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A POLISH man who was attacked in a Shovel row in Ennis two months ago was “beaten to an inch of his life’ a court has been told.

Piotr Baran (30) was one of two Polish nationals attacked during a fracas on Parnell Street, in October. He sustained serious head injuries in the incident.

Baran, of no fixed abode, appeared before Ennis District Court on Friday charged with public order offences arising from a different incident.

Defending solicitor Daragh Hassett CP NCGM ODISMOMBLoJ SIMTK UAYcLOMNDOM DRolE-DOLOmCO)n the past two-and-a-half years and has very little English.

He noted that his client has an al- cohol problem but is currently not drinking.

“Up to recently you’d walk down town and he’d be begging. He now has accommodation with a friend and a job in Dublin,” said Mr Has- sett.

The court heard Baran had a number of previous convictions.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy said, “I don’t think probation is appropriate. He’s an alcoholic.”

Mr Hassett replied, “He’s doing something about his drinking. This man was viciously assaulted on the street to an inch of his life two months ago.

“It’s a matter for the DPP. He has given up drink.”

A probation officer told the court that residential treatment was not an option because of the language dif- ECON Lone

Judge McCarthy replied, “Resi- dence in prison 1s an option.”

“T will place him on probation for six months.

“If he starts drinking again, he will be brought back before the court,” he added.

He asked what steps the accused has taken to learn English and was told he has enrolled in English class- oe

THE people of Miltown Malbay were celebrating last week.

Against all the odds they have built and developed a thriving family re- source centre and library during the past 15 years, and on Tuesday they celebrated the extended opening hours of the library.

Local musicians gathered to cel- ebrate in traditional west Clare style – with a few tunes.

As they played they tapped their feet in unison on the wooden floor laid by the late Willie Clancy, who was part of the community praised for its volunteering achievements.

Retiring county librarian Noel Crowley told those gathered in the

library, “If ye hadn’t put a gun to our head we would never have come in here. It was ye’re vision and suc- Te

He told the group that on the day he met the founders Cllr Christy Cur- tin and Michael Mahoney in the then derelict vocational school.

“Every window in the place was broken,” he said.

He told of a hole in the ceiling that a council worker proposed could be rectified within a drop ceiling of £6,000.

The local people had other ideas and working to a tight budget em- ployed a local plasterer to fill the hole for £300.

This he said was an example of a community working together and

volunteering to make a project a suc- TS

With the assistance of the county council, VEC and the HSE the com- munity have provided a centre with a library, youth reach, art classes, Clare VEC, social worker, money advice and budgeting service, home help organiser, community welfare officer, social and family affairs of- ficer, elderly care service, mini bus, dental team and child health practi- tioner.

The Spraoit Family Resource Cen- tre is also due to open early next year on the site.

Clare County Manager Alec Flem- ing said that he was amazed at the number of people volunteering to work on the project.

“In the 20th century it is getting harder and harder to get people to volunteer in the true sense of the word.”

Cllr Curtin said that the resource centre was still campaigning for a full time manager.

‘We have been to the ends of the earth trying to get support for fund- ing for a manager,’ he said.

“Our management is on a shoe SOME tTae POM UN leet la cone ;

“We will ask Eamon O Culiv to come down here and show him what a value for money model the West Clare Resource Centre is,” he said.

A MAN who admitted possession of stolen lead has been handed a six- month jail term.

However, he will not serve time if he behaves himself for two years.

Bernie Mongan (19) of Clancy Park, Ennis, pleaded guilty to han- dling stolen property between June 29 and July 2 last.

Garda Michelle Holian told Ennis District Court on Friday that a build- ing site in Ennis was broken into and

lead, valued at €2,000, was taken. Mongan was arrested and ques- tioned at Ennis Garda Station. He admitted being in possession of some of the goods. All of the prop- erty was recovered. Defending so- licitor Daragh Hassett said his client

had purchased the rolls of lead on the side of the road in Ballyalla and told gardai what he had paid for it.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy imposed a six-month jail term, suspended on condition that Mongan be of good behaviour for two years.

MAYOR of Clare Cllr Patricia Mc- Carthy was guest of honour at the last Kilrush town council monthly meeting of 2007.

