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can reveal that interpreters were required for 120 cases in the District Court in Clare last year, which compares with 30, in 2003.

A firm of interpreters has now been appointed to deal with the additional business both in Clare and around the country.

Previously, cases in Clare involving foreign nationals who required inter-

preters were dealt with by Con|[text], a Galway-based international trans- lation company, if certified by the presiding judge.

Now, for the first time, a contract has been signed with Dublin-based company Lionbridge.

The revelation comes in the wake of an Ennis solicitor raising an objec- tion to one particular interpreter be- ing involved in a case, at a sitting of Ennis District Court last week.

Solicitor Tara Godfrey said she had an objection to a particular translator, who was working with Con|[text].

She said her objection – in the case of a female foreign national, who is

accused of shoplifting – was not per- sonal, but that she couldn’t under- stand the translator.

“It is nothing personal. I cannot un- derstand her.

“IT am open to correction, but it is up to the court office to obtain an interpreter,’ she told Judge Joseph Mangan on Friday morning.

She said the charge would be con- tested, adding, “I do not want her in court for the contest. It is unfortunate and regrettable.”

Judge Joseph Mangan said he was noting the solicitor’s objection and told her she should liaise with the court office. He adjourned the case

for six weeks. A spokesperson for the courts serv- ice told

AN EAST Clare councillor has called for wild deer to be culled, be- fore they start breeding with local cattle.

Cllr Colm Wiley (FF) warned that wild deer had taken to breaking down fences and roaming the roads of the county.

ae Wile Kenic rates through fences and eat- ing acres. of grass. |wenty or 30 deer grazing together can eat an awful lot of grass,’ he told a meeting of Clare County Council last week.

The councillor

has asked that the Minister for Ag- riculture be con- tacted and asked to introduce a programme of culling the deer. Action needs to be taken at an official level, he SrHIGE

The animals are becoming a haz- ard on the roads and causing huge amounts of damage to farmland, the Fianna Fail councillor said.

They are also roaming freely in for- estry plantations and their numbers are increasing at an alarming rate, he Sr AIGE

While hunters might take a small number for the pot, an organised cull is needed, Cllr Wiley said.

“Whether it’s marksmen from the

army or whatever, we need someone to take some of them out. There have been constant complaints and calls for control, but no-one is dealing with it. The deer are gaining ground. Next thing, they’ll be breaking down fences and breeding with the cattle,” Cllr Wiley said, to uproar from the chamber.

Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said that there was a particular- ly large number of deer in East Ore

“They are a threat to motor- TISLIIE-0 (CMOS) Kom: NKs animal welfare and disease is- sues to be con- sidered. I believe we should deal with it through Duchas, Wale OPW and anyone else involved at a local level,’ he Sr HKGe

Cit Gerry Flynn (Ind) told the meeting that there were wild- life rangers in place, whose job

it was to deal with roaming deer.

ClUlr Brian Meaney (GP) said he

hoped that the message would not go out from the chamber, “that the elected members believe that there is any possibility of a cross-breeding danger between our cattle and the wild deer population.”

CONSTRUCTION work began last week on a rural west Clare school – the first major permanent develop- ment to be carried out there since the eVeebuslon

Originally constructed in 1846 Mullagh National School is undergo- ing its biggest transformation in its proud 160-year history.

The chairperson of the school’s Board of Management Tim Don- nellan hailed the work as one of the largest state supported projects ever to reach the village.

Mr Donnellan also took the op- portunity to highlight the need for a proper sewerage plant for the area.

“This, to my knowledge, is the single largest capital infrastructure investment in Mullagh village since the foundation of the state and we whole heartedly welcome it.

“We feel that the provision of a state of the art school building in as- sociation with the proposed and long awaited mains sewerage system will be central to this communities de- velopment and vibrancy out into the future,” he said.

The three-teacher school was al- located a devolved grant by the De- partment of Education to complete the works.

The project will include two modern classrooms, a general purpose room for art, drama and PE, principals of-

fice as well as the modernisation of existing classrooms, resource rooms, library and computer facilities.

After months of planning, seeking permission and putting the project through the tender process the local contractor Thomas Lineen moved on site on Tuesday.

Mullagh National School principal, Sean McMahon said that staff and parents were delighted with progress and that this was the beginning of realising a dream, which had been a long time incubating.

The principal has, however, to con- sider the well being of the pupils and staff during the on-site construction V0) 0.@

He requested on-going vigilant care

by parents, pupils, staff and commu- nity in relation to health and safety considerations over the duration of the project.

Mr Donnellan complimented the consultant, Gerard McGrath, Project Design and Building Consultants Ltd, Kilrush, for his work to date. He also thanked all relevant personnel in relation to the securing of planning permission. He then wished Mr Tho- mas Lineen and Co building contrac- tors success with the project.

AN APPEAL by the Director of Pub- lic Prosecutions against the sentence imposed on Ennis man Adam Keane, who has been convicted of rape, will be mentioned in court for the first WUSSLoM MON RMaslOomOnDaTe

The DPP lodged an appeal against the “undue leniency” of the sentence, to the Court of Criminal Appeal last

Friday. The appeal is unlikely to be heard for some time, but will be men- tioned in court today, just 15 days af- ter a three-year suspended term was handed down to Keane (20), of Bar- nageeha, Darragh, Ennis.

