Category: Uncategorized

HE REACHED into a brown Dunnes Stores bag and considered what he was going to do. His hand touched a hatchet, he pulled it out of the bag and swung his plan into action. There was no going back and within min- utes Liam Moloney would lie dead, having been butchered by a man he thought he knew.

Anthony Kelly told gardai that a plan to kill Liam Moloney a week earlier did not materialise. However, there was going to be no hesitation on February 11, 2005.

He swung the axe and inflicted 17 blows on his victim’s head, before slashing his throat with a_ knife, at Port House, close to Ruan.

Kelly said there were voices in his head which directed him to kill the WEG ene Melu ioe

“IT could feel this thing building up inside me. I never felt like this before in my life. I felt possessed, I think is the word. Looking back, it was something like it,” he said.

Uncontrollable feelings of anger and rage had built up inside him

over the previous weeks. He believed Liam Moloney was racist. Kelly was married to a woman from Paraguay and he said he took exception to some comments made by Mr Molo- ney. However this assertion about racism was disputed in evidence by two former colleagues of the former Aer Lingus employee.

Kelly told gardai that he believed his victim stored cash in his apart- ment in Ennis. Mr Moloney had re- tired from Aer Lingus in Shannon in January 2002 and had received a severance package of €71,000.

Immediately after the killing, Kelly went to Mr Moloney’s apartment and stole between €500 and €600. He then drove to Shannon and picked up a teenage boy – as arranged – and drove to his home in Waterville, Kerry. The following day he got the unsuspecting young boy to assist him to destroy the evidence.

RESIDENTS in Shannon are be- ing asked to get involved in a major clean-up of the town.

The local Tidy Towns committee has just put together a plan for the year and is optimistic that everybody will play a role in keeping the town Ore

Its members are particularly ap- pealing for people to take control of the litter problem, which has cost the town vital points in the national Tidy Towns competition in recent years.

Adjudication for the Tidy Towns competition will take place twice during the summer and hopes are high that Shannon will improve on last year’s success.

Chairperson of the Tidy Towns committee Tess Barry said every person in the town has an important role to play.

“We are asking the residents to clean their own areas. The residents associations are wonderful and they get behind the Tidy Towns. Every- body has a role to play,” she said.

‘However, we have a big litter problem. We are trying to address it at the moment. We are very wor- ried about the cans and bottles being thrown around the park areas. Peo- ple are littering indiscriminately. It is quite bad. If people would just put them into bags and pick them up, we would be delighted with that,” she Cr HTOR

She said that the committee is de-

lighted to hear that additional money has been made available for the up- keep of footpaths, along with the provision of lighting in the town, this year.

The imminent opening of the re- cycling plant – in Smithstown – this summer is also being welcomed.

“The residents are eagerly await- ing this. Hopefully we will have the sculpture at the town centre rounda- bout shortly. It will compliment the area,’ said Ms Barry.

Shannon Town Council has in- creased the resources for cleaning the town. Under a FAS scheme, a cleaner was available for 15 hours last year and this has been doubled to 30 hours this year.

“She is doing a wonderful job,”

said Ms Barry.

Staff at McDonald’s restaurant also helped out with a clean-up last Neto) ©

Owner of McDonald’s, Kieran Mc- Dermott said he takes every opportu- nity to support the local community.

‘When we were approached by the Tidy Towns committee for support, we were delighted to assist and came up with a novel approach of provid- ing staff and expertise, rather than money. We paid our staff members to assist in the weeding and prepara- tion of flower beds around Shannon. The feedback from the Tidy Towns committee has been so positive that we have decided to expand the initia- tive for 2008 and also to make this an annual event,” said Mr McDermott.

KILRUSH estates are to get new stone-carved placename plaques where there are developments with- out name plaques.

The news was delivered to a meet- ing of Kilrush Town Council last week by marketing and development officer, Siobhan Garvey as part of her report on activities to improve the en- virons of the town. The stones would compliment the many activities and hard work being undertaken by the Tidy Towns supporters, she said.