The Kilrush native thanked the town councillors for affording her the honour. “We all remember where we come from and | am very hon- oured,’ she said.

Describing her as “a fine lady and politician” mayor of Kilrush Cllr Tom Clyne (Ind) said *“*“We are very proud of you here in Kilrush.”

The councillors all paid tribute to the mayor’s handling of the “Shan- non Crisis” and Aer Lingus’s plans to move the Heathrow slots to Belfast.

“IT admire Patricia for the stance she has taken on Shannon Airport and the hospital. Patricia is always at the forefront to put up a fight,” said veteran Cllr Jack Fennell (Ind).

‘For this year we couldn’t have had a better mayor,’ said Cllr McMahon fey itete

“I don’t think anyone could have done a better job.”

Cllr Deirdre Culligan said, “I was so proud of you down in O’Connell Street Limerick at the Shannon pro- test and to see you speak.”

Fellow county councillor Tom Prenderville (FF) also paid tribute to the Shannon councillor and mayor.

“You have been a marvellous am- bassador for County Clare,” he said.

“She has never forgotten her roots. I remember Patricia in Clare County Council in full voice in defence of Kilrush.”

“Patricia McCarty is one of those people who could size up something and go in and fight and it may not al- ways be the popular thing.

‘She was a great loss to Kilrush and I would love to have worked beside her in the Kilrush electoral area.”

“I know Sissy Roughan (former chair of Kilrush Town Council) would have been very proud.

“I love her to bits and not only be- cause we were classmates but because she has great honesty,” he said.

“I don’t recognise myself in half of what has been said because I can

be very stubborn and very thick and very argumentative,” said Mayor McCarthy with a laugh.

She told the councillors that Kil- rush was a great example of a town in transition.

While it was a bustling market town in her youth, the closure of the West Clare Railway hit the west Clare capital hard, but things have improved in the last year.

“It is good to see it coming to the fore again and people investing in the town.”

“There was an element that took control of Kilrush for a while. I am glad that has being reversed and the community had now taken back con- trol.”

YOU could have heard a pin drop as Sylvia Roche Kelly’s husband, Lor- can, read out a poem in her memory.

As mourners fought back the tears, Lorcan Roche Kelly walked up to the pulpit and addressed the gathering at the end of her funeral mass.

His voice shaking, he read out a poem in Sylvia’s honour. Some of the

words were ‘For I have loved you’ – a tribute to the woman he loved.

Moments later, Lorcan held the couple’s five-year-old daughter, Ais- ling, in his arms as he walked with the cortege behind the coffin as it made its way to Killeen cemetery nearby.

Sylvia, nee Bourke, hailed from Coonagh in Limerick and had lived with her husband and two children,

Shane and Aisling, at Ballintlea be- tween Cratloe and Sixmilebridge.

On moving to that area she had im- mersed herself into the local com- munity.

She ran an art gallery, The Miller EVA (ClAABUI MODOC 0Nl slo ulccoMmmeteL ON mB Kor cently. She had closed the premises but continued to run art classes and had planned to re-open a gallery. She recently advertised her adult evening

and children’s Saturday pottery classes due to commence in January.

She had also worked part-time in the Woodcross bar and restaurant.

Locals in Sixmilebridge fondly re- membered Sylvia as someone who was always willing to lend a hand in activities in the area.

Her passing has left a void not only in the lives of her family, but also in the local community.

FIGURES released this week show that a total of 80 million litres of milk quota was offered for sale as part of the third Milk Quota Trading NYo tesa elon

Of these, more than 66 million litres was successfully traded, mak- ing it the highest proportion of quota sold to date under the lifetime of the controversial scheme.

Of 66 million litres traded, some 49 million litres was sold on the ex- change at prices ranging from 12 to 45 cent per litre, while 17 million litres was sold through the priority

pool at the maximum price of 12 cent per litre. “I am delighted that the third Trading Scheme has continued the trend established by the first two. Sixty and seventy per cent, respec- tively, of all quota offered for sale on the first two exchanges was sold, and today the volume traded has ex- ceeded 80 per cent,” said Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan.

