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THERE was blood on the floor and walls of a room at Ennis leisure cen- tre in the immediate aftermath of an attack there, a court has heard.

A leisure centre employee told En- nis Circuit Court that she was work- ing at the poolside when she was alerted by a colleague to what was happening in the gym.

‘He said there was a fight going on

in the gym with knives. I grabbed my phone and went up,” she said.

She said she saw that a man was in- jured in the aerobics hall.

“T just saw blood. There was a good bit of blood. It was on the floor and on the walls,” she recalled.

She said that she rang gardai and attended to the victim.

Garda Saran Butler told the tri- al that he was using the gym that evening. At around 7.45pm a group

of men burst in the door.

“T could see Anthony McDonagh getting hit on the head with a wheel brace,” he said. He said that the ac- cused was holding what appeared to loLome SL E-DIU CONAN @ NDE ISe

“A lot of people in the gym started rushing for the door,’ he said. Asked by counsel for the state, Stephen Coughlan, BL, did the accused come into contact with the injured party, he replied, “Not from what I saw.”

AS part of a special commemora- tion, Clare casualties of World War II will be remembered at the Clare Armistice Day multi-denomination- al service at Ennis Cathedral at 8pm next Wednesday, November 11.

The service will honour the memo- ry of Clare service men and women, and civilians who lost their lives in

both the First and Second World AEN ace

At the service, a special address will be given by retired Col. Michael Shannon, from Kilrush, former Chairman of the Irish Peace Institute. Col. Shannon served with UN forces in the Congo, Cyprus and Lebanon Where he was Commanding Officer of the UNIFL force. He also worked with the OSCE and EU monitoring

elections in Boznia- Hertzegovina, South Africa and Russia.

The commemoration committee is currently appealing for names and details of other casualties, as the com- mittee is raising funds to erect a me- morial wall to all casualties. Names may be given to the local libraries, Fr. Hogan, Ennis, Tom Prendivelle, Kilrush, Rev. Bob Hanna, Ennis and Peadar M Namara, Inch.

In total, World War II resulted in the death of 24 million military service personel and over 40 million MANET Oh

The war started on September 3, 1939, and ended on September 2, ee

Over 100,000 Irish served in the British Forces of which 10,000 lost their lives. Over 150,000 Irish worked in Britain during the war — in

factories, building aerodromes, nurs- ing etc.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record the following Clare dead by name, rank serial number, unit regiment, date of death, age, parents, home address, grave/ memorial, and cemetery location.

The names listed here are not a full record of the Clare World War II casualties.

AN ADDICTION to heroin was at the root of a break-in to a hotel room in Ennis, a court has heard.

Mark Mulcaire (32), of Luifford Lodge, Ennis, admitted entering a room at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis as a trespasser and stealing goods, on June 16 last.

Ennis District Court heard last week

that a room was entered through a ground floor window, which was left open by a guest.

A laptop and other items, whose to- tal value amounted to €1,350, were taken. The accused and another in- dividual were identified on CCTV ort oe- ke

Defending solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court that the accused hails from a respectable family in Ennis.

He said that he developed a “very nasty habit; addiction to heroin” and got sucked in.

“This was a simple but a nasty crime. It was perpetrated with the intention of taking the laptop and Sswopping it for heroin,” he said.

He said his client is now drug- free and is committed to staying off ora breae

He said that when an individual is

addicted to heroin, ““You can’t work; you can’t live and everything else you do is focused on a need and greed for WeComebue tone

‘He broke into a hotel room in his own home town and was caught red- handed,” he said.

An eight-month jail term was im- posed and a bond was fixed in the event of an appeal.

ENNIS Chamber Business School in conjunction with Chambers Ireland and FAS, has announced details of training courses for November to as- sist businesses with managing their credit and getting paid in order to support cash flow.

