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ALLEGATIONS that an attempt was made to abduct a nine-year-old girl from a shop in Killaloe at lunch- time on Friday are now the subject of a detailed garda investigation.

The young girl has claimed that a man attempted to take her by the hand and bring her out of a local su- permarket, at the Green, at around lpm on Friday afternoon.

The girl, from Killaloe town, was

with her cousin and a sibling — aged five and 10 — at the time of the al- leged incident.

She claims that she was approached by aman — believed to be around 40 years of age — near the deli counter of the shop, who attempted to hold her hand. She told gardai she resisted the approach and managed to raise the alarm. The young girl and her mother made a complaint at the local garda station, a short time after.

A number of people who were in

the shop at the time agreed that a man fitting the description was on the premises, but nobody saw any- thing untoward happening.

Gardai have issued a description of the man. They say he is around 40 years of age, six foot tall and was bald with a grey beard. He was wear- ing pale blue shirt and jeans, a grey hoodie and white runners.

‘The man described by the girl was unusual looking. She says he wanted to bring her with him, but she re-

sisted.

“This is an isolated report and would have happened in a matter of 10 seconds. We have not had any other calls in relation to this,” said a garda spokesman.

Local County Councillor Tony O’Brien (FF) is urging parents to be vigilant. “I would be concerned that something like that would happen in a town such as Killaloe. Of course parents of young children would be anxious,’ he said.

PLANS for a gambling club in Shan- non have been re-lodged to Clare County Council.

Businessman John O’Donovan lodged plans earlier this year for a ‘members club’, which he says would create 12 jobs.

Submissions were made by Shan- non-based Councillor Patricia Mc- Carthy and former Clare hurler Brian Lohan and planning was refused by the local authority.

However Mr O’Donovan – who hails from Quin – has once again lodged a planning application, using the term ‘casino’ and remains optimistic that his project will get the go-ahead.

He plans to lease a premises over the EBS in Shannon town centre for the venture.

He says he has carried out research, and as a result, believes that a casino would be a huge success in Shannon.

“T was involved in the construction of 62 holiday units, the East Clare Golf and Holiday Village in Bodyke. When they opened, a year-and-a-half ago, they had a phenomenal amount of guests, but in the evening time, they had nothing to do,” said Mr O’ Donovan.

He said he also carried out “brief surveys” on the hotels in Shannon and found that the occupancy ranges from 500 to 1200 per week, during the tourist season.

“A number of guests would spend two to three days there. Unless you enjoy a drink, there is nothing really to do. That is how Shannon came to the forefront of this,” he said.

He said he has changed the word- ing from ‘members club’ to ‘casino’, mainly to address an objection made by Councillor McCarthy.

“IT am forever optimistic. We are hoping this is the first hurdle in some- thing an awful lot better. Ireland needs to give tourists what they want.

‘“T have had very good advice. I have travelled Europe and talked to differ- ent casino owners,” he said.

He said the initial plans were refused, as the chosen location wasn’t suitable, but he believes he can gain planning

permission this time around.

“In a sense of fair play, I decided to relodge so everybody has an opportu- nity to voice their opinions, be it good or bad.

‘“T have been very surprised by some of the public representatives’ negative attitudes,” added Mr O’ Donovan.

“T have been a bit downhearted by some of the negative comments. I am looking at this as something positive for Shannon,” he said.

‘There are two casinos in Ennis and numerous in Limerick and Galway. Why not Shannon?” he said.

People who wish to make com- ments on the project should reer ne Mr O’ Donovan oy shannoncasinos @ yahoo.ie.

THE online petition to save Shan- non’s Heathrow slots has now gained almost 12,700 signatures and is still erowing.

Thousands have signed up to the Save Shannon petition since it was launched almost two weeks ago.

The petition now ranks as one of the most active petitions in the world.

It has been ranked eleventh most popular online petition worldwide.

The signatories’ call for Aer Lingus to reverse its plans to remove direct flights from Shannon to Heathrow now looks on course to reach the 15,000 mark before the end of the Leto

“We are asking people to sign and publicise this petition,’ a spokesman for the Save Shannon website said.

‘The more pressure that can be put on politicians, the Government and Aer Lingus itself, the more chance of having this decision reversed.”

The online petition, which is ad- dressed to the board of Aer Lingus, also allows signatories to post a comment on the site, with a number of people calling for a boycott of Aer Lingus should the slot be transferred to Belfast.

Anyone wanting to sign the petition can do so by logging on to www.pe- titiononline.com/EISNNLHR/peti-

tion.html.

