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ONE is every nine Clare rental prop- erties inspected by Clare County Council was found to be in breach of the Private Rented Dwelling Regula- tions, it was revealed at last night’s meeting of the local authority.

A further 25 rental properties were found to have “serious faults” by the Clare Fire Authority, with legal ac- tion being taking against a total of six landlords who failed to resolve potential fire hazards when warned by Clare County Council.

Only 434 rented properties were registered with the Clare County Council last year. Of these, 53 were

found to be in breach of the Rented Dwelling Regulations.

According to Fine Gael council- lor Joe Arkins, many Clare people on low incomes are afraid to report poor housing conditions to the local authority. The Ruan native claimed that there is a double standard of rents in Clare.

“There is a problem with the qual- ity and choice of rental accommo- dation in this county. In relation to apartments, we have two main types. Those for the well-heeled people who are moving onwards and up- wards and those for people on the breadline who live in places where they will take rent allowance,” said

CiUlr Arkins.

“This is another case where the de- partment is calling the tune but it 1s not prepared to pay the piper. We just do not have the money to carry out these inspections to a satisfactory standard.

‘The people who are not complain- ing about their apartments are those on the lower echelons of society, peo- ple who have a fear of losing their tenancy. We need to get the fund- ing so we can really put the wind up these landlords.”

The motion was seconded by Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald (Lab) who claimed that many landlords are not even on the council’s register.

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modations out there. There are land- lords there ripping off young single parents, people who don’t have an option but to live in these places. A lot of these landlords are not even on the register,” said.

Commenting on the motion, Cllr Martin Conway compared the cur- rent situation to that of Michael Dav- itt and the land wars.

“We are dealing with a culture of landordism in this country. Land- lords and absentee landlords, the same as Davitt rose up against. Some of what I witnessed in rented accom- modation would absolutely horrify any person. We need to up our game in terms of inspection.”

WHEN Una Kierse decided to send her eldest child to a pre-school play- eroup in Killaloe, she discovered that there wasn’t automatically a place for every child and community facilities were scarce on the ground.

Joss Lowry, Michael Culhane and Michael Glesson all had similar con- cerns and together the four set up the Killaloe Community Development Company with the aim of providing a community creche which would cater for all needs, including pre-

school and after-school care.

That was almost two years ago and this month, the endless filling in of forms and making a case were rewarded when the company was awarded €1.2 million, the maximum that can be awarded under the Na- tional Childcare Investment Fund.

The group worked closely with Clare County Council to apply for the funds through Pobail and Una says they are “just delighted. Now we can start looking at a premises or a site.”

The aim of the development com-

pany is to provide community facili- ties, which will cater for 35 full-time childcare places and 15 after-school je ENerone

“It’s wrong that some children get to go to pre-school and others don’t. The child who doesn’t have that year before going on to primary school is at a disadvantage from the start. If there are any difficulties like ADD, these are often picked up on in pre- school. Without it there 1s a year lost.”

“The new facility is still in the early stages and the company will have to

find a site or premises, get a contrac- tor on board and work through the planning process, but the grant was the start.

“We want to provide services across the board, including school holiday times, which can be very difficulty for working parents. Every child and every parent is entitled to have quali- ty childcare facilities where children can be encouraged and cared for. This is a facility which is very badly needed in Killaloe and now we have the money to get started on provid- ing one,’ said Una.

THE Christian attitude adopted by the family of a young man who lost his life in a road accident a year ago was commended by a judge, at the end of a trial relating to the death.

Judge Rory McCabe paid tribute to the family of Eamon Scully, after they expressed the opinion that they did not want to see a man convicted in connection with the death to go to jail.

James Freeman was acquitted of dangerous driving causing death, but was found guilty of careless driv- ing, arising out of a road accident in which Mr Scully lost his life, one year ago this weekend.

Counsel for the State Stephen Coughlan said Mr Scully’s family did not bear Mr Freeman any “ill will” and had no desire to see him sent to jail.

Mr Freeman’s barrister Michael Collins said the accident was “a low

speed collision, by way of both ve- hicles.” He said his client was genu- NIA U SON uNOROTE

He asked that his clent’s good character be taken into considera- tion, pointing out that he had no pre- vious convictions.

“Vd ask you to take into account the Christian attitude of Mrs Scully and family. The nature of the care- lessness of this case was an error of judgment,” said Mr Collins.

Judge Rory McCabe said the case

was “an enormous tragedy.”

“Life will never be the same for the two families and the two extended JE-VOODU O(c MaN Slomcr-BLOE

“The consequences for the Scully family are enormous. They lost a young man.

