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A PROPERTY agent charged in con- nection with the misappropriation of almost €80,000 in rents has been re- turned for trial to the circuit court.

Fiona Lillis (36), of Lisduff, New- market-on-Fergus, is facing 61 charg- es, arising out of a lengthy Garda investigation into missing rents on properties in Shannon and Quin.

She is accused of 49 theft charges and 12 charges of deception, in rela- tion to €76,540, between December 17, 2007, and September 30, 2008.

The charges relate to the owners of six properties. She is facing 45 theft charges and four charges of deception in relation to one property owner, Richard Dineen, totalling €59,570, relating to rent and rental deposits for accommodation at Kin- cora Apartments, Shannon.

Another six charges – three theft charges and three deception charges – relate to Adrian Kelly, in relation to a property at Dun na Manach, Quin. The other six charges relate to Kin- cora Apartments, Shannon.

The book of evidence was served on the accused at Shannon District Court on Thursday and she was sent forward for trial to Ennis Circuit Court, which will sit in February AUTO

RESIDENTS of Cappahard Lodge, a long-stay psychiatric residence on the Tulla Road, have spent their fifth night in Ennis General Hospital, hav- ing been evacuated from their home due to the flooding.

The 28 residents were removed from the unit on Thursday afternoon due to flooding in the unit’s sewerage system.

Museum House on Francis Street, which houses Clare’s health promo- tion services, opened for business yesterday (Monday) having also fall- en victim to the flooding.

The Bindon Street clinic in Ennis was also cut off by flooding. All ap- pointments for dental and communi- ty care services were cancelled and members of the public were asked not to attend. New appointments will be made later.

HSE staff, including community welfare officers, doctors, child care and social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists, have also been em- ployed to work through the weekend to assist 105 people from Ennis who were evacuated to the West County elolror

The staff were employed to help those evacuated to come to terms with the trauma of the experience.

A WEST CLARE man who has failed to comply with court recom- mendations relating to his farm looks upon his animals as his children.

That was the view of the man’s so- licitor in the wake of a court hearing that the accused has not complied with three of four court recommen- dations made over a year ago.

In September 2008, Patrick Shan- non (56), of Carrownacalla South, Kilrush, pleaded guilty to four charges of cruelly ill-treating ani-

mals. On that occasion, the court heard concerns about the welfare of animals on the farm.

A veterinary inspector told the court that animals on the farm were thin and hungry and were confined by an electric fence. On that occa- sion, Shannon undertook to rec- tify the matter and the case was ad- Selubence MUM ERM iso .@

Superintendent Michael Comyns told the court last Wednesday that four recommendations were to be complied with, but all have not been. All animals were to be tested and

this was done. However, the other recommendations — cattle were to be divided into sections, strip grazing was to be stopped and the cattle were to be sold — were not complied with.

Defending solicitor Michael Ryan said it was a very difficult case. He said the court would benefit if there was to be an assessment by the pro- bation service.

“Mr Shannon is farming for many years. His family are farming in that area for 100 years. He has a great love for the animals. He regards WaCe OO MEZISM OUISIO ODE (GNK=IO MAIN SlomNy-nTOn

Mr Ryan said he did not believe there was a “willful” disregard of the court’s order. “He has very strong views on strip grazing. He feels if he sells, prices are horrendous at the moment. There is a certain common sense in that. He’s not refusing to sell them. He’s refusing to sell them en masse,” he said.

Judge Joseph Mangan said, “Pro- bation report or not, he will have to tidy up his act. We are talking about severe penalties if he doesn’t get his act together.’ The judge asked the defendant was he undertaking to

take down the electric fencing on the farm. He replied, “I block graze and I give them silage.” Asked would he undertake to comply with court or- ders, he said. “There is flooding there at the moment.”

The judge then told the solicitor, ‘He is looking at a prison sentence.” Shannon then said, “I’m not a person who does bad things. I have no bru- cellosis. I have no TB.”

The judge replied, “You are doing a bad thing now” and adjourned the case for two months for preparation of a probation report.

SB el ae elem oa Woorml tom eleom en Otte farmers and the prices paid to farm- ers in the UK grew by more than €60 in the month of October alone. This massive month-on-month in- crease has prompted Clare farmer and Chairperson of ICMSA’s Beef and Cattle Committee, Martin Mc- Mahon, to call for radical action to be taken.

The gap between the average price paid per head of cattle in the UK and Ireland now stands at a massive €150 per animal.

“There is absolutely no justifica- tion for such a price gap between Irish and UK cattle prices and this gap must be bridged immediately by meat processors,’ he said.

“The facts demonstrate that since the start of October beef prices have actually increased in the UK while prices have fallen in Ireland with the result that the average steer in Ire- land is now being sold at €150 less than its equivalent in the UK.

