adverse effects to the area which is of special architectural and historical interest.

Mr McCarthy is part of McCarthy Brothers, which has built hundreds of houses in Clare in recent years. A private members club already exists in a building opposite Ennis Com- munity College.

A decision is due on the application JET mssbimeeleniaee

CLARE’S new mayor has promised that the people’s voice would be heard.

In her mayoral address, Clare’s first citizen Councillor Madeleine Taylor- Quinn (FG) said, “Clare is a unique county full of character and history, its people are resourceful and spirit- ed. In electing us to this council they expect their voices to be heard, and their concerns represented.

“The people of Clare deserve and are entitled to openness and transpar- ency in the process. We, the elected members, are the policy makers for this county, and are accountable to the people,” she said.

The Fine Gael mayor said that the councillors and staff had the com- mon interest of serving the commu- nity and as such mutual respect and courtesy between councillors and employees was essential.

“Within this council there is no place, nor no space for an “us” and “them” mentality — we are all in it to- gether for the good of County Clare,” she told fellow councillors and staff.

The impending recession was also at the forefront of her mind, as the new mayor took office.

“Undoubtedly, challenges lay ahead due to the changing economic climate, and we will have to adjust to such changes, but also recognise that this county was well served in far more difficult times in the past. Those most in need must be first

assisted, and national funding will have to be secured to ensure that this becomes reality,” she said.

“Substantial discrepancies exist

within the county in relation to basic infrastructure such as waste water treatment systems, equipping villag- es throughout this county with prop-

er infrastructure 1s essential if there is to be balanced county develop- ment. Population changes within the county reflect financial investment

patterns, many which are directed from central government. People of Clare must be supported to live in their local villages, and not be forced into larger towns because of the lack of infrastructure.”

Mayor Taylor-Quinn outlined the critical role of tourism to the local economy, the need for a proper road infrastructure and hospital and the need to advance the needs of Shan- non Airport.

“We need to be innovative in our promotion strategy of the county — this could involve inviting promoters or high profile individuals into Clare to turn the international spotlight on the county, so that it can be seen as a truly desirable top class destination,” she said.

“The coming year will be chal- lenging for all of us. Recent bound- ary changes have affected all of us to a greater or lesser degree, but I’m Sure in time most will come to ac- cept these changes as a slight incon- venience. | am confident that we can all work well together for the people of Clare, and I look forward to your help and co-operation for the coming year,’ she told her fellow council- Kove

CONTINUING the evidence on sus- pected poison found in Essam Eid’s cell in Limerick, a scientist said she found a “strong positive reaction” for ricin, the trial heard yesterday.

Last Friday, the court heard that the lens case was taken to the UK for analysis, in April 2007. One of the scientists who analysed the samples gave evidence to the trial.

Emma Stobberfield, a microbiol- ogist with a veterinary laboratory in Surrey, told the court that she carried out a test on samples in April 2007, for the purpose of detecting the pres- SN eemovan uO bee

‘“Ricin is a toxin that is poisonous if inhaled, injested or injected,’ she Sr NIGE

She said that one of the samples Showed a weak reaction, while an- other sample had “a very strong posi-

tive reaction”.

Asked by Prosecutor Tom O’Connell what the strong positive reaction was for, she replied, “For ju (on bn

Michael Collins, BL for Mr Eid, asked her why she had included the phrase ‘strong positive reaction’ in court when she had not included it in her statement made in March.

She replied, “It was more positive than the weak reaction.”

Meanwhile, an investigator with American Express, Paul Shingles, told the trial that charges to PJ Howard’s credit card, in September 2006, were disputed.

Five payments, totaling almost €2,000, were made from the ac- count. These were for two US Air- ways flights, one for accommodation with Alpha International and another for an international phone call to California.

Mr Shingles said that a dispute oc- curs when the account holder does LO] Mrs Res Kerem ALO Ors MC e-IKes08(o 81m

He said thaton September 22, 2006, a caller phoned the American Express call centre, with a query re- lating to the limit on Mr Howard’s card.

However, when the caller was asked what the cardholder’s mother’s maiden name was, there was a pause and the caller hung up.