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AN Ennis man, who is currently serving a four-year jail term in Lim- erick Prison has been charged with having a mobile phone in his cell.

Mark McCarthy (22), with an ad- dress in Ennis, was jailed at Ennis Circuit Court in April 2006 for a burglary offence in Ennis.

Last Tuesday he appeared before Limerick District Court accused of having a mobile phone and a sim card without the permission of the Governor. It is alleged the items were seized on June 24 last, during a

search of McCarthy’s cell by prison eee

Inspector Gerry MacNamara said directions had not been received from the Director of Public Prosecutions and he asked for a brief adjournment. Judge Tom O’Donnell agreed but said if the directions were not avail- able from the DPP on the next date he would strike the case out.

The Irish Prison Service says there were 210 mobile phones seized at Limerick Prison between October 2006 and October 2007, although most of the seizures have not led to prosecutions.

THE people of Stonehall and sur- rounding areas are being asked to help, financially, with the extension of the local primary school.

An additional classroom, games hall, office, learning support room and cloakroom have been built onto the school, which was constructed in 1901.

There were four classrooms, but

the additional room was needed, so that the increasing pupil numbers could be afforded adequate space. There are currently 106 pupils on the school roll, along with a teaching staff of eight.

In an effort to cover the costs of the project, the school is currently fund- raising with a “Buy a Brick’ project to help put the finishing touches to the extension of the building.

Some government funding was re-

ceived, but local assistance is also required, in order that the project can be completed.

The parents committee has raised some money and are still looking for more funds. The building work started during the summer and it is hoped that the final works will be completed within the next month.

Teacher Helen O’Brien is appealing to past pupils to help out, as the wider community will benefit as a result.

“The government funding is not ad- equate so we are asking for the help of past pupils to buy a brick. If they do, they would be helping with the kitting out of the school,” she said.

The bricks cost €50 each and con- tributions can be made to the account at AIB, Town Centre, Shannon. Ac- count Number: 06585022. Sort Code: ee te yo

Contributions can also be sent to the school.

YOUNG Clare farmers must be giv- en priority treatment if an increase in the quota is announced next year.

That is according to Catherine Buckley, Macra na Feirme’s national president, who said last week that should the EU Commission decide to increase quotas on a once-off basis in 2008 then the increased percent- age must be targeted at new entrants and young farmers in order to benefit the industry.

Buckley said that a small once-off increase in EU milk quota would leave Irish farmers worse off over the longer term relative to getting no increase in quota as outlined in the FAPRI Ireland Partnership analysis

of quota expansion.

The leader of the young farmers’ organisation pointed out that an in- significant increase in quota for all dairy farmers across the board would not benefit the industry.

“Instead, 1f we are to attract young people into the industry, we need to provide young farmers with milk quo- ta access. We have a poor age profile with only eight per cent of our farm- ers under the age of 35,” she said.

“The targeting of increased quota to new and recent entrants is vital in order to allow those farmers who are the future of the dairy industry to rapidly expand their businesses in the years ahead and to prepare for an environment without milk quotas,” she said.

“Dairy farming is a very labour- intensive and tying occupation and young people must see the prospect of proper rewards for their time if they are to commit themselves to the sector.”

Buckley said additional quota tar- geted at new entrants and young farmers would be purely ‘a license to produce’, rather than an asset, and the quota should be allocated nation- ally and completely separately from the milk quota exchange.

Meanwhile, Alltech and Macra na Ferime have, for the second year in succession, joined forces to run a na- tional silage competition in order to encourage the highest standards of silage making amongst young farm- ae

Over 400 samples have now been taken across 20 regions in the coun- try and the national final of the com- petition, followed by an awards cere- mony will take place on December 3 in Alltech’s European headquarters in Dunboyne, County Meath.

The overall national competition winner will enjoy an educational trip for two people to the United States in 2008 to visit a chosen farm enterprise, and 26 county winners and runners-up will each receive an Alltech product vouchers valued at €200, €100 and €50.

On the day there will also be a farm walk and an information seminar. For more information, contact John Graham in Macra national office on Ol 4268910.

