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A MAN died on Sunday after he was washed into the sea while fishing at a notoriously dangerous location near Doonbeg where as many as I1 lives have been lost in the past.

The Moldovan national had trav- elled from Limerick along with three friends to go fishing at the Blue Pool between Kilkee and Doonbeg. It 1s thought that he was washed from the rocks by a rogue wave. His body was recovered at around 3pm by mem-

bers of the Kilkee Rescue Unit.

Gardai have confirmed that they are treating the incident as an accident.

The alarm was raised after two of the four men had returned to Lim- erick. They are understood to have gone to Henry Street Garda station to report the incident prompting a search and rescue operation. Gardai say, however, that they do not believe that there is anything sinister in this and said the men returned to Kilkee Fiore

A Garda spokesman confirmed,

“We are treating this incident as a tragic accident. We have spoken to several eyewitnesses who were at the scene as well as the victim’s friends.”

When the alarm was originally raised at 12.45pm an exact location was not known So rescue crews could only stand by waiting for further in- formation. Shortly before 3pm, Kil- kee Marine Rescue Unit was scram- bled to the Blue Pool just south of Doonbeg where they quickly located the body of a man.

The body was later taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick where a post mortem ex- amination was carried out yesterday (Monday).

Water Safety Development Of- ficer for Clare County Council, Liam Griffin, has again warned about the dangers of the Blue Pool.

“This 1s a very dangerous location and has been for many years. Several lives have been lost at the Blue Pool in the past. We have erected signs at the location and have repeatedly

advised people to avoid the area be- cause of the dangers there.”

Last November, a 27 year-old man died in front of his wife and child When he was swept into the sea while fishing at the same location. The Latvian man had been living in Athlone and had travelled to the Blue Pool with his wife and eight year-old son when he was washed into the sea before their eyes. Last week, a Hungarian student died tragically af- ter falling from the Cliffs of Moher while taking photographs.

A NEW survey by BT Ireland sug- gests that many Clare men and wom- en are living secret online lives visit- ing websites, but hiding it from their family and partners.

The survey of browsing habits claims that 10 per cent of Irish men and 7 per cent of Irish women hide the websites which they visit from their loved ones.

The survey revealed that seven per

cent of men hid the fact that they were viewing pornographic material online from their partners while only two per cent of women admitted to secretly visited adult websites. How- ever, two per cent of women admit- ted to buying clothes and other goods online without the knowledge of their partners. The survey was carried out

by BT Ireland during May. ‘This research has thrown up some really interesting findings,” said

Emer Kennedy, spokesperson for BT

Ireland. “While men and women are spending more and more time online and seem to share a lot of the same interests, they are also very different in terms of the amount of time spent on the internet, the sites they use and the things they buy.

“While the internet has clearly im- proved the quality of life of all those who use it regularly, it is interesting to see males and females developing different habits, many of which will be familiar to the growing number of

regular internet users in Ireland.” Almost 30 per cent of females ad- mitted to using networking sites such as Bebo and Myspace, twice the percentage of males using similar websites. Also 17 per cent of males and 13 per cent of females claimed to be secretly ashamed of things they had done on the internet with online gambling being one of the main rea- sons. According to the survey more than 80 per cent of Irish adults use the internet at least twice a week. It

also claims that 56 per cent of people use the internet every day, with a fur- ther 30 per cent of males and 26 per cent females using the internet every second day or twice weekly.

The research was carried out among a sample of 200 men and women over the age of 18. More than 44 per cent of those surveyed were between 18 and 24 years, 22 per cent were aged between 25 and 34 years, 18 per cent between 35 and 44 and the remainder were 45 years old and over.

A MAN threatened to rape relatives of a garda, then exposed himself and urinated all over the floor in the pub- lic area of a Garda station.

Joseph Gannon (46), a native of Dublin and with an address in Sta- tion Court, Ennis, was jailed for four months, when he appeared on charges of assaulting two gardai and public order offences.

Garda Cathal O’Sullivan told Ennis District Court on Friday that the ac- cused arrived at Ennis Garda Station at lam on January 22 last.

‘He was intoxicated and was shout- ing in the public office. He said he

wished to make a statement,” said the garda.

The garda told the accused he was too intoxicated. Gannon then started banging on the hatch and was direct- ed to leave the area. “He said, “I’ll get every female in your family and I’ll rape them’. He exposed his penis and began to urinate all over the floor. He stripped naked and grabbed his geni- tals and said, “Do you like this’,” said the garda.

‘He threatened to kill me and Garda Ryan,’ added Gda O’Sullivan.

Some hours later, two gardai went to Gannon’s cell, to release him. He was lying naked on the floor and made a lunge at the gardai.

The court was told that Gannon had a number of previous convictions in Dublin, including two of a sexual na- UN Ken

He was jailed for 12 years for a rape offence, at Dublin Circuit Court, in 1988, while he received a three year sentence at the same court for anoth- er rape offence, also in 1988.

However, defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client, who was born in North Inner City Dublin, would maintain he has only one con- viction for an offence of a sexual na- ture. She said the “‘alleged rape mat- ter – for which he spent nine years in jail – absorbed much of his life” and was the subject of the Court of Crim-

inal Appeal and the Supreme Court.

‘He believes the rape conviction was a miscarriage of justice. My client has never once stopped main- taining his innocence. He spent nine years in prison for a crime he says he did not commit… The file is still open, she said.

Referring to the charges before the court, she said, “He can’t believe he had it in him to say what is alleged. He doesn’t believe he said them.”

‘He sees his visit to the Garda sta- tion as acry for help.

‘He had come to the end of his tether.

‘He was in crisis, in a very serious way, She said.

A LARGE group of residents of the Cluain Airne estate have expressed their concerns about a proposal for a new affordable housing development of 60 homes on their doorstep.

Residents are particularly worried about access, parking and the possi- bility of anti-social behaviour among other issues, according to the secre- tary of a committee set up in opposi- tion to the plans.

Nicole Murphy said that existing problems with access and parking in the area would get worse if the devel-

opment went ahead.

“As it 1s, 1f there 1s a match on at the local pitch, the traffic is so bad at the entrance that you often have to reverse around the corner, which is already dangerous.

“The parking situation is crazy too because many houses have more than one car. Some people are parking on the grass areas and this development could mean 120 more cars,” said Ms Murphy.

She said other potential issues of concern include flooding, sewer- age, privacy, the requirement for a percentage of the development to

be council houses and concerns that property values will drop for all of these reasons.

“We all appreciate that people need housing but a lot of the long standing residents will face serious upheav- al. From the plans, it looks like the communal green area will be taken away and yet, all the new houses will have gardens and drives. They want to put a playground and a leisure centre right outside our front doors. How late these will be open? Who will maintain and patrol them and where will these extra people park?” she asked.

Ms Murphy said that out of the 178 houses in the existing development, around 140 residents signed a peti- tion opposing the development, 30 had not yet answered and only an estimated eight so far are happy with the plan.

“We feel that there is probably at least 100 acres elsewhere in the town so why can’t these houses be built on that land?” she said.

She urged all Cluain Airne resi- dents to attend a public meeting on Monday, July 9, at 8pm in the Oak- wood Arms to discuss the develop- ment and possible concerns.

TONY CONSIDINE was drinking furiously from a small plastic bottle that contained one of those pro-biot- ic potions. Danone Actimel it was — strawberry or blackberry in flavour.

Thing is, the lifelong and devoted non-drinker could have been forgiv- en if this particular potion contained a thimble or two of Bushmills’ finest whiskey. Some malt even.

All because this hurling game was thirsty and stressful work and with each pro-biotic swig Considine was restoring some normal service and colour to his cheeks. His words be- trayed this — his team had just en- dured a rocky ride before securing the win.

“Relieved,” he says in the Case- ment Park corridor outside Clare’s dressing room. “They’re the words. Relieved, because we were on a hid- ing to nothing coming up here. To win was great. They put it up to us for a very long time.

“You can see that Antrim are no bad team. They’re well able to hurl and I was a happy man when Gilly buried that ball. It was looking dicey there for a while. I only relaxed when Gilly put that ball away.

“We said at half-time that there was going to be a period in the second half when we were going to have to really battle. They came at us and we showed a bit of character. It was the most important game I’ve had since being manager of Clare. It looked scary at times but 3-21 isn’t a bad score, no matter who you’re playing,” adds Considine.

Another swig of his pro-biotic po- tion, before Considine nods in the direction of Galway in Cusack Park. “The win colours up everything,” he says “and we know we still have a lot to do because we’re up against a good team next week.”

Then back to Antrim: “A win was important here, going home with the two points. If it was two points to one, we’d have been happy enough.

You could say that we were in trouble but they held on.

‘“Boc (Brian O’Connell) was tre- mendous at midfield and took the game to them all through. Diarmuid McMahon got great scores. It’s lead- ership we wanted and they showed leadership. There were leaders all over the field. Gerry Quinn, Conor Plunkett and Brendan Bugler who gave a great display.

“It was also an apprenticeship for the lads that came in. Those lads are going to be involved with Clare when I’m long gone. That’s what the game is about. It’s not about managers and coaches — it’s about fellas coming on, young players coming on and fight- ing for the cause of the jersey.”

They’ fight on their backs on Sat- urday next. They’ll have to when two Eee Te MOF E aoe miele. qmsi ments game of the weekend.

A MAN who “elaborately” concealed four bars of cannabis resin under the seat of his car has been jailed for 18 months.