Meanwhile, Ray Tomany, the Cor- bally man behind the petition, has written to members of the cabinet urging them to go online and see for themselves how strongly people feel about the issue.

At the outset, the petition was erowing by as many as 2,000 signa- tures per day.

“If you take the trouble to read some of it (the comments and signa- tures) you will be in no doubt about the strength of feeling about this,” he SrHLOe

He referred back in his letter to the statement made by Minister Martin Cullen in April concerning the im- portance of the Shannon slots.

“The slots held by Aer Lingus at London Heathrow Airport currently serve an important role in ensuring connectivity between Irish airports and the extensive network of inter- national air services to and from Heathrow,” Minister Cullen said at the time.

Said Mr Tomany to the ministers, “Iam sure you and your colleagues will find a way to extricate us from this situation.”

Many of the signatories to the pe- tition are also leaving comments on the site, which also carries details of the arguments for keeping the Heath- row slots at Shannon.

TWO young men were found hiding in an attic in a building in the John Paul estate when gardai searched the premises, a court has heard.

Eamon Hall (18), of John Paul Es- tate, Kilrush, 1s accused of entering a building as a trespasser, at Beech Park, John Paul Estate, and steal- ing a copper cylinder, on August 22 last.

Garda Conor Flaherty told Ennis District Court yesterday that the ac- cused made no reply to charge after or Uae) OF

He said gardai got a call to go to Beech Park. The kitchen was flood- ed, as aresult of damage to a boiler.

Gardai carried out a check of the

premises and found the accused and another youth hiding behind a water VOUS UOMO olomr-1n Ben

Inspector Tom Kennedy said the accused has been “persistently of- fending on quite serious issues.”

Defending solicitor William Cahir asked that the case be adjourned un- til next week and said, “Any matter that may arise in the interim can be raised at that point.”

Judge Leo Malone remanded the accused on continuing bail, to ap- pear in court next week.

“He should bear in mind any fur- ther transgression between now and then will result in bail being re- voked,” said the judge.

He ordered the accused to abide by a curfew, between 7pm and 7am.

THE Ennis and Clare branch of the Samaritans is celebrating its 25th anniversary and is looking for new volunteers. It will be holding two information/selection evenings for potential volunteers at the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis on Thursday, September 6 and Monday, Septem- ber 10. Both information/selection evenings will begin at 8pm and any- one who might be interested in get- ting involved is asked to come along

on one of the nights.

The Samaritans exist primarily to offer confidential, emotional support to people who are experiencing feel- ings of distress or despair, including those who may be having suicidal thoughts. Its vision is for a society Where fewer people die by suicide and it believes that offering an oppor- tunity for people to talk about their feelings in a non-judgemental envi- ronment can help to achieve this.

Over the last quarter of a century thousands of people have contacted

the Ennis & Clare branch, which 1s based on the Kilrush Road in Ennis. As well as taking telephone calls, the Clare branch of the Samaritans also welcome callers to the door between the hours of 10am and 10pm and re- ply to emails.

The Samaritans operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are total- ly dependent on the work of its vol- unteers. With many people working to very hectic schedules nowadays, keeping things going sometimes isn’t always easy.

At the information/selection eve- nings the work of the Samaritans will be explained in detail and what is involved in volunteering for the group will also be set out.

Samaritans volunteers can come from any walk of life and they are a diverse group. No previous experi- ence is required but an aptitude for listening (the “big ears’) and a non- judgemental outlook are important. People who do go forward to become Samaritans volunteers will be given very comprehensive training.

FARMING – organisations were rocked last week when the new Minister for the Environment, John Gormley TD, reignited the flames of the most controversial argument in KACO DOOMED UOOUNOT OTK KO Ms Following nine months of threats, boycotts and calls for numerous res- ignations in 2006 – the Nitrate scan- dal seemed to have diffused earlier this year with a compromise involv- ing some derogations for farmers. This week however, the ‘Nitrate- gate’ scandal is once again public enemy number | for farming or- ganisations following the announce- ment by the Minister, to increase the maximum penalties, which can be applied in the case of offences under

the Nitrates Regulations.

The new Regulations increase the maximum penalties prescribed by the Nitrates Regulations from the previ- ous maximum of €3,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment for a summary offence, €5,000 and/or 3 months 1m- prisonment for summary offences, and €500,000 and/or | year impris- Oyaveatosnlmm Kolar sen lee:le) ome eco oKe

This has prompted a furious re- sponse from farm leaders who have accused the minister of scapegoating farmers. “The vast majority of farm- ers are fully compliant with water pollution legislation, and have made or are making major ongoing invest- ments to meet rising environmental standards,’ said Padraig Walshe, IFA President.

