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A CLARE councillor has said that the problem of large numbers of red deer running wild in Clare could be turned to the county’s advantage, if game hunters can be attracted here to shoot detoeeF

Councillor Colm Wiley caused up- roar at a council meeting last week when he called for wild-life rangers to be brought in to cull the herds, add- ing that he feared the stags might mate with local cattle.

“They’re breaking down fences and grazing farmers’ grass. They graze during the night, and you don’t know what they’re at,” the councillor said.

Clir Wiley added that one of the most serious dangers of having such large numbers of deer 1s that they “jump out in front of cars as people are driving”.

One woman who contacted the coun- cillor, Mary McCarthy from Clarecas- tle, says a stag and about eight does are regular burglars in her garden.

“They break through any fences I put up and they graze the lawn and break

things. The stag is very big, and I’d be very nervous of him,” she said.

Councillor Wiley had asked that army sharp-shooters be brought in to cull the herds, but Minister Willie O’Dea said the soldiers had “better things to do”.

Meanwhile, Conor Kelleher, Chair- man of the Irish Wildlife Trust, said the prospect of deer breeding with cows “is scientifically and genetically impossible. It just doesn’t happen. I’ve never seen a cow out there with antlers — the man doesn’t know what he’s

talking about”.

Now Cllr Wiley says that what is a problem could be turned to an advan- tage “if we brought in stalkers who have proper licences to shoot game. There are plenty of them, here and in England. We’re already very well known for our excellent fishing and we could develop the shooting and fishing tourism and get the numbers of deer olen yia tae

Clir Wiley said that there are cur- rently 2,000 deer culled in Ireland every year. “The advantage of venison

is that it’s edible all year round,’ he Sr BIOR

But Clir Wiley’s call for a cull has not met with unanimous approval.

Environmentalist Colin Wilson of the educational charity, CELT, asked which species did the councillor want culled? “Why not just take out any- thing that moves – and a few things that don’t,” he said. “Let’s do away with nature and science altogether and pretend everything will be fine! Or we could try another solution – cull a few old farts.”

A POLISH national who imported drugs to Ireland for himself and his friends has been jailed for four naLOyeL Ae tce

Polish native Arthur Wypijew- sky (26), who lives in Ennis, pleaded guilty to possession of amphetamine and herbal cannabis and possession of amphetamine for the purpose of sale or supply, at a house on the Limerick Road, Ennis, on November 6 last.

Sergeant John Brennan told Ennis District Court he became aware on November 3 that a package, destined for a house at The Hawthorns, Ennis, had been intercepted by Customs at Dublin Airport.

He obtained a search warrant and subsequently carried out a search of the house.

He found a package there and in- spected it. It contained illegal drugs. These were amphetamines, valued at €3,500, and herbal cannabis, valued 1 eto

The defendant admitted to gardai that the parcel which had arrived from Poland was his.

Defending solicitor William Cahir told the court the package wasn’t ad- dress to his client.

“The address was correct but the name didn’t exist,” he said.

Mr Cahir said his client made ad- missions which “greatly enhanced the case” against him.

“Without it, it would have been a very difficult investigation,” he said, and the garda accepted that.

The solicitor said, “It wouldn’t have been a high brow commercial Operation, an industrial operation as such.”

Sgt Brennan said, “It wouldn’t have been a hugely well organised plan. . . It was significant enough. The drugs were well concealed. Unfortunately for him, they were detected coming through.”

“This man was sourcing illegal drugs in his home country and bring- ing them in. It is my belief they were

for himself and his friends from Po- land who are living here,’ said the yum

Mr Cahir said by pleading guilty, his client saved the State consider- ably trouble and expense.

Wypiewsky has been living in Ireland, on and off, since 2003 and works in a fast food restaurant. He previously spent a year in the army in Poland.

“He wasn’t working last summer and had returned to Poland. He met up with colleagues of his, which unfortunately presented an opportu- nity for him to make some money. Foolishly he followed this through and imported drugs into Ireland,” he said. “He accepts what he did was stupid and reckless,” he said.