Among the steps which the town council would be taking to support the Tidy Towns efforts this year was continued support of the town clean- up, which takes place this year on May 26, from 10am to noon. The town council will provide gloves, bags and skips for the effort.

“This year, we’re going for gold in the tidy towns,” said Ms Garvey.

The town council, in co-operation with the Tidy Towns committee and the chamber of commerce, 1s also producing a 10-step guide to con- serving this summer.

THE Annual Financial Statement for Clare County Council for 2006 shows a positive operating result of om ceueeELetF

The report shows that the result, taken together with the reduction of corporate loan repayments of €0.9 million, reduced the cumulative rev- enue deficit of the council to €2.9 million.

The reduction of the corporate loan is an accounting adjustment required to reflect the principal repaid on the loan since it was drawn down in late 2003.

The council had additional income of €7.2 million which arose primari- ly from the roads and infrastructure area where additional allocations of €4.5 million were received in the year.

Income received from planning applications came in €0.7 million

above budget.

Income from the council’s waste management facility was down €0.75 million as compared to figures anticipated at the council’s half-year report for 2006.

Fire certificate income contributed an additional €0.2 million and water and waste water connection fees con- tributed €0.5 million.

In addition to these figures, €47.9 million was received in respect of rates local government fund and LOTT AIA Yael t-Nuexer

Expenditure on roads was €5.9 mil- lion above the budgeted level. This can be explained due to increased Central Management Charge alloca- tion of €0.5 million and increased county road maintenance of €0.55 million. Expenditure on the water services programme was greater than budget by €0.4 million. This was driven mainly by additional expendi- ture on operational and maintenance

of water and waste water plants and networks.

Development incentives and con- trol expenditure was €0.9 million above budget. Increased numbers of planning applications is reflected in additional income of €0.7 million and also in additional operating ex- penditure of €0.2 million.

In 2006, the gross value of the council’s fixed assets increased by €150.5 million. This related prima- rily to an increase in local authority water and wastewater assets arising from the 2004 takeover of Shannon Town services from Shannon Devel- opment.

The balance sheet also includes an increase in local authority housing stock, Beechpark machinery yard and plant acquisitions. Road projects accounted for 50 per cent of expendi- ture on capital projects, with €6/7 million spent in 2006. The major el- ement in this was the Ennis bypass.

THE Baha’ faith in Shannon is con- tinuing to grow and this was recog- nised in a major conference which NFR K See NO AYA Oo (O DOM BOoM COWIE

More than 50 participants visited Shannon for the conference, which was a reflection of the increasing popularity of this faith in the area.

A local assembly was initially set up in the town 15 years ago and the inter- est continues to grow. Its membership represents people of varying ages.

Membership of the group comes about through word of mouth, as ad- vertising is not allowed. One of the

main rules is that alcohol is not al- lowed to Baha’1 members. Members must also abide by a fast between the hours of sunrise and sunset, during 19 days in March.

Member of the group in Shannon, Patricia Fallon-Barry said the meet- ing point for Baha’1 members is in peoples’ homes, rather than a church. A group consists of at least nine mem- bers, over the age of 21.

‘We meet 1n each other’s homes and there is a feast every 19 days. We dis- cuss community and social aspects at the local assembly meetings. We have no clergy. Everybody is expected to do everything,” she said.

‘“Baha’l is a new religion, just 150 years old. It is centred around the be- lief that all of the religions are one, with one God,” she said.

Ms Fallon-Barry has been a mem- ber of the Baha’1 group for several years.

SoM orl BLA 0Oe powering and great for “‘self-develop- jneto ela

‘“Baha’l was founded by Bahaullah in Iran in 1844. He would claim to have fulfilment of all previous mes- sengers, she said.

Along with being involved with the Shannon group, she also helps to or- ganise childrens’ classes and study

circles in Ennis.

“We cannot advertise. It is through word of mouth. One of the basic prin- cipals is independent investigation of truth,” she said.