“IT am _ particularly pleased that the improvements made in recent months have borne fruit, with many more sellers successfully disposing of their quotas after opting to accept one or two cent per litre less than their original offer prices in order

to match the Market Clearing Price. “This has been especially beneficial to producers in the northern half of the country. I am also pleased to note that quota is now being acquired by Category | producers in Co-op areas where access had previously proved oNbeerere Diam

Minister Coughlan also took the Opportunity to express her satisfac- tion with the operation of the Milk Quota Trading Scheme and to look to forthcoming challenges.

“IT think it has been clearly demonstrated that the ‘Trading Scheme has been a very effective tool in the allocation of quota to

active and committed dairy farm- ers, and will continue to be so in the future,’ she added.

“We must now look to new chal- lenges, and 2008 will not prove wanting in this regard. While much attention will focus on price and market trends, I look forward to dealing with the challenge presented by the commission’s proposals on the Health Check and the proposed quota expansion from April 1, 2008 and to working with the sectors to achieve the best possible outcome for Ireland.”

Details of the next exchange will be announced early in the New Year.

THE tragic death of Sylvia Roche Kelly marked a “dark and sad” time for the people of Cratloe, Sixmileb- ridge and Coonagh, her funeral mass heard last Wednesday.

Up to 500 mourners attended Syl- via’s funeral at the Little Church in Sixmilebridge. Mourners packed into the small church while hundreds of others braved the wintry winds to pray silently outside.

Fr Liam Enright, who was one of seven priests who _ concelebrated the Mass, said Sylvia’s death had “shocked and saddened” everybody. She had socialised in Limerick to celebrate her 33rd birthday, but, sad- ly, never made it home.

“It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t seem fair. Her great work is cut short. We are left with a terrible sense of loss. We are plunged into darkness,” said Fr Enright, who is parish priest

of Cratloe.

‘Tragic death, which is almost al- ways sudden, is like a blackout. One minute the sunis shining. Next minute it is dark night. Without the slight- est warning or the slightest chance to prepare ourselves we are plunged

into an impenetrable darkness. In the Space of a minute our whole world is turned upside down. Nothing can prepare us for something like this or Save us from its devastating effects,” added the priest.

“Naturally we ask, why did it hap-

pen? There is a tendency to say, ‘It’s the will of God’. Let us be perfectly clear: God did not want this tragedy to happen. There is only one thing we can do. Just as when a black- out occurs we rush for a light, any light, even that of a humble candle so now we rush to the only light that can penetrate this awful darkness, namely the light of Christ,” said Fr Syavwrcaelm

“Christ too died at the young age of 33,” he said.

Fr Enright said the entire commu- nity should be thankful for Sylvia’s life, for her helpful way and for her love for her family.

“We must not dwell too much on the manner of her death. It is better to give thanks to God for her life and commend her to God in death,” said Fr Enright.

CLARE farmers were warned last week that in order to stay competitive they must be producing top-quality weanling and aim for the top end of the market.

The call was made at an informa- tion meeting on suckler cows in SBE NM ool @

‘For Irish suckling farmers to sur- vive they must produce a quality weanling to aim for the premium end of the market to achieve a realis- tic price to remain competitive,’ said Teagasc adviser Michael Neylon.

Suckling farmers were urged to ex- amine their cost of production and technical inputs for over-wintering their cows and producing a top-qual- ity weanling in spring time.

Mr Neylon also advised Clare farmers to reduce their winter feed- ing costs by late grazing and early turn out to grass, better body condi- tion at housing and reducing replace- ment costs of cows.

He also advised farmers to achieve extra weight gain by improving the breeding of the cows for growth and milk and the use of bulls with extra growth potential. Better grassland management will increase milk and erowth, use creep feeding of meals and grass together with a healthy TRU

Compact calving is also vital. A well-stocked farm with a high output of quality weanlings will protect the future of Clare suckling farmers.

Also speaking at the meeting, Pfiz- er vet Damien O’ Donoghue stressed

the importance of disease control and injecting weanlings, especially for the export trade against IBR and BVD.

On January |, 2008 the €80 per cow Suckling Welfare Scheme will commence and the IFA’s Michael Lynch is encouraging farmers to participate. Application forms will be available early in 2008 and the closing date 1s March 31.