“Also for the Freeman family. Mr Freeman will live with this for the rest of his life,’ he said.

“I’m extremely impressed by the at- titude of the family of the deceased. It’s Christian. It’s caring. It recog-

nises the fact there are no winners,” he said.

“IT am not certain in the circum- stances a prison sentence would re- flect the circumstances in this situa- tion,” said the judge.

He fined Mr Freeman €1,000 said he was not imposing a driving ban, because, “I accept what was submit- ted by Mr Collins this was a momen- tary lapse of attention and I really hope it was not his decision to run the stop sign.”

HOUSE-BUYERS across Clare are facing massive hikes in house prices arising from contentious new Clare County Council charges.

Yesterday, council officials unveiled new draft proposals that would result in development levies increasing from less than €5,000 to €21,360, a 400 per cent rise.

House builders constructing homes on unzoned land who currently pay €4,180 will have to fork out a levy of €12,456 under the council’s Devel- opment Contribution Scheme 2008- 2011.

Those seeking to build holiday homes are facing a 300 per cent levy

increase from €9,500 to €27,050 per home.

The council imposed the levies on house builders to finance water, sew- erage, road and community infra- structure. They must be paid before houses are occupied.

The council is proposing the in- creases in order to raise €105 mil- lion to pay for new infrastructure across the county between 2008 and 2011, according to the draft docu- ment published yesterday,

The new charges came under fire yesterday. Ennis-based auctioneer, Philip O’Reilly describes the pro- posed hikes as “incredible”.

“This is a conspiracy against the first time buyer, builders, employers.

How are these figures justified when it takes six weeks to see a planner?”

At the council’s Special Policy Committee (SPC) for Planning yes- terday, Cllr Patrick Keane (FF) said, ‘These charges place on unfair bur- den on young couples wishing to construct a new home.

“IT can’t see why new home builders are the only ones to pay for roads and water where everyone will benefit.”

SPC chairman, Cllr Richard Nagle said, “I think that we are all agreed that the charges are unfair.

‘This is a policy foisted upon us by the Department of the Environment and its water pricing policy and they have passed the problem on to the council.”

Cllr Keane said that it was now important that the council came up with an alternative way to raise the money.

According to the draft document, €34 million has been collected in the existing scheme covering 2004 and 2007.

Senior council official Monica Meehan said that the proposed €12,456 charge for homes in un- zoned land would not apply in most cases as house builders would be covering water and sewerage costs themselves.

Cllr Nagle told the meeting that the charges would not be agreed at the SPC but would go before the coun- GIMME Kes mestccnnitee

is pleased to announce that a heat of the pres- tigious Paddy Powers Lovely Girls Contest 2008 will now take place in Vaughan’s Barn on Tuesday, Febru- ary 26.

“Yes, the big news is that we have added the lovely girls contest. There has been a few heats around the coun- try already but this is the chance for a lovely girl to qualify for the finals on the Aran Islands,” said Fergal Mc- Grath organiser of TedFest.

“We are looking for overall loveli- ness in the girls. It will be down to WALoMAWE-UGDOTSMm DOCOMO oME UE @USTcomE-DOCOM DN we have a tie break situation then we

will have to hear their lovely laughs. And of course, they will all have lovely bottoms.”

With full festival ticket sold out, or- ganisers have made a small number of single event tickets available.

‘We have been able to make a few more tickets available. So many peo- ple wanted to come to the events that we have tried our best to make as many tickets as possible available for people,” said Kilfenora TedFest co- ordinator Janet Kavanagh.

‘We wont be able to get all the peo- ple into every event but there are a few tickets available for some of the events and we will do our best to ac- commodate everyone.”

The festival opens next Monday with registration in Vaughan’s Pub

before the official opening ceremony, Chinese reception and the Ecumeni- Ceili. Tuesday, or Mustarday as it’s being called, will see the arrival of the MilkFloat for the Milk Float and Banger Parade through town and the brick fada contest.

Later that evening Ireland’s first ever All-Ireland blondes-only snakes and ladders championship will take place as well as an evening with Fa- ther Ted creators Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews. Other events on Wednesday include the Linn- nane’s Music Emporium, Acoustic Karaoke with the singing Postman, Caesars Palace at Nagles, the all- Ireland Open Elvis lookalike contest and finally the Pat Mustard Memo- rial night featuring Mrs O’Reully and

the Hairy Babies.

Wednesday will see the ‘Ted Trail which will take in the Paro- chial House, the Chinese pub, Mrs O’Reillys house, the Song For Eu- rope waterfall and the caravan park from hell.