“IT became Baha’i when I was 18 and living in Athlone. It was a public meeting. I read a book and | haven’t looked back since. I can’t imagine be- ing without it,” she added.

‘Worldwide, more and more people are interested in this. It is one thing to become committed to your own religion. It is another to join another religion,’ she said.

“The study circles are a very good educational thing,’ she said.

THE NEW Government policy of going for construction contracts that heap all risk of price over-runs onto the contracting company is going to elbow out medium and small build- ing firms and cost the taxpayer more in the long run, it has been claimed.

President of the Construction In- dustry Federation (CIF), Hank Foga- rty stated that the new public sector construction contracts would push up the price of building public infra- structure in Clare and damage small and medium contracting companies throughout the county.

The CIF president further criticised Government for ignoring the indus- try view on the changes and for aban- doning the principle of partnership that was the hallmark of successful construction contracts throughout the rest of the world.

Fogarty was speaking at a CIF In- ternational Conference titled “New Directions in Construction Procure- ment: International Best Practice’, held in the Davenport Hotel last week.

“In Ireland, a country in a unique period of infrastructure catch-up and one whose long-term sustainable

economic development depends on ST e-Ne BLOr-LBUNTSM sD. GR IBUNTSA-H OCG Moy pas) Uca DAMN ITE frastructure bottlenecks, it is critical that we get the contracting relation- ship right. This is particularly so as we embark on a new and ambitious National Development Plan that will run to 2013. However, any independ- ent examination of the new contracts will show that Government has got it wrong,’ he said.

The CIF president said that the principles of risk recognition, risk sharing and risk management and, more importantly, the principle of partnership had been abandoned by Government in favour of the princi- ple of risk transfer at any cost.

The experience elsewhere is that this type of contract simply leads to confrontation and conflict. He added that the adoption of such a model meant that smaller and medium com- panies, of which there are many in Clare, couldn’t compete for Govern- ment contracts.

‘The industry has asked Govern- ment on a number of occasions to look at the alternatives.

“Unfortunately, this had not been done and the negative consequences will become apparent over the com- ing years,” Mr Fogarty said.

ALLOWING a dangerously defec- tive lorry on the road when it wasn’t road worthy was an “accident wait- ing to happen”, according to a judge.

Patrick Buggy (53), a haulier from Kyle, Stradbally, Laois, was convict- ed of a number of offences, after one of his drivers was stopped at Killula, Newmarket-on-Fergus, on Novem- ber 2 last.

He was convicted of being the owner of a dangerously defective vehicle, of having recording equip- ment which was not functioning cor- rectly and having an unlicensed semi oem

The court was told that two tyres on the tractor unit were completely worn and the diesel tank was not properly in place.

Garda John Ryan told the court that the tachograph was inspected and showed the vehicle had been driven at 120 kilometres per hour, when the maximum speed for this vehicle should have been 90kph.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy said the vehicle presented a huge danger on the road, driven at high speed with no threads and the diesel tank was not properly secured.

“To send a truck out on the road with those defects beggars belief that a reasonable person could do that. It’s an accident waiting to happen. This was a dangerously defective truck, driven at high speed. It could have caused a major accident and killed people,’ he added.

“There is carnage on the roads. If there was an accident, I don’t know what could have happened. This ve- hicle wasn’t road worthy. It was so unroadworthy the garda impounded it. I wouldn’t be doing my duty if I didn’t disqualify him,” said the judge.

He imposed fines totalling €2,250 and disqualified Mr Buggy from driving for six months. He fixed re- cognisances in the event of an ap- peal. He issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the driver, who 1s from Lithuania.

CLARE’S Dail hopefuls are to be evaluated in report cards to be pub- lished two days before the general election.

Residents of Riverview will release findings of their own opinion poll on May 22. The report cards will judge candidates commitment to the two year campaign waged by residents against the siting of a mast at an ESB substation in Cahercalla More.