Rita Mc Inerney, CEO of Ennis Chamber said: “Cash flow is the life- blood of any business, particularly at a time when it can be difficult to ob- tain credit. Therefore Ennis Cham- ber felt a need to address this head

on by providing businesses with an opportunity to up-skill themselves or their staff by providing one and two day intensive training courses.”

The first course “How to Get Paid” is branded as having the potential to turn a businesses fortunes around in the current climate. This course takes place on Wednesday, Novem- ber 11 and will cover topics such as spotting the risks, proper documen- tation, approaches to collections and legal options as well as handouts on forms and layouts, and terms and Fey aTen TBO) e tse

Secondly a two day course on “Managing Credit for Profit” is de- signed to bring the credit manage- ment function into the 21st century. Taking place on Wednesdays, No- vember 11 and 18, this course intro- duces the positive benefit of excellent credit management and how to effec- tively manage credit exposure while also teaching some accountancy skills and prioritisation.

This training is delivered by the Chief Executive of the Irish Insti- tute of Credit Management, Declan Flood, who is a regular contributor

to the national media. He has gained a reputation as a leading visionary in the area by combining the latest thinking with his 20 years of hands on credit management.

Both courses qualify for Continu- ous Professional Development (CDP) hours and run from 9.30am-5pm on each day at the Old Ground Hotel, O’Connell Street, Ennis, County Clare at a cost of €175 per day per participant.

For bookings please contact Marga- ret Neylon at Ennis Chamber on 065 684 2988 or info@ennischamber.ie

ANNE Ae CK SIME EGR MLOBn ICO m IO COnnien

THE Banner Ladies maintained their firm grip on underage ladies football on Sunday morning as they completed a three-in-a-row of Mi1- nor A titles. While the champions were dogged against the conditions, against a battling Newmarket side it was only in the final quarter that they really upped the ante, scoring 3-5 without reply to put the result beyond any doubt.

On the flip side, it was another cruel blow to Newmarket who along with suffering defeat to the Banner for the second year in succession, also had a sizeable pool of players on the under 16 and minor camogie sides that lost finals in recent weeks.

They battled admirably for three quarters of this tie but needed a goal to really kickstart any meaning- ful challenge against the perennial champions, especially in the first-half when backed by the swirling wind.

After an evenly matched start that saw Niamh O’Dea kick four of the Banner’s opening five points with Newmarket’s replies coming from Niki Kaiser, Zelica Brown and Jenny Kelly, there wasn’t a lot to separate the sides in the breezy conditions. However, the game received it’s first major turning point in the 23rd minute when Sinead O’Keefe’s ball over the top was gathered by Naomi

Carroll to score the only goal of the first-half. That score was to prove the difference for the next 20 minutes as Newmarket tried to regain a foothold in the game. By half-time, Niki Kai- ser and Niamh O’Dea had swapped points to leave the scoreline 1-6 to 0- 4 but on the restart, a resurgent Ban- ner side took up the ascendency after Laura McMahon had cut the deficit to four.

Louise Woods was instrumental in stopping the Newmarket supply and with Shonagh Enright, Niamh O’Dea and Katie Cahill all willing to carry the ball forward at every opportunity, Newmarket had to remain resilient to hold them out. Chloe Morey was strong in defence, Roisin McMahon and Carol Kaiser scrapped for every ball but eventually, the Banner’s re- lentless pressure had to pay off and

after five successive wides, Niamh O’Dea finally got them back on track with a point from 30 metres.

In a brief revolt, Ann Marie Hayes grabbed a wonderful point for New- market but once Catherine Dolan scrambled the Banner’s second goal in the 48th minute to increase the lead to eight, Newmarket’s heads be- gan to drop.

An experienced Banner side took

full advantage when Niamh O’Dea soloed through unchallenged before unleashing her effort to the net and the Munster award winner would tack on a further 1-2 to lead her side to another memorable victory.

Not only that but for captain Lorna Higgins, Katie Cahill, Shonagh En- right, Kathleen O’Keefe, Niamh Ca- hill and Sinead O’Keefe, it was the crowning of a Minor A double in camogie and ladies football, a sig- nificant achievement in an already success filled year.