A MAN who admitted possession of drugs at his home for the purpose of sale or supply has been jailed for two years.

Kenneth Daly (36), of Oakwood Drive, Ennis, pleaded guilty to pos- session of cocaine and cannabis res- in, for the purpose of sale or supply.

He also admitted possession of co-

caine, cannabis and cannabis resin, at his home, on November 19, 2005.

Garda Paul Crowley told Ennis Circuit Court that the accused told gardai, “Everything I have is in this drawer,’ referring to a drawer in the vanity unit of his bedroom.

Gardai then found white powder in a plastic bag, a brown substance and dried green leaves in the drawer.

Garda Crowley said that analysis

showed the white powder was co- caine, the brown substance was can- nabis resin and the dried green leaves contained herbal cannabis.

The street value of the drugs seized amounted to over €2,500, said the garda, while €6,170 in cash was found in Daly’s jacket pockets.

Daly told gardai he got a loan from the credit union, for work purposes, a few days earlier.

Defence barrister Pat Whyms pointed out that the analysis showed the powder was found to contain co- caine, “so we don’t know the value of the cocaine”.

He said his client “sought to sup- plement his income by trading in cannabis and cocaine. He was not a big operator.

“He was simply trying to fund himself and fund his own addiction

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Judge Carroll Moran said, “It is very unusual to get a loan from the credit union and be walking around with that amount of money in your pocket.”

“You would have to be living on another planet not to realise that so- ciety regards the dealing of drugs as very serious,’ he said and imposed a two-year jail term.

THE clocks turned back in Kilmaley last week when residents of the local day care centre provided a hands on CCeaeyerieeclmCOembeMOlUlAKcsmpeeteD operon

Using an authentic butter churn the residents of Kilmaley Day Care Cen- tre relived an age-old practice much to the delight of students from Kil- maley National School.

The demonstration was organised by Clare Museum as part of its out- reach work in communities across the county.

According to Mr. John Rattigan, Curator, Clare Museum, “I brought a handling collection from the museum

to the daycare centre and tried to en- courage people to bring in artefacts from their own homes. Over the next couple of weeks we found that we had amassed most of the equipment needed to make homemade butter in the traditional way, and we decided to give it a go.”

He continued, “Most of the mater1- al is probably less than 50 years old, and I was told that the glass churn represented the height of fashion in 1950s Ireland.

Somebody else brought in the but- ter pats for shaping the butter and, more importantly, all brought in the knowledge of how to make butter.”

Clare Museum’s outreach pro-

gramme has been well received around the county since its concep- tion in early 2005.

During 2005 ands 2006, the clients of Ennistymon Hospital and Daycare Centre and Raheen Hospital and Daycare Centre were invited to take part in a reminiscence project called Preserving the Past for the Future.

Participants were invited to bring in family heirlooms, or objects that represented the lives or achievements of either themselves or their relatives, and to recall memories associated A Leem Ne ToOen

“None of the children present at the demonstration realised that but- ter was once made at home by their

erandparent’s generation’, explained Mary Ita Griffin, Manager of the Kilmaley Day Care Centre.

Ms. Griffin stated, ““The fascination of watching cream turn to golden but- ter proved to be an enjoyable learning experience for kids and adults alike. I would like to express my gratitude to Clare Museum, the children of Kilmaley National School and, most of all, everyone who attends Kilma- ley Day Care Centre for their enthu- siasm.”’

TWO aircraft confirmed to be in- volved in prisoner rendition activities by the CIA in reports published by the European Parliament, the Coun- cil of Europe and Amnesty Interna- tional, continue to use Shannon Aiur- port to refuel but are still not being searched by gardai.

The Gulfstream IV jets, registra- tion numbers N4/5LC and N478GS, owned at the time by Centurion Avi- ation Services, a shelf company for

the CIA, have been identified by the EU’s “Temporary Committee on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transport and illegal detention of prisoners” published in November 2006.

N478GS landed at Shannon on July 26 andN475LC refuelled at the air- port in the early hours of October 30. A formal request for the airplane to be searched by gardai was made on the night by well known anti-war campaigner Edward Horgan from Limerick. Mr Horgan, a retired Irish

Army Commandant, was aware that the plane was due in Shannon and was there when it arrived.