“At the start of October, the gap stood at €90 per head. The reason the gap has grown is simple.

“With the increased kill over the past month, meat processors are simply taking advantage of the in- creased supplies and are profiteering at the expense of farmers by pulling prices.

“These cattle are now being sold at a loss and farmers will simply not be able to stay in the business unless

prices return to sustainable levels. Once again, our processors take a short term benefit with no account taken of the long-term damage to the overall sector.

“The UK accounts for over fifty

percent of Irish beef exports and prices are rising in that market so the drop in beef prices over the past month simply cannot be justified. The cost of the price gap for Irish farmers on steers alone is over €11m

for October.

‘Farmers cannot afford such losses and yet again they must appeal to the processors to pay fair prices that will safeguard the future of the sector and ensure a supply of Irish beef.”

TWO farmers found themselves be- fore a court after an animal that had not been tested for tuberculosis was passed on from one farm to another.

Henry Keane, of Kilfearagh, Kilkee and Eugene Baker, of Clountabon- nive, Connolly, pleaded guilty to one charge each arising out of movement of a seven-year-old animal.

Counsel for the Department of Ag- riculture Lorcan Connolly, BL, told Kilrush District Court that an ani- mal was moved from Baker’s hold- ing to Keane’s holding despite not having been tested for tuberculosis in the previous 12 months.

He said that Baker allowed it to be moved, while Keane received it into his holding.

Solicitor Michael Ryan, for Keane, said his client does not have any pre- vious convictions. The court heard that Baker was convicted in Febru- ary 2008 of charges of a similar na- meter

Mr Ryan said Keane has bought

and sold thousands of cattle over the years and there had never been a problem before. He said that Baker was recommended to him by a long- standing business associate and he said he had bought cattle in good faith.

‘He is bewildered that he is here in court because of this. He didn’t check that particular record. Subsequently the animal for this card passed the test,’ he said.

Baker was represented by solicitor Eugene O’Kelly, who said his client is living in the back of his jeep as his house went to his wife as part of a separation.

Mr O’Kelly said the test certificate was out by 14 days and it was an oversight on his client’s part. “There was no difficulty with the animal. When the test was done, it passed,” he added.

A six-month jail term was imposed on Baker and a bond was fixed in the event of an appeal. Keane was fined €300 and ordered to pay witnesses expenses of €250.

Farmers face into an even bleaker midwinter

A SHANNON man who was con- cerned about teenagers gathering outside his house slapped a 14-year- old boy in the face, fracturing his nose, a court has heard.

Father-of-two Mark Murphy (39), of Cul na Gréine, Shannon, admitted assaulting a 14-year-old boy causing him harm, on March 21 last.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Shan- non District Court that the boy was outside the accused’s home. “Mr Murphy got annoyed with the boy and hit him into the face and frac- tured his nose,” he said.

Defending solicitor John Callinan said there was a “somewhat longer story”’.

He said his client, who has never come to Garda attention before, has had difficulties with regard to teenag- ers gathering near his house. He said he has complained to gardai about damage to his car. “Things were so bad that two-and-a-half years ago he installed CCTV,” he said.

He told the court that his client had never seen the 14-year-old boy be- fore that day. He said his client had a few drinks while watching a rugby

match and youths had gathered out- side his house.

‘He had no idea that the boy was only 14. He was taller than Mr Mur- phy,” he said.

The accused is very remorseful and was in a position to offer compensa- tion to the victim, said Mr Callinan.

Judge Angela Ni Chonduin ordered that €500 compensation be paid and

this was done in court. “You don’t take the law into your own hands. Young people hang around. I do ap- preciate this man got a bad fright. He paid for it,’ she said and dismissed the charge under the probation of of- oe(oucm lee

NEXT Thursday, students from the Ennistymon CBS will ‘Go hungry for Gloria’ as they take part in this year’s annual Concern Fast.

Two fifth years from the school, Daniel McInerney and David Car- roll, were chosen to visit Kenya last year in recognition of the schools long history of supporting Concern.

The students were joined by teacher Gerry Sexton on the trip, which took them to see the good work being done on the ground by Concern in aviulere

A host of students from the school will join more than 250,000 young

people from secondary schools all over Ireland on December 3.

Last year, the school raised more than €5,000 through their participa- tion in the fast.

Liam Slattery, Cathal McMahon and Thomas Nagle were the top col- lectors for last year’s fast.

This year’s trip to Kenya saw the students and teachers in Ennistymon join the Irish National Debate Cham- pions in their visit to Concern com- plexes in Kenya.