LOSSES at the company that con- structed the €198 million Ennis by- pass last year exceeded €10 million last year.

Accounts filed with the Companies’ Office show that the losses at GAMA Construction Ireland resulted in the company having accumulated losses of €69.6 million at the end of last year.

Work on outstanding issues 1s on- going and Clare County Council recently confirmed that it paid €2.6 million to GAMA Construction this year.

Last year, GAMA admitted to the Labour Court that it had projected a loss on €45 million on the Ennis bypass project alone after underesti- mating the cost of labour and materi- als and incurring financial penalties for delays.

The company’s work in Ireland came under scrutiny in 2005 over allegations that it underpaid migrant workers.

The accounts for 2008 show that the company’s turnover slumped by 67 per cent from €39 million in 2007 to €12 million last year.

The directors state that the group had negative net assets at the end of the financial year.

The accounts point out that GAMA

is reliant on the continued financial support from its ultimate parent un- dertaking, GAMA Holdings.

“The company’s ultimate parent has agreed to support the group over the next 12 months from the date of signing of the financial statements.”

The directors confirm that they are actively tendering for a number of projects and conclude that they have “a reasonable expectation that the group has adequate resources to

continue operating for the foresee- able future having regard to trading prospects and finance available.”

Last year, the company employed 58 compared to 183 in 2007 with the company’s wage bill falling from €14m to €3.6m.

The accounts also show €750,943 in an exceptional item from the sale of an asset.

GAMA Construction Ltd is based in Santry, County Dublin.

WITH a little over five minutes to go, this game rested on a knife-edge. It shouldn’t have. Just three points separated the two, Smith O’Brien’s ahead on a scoreline of 1-5 to O-5.

A total of 16 minutes had passed with neither side able to register a score. The opening quarter aside, Smith O’Brien’s — beaten finalists in this competition last year after going down in a replay against Ennisty- mon — were by far the fitter and more creative team. By all reckoning, they should have wrapped up the game before their late onslaught arrived. That they didn’t close the door on St Breckan’s meant the north Clare side would always believe they could get back in the game. With 12 minutes gone in the second-half, they al- most did. Tony Shannon had just put them back to within three of Smith O’Brien’s when he almost levelled things up. He latched onto a low ball 15-yards out from goal, kicking from the ground soccer-style and his shot looked destined for the net. Eugene Cusack, in goal for the Killaloe club, made a fantastic save to keep the ball out. It broke to Sean Neville who aimed for goal but his shot slid left and wide. Ten minutes later, Brian Scanlan produced another goal save for Smith O’Brien’s when he blocked what looked like a certain goal for St Breckan’s and Smith O’Brien’s — though running their luck to the max — remained in control.

If Cusack and Scanlan’s contribu- tions were crucial then so too were the displays from John Cusack, Kevin McCarthy and, in particular, Shane Byrne. The latter produced a quality display, popping up in all

areas of the field but his distribution remained the key component of the game.

While the focus among those dot- ting the inexcusably unlined “‘side- line” may have been on the former Munster and Ireland rugby interna- tional Anthony Foley — who clocked in a muted enough game at full-for-

ward — the work-rate of Byrne and John Cusack, the power of McCarthy and the agility of Eugene Cusack are what really caught the eye.

As early as the 15th minute Mc- Carthy had Smith O’Brien’s in the driving seat. He goaled after eight minutes and pointed on the quarter hour with another score from An-

thony O’Sullivan — a cousin of the Kerry All-Star Declan O’Sullivan — wedged in between. In total, it gave Smith O’Brien’s a four-point lead. John Stack with three and Eric Mur- rihy were the only names on the St Breckan’s scoresheet by the time the break rolled around.

After those goal opportunities for

St Breckan’s slid by, Smith O’Brien’s re-focused once more.