Linehan and Mathews will also unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the event at the Kilfenora Com- munity Centre.

If you are interested in sponsoring the plaque, getting involved in the lovely girls contest or book tickets contact Janet at 087 6277000.

A COURT has heard that a young man who was carrying a _ baton dropped it as gardai arrived at the scene of a late night disturbance in /Syeyeb ay

William Roche of St Michael’s Villas, Ennis, and Colm Connick (31), of John Paul Park, Murlintown, Wexford, appeared in court arising out of an incident at 3am on October DePAUerE

Roche was charged with possession of a baton, while Connick was ac- cused of possession of a knife. Both pleaded guilty.

Garda William Delaney told En- nis District Court on Friday that an altercation took place at O’Connell Street, Ennis.

“An independent witness pointed out Mr Roche as having dropped a baton when gardai arrived,” he said.

“He denied this initially, but admit- ted it later on,” said the garda.

He said that Connick had a knife in his back pocket. Roche claimed to gardai that he had the baton for his own protection as he had been threat- ened by a group of people earlier. He denied that he had used it.

It was, he said, the type of baton you would get on holiday and had the

word *“Lanzarote’ written across It.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said that there were no complaints in relation to the use of a baton, while it was not being alleged that the knife was pro- duced.

The court was told that Connick, a tradesman, had travelled from Wex- ford to do work on his friend Roche’s house.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said there was “no inference” that Connick had produced the knife.

She said that Roche was carrying the baton “in case it was needed for protection.”

“It’s an offence to good taste rather

than anything else. There was no evi- dence that he wielded it as such,” she SrnOe

“If anyone was going to attack him, he felt he should have it. If anyone ar- rived at the scene and saw ared baton from Lanzarote, they would prob- ably die laughing. The fashion police might be on their back as well,” said Ms Godfrey.

“T don’t think any self-respecting criminal would be seen dead with that,’ she added.

Judge Joseph Mangan asked what was the baton for, if it was not for criminal activity.

Ms Godfrey replied, “The mind

boggles.”

Inspector Kennedy pointed out however, “A wallop from that would be no different to a wallop from any 0} Tos mm As Ole Oyen balcie a0 bee Ces 01 ime

“Just because Lanzarote was writ- ten on it doesn’t make light of his re- sponsibilities,’ said the inspector.

Judge Mangan imposed a _ four- month jail term on both men, sus- pended on condition that they keep the peace for six months.

He ordered both to enter a bond to behave for two years and fined them €1,250 each.

He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

has received a number of complaints from north Clare locals in recent days, concern- ing a section of the R479 which, they claim, is extremely dangerous.

The number of motorists using the road increased dramatically over the last six months since Clare County Council temporarily closed the main Ballyvaughan to Fanore route.

“The road in Fanore is very narrow and we need to preserve as much of the width of that road as possible.” said councillor, Martin Conway.

“I was in Fanore on Sunday and it would amaze you the amount of people who were there. There was a

lot of traffic there and access is the big issue. I reported it to the county council”

The local authority has just 10 days left to take action and improve access on the road, as they are prohibited from undertaking hedge-trimming work in the area during the bird mat- ing season from March | until Au- eau

Meanwhile, Doolin Search and Rescue was involved in two rescue

Operations in the north Clare area this weekend. A foreign national had a lucky escape after falling while walking outside of the official view- ing area at the Cliffs of Moher.

‘We made contact with the man and managed to winch him to safety. He was brought to the hospital where he was treated for minor injuries includ- ing a broken leg,’ said Matty Shan- non of Doolin Search and Rescue.

At 4.30pm that afternoon, a young

boy went missing while walking with his family in the Mullaghmore area in Corofin. The 12-year-old boy had been climbing with a number of family members when he became separated from the group.

The Doolin Search and Rescue was called to the scene but the boy was found and rescued before any major search effort was began.

The boy suffered no injuries in the incident.

AFTER a brief hiatus, The Funktion Room returns to The Falls Hotel in Ennistymon this Friday, February 22. The occasional club night has been in operation for nearly two years and attracts a growing crowd from all over the county and beyond.

On the decks on Friday will be B: barham, Kid Cosby and local favour- ite Tokin’ White Boy. Funds raised on the night will go to an organisa- tion working as part of the Shell to sea Campaign.

“Doors open and music kicks off at 10pm and we will be going until 2am. We will have a decent disco,

strictly vinyl, 3 deadly Dy’s and lots of lovely people. What more could you ask for in a decent night out,” asked event organiser Roisin Garvey.