Fintan Shanagher (39), of Kilna- soolagh Park, Newmarket-on-Fer- gus, was “merely delivering” the drugs, valued at almost €7,000, when he was caught by Clare gardai last year.

He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin for sale or supply.

Detective Garda Seamus McMa- hon told Ennis Circuit Court yes- terday that the accused was stopped and searched at the Carrigoran inter- change on May 5 2006.

He said a kilo of cannabis resin was found in the car and was “extremely well concealed,’ underneath the rear seat of the car.

Shanagher told gardai he had hand-

ed over €2,000 cash in Limerick for Some MUESaCE

The money was not his own, it was belonging to three people who had pooled together and Shanagher didn’t have any financial stake in it.

‘He was merely delivering the bars. They were to be handed over in Quin village the following day because it was ‘out of the way’,” said the garda.

Defending barrister Michael Fitz- gibbon said “at all stages he was car-

rying these drugs for third parties.”

‘He very foolishly got involved in the wrong sort of people.

He is not part of a drug ring or a eroup of people involved in moving era bneacmr-uOlUb ALOE

“He got involved on this one occa- sion rather foolishly and got caught,” he said.

Judge Carroll Moran said the mat- ter was “most serious.”

“The drugs were very elaborately

concealed in the car. It shows a level of premeditation.

Couriers of drugs, while they are at a much lower level than those deal- ing the drugs, are an essential cog in the business,’ he said.

He took into account the fact that Shanagher had pleaded guilty and imposed a two-year jail term.

He reduced this to 18 months, be- cause of the accused’s previous good record.

NEWLY elected Mayor of Shan- non, Councillor Sean McLoughlin (FG), anticipates a busy year for his first outing as town ambassador but is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

His first priority, after his election at the council AGM last Tuesday evening, is to begin work on getting an ambulance for use in Shannon.

“The big issue that I’ll be pushing for, as chairman of the ambulance committee, is the possibility of one of these for the town. We have none and we are looking for one of those new Emergency Response Units with trained medics in the next 12 months.”

Along with emergency services,

other plans include a tourism forum, a town boundary extension and gain- ing support for Public Service Obli- gation (PSO) for selected Shannon Airport routes.

“As we all know, there are a lot of people passing through Shannon dur- ing the tourist season but not enough staying overnight. Later on in the year, I am hoping to have some sort of tourism forum with B&B, hotel- iers and other people with a lifelong interest in tourism so we can discuss ways of encouraging visitors to stay for longer,” said Cllr McLoughlin.

It is hoped that the Government will apply to the European Commis- sion for PSOs on behalf of the air- port, which would compensate pro- viders if they provided essential but unprofitable routes such as a daily

commuter flight to Dublin.

“The airport is very important in terms of infrastucture and jobs so along with pushing for a PSO motion we are going to do everything we can to keep US flights coming into Shan- non,’ he said.

He added that a proposal to extend the Shannon boundary has been sent away for Government approval and he is optimistic that the town will soon be bigger and better.

A new green paper on local govern- ment later this year is due to suggest upgrading the status of town councils to full rateable authorities and Cllr McLoughlin said that he is “look- ing forward” to this development for Shannon.

He paid tribute to outgoing mayor, ClUlr Tony McMahon (Lab) and also

congratulated Deputy Mayor, Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind), on his election.

Cllr McLoughlin was elected for the first time in 2004 having been heavily involved with Fine Gael for some years.

He celebrated his new appointment with wife Catherine, son Michael, daughter Marie and grandson Mat- thew among others.

He said that with the support of col- leagues and staff, he was confident facing the challenges ahead and that he would do his best for the people of Shannon.

And so it’s finally about to come to pass. Clare versus Galway. And the real thing too, not a league game forgotten about once it’s over, but a championship encounter with much at stake.

Bragging rights for one, between the two neighbouring counties. That’s always there anytime Clare and Galway meet, but this time it’s a little bit different. It’s all to do with Ger Loughnane, and Tony Considine

too.

Whether they like it or not, eyes will be fixed on Ger Loughnane and Tony Considine. As much as it’s Clare v Galway, it’s Ger v Tony. Two golfing buddies who once stood shoulder to shoulder in the salad days of Clare hurling.

Now, they could go shoulder to shoulder as they occupy different worlds. Loughnane trying to build a team to deliver an All-Ireland to Gal- way. And as Loughnane said him- self, “If within two years we haven’t

it done, we will be a failure here. Our eroup will be a failure. It will be time to get somebody else.

“But I don’t aim to be a failure — I don’t even contemplate that word failure. I never contemplated in my life in any area. I have a total belief that despite the huge task that’s out there, the huge competition, that our eroup — the players, county board, management and supporters can be successful in that two years.”

Considine wasn’t talking All-Ire- lands on his first day, but talking suc-

cess at the same time: “I think Clare are up there with the best of them but there’s no point being up there with the best of them. You have to be the best,” he said when assuming office.