“The reality is that farmers have

invested over €1.4bn in the past decade in upgrading their waste management facilities. No farmers set out to pollute rivers with slurry. The same cannot be said for many local authorities and some industrial plants who actually have licences to pollute from the EPA.”

The ICMSA accused Minister Gormley of showing “astonishing bias” on water pollution issue.

“Farmers will have read Minister Gormley’s remarks in the papers to- day with bemusement,” said ICSMA president, Jackie Cahill.“We have, yet again, the very unedifying sight of a government minister attempting to make the farming community the scapegoats for water pollution.

The ICMSA has repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that, even by the

Government’s own admission, water pollution arises from a number of causes, prominent amongst which are the actions of developers and the inaction’s of local authorities.”

The ICSA has attacked the an- nouncement by reminding Minister Gormley of the role of the local au- thorities in water pollution issues.

“The penalties, which include a maximum fine of €500,000 and a year in jail, are totally disproportion- ate to the offence,’ said Malcolm Thompson, ICSA president.

A YOUNG Ennis man who ‘cut loose’ at a garda station has been warned he will face lengthy spells behind bars if he continues to of- fend.

Jimmy Sherlock (18), a native of Ennis but with an address at Wilson Road, Kilrush, admitted damaging a door at Ennis Garda Station earlier this month. He also pleaded guilty to

a string of public order offences.

The incidents before the court oc- curred on two separate dates.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Ennis District Court yesterday that Sher- lock was seen throwing a punch at a passer-by at Arthur’s Row, Ennis, on August 6.

‘He didn’t hit the person. Garda were on the scene. He ran from the scene. Gardai caught up with him. He was very aggressive and told

them he would shoot them and so forth. He called them rats,” said In- spector Kennedy.

He said that Sherlock ‘cut loose’ at the garda station and kicked a door, which he damaged to the tune of €300.

Two days earlier, on August 4, Sher- lock threw a bottle across a street and it smashed on the road. He also abused gardai on that occasion.

Defending solicitor William Cahir

said his client has served a period of incarceration in St Patrick’s Institu- tion.

Referring to a Probation report on the accused, the solicitor said to Judge Leo Malone, “I’d ask you to go in accordance with the conclusions drawn by the Probation service, which says Mr Sherlock wouldn’t be helped by further incarceration.”

He said the accused was previously physically assaulted at St Patrick’s

Institution and asked that he be sent to Limerick prison, in the event of a sentence being imposed.

Judge Malone imposed a three month detention sentence, to Limer- ick. The judge told Mr Cahir, “If he continues along this line, he’s going to get longer and longer sentences.”

He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal and refused to backdate the sentence to August 6, when the ac- cused went into custody.

AS the announcement of the results loom closer, hopes are high that Kil- rush will fare well in this year’s na- tional Tidy Towns competition.

The local committee has put in a huge effort, to ensure its high stand- ing in the competition will continue this year.

The town has received silver med- als for the past two years, and bronze medals in 2003 and 2004. Last year, Kilrush received 282 points. This was the second highest score in the county and was just six points short of Ennis, which obtained the highest score in Clare.

This score was a huge improve- ment on the figure for 2005, when the

west Clare town scooped 267 points. On that occasion, Ennis finished in pole position, with 279 points, with Mountshannon in second place, with pA)

Kilrush’s points have increased steadily in recent years. It earned 260 points in 2004 and in 2003, it received 256 points.

According to the chairman of the Tidy Towns committee in Kilrush, Murt Collins, a huge effort has gone in to ensure the steady progress con- tinues this year.

“We have organised two major clean-ups, in conjunction with Super Valu and the town council. Everyone got together and we picked out dif- ferent areas to focus on. The FAS team has given us great help, through

the town council,” he said.

“One area we focused on is from Shannon Heights down as far as the old creamery, along with Moore Street and O’Dea’s road,” said Mr Collins.

There are 12 active members on the Tidy Towns committee, while a number of other residents in the town also help out, on a weekly basis.

This year, committee focused mainly on keeping the town tidy, while flowers were planted through- out the town on a regular basis.

“Tam very hopeful we will do well. A lot of places in the town are com- ing along well. Some of the streets are being dug up for broadband, but we hope the judges take that into ac- count,” said Mr Collins.

“There is a problem of dumping, at the recycling centre, but there are plans to put cameras in there,’ he added.