His request to have the plane searched was refused and he made a formal complaint and two days later, received a letter from An Garda Sio- chana stating that “the gardai will not be taking any action on the informa- tion contained in your statement.”

Ata recent conference in Ennis, Mr Horgan asked guest speaker Kath- leen O’ Toole, the head of the Garda Siochana Inspectorate, whether

she would investigate the failure of gardai to prevent the use of Shannon for torture.

Stating that she had no personal or professional knowledge of the situa- tion at Shannon, Ms O’ Toole said that OS DENA OComDOOUUOUKI (cs mmc(oco wm OLE Li-DOhVAES Ro) f| time to assign us to look at anything throughout the country involving garda practices then of course we will do that.”

Centurion Aviation Services was also named in an Amnesty Interna- tional report on rendition last year

and the registered owner of both aircraft 1s now listed as L-3 IS LLC, Great Falls, Montana.

According to the European Parlia- ment report, “Aircraft N478GS and N475LC belong to the company Cen- turion Aviation Services. This compa- ny is relevant, within the framework of CIA flights, as a beneficiary of the so-called “landing permits” in the US military bases all over the world. The Civil Aircraft Landing Permit (CALP) authorizes aircraft to land on US military bases worldwide.”

THE trial of a Kilrush man and two Limerick men accused of the murder of a Limerick bouncer is due to con- clude this week at the Central Crim1- nal Court sitting at Cloverhill. Anthony Kelly (50), of Cragg House, Kilrush, along with Gary Campion (24), Pineview Gardens, Moyross, Limerick and Desmond Dundon (23) from Ballinacurra We- ston, Limerick all plead not guilty to murdering Brian Fitzgerald in Lim-

erick in the early hours of November 29, 2002. The trial entered its fifth Veto) Gao KK OLDE

In his closing speech to the jury yes- terday, Sean Gillane BL, prosecut- ing, told the jury of twelve men that there is a central truth in this case. “A core truth that is unchallenged and unchallengeable;” that James Martin Cahill, the chief prosecution witness, had shot and killed Mr Fitzgerald.

He said that there was enough truth in Cahill’s evidence to see what facts connected to that truth.

He urged the jury not to discount Cahill’s evidence because they were repulsed by him. During his evidence, Cahill admitted to being involved in up to seven other mur- ders and also abusing children and animals including a baby and a dog. He also claimed to have fantasised about sex with a horse and with his mother.

Michael O’Higgins SC, defending Anthony Kelly, told the jury that Ca- hill simply couldn’t have travelled to Mr Kelly in Kilrush to pick up a gun

to use in the murder and be shown how to use it. The times did not add up and the account “fell at the fist hurdle.” Mr O’ Higgins will finish his closing speech today before Mr Jus- tice Peter Charleton and the jury.

Conor Devally SC, defending Mr Campion, said Cahill was a “danger- ous, dangerous” witness who sought to please anyone in power or who had control over his life.

He had changed his story to make himself fascinating to gardai, to psy- chologists and to erase people he had

previously said had taken part in the murder.

“He has a baby face, he is quiet, he is lowering himself, abasing himself; look how bad I am, I must be telling the truth. He has pleased the gardai, he has pleased psychologists, he has pleased who knows who else.”

Roger Sweetman SC, defending Desmond Dundon, told the jury that Cahill’s evidence had been so full of contradictions it would be impossi- ble to decide which version of events was correct.

HAVING given more than 30 years service to the community, prominent Wolfe Tones na Sionna clubman Jim Tubridy now aims to travel 6,000 miles to help poverty-stricken AIDS sufferers in South Africa.

Jim has volunteered to spend 10 days working on helping to build a hospice and community facilities for AIDS victims in Missionvale, Port Elizabeth. A former Wolfe Tones club vice-chairman, adult games chairman and executive committee member, he has also been, and con- tinues to be, involved with a number of club teams. The Missionvale Project is run by Lissycasey-born Sister Ethel Normoyle of the Little Company of Mary Congregation with her staff of 15.