He said that the accused’s girl- friend is due to give birth next month and has been hospitalised, due to complications.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a four-month jail term and fixed recog- nisances in the event of an appeal.

yester- day that the statement put forward by east Clare organisation Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT) was both “inaccurate and misrepresents Coillte’s position’. “The reality is that Coillte are cur- rently conducting a comprehensive

and detailed review of the sustaina- bility of its forestry activities on sen- sitive western peatlands in a project called the Western Peatland Project,” he said.

“The results from this review clearly show that the vast majority of coniferous plantations owned and managed by Coillte along the west coast of Ireland are in fact commer- cially, socially and environmentally sustainable.”

“These plantations will continue to provide much needed sources of income and work to local rural com- munities now and in the future.

“The review also indicates that a significant area of coniferous planta- tions along the west coast of Ireland are on sensitive western peatlands and may be more suited to alterna- tive management practices which do not involve commercial timber pro- duction.

“Research in this area is ongoing and definitive decisions regarding Coullte policy will only be made in the light of increased scientific knowledge and in consultation and agreement with the Forest Service, other relevant statutory bodies and stakeholders.”

A ONE-WAY traffic system is being considered for the town of Scariff to ease the traffic congestion which is blocking the streets there on a regu- lar basis.

Councillor Colm Wiley was told, in answer to a question he posed at last week’s area council meeting about means of alleviating the snarl-ups, that various methods are being con- sidered. These include making the village one-way, putting down double

yellow lines and introducing parking restrictions at pressure points.

“There will have to be negotiations locally about a one-way system. There can be a lot of resistance to that. But we would also hope that a new shopping complex development which is coming on-stream for Scar- iff will provide extra parking,’ the councillor said.

He added that he is also asking the local authority to buy up land if it be- comes available to create parking for the town.

Meanwhile, the councillor was giv- en good news in relation to a number of problems in Tuamgraney.

Recent severe flooding near the school had created a hazard for cars and pedestrians alike, Councillor AAU CCA Yat BCG

He was told by Council Engineer, Sean Lenihan, that the problem was with a stretch of drain which had col- lapsed underground, leaving the wa- ter nowhere to go.

This is to be repaired in the near future, the engineer said.

‘“l’m very pleased to hear this. There was a considerable amount of water on the road near the school which was terrible for people trying to avoid getting soaked and a hazard for cars that had to drive through it.”

And ugly, heavy wires to provide street light will soon be redundant in Tuamgraney, Councillor Wiley was Ke) (en

The overhead wires and their poles are to be decomissioned in favour of underground wiring and silver metal lampstandards.

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy who has com- mitted a string of offences in Shan- non got “a sharp shock” when he spent two months in custody, his so- licitor told a court.

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to damaging a car and a number of of- fences relating to the theft of alcohol.

He admitted entering the Shannon Knights pub as a trespasser and steal- ing alcohol and crisps, last October.

On another occasion, he entered the same premises and stole five bottles of vodka and three cans of red bull.

He also admitted stealing €40 in cash from a house in Shannon in No- vember and stealing a mobile phone from Texaco, Shannon, on Septem- lo mPA NE

Defending solicitor Eileen Whelan said her client was using drugs and alcohol at the time of the offences.

She said that a Probation report on the accused, presented to the court, was very positive and concluded that he should be let back into the com- munity.

Ms Whelan said that teachers, psy-

chiatrists, psychologists and various social workers have come together to recommend the boy be put back into the community, albeit under a very strict regime.

‘He has been caught in time. One would hope he would turn out to be a decent citizen,” added the solicitor.

‘He has been in custody for two months. He doesn’t sleep well. He is frightened of it. He’s got the sharp Shock that he needed,’ she added. She said her client would be willing to move out of Shannon, if he was ordered to do so.

Inspector Tom Kennedy, prosecut- ing, said the State would not wish to stand in the way of progress.

“If these recommendations can be advanced, I wouldn’t oppose that,” |atemncrc (On

Compensation, to cover the dam- age to a car and the cost of the stolen items, was presented to the court.