‘IT advise farmers to apply as ear- ly as possible in January to ensure that all the cows are included. The scheme will involve additional pa- perwork, but it should not involve extra work on the farm, as what the scheme requires 1s good animal hus- bandry practices,’ he said.

Joe Burke of Board Bia informed the meeting that live exports are

down 16 per cent on 2006 figures, especially to Spain and Italy. Beef consumption is very solid in Europe and feed-lot owners are restocking.

He stated that beef consumption is increasing and the gap between pro- duction and consumption is getting bigger. Imports from South America are increasing to fill this deficiency at present.

THERE will be no searches for prisoners on US planes at Shannon Airport despite the Government’s own watchdog recommending such AYeL nO) Oe

The Government has rejected the recommendation of the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) on the need to search planes which land at Shannon if they are suspected of be- ing involved in the transport of pris- oners to torture centres.

The IHRC is a statutory body which

monitors Ireland’s compliance with human rights legislation. After mak- ing a study of the claims concerning Shannon being used to facilitate ex- traordinary rendition, 1t recommend- ed that the Government introduce an effective and independent inspection regime as a matter of urgency.

Although there have been no re- corded incidents of rendition in Irish territories, planes used for the practice have stopped in Shannon, according to a report from the Euro- pean Parliament.

The IHRC undertook a review of

domestic and international laws on foot of claims that planes used to transport prisoners for torture had stopped over in Shannon for refuel- ling.

The IHRC produced a hard-hitting report on foot of their review which warned the Government that it faces the “appalling vista” of being sued by tortured terror suspects transport- ed through Ireland.

The IHRC said that Government should consider a dedicated Garda sub-station at Shannon to allow peo- ple to complain if they suspect that a

plane is being used to transport pris- oners.

But Foreign Affairs Minister Der- mot Ahern claimed the IHRC was more willing “to give credence to a self-appointed activist group” than to the categoric assurances of the democratically elected Government of the US.

Anti-war campaigner and former army officer, Edward Horgan said that several planes identified by the EU report as being implicated in the transport of prisoners for torture continue to land at Shannon.

THE Atlantic Connectivity Alliance has welcomed the announcement that Cityjet is to start a service between Shannon and Paris, describing it as a “positive result in our fight to secure vital air services for Shannon inter- national airport and the west coast”. John Brassil, Chairman of the At- lantic Connectivity Alliance (ACA) said, “This is a major win for Shannon

and a hugely important milestone in the ACA’s campaign to restore vital air connectivity to the business com- munity and the general public along the entire west coast of Ireland. “The ACA has campaigned long and hard on this issue and it is great to see what can be achieved when we take back control of our own destiny. Working closely with Shannon Air- port Authority, we are delighted to have played our part in securing this

critical Paris route,’ he said.

Kevin Thompstone, Chief Execu- tive of Shannon Development, de- scribed it as “great news for Shan- non and for the entire west coast… as regional tourism authority, Shannon Development will be working with City Jet and Shannon Airport to en- sure that this new route is successful and proves to be a significant boost for industry and tourism in this re- gion.”

Meanwhile, the Ennis, Limerick and Shannon Chambers of Com- merce have said the announcement “comes at a crucial time for the re- gion and is a key achievement in the campaign to retain and improve con- nectivity to and from Shannon ….of- fering connections, via the Skyleam alliance, to 841 cities, we believe the new flight schedule will be well sup- ported by the business community and will work to maintain and devel- op business links between the west of Ireland and the rest of the world.”

The Irish Hotels Federation also welcomed the announcement, stating it is an important new lifeline for the Shannon and western regions which will assist in protecting and boosting inward tourism.

After being informed by Cllr Pat Daly about the new routes, the En- nis No | Cumann of Fianna Fail wel- comed the airline’s announcement.

Describing it as “magnificent and very welcome news,’ Cumann Sec- retary Garrett Greene observed that Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport and Schipol Airport in the Netherlands are emerging as airlines’ preferred European hubs and expressed hope that this new route might well prove more valuable to the mid-west region than the very profitable route that Aer Lingus has seen fit to terminate.