There is an incentive for individual businesses and residents to keep their own areas tidy as the committee presents prizes in 14 different cat- egories, later in the year.

The committee incurred costs of up to €10,000 and this was raised locally, while the town council also provided some funding.

“We went to the businesses for sponsorship and they helped us. We also held church gate collections and sold tickets,’ said Mr Collins.

JUST hours after Environment Min- ister, John Gormley TD, announced a massive increase in the penalties for farmers under the Nitrate Regu- lations, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan TD, an- nounced a number of new deroga- tions for farmers under the scheme.

In what was surely a stage-managed announcement to soften the blow for farmers, Coughlan commented the Oley Keyee Tele) imme Due: bebexcs a sles KMm UNSC MEDALS Nitrates Directive for REPS farm- ae

Grassland farms that apply for der- ogation and meet the applicable con- ditions will be permitted to operate

above the statutory livestock manure limit of 170 kg of nitrogen from live- stock manure per hectare per year, up to a maximum limit of 250 kg per hectare per year.

Even though the derogation will not be completely formalised until the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government makes amendments to the Nitrates Regulations, Minister Coughlan has put practical arrangements in place so that farmers can avail of it for the current year and be eligible to apply for REPS 4.

Application forms for the deroga- tion have been published and farmers now need to lodge their applications.

This year’s closing date for receipt

of completed Nitrate Derogation ap- plications forms ise Friday Septem- ber 28, while a fertiliser plan is not required in respect of 2007.

“Under REPS, all slurry pro- duced on the farm was supposed to be spread by the end of August. As a special measure for this year, I am relaxing that condition. REPS farmers will therefore be allowed to spread slurry up to the same dead- lines (October I5th) that apply under the Nitrates Regulations to all other farmers,’ said Minister Coughlan.

To qualify for the derogation, farm- ers must submit an annual application to the Department of Agriculture and Food in the format specified and ap- plicants must undertake in writing to

fulfil the conditions set out therein.

Applications must be received by March | each year, excluding 2007 where the deadline has been extend- ed on a one off basis to September 28.

Applicants must be farming a hold- ing that is at least 80 per cent grass and must have grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, deer, goats and Oy oe

Full details of the derogation ar- rangements including application forms can be found on her Depart- ment’s website www.agriculture.gov. ie or from The Environment Section, Department of Agriculture and Food, Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford, Telephone (053) 9163400.

THE solicitor for a man accused of conspiring to murder two Ennis businessmen has asked is the State ‘buying time,’ after he heard that the Book of Evidence has not yet been completed.

Egyptian national, Essam Eid, with an address in Nevada, US, 1s ac- cused of conspiring to murder Ennis brothers Robert and Niall Howard, between August and September of last year.

Last September, Mr Eid was initial- ly charged with extorting €100,000 from Robert Howard. He was held in custody on that charge – and a number of other charges, including burglary and handling stolen prop- erty – until June 26 last, when that case was dropped.

He was released, but re-arrested minutes later and charged with con- spiracy to murder.

Sharon Collins (44), of Ballybeg House, Kildysart Road, Ennis, 1s also charged with conspiring to mur- der the Howard brothers. She is cur- rently on bail and will re-appear in oo) tN a me slo. empnelereiaee

Mr Eid has been in custody in Lim- erick prison on the new charges since June and gardai are currently prepar- ing the Book of Evidence.

At Ennis District Court yesterday

(Monday), Inspector Tom Kennedy sought an adjournment, to allow the Book to be completed.

Asked by defending solicitor John Casey what stage the Book was at, Inspector Kennedy replied,

“It is in the process of being pre- pared. . more than half way to be- ing available. Quite a number of extensive enquiries in relation to the charge before you come into play.”

He pointed out that while the ac- cused was initially charged last Sep- tember, the charge he is currently facing did not come before the court until June.

“The main plank of Mr Casey’s argument is this 1s going on since last September, when he was first charged. That is not the case,” said Inspector Kennedy.

The solicitor said he could not con- sent to an adjournment. He said his client has been in custody for almost a year.

“Now they are only half way through the Book of Evidence. Two months have passed. He is a non- national. He doesn’t have contacts in this country. Bail is proving ex- tremely difficult. How long is a piece of string?” he asked.

“Is the State buying time? Mr Eid is languishing in Limerick prison,” he said.

He said the accused is in ill health and his manner has deteriorated, over the past year.

“It cannot be open-ended. It’s not fair to him. He is innocent until proven guilty,” said Mr Casey.

Judge Leo Malone remanded the accused in custody to appear again in court next week.