The boy was remanded on bail, with conditions attached, including that he comply with the conditions of the Probation services, sign on daily at Shannon garda station, abide by acurfew and stay away from two named youths in Shannon.

FINE Gael leader, Enda Kenny, told his party delegates that the Fianna Fail/PD coalition is a Gov- ernment of waiting. Waiting for hospital beds, waiting for care for people with disability, waiting for justice for victims of crime.

But on his first public appearance at the Ard Fheis in Citywest at the weekend, it was Enda who kept the faithful waiting.

To a tremendous build-up from the podium and a standing ovation from the delegates, the doors of the conference chamber were thrown wide open for Enda to make a grand

entrance. And there he was, gone!

The only form which filled the doorway was that of a startled hotel waiter, who was all but blinded by press photographers’ flash bulbs as they tried to capture what should have been a dramatic moment.

The leader had missed his cue to bound purposefully through the door. Eh…..opps!

To ripples of embarrassed laugh- ter, the doors were closed again and the paparazzi re-focused. It was to be another three minutes before the Fine Gael boss actu- ally arrived to deliver his opening speech on how, in Government, he would put an end to waiting.

PLEAS have gone out to Clare Coun- ty Council to put safety measures in place at a school before a car ploughs into a child.

In a chilling warning to the local authority, principal of Scoil Mhuire National school in Meelick, Dan Gra- ham, said it will be “too late when a four-foot coffin is being lowered into the ground and people are laying flowers on the roadside. Something is always done after a tragedy but that will be no comfort to a child’s griev- TbOrcap ec Ree DOA VAM

The entrance to Scoil Mhuire Na-

tional School is situated on a deadly bend, where cars regularly slam into rele emelealss

Some years ago, a driver was killed when his car went out of control and hit the front gate of the school.

The tragedy happened during the summer when there were no children around but Dan fears that a similar tragedy “is waiting to happen when children, staff and parents are walk- Tbeycaelel mae

“The road is used as a rat-run by motorists rushing to work and throughout the day. All it takes is for a five-year-old to step out and, between the poor visibility and the

speeds these cars are doing, that will be it. Over.”

The school’s request for a lollipop lady has been turned down. “I’ve been here 23 years and this needs to be tackled now. It’s urgent and if there is a fatality, then the council will be responsible,” the principal said.

Dan says he cannot understand why neighbouring Parteen National School “has all kinds of safety mark- ings and precautions, which is what should happen. Yet they are on a side road and we are on a very busy main road and we can get can noth- ing done”.

Local councillor, Cathal Crowe, 1s

a teacher at the school, which has 15 staff and 146 pupils.

He is calling on the local authority to put a footpath and safety railing in front of the main gate.

‘Almost three years ago, flashing lights were erected approximately 100 metres either side of the school gate. These lights tell the law-abid- ing motorist to slow down but they do very little to protect the school chil- dren and passing pedestrians from speeding cars,” he said.

“I feel that a footpath running the length of the bend and linking the school to the church would go along way to making the road safer for all.

ALLEGATIONS that the family of an Ennis heroin addict have been intimidated by a drug dealer were made in court yesterday.

The claim by an Ennis solicitor came in the case of Cathal Mulcaire (25), who was sentenced to four months in jail, after he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin, for

sale or supply, on May 25 last year.

Ennis District Court was told that Mulcaire, of Apt 1, Chapel Lane, En- nis, brought a bar of cannabis resin – valued at €1,750 – on a bus from Limerick to Clare, with the intention of exchanging it with a dealer for four bags of heroin.

His solicitor Tara Godfrey said the incident arose from her client’s ad- diction to heroin.

“My client would have gone to Limerick for the bar of cannabis, to give to his suppliers for the purposes of getting the four bags of heroin,’ said the solicitor.

“He obtained this bar of cannabis, not for the purpose of supply, rather it was to get the heroin which he craved so badly,” she added.

Garda Stephen Hession told the court the accused co-operated with

the investigation, but did not tell gardai who the source was.

Ms Godfrey said, “My client was in fear in relation to the source. The people who were to have received this bar visited his father, his brother and his elderly grandmother. His father eventually came up with the money and had to pay. The entire family were intimidated.”