The trip allowed Concern the op- portunity to thank schools for their JON KG MAY LO)e QUE MBAUUNCCDU-HKSDOTcMmClUDUDO roam Nels ele

“Kenya spans an area about 50

times the size of Ireland and the pop- ulation has grown rapidly in recent decades to nearly 38 million,” said Gerry Sexton.

“IT feel that Kenya is at a crossroads. Almost every sphere and sector of life is in crisis. Over 10 million peo- ple face hunger and starvation. That number is set to increase as the cur- rent crop season has failed.

“Urban life is facing imminent dan- ger. Water shortages have persisted. We saw hundreds of water tank- ers bringing water to every part of the city; to those who could pay of course,” he said.

“In the slums of Mukuru and Ko- rogocho, we saw long queues of poor

people waiting with large containers to get water. Even this water is often contaminated and water related dis- eases are areal problem.

‘Most poor people survive on less than a euro a day with the average wage being €7 or €8 a day for those fortunate enough to have a job. HIV and TB have become huge problems for the population.

“Commodity prices are at an all time high. Most basic goods, such as food are beyond the reach of many. Agriculture faces collapse. Tea farm- ers are uprooting their crop,” added Mr Sexton.

The Concern Fast takes place on Dien lelo wer

A COURT has heard an allegation that a young man called to a neigh- bour’s house in Kilrush looking for a ‘top-up’ of money, telling the man ‘You don’t need me as an enemy.”

Arising out of this, Martin Blunnie (21), of Beech Park, John Paul Estate, Kilrush, was charged with assaulting John Naughton, on April 17, 2009.

John Thomas Naughton told Kil- rush District Court last Wednesday week that he was at home at Beech Park, on April 17 last. He said there was a knock on the door at 8.20pm and his wife answered it.

He said that Martin Blunnie was at the door and was looking for a loan of €20. “I told him I had no money to give him. He said he wanted a top- up. He had €50. He said, ‘You don’t need me as an enemy. I’m a big man’ and kicked me to the leg. My knee was bleeding,’ Mr Naughton told the court.

The case was adjourned on that date for a week after Mr Naughton told the court he did not have his read- ing glasses with him. Judge Joseph Mangan told him to return, with his

glasses, last Wednesday, so that he could read a statement.

However, on the adjourned date, Superintendent Michael Comyns said Mr Naughton wished to with- draw his statement.

Solicitor Joe Chambers, on behalf of Mr Naughton, said, “I’m satisfied

his attitude to this is solely related to the fact the defendant’s mother is in hospital.”

The case was then struck out by Judge Joseph Mangan.

SPANISHPOINT was the scene of two daring rescues in the past year, and the heroics of the people in- volved was recognised by the Irish Water Safety last week.

In total six lives were saved due to the bravery of four people, among them a ten-year-old girl from Quilty.

Courageous Emily Luff received a SEIKO Certificate of Courage for saving her little sister Isabelle’s life.

In September 2008, the sisters had been bathing at knee depth when they got caught in a rip current, which pulled them out to sea beyond the surf break.

Despite the frightening ordeal, Emily had the presence of mind to hold her sister up while they waited

for help.

Those that came to the young girls assistance were also praised for their eae

Thomas Thompson and Peter Brad- bury who received a Rescue Appre- ciation Award heard calls for help from the beach. They ran onto the beach to assist the two girls. Upon as- sessing the situation, Peter Bradbury called the coast guard while Tho- mas Thompson paddled out to reach them on his surfboard. Meanwhile Peter stayed with the mother of the children. Due to poor light Thomas could not see the children however he heard their shouts for help and went to their assistance. Upon reach- ing them he reassured them and with the use of his surfboard he brought them safely to back to shore.

Surfers also played a major role in the second rescue in July this year.

Four swimmers became caught in a rip current and were carried out from shore and beyond their depth.

Miltown Malbay man Mark Flynn borrowed a surfboard and entered the water. He then took two casual- ties to shore. With the help of a pass- ing surfer the third person was en- couraged back to shore safely.

Then Clarecastleman and off duty lifeguard Norman Cleary reached the scene and with Mark Flynn entered the water and continued to search for the fourth person. Mark felt him un- Clan d eToys No me-DIO MY BINOMCeuert-TImcwIlote they placed him onto a surfboard and took him back to shore where he re- gained consciousness.

Minister of State at the Department

of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Michael Finneran (FF), presented the SEIKO Just In Time Rescue Award to these rescuers.

“Tragically 158 drowning occurred in Ireland last year,” he said. “One reaches for the word tragic, but it doesn’t seem adequate when the most heartbreaking aspect of drown- ing deaths is that they are prevent- able. This high figure would be even higher but for the dramatic efforts of these individuals who saved oth- ers from drowning and the ongoing work of volunteers teaching swim- TPODN Orca Dele mush YOU ome