“It’s €10 cover charge and all funds raised go in support of a national en- vironmental and social justice group called Gluaiseacht, who at the mo- ment are putting some of their energy into raising awareness of the ongoing plight of the people of Rossport in Mayo.”

The Falls Hotel has organised a number of special offers for club goers who wish to spend the weekend in the hotel. Interested people should contact the hotel on 065 7071004 and quote the Funktion Room.

Meanwhile, there was celebrations in Ennistymon last week with the news that the Mol an Oige Steiner School is finally to get State recog- nition and funding from September 2008. The school, which has been in operation with no state assistance for some years now, has seen it’s en- rolment growing greatly in recent years.

“We are delighted with the an- nouncement, and look forward to opening the new Mol an Oige school in September at its temporary home at the Falls, Ennistymon,” said a spokesperson.

“The Mol an Oige Group wish to thank everyone who supported the

school since it was founded in Sep- tember 2005. The school could not have continued without the generous support of parents, teachers, friends, volunteers, local business people and all those who performed at and sup- ported our various concerts and fun- GTeTS ECA

Mol an Oige, along with Raheen Wood Steiner School in east Clare, will both becomes the first Steiner schools in the country to gain official recognition.

Mol an Oige has been in operation for two years and has more than 40 pupils while Raheen Wood started off as Cooleenbridge 22 years ago and has more than 100 pupils.

THREE Romanian nationals have appeared in court charged in connec- tion with alleged criminal damage to a bank ATM in Shannon.

The two men and one woman were brought before Shannon District Court last Thursday where the men were remanded on custody and the woman was released on bail. One of the men is also wanted in Mullingar on foot of outstanding warrants.

The three were charged in connec- tion with an ongoing garda investiga-

tion into an alleged ATM skimming operation in Shannon, which could involve tens of thousands of euro.

Pavel Cirpaci (27) whose address is ‘unknown’ gave a false name to gardai when arrested. Garda Kieran Nash arrested the accused on Febru- ary 14, on foot of two warrants is- sued at Mullingar District Court in 2007. The accused told gardai that his name was Paul Negrea.

In evidence, Garda Martin Cham- bers of the Immigration Unit at Shan- non garda station said he carried out tests on an identification card which

the accused had in his possession and found it to be false.

He said he later established that the defendant’s name was Pavel Cirpaci and that he had arrived in Ireland in June 2005.

The court was told by the accused’s solicitor Steven Walsh that the de- fendant had voluntarily offered his real name at 12.45pm. While the garda confirmed this, Judge Joseph Mangan said that he was “not at all impressed that the defendant vol- unteered his real name at 12.45pm” more than an hour after court had

commenced.

Garda Nash also told the court the accused has had 13 bench previous bench warrants issued against him. While he also faces charges in Mull- ingar, he is charged with two counts of causing criminal damage to an ATM at Shannon Town Centre.

The second accused, Craciun Ca- vacio (23), claimed he lived at 21, Dominick Street, Dublin. However gardai could not confirm that the ac- cused lived there.

A third defendant, Ms Gabriella Lupo (20), also with an address in

Dublin and who was on bail from Gort District Court, gave evidence that Mr Cavacio lived at 21, Domin- ick St, Dublin, as he claimed. Asked by Inspector John Galvin how long he lived there, Ms Lupo said “a few rpetoyalee tne

When she was asked when Mr Ca- vacio left that address, she replied “December.”

Ms Lupo also faces one charge of criminal damage to an ATM ma- chine at Shannon Town Centre.

All three will re-appear in court later this month.

TOMMY Tiernan’s live shows gen- erate plenty of laughter, but when the comedian takes the stage in Ennis tomorrow night, it will be for a dif- ferent reason.

The Navan comic will be in The Old Ground Hotel as part of the ‘Living Faith in 2008’ series of Lenten talks, organised by the Franciscan Friars. The talk is due to start at 8pm.

The most successful Irish comedi- an of his generation, Tiernan’s shows are guaranteed sell-outs. His choice of material and his willingness to tackle difficult or taboo subjects so publicly have been criticised.

Part of his 2007 “OK Baby’ show dealt with integration in society, fo- cusing on people with Down Syn-

el Keyne ten

The jokes invoked the wrath of Liveline with members of Down Syndrome Ireland saying that some of the jokes had greatly upset them.

Tiernan said at the time that many of his friends with Down Syndrome had found the routine funny, and were happy to see the jokes form a central part of the show.

As well as Tommy Tiernan, two other talks are planned for the ‘Liv- ing Faith’ series.

William Reville,