Trevor Howard kicked his side four ahead with five minutes left and 60 seconds later, Stephen McCarthy — who was influential after coming off the bench early in the game — pro- vided an insurance goal.

Into injury-time but there was more to come. Fittingly, Byrne stepped up for the final two scores. Firstly, a point and two minutes into time add- ed on, a beautifully taken goal.

A ten-point win, deservedly so, and yet another football title wintering in the east of the county.

THE BOOK of evidence in the case of a man accused of murder in Kil- rush during the summer is expected to be served in a month, a court has been told.

Kilrush District Court has been told that 87 statements are included in a file on the case which was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In response to a query from the defence solicitor Eugene O’Kelly as to why the book of evidence was not ready last week, Superintendent Michael Comyns, who is leading the

investigation, pointed out that the accused was charged on July 31. He said that a file was prepared and sent to the DPP on August 5. “That file contained 87 statements,” he said in court, last Wednesday.

He said that the state pathologist’s report was not received until October 12 and the ballistic report on the gun was not received until October 15.

‘These matters were all then sent to the DPP and the DPP has directed to proceed with the charge. The matter is now with the state solicitor, who is preparing the book of evidence,” said Slee] moves hsrtse

He said the matter was dealt with

by gardai “expeditiously.”

Ma LOCE WMC EW MOPAR EN COMO NRO ST DEonm | spoke to the state solicitor this morn- ing. He has confidence the book of evidence will be ready in four weeks,’ said Supt Comyns.

Asked by Mr O’Kelly was he confident it would be ready in four weeks, the garda superintendent re- plied, “I’m not preparing the book. The state solicitor 1s preparing the book.”

Mr O’Kelly said that the time limit for preparation of a book of evidence is 42 days.

“It’s 82 days. It’s double the time. The state knew that this applied as

much to a murder charge as to a public order charge. The legislation should not be ignored,” he said.

He said that while the matter was “complex,” it was not “unduly com- jy ts.aae

“We are being hampered by not having the photographs,” he said.

However, Supt Comyns said the legislation was not being ignored. ‘There 1s no murder charge that is not complex,” he said and asked for an adjournment. This was granted by Judge Mangan, who granted an ex- tension of time to produce the book of evidence. The accused will re-ap- pear in court in a month.

THE solicitor representing a man ac- cused of murder in Kilrush in July has expressed concern that photo- graphs taken by the state patholo- gist at the scene have not been made available to the defence.

Father-of-two Brendan O’Sullivan (25), of 10 O’Gorman Street, Kil- rush, is accused of murdering Leslie Kenny at O’Gorman Street, Kilrush, on July 29 last.

Mr Kenny was shot dead at around 10.30am on Wednesday, July 29, in

the front garden of 10 O’Gorman Sistem

Mr O’Sullivan appeared before Kilrush District Court last Wednes- day, where the book of evidence was due to be served.

Superintendent Michael Comyns told the court that the book of evi- dence was not ready and applied to the court for the accused to be remanded on continuing bail for a month.

Defence solicitor Eugene O’Kelly said he was objecting to that applica- tion. He said that the permitted time

for preparing a book of evidence is 42 days and this was being treated by the state as “aspirational” more than “obligatory.”

He said he was not objecting for the sake of being awkward, but there were practical difficulties.

He pointed out that the deputy state pathologist in Northern Ireland, Dr Alistair Bentley, carried out an inde- pendent autopsy.

Mr O’Kelly said Dr Bentley re- quired sight of photographs taken by the state pathologist, when the body was in situ.

“The state, for whatever reason, won’t accede to Dr Bentley’s request. He is most surprised to hear that gardai refused to release the photo- graphs,” said the solicitor.

He said he did not see how releas- ing the photographs would hamper the garda investigation and said the PSNI is very helpful in investigations it carries out.

However, Judge Joseph Mangan said, ““That’s a matter for the trial.”

Mr O’Kelly then said, “The book of evidence is not ready and we are not being told why.”