It means something has to give — for the victors the likelihood is that they’ll have the easier of the All-Ire- land quarter-final. That means safer passage to the All-Ireland semi-final, where the All-Ireland is only a game AeA

That’s what Loughnane and Con- sidine are aiming for, for Galway

and Clare respectively, but for them- To AVone

All because, it’s all about them, even if Considine was quick to re- mark after the victory over Antrim “it’s not about Tony Considine or Ger Loughnane, none of us are going to hit a ball. It’s going to be done by the two teams. It will be down to them.”

Tony Considine and Ger Loughnane will puck every ball with their teams though. They wouldn’t have it any other way, as their two tribes go to eve

A MAN who indecently assaulted three of his granddaughters in Clare- castle when they were aged between six and 12, has been jailed for five years.

Kenneth Barnes (73), a widower, of 42 Church Drive, Clarecastle, plead- ed guilty to 46 counts on indecent assault, at his home, between 1988 and 1993.

Barnes, a native of the UK, has lived in Clarecastle for several years

Judge Carroll Moran said the case was “bad” and said Barnes’ three victims had their “innocence and childhood robbed” by a man in a po- sition of trust – a grandfather.

Barnes’ victims – Rebecca Barnes (25), Jennifer Ward (25) and Caro- line Ward (23) – yesterday waived their right to anonymity, at Ennis Circuit Court.

Although the young women did not give evidence, their Victim Impact Statements were read out in court. They pointed out that they were left

with feelings of “shame and guilt,” due to his behaviour.

Jennifer Ward recalled her grand- father telling her he had a secret he wanted to tell her. He would get close and then indecently touch her. She was abused on a weekly basis for four years, starting when she was 1D.

The abuse on Caroline Ward also started when she was six and con- tinued until she was 12. She recalled him indecently touching her inside and outside her clothes.

Rebecca Barnes suffered abuse at the hands of her grandfather, between the ages of 7 and 11, mainly in the sitting room of his house. The court was told that one of the victim’s par- ents did not make a formal complaint about the abuse initially, in the hope that “time would heal all.”

Barnes’ barrister Michael Fitzgib- bon said his client had “been ostra- cised by the community in Clare- castle”, adding that Barnes is now in “chronic” ill health.

Judge Carroll Moran said, “It re-

ally is appalling to take away the in- nocence of a child at such a young one

“The abuse was so persistent and so dreadful in its details, I’ve no al- ternative but to impose a prison sen- tence,’ he said.

He jailed him for five years and suspended the final two years, be- cause he had pleaded guilty. He said Barnes was to have no contact with children under the age of 15, unless supervised and no contact with his victims, unless they agree.

A CRITICAL need for afford- able housing in Shannon town has prompted Clare County Council to compile a proposal for the construc- tion of a 60-house development.

Currently, 165 people are on the waiting list for affordable housing in S)ar-vepeeyen

With this statistic in mind, Clare County Council has proposed to build 60 houses – comprising 45 three-bed dwellings and 15 two-bed houses – at Cluain Airne. The site in question is 5.29 acres in size, which means there would be 11 houses on approximately one acre of land. It has been zoned residential and a fea-

sibility study has been carried out, outlining its suitability for housing.

A design team has been appointed for the project and residents in Shan- non have been invited to a meeting, to discuss the plans, at the Oakwood Arms Hotel, on Monday, July 9 next.

Architect Colm Yelland, who is on the design team, said he was optimis- tic the development would enhance the existing scheme at Cluain Airne, where there are 178 houses.

‘We have looked at the regeneration of the overall area, carefully looking at the integration of the scheme into existing street patterns,” he said.

He said that the creation of play- ground spaces has been considered,

While the possibility of building three-bed and four-bed units reflect- ed the needs for such housing.

He said that access to the estate would be mainly independent to the access to the existing estate.

Councilor Gerry Flynn said he be- lieved that 60 houses was excessive.

“I feel the quantity of 60 is too much. The number of 40, I’d be open to negotiation. I’ll dig my heels in. There’s already 178 in Cluain Airne and 167 in Tradaree Court. That’s a lot of houses in a particularly tight area,’ he said.

Dick Pyne, of Clare County Coun- cil, who attended a meeting with Shannon Town councillors on the proposed development, last week

said,

“Economically, it has to be justi- fied for the department and the peo- ple who are going to buy them. Eco- nomically we need 60 houses. It’s won’t fly at 40. There is no point in trying it.”

The meeting was told that a bill of €1.3 million for roads and water Services would have to be met, while the project was being constructed.

Cllr Greg Duff (Labour) said it was important to tackle the affordable housing waiting lists, but the people living in Cluain Airne shouldn’t be forced to suffer as a result.

Cllr Geraldine Lambert (FF) said the main problem with the proposal was access.