Judge Joseph Mangan asked Inspec-

tor Tom Kennedy, prosecuting, was that the first time this allegation had come to the notice of the Prosecution. Inspector Kennedy said it was.

The judge asked, “Can I take it it will be fully investigated?” and was told it would be.

He jailed Mulcaire for four months, to run consecutively to a ten-month term he is currently serving for an- other offence.

THE Ennis based Mangan’s Whole- sale group marked 75 years in busi- ness with a business breakfast at the spectacular Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre on Monday when many of the company’s long standing customers, business friends and community rep- resentatives attended the event.

Mangans Wholesale is a major play- er in both the retail and foodservice sectors and pioneered the growth of symbol store development as far back as 1967 with the launch of the Mace brand. In the intervening years, the Clare company introduced the high- ly successful Xpress Stop and Vivo brands. More than 250 staff are em- ployed throughout the country with over 80 of them based in Ennis.

The Ennis Cash & Carry on the Kilrush Road, managed by ‘Tom Downes, is the hub for operations throughout Clare and the surround- ing counties with deliveries to a wide variety of independent retailers and the fast growing foodservice sector.

Managing Director, Terence Man- gan outlined the history of the busi- ness which was founded by his father and uncle in Kilmihil in 1932 and evolved from a local food distributor to a nationwide outfit that includes 8 cash and carries and delivers to all parts of the country. He highlighted

some indicative examples of the com- pany’s ongoing progress including the recent opening of a convenience store at a Luas station in the Dublin commuter belt and the acquisition of a foodservice distribution business in Galway.

Guest speaker at the event was Mick O’Dwyer who spoke about his approach to management, cur- rent trends in sports science and the similarities between managing a top class sports team and running a small business.

Chief Executive Peter Foley out- lined the special promotions that would be available to customers. Further events planned for the year include a charity cycle and a pro- motional offer for regular cash and CVU MONO) No ie

He acknowledged the long service of the extraordinary loyal and cus- tomer focused sales team including Charles Smyth, Malcolm Reeves and Michael Breen.

The event was rounded off by com- pany Chairman, Gabriel Mangan who noted the substantial changes in customer needs since 1932 and the key decisions that were made at the ruta alm Ob elem

He thanked the company’s custom- ers many of whom had seen their businesses develop over the same WE Seles

BANK otf Ireland has revealed it does not intend to install a new 24-hour ATM in Newmarket-on-Fergus, to replace the one which closed earlier this year.

The closure of Halpin’s garage marked the end of the 24-hour ATM, which had been located there. While there are two ATMs in the village, both are located inside business premises and are not available after whe 00

Locals have expressed frustrations on the issue in recent weeks and a

letter from Bank of Ireland, to a staff officer with Clare County Council, has infuriated local councillors.

The letter from Relationship Man- ager Eileen Hannon, dated March 12, stated, “Presently Bank of Ireland are not planning on installing an ex- ternal ATM in Newmarket-on-Fer- ous. However, reviews are constantly taking place to consider urban devel- opment and population increases in specific areas.

“Should the position change dra- matically in Newmarket-on-Fergus, then Bank of Ireland will certainly reconsider the appropriateness of an

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The letter stated that while the bank is committed to providing ap- propriate banking facilities, includ- ing AIM services to its customers, the manner in which that service 1s provided has changed, “with a great- er emphasis on installing in-store re- tailer ATMs, which are becoming the preferred choice of the general public as they appear to offer greater personal security to users.”

Local Councillor Pat McMahon (FF) said, “The letter states the pre- ferred option is internal machines. The two that exist at the moment are

running out of money early.

“What do you do over a long week- end, or any weekend? I refute totally the motion they are making about the preferred choice. I’m talking about 9pm, until those shops open in the morning,’ said Cllr McMahon.

“It 1s ironic, with the massive amount of growth in those two areas, here we are, one of the major banks are refusing to provide a service. Thanks be to God, we have com- petition,’ he said, adding that other banks are looking at the possibility of installing an external ATM in the village.