“I read about how the project was looking for Irish volunteers to give freely of their time and skills to build a hospice roughly the size of eight

local authority houses,’ explained Tubridy.

“Having discussed it with my wife, Mary, we decided that I should offer my general skills as a tradesman to help this most worthy cause.”

To enable Jim to make the trip ear- ly next year he is organising a fun- draising campaign over the coming weeks. To cover the travel, transfer and accommodation costs involved, he needs to raise about €3,000 by November 26.

“IT would greatly appreciate any sponsorship support from the people of Shannon, no matter how small,’ said Tubridy, who lives in Cluain Lia, Ballycasey, and is also a long- serving crew member with Shannon Fire Service.

Jim said more than 70 per cent of people living in this part of South Africa are infected with HIV/AIDS and malnutrition and TB are rife.

“This hospice will make a real difference to such people and give

them some dignity,” he added.

Paying tribute to Jim for volunteer- ing to go on such a mission, Tony O’Connell, Wolfe Tones chairman, said it was indicative of his unselfish contribution to the wider community over many years.

“T wish Jim well with his efforts to

raise sufficient funds to do this work. It is an honour for the club, and for Shannon, to have a volunteer from the community carry out such valu- able work for the less-privileged of the world,’ he said

You can contact Jim Tubridy on O86 1565371.

ige na- tional school in Ennistymon remains in doubt today following a meeting between representatives of the Stein- er School and Department of Educa- tion officials yesterday afternoon.

The meeting, which included two representatives of the Department of Education, two senior school inspec- tors, three represent of the school’s patron body Life Ways and senior teacher Una Ni Ghairbhith, was de- scribed as “lukewarm” by a school official.

“We were trying to get some clar- ity on a number of issues but no ma- jor progress was made by either side today. Both sides were looking for clarification on a number of issues

relating to our application for official Status,” said Ms Ni Ghairbhith.

“No date has yet been given for a decision but we would obviously be looking for this to be sorted out as soon as possible.”

The Mol an

ONE of the four men accused of the murder of a Limerick bouncer has been found not guilty at the Central Criminal Court sitting at Cloverhill.

Mr Justice Peter Charleton directed the jury of 12 men to acquit John Dundon (27) of Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick of murdering Mr Brian Fit- zgerald in the early hours of Novem- ber 29, 2002, at Brookhaven Walk, Mill Road, Corbally, Limerick.

Mr Justice Charleton said he had come to his decision after a state- ment made by chief prosecution wit- ness James Martin Cahill, who is currently serving a life sentence for shooting Mr Fitzgerald, that “I’m getting like voices and | don’t want to convict someone in the wrong.”

Cahill said he did not remember Mr Dundon being present when Mr Fit- zgerald was pointed out at his place of work or a visit to the victim’s house before the murder.

He also said that while Mr Dun- don was present at a house where the murder was discussed he was not present for the conversation.

Mr Justice Charleton went on to tell the jury there was no case against John Dundon and he was requiring them to acquit him.

He warned them that this move did not affect the trials of the other three

defendants when they came to delib- erate their cases.

The jury also heard from Michael Flynn, a consultant engineer, who told Michael O’ Higgins SC, defend- ing Mr Kelly, the time it would take to travel certain routes mentioned during the trial.

He said that the journey from the Heath in Portlaoise, where Cahill said he had met with two men to plan the murder and arrange to pick up a gun and ammunition from Mr Kelly, to Mr Kelly’s house would take just over three hours.

A journey starting at 3.45pm from the Heath as suggested by both CCTV footage and phone records from the day of the meeting, would arrive at Mr Kelly’s house at 7pm.

A trip taken at the same time as an alternative account of the journey to Kilrush also given by Cahill would have taken | hour and 24 minutes each way.

However Mr Flynn agreed with Mr Sean Gillane BL, prosecuting, that he had undertaken all journeys at the statutory speed limit and journey times would be affected if this was not observed.

Mr Justice Charleton informed the jury that closing speeches would be- gin on Monday and urged them not to make up their minds before they had heard all arguments before them.