Residents are currently engaged in a costly high profile legal battle with the ESB. They are seeking a judicial review of An Bord Pleandala’s deci- sion to grant planning permission to the ESB.

The case was due before the courts in March but is not expected to be heard for at least three months.

Residents are unhappy that the pro- posed site is located near the the Eire Og playing grounds and a number of residential areas as well as St Flan- nan’s College.

A spokesperson for the residents said, “over the past two years we have found ourselves in a battle for our democratic rights. One always assumes that the democratic process will protect you if you abide by it. To be told by a government agency that you and your families are to be sac- rificial lambs for your Governments plan in the national interest is simply intolerable.”

The residents admit scoring for each candidate is subjective, but in- sist it needs to be published. They hope the report card will influence the deicisions of voters on polling day.

The spokesperson continued, “The last two years have been very inform- ative for us, when this issue came to light the reaction of our elected rep- resentatives varied greatly. Some of them we never heard from and two years later still have not.

“Others have campaigned tirelessly at the highest level for two years and have publicly acknowledged that in- justice was happening, and others paid us lip service, had the obligato- ry letter sent from their constituency

office and at the same time more or less told us, tough, someone has to suffer, this is good for the economy. “It was very apparent to us that there are three types of politician. The first one just wants to get elected and won’t come near us again for five years, the second type is the public representative who will genuinely try to represent their constituents to ensure that justice applies to all, and the third is the one who feels that they are our political master, and are there to govern us, not represent us. “Many people voting in this elec- tion will, over the term of the next government, find themselves in need of political assistance. We hope that this will act as a guide for them.”

STRONG wind failed to prevent Kinvara’s Michael Curtin from cap- turing the Ingle Memorial Angling Competition in Ballyreen on Sunday. The annual event, which is run each year by the Lisdoonvarna Fanore Sea Angling Club attracted a large turn- out of anglers from all over the west.

Curtin captured the senior title with a very good score of 150 points. He

was followed closely in second place by Tom Faley of Limerick on 137 points.

Ruan’s Michael Foudy was the lead- ing Clare fisherman claiming third place with 89 points while Clarecas- tle’s Joe Birney finished fourth on 45 points.

The juvenile category was domi- nated by Clarecastle anglers with Sean Copley (34 points), Joseph Bir- ney (22 points) and Liam Potter (10

points) rounding off a one, two, three for the town.

In total 33 fish were landed in choppy waters included Conger eel, Pollack, Lesser Spotted Dogfish, Wrasse. The heaviest fish of the day was a Conger Eel weighing 8kg and was caught by Tom Faley from Lim- eee

AN anti-war activist has been told by a judge that the district court is not an arena for making political NR eet elie

Judge Aeneas McCarthy made the comment in the case of Conor Cre- gan, who 1s facing two charges un- der the Air Navigation and Trans- port Act, arising out of an incident at Shannon Airport in July 2006.

Mr Cregan (34) of Cronan Lawn, Shannon made eight applications at Shannon District Court on Thurs- day.

The accused, who represented himself in court, said he was look- ing for CCTV footage from the date of the alleged incident.

The judge said whatever evidence in the possession of the State should be handed over.

Mr Cregan made a number of oth- er submissions 1n court, which were refused by the judge.

He sought a detailed list of all those refused entry to the airport

and a list of the military traffic which went through, eight weeks prior to and after the invasion of Iraq.

He also sought a detailed list of gardai and airport police personnel who manned the gantry on a par- ticular date and copies of all note- books and disciplinary records of gardai and airport police staff who would give evidence in the case.

Judge McCarthy said he was refus- ing the applications, saying, “This court is not for the purpose of mak- ing political statements. The matter before the court is charges in rela- tion to you. The court is not obliged to give you information on foreign aircraft arriving in Shannon.”

Mr Cregan said he was not endeav- ouring to make a political statement and that the matters pertained to the charges. Judge McCarthy said he had refused all applications on the grounds that they were not relevant to the matters before the court.

The case was adjourned until next month.