He was found guilty by a 10-2 jury majority of raping Mary Shannon (33), on the fifth day of his trial at the Central Criminal Court, last month.

The jury of three women and nine

men reached its decision after more than five hours of deliberations.

In imposing sentence, the trial judge, Mr Justice Paul Carney, said his decision was based on a previous ruling by the Court of Criminal Ap- peal. This ruling related to a sentence imposed by him in a similar case.

Mr Justice Carney said that the ap- peal was lost and the sentencing was set aside in its entirety.

“Having regard to the approach taken by the CCA to this type of of- fence in this type of case, I have to ask myself whether I would be com- fortable to imprison this young man who said it was out of character for him, but that if the DNA said he had done it, he wouldn’t shy away from his responsibility,’ he said.

Mary Shannon, who waived her right to anonymity in the wake of the sentence, was thrilled on hearing of the DPP’s decision.

She and her family held a protest, vigil and public meeting with politi- cians, in an effort to fight for justice for rape victims.

At a meeting with politicians last Thursday, her sister Sarah urged peo- ple to sign a petition calling for the law on rape sentences to be changed.

More than 5,000 people have signed the petition, which will be sent to the Minister for Justice, Michael Mc- Dowell.

Addressing a crowd of up to 50 family relatives and local politicians, Mary Shannon said, “I just feel that last week there was loads in the me- dia. This week it has come to a com- plete standstill.”

Councillor Brian Meaney (GP) told her, on advice from a legal friend, that it wouldn’t be worth her while to take a civil case against Mr Keane. She said, “This isn’t about money.”

NO excuses. That was the message coming from Clare co-manager Joe Garry after Saturday’s crushing de- feat to Tipperary.

Clare’s poor showing, particularly in the first half, when they leaked three goals was the source of 1m- mense disappointment in a sombre dressing room afterwards.

Clare fans travelled in more expec- tation than hope following the stir- ring quarterfinal victory over Kerry but then watched on in abject frustra- tion as Clare capitulated.

“It was bitterly disappointing. I know that a lot of people travelled down and were very frustrated watching in the stands but if you can imagine that disappointment and multiply it by ten that’s the way it was in the dressing room afterwards. It was no way reflective of the talent that’s in that team. We hadn’t done ourselves a bit of justice. It wasn’t that we underestimated them in any way. If anything we had prepared

more diligently than the Kerry game. We had a free reign in terms of inju- ries, we knew Conor Howley wasn’t going to make it”.

The physical nature adopted by Tipperary certainly upset Clare’s rhythm but Garry said he had no complaints about the robust nature of the contest.

“We have no problems whatsoever with the ref. There’s no excuses, none at all. We were just that bit flat on the day. Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. We made too many mistakes. There was a great bounce around Clare football in the last week or so, and it’s all down to those lads. There’s quite a few of the lads underage for next year, but that’s a poor consolation right now.”

She is ott: that people who made

their Holy Communion on that fate- ful or even faithful day on June 16, 1957, would be able to meet up again on Saturday, June 16, 2007.

Now living in Cork, Mairead said that many of the girls from that class are scattered throughout the country and beyond and she is hoping that family members who may still be living in Kilrush would make them aware of her plans.

As many as 34 girls for the Convent of Mercy School made their holy communion that day. They were in senior or high infants at the time and were just about to enter first class.

While Sr Alacoque was their class teacher, Sr Mary Carmel was the nun responsible for religious instruction and the months of preparation that

went into the event. At 8am the chil- dren went to their Holy Communion Mass after fasting for the requested wneeles

Afterwards they went to the con- vent where they had jelly and trifle to celebrate. It was home then, meeting the neighbours on the way who had a half crown, or if you were extremely lucky, a ten shilling note to give as a present.

Some boys from the boys school joined the girls on the day.

Mairead has had mixed results in tracking people down so far for the reunion. The following is a list of names of the girls that made their communion that day.

They were Ann McMahon, No- reen Twomey, Teresa Whelan, Nuala

Chambers, Mairead Walsh, Clare Houlihan, Ita Lowe, Mary Guerin, Assumpta Kelly, Mary Kemp, Chris- tina O’Brien, Patricia Enright, Imelda Blunnie, Betty Keller, Marie Walsh, Margaret Keane, Kathleen Shannon, Maeve McGuane, Marie Brennan, Marion Shannon, Concepta McMa- hon, Dorothy Humphries, Carmel Cahill, Ann B McMahon, Taimse O’Leary, Kathleen Gorman, Mary Flanagan, Phyllis Flynn, Ena McMa- hon, Mary Kennedy, Mary MclIner- ney, Siobhan Keating, Kathleen Fitz- patrick, and Eileen Sullivan.

Mairead can be contacted on 021 4244797 or 086 0533073.

More information on the night can be found on the Kilrush Connect website.

IT EMERGED last week that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) does not have a database in- cluding all food outlets in the coun- try, making it near impossible for any policing of the beef labelling legislation to take place.

It has also now emerged that the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has signed off a further Statutory In- strument on beef labelling in the past three weeks, which should clarify any issues with the regulations.

The IFA President Padraig Walshe, met with the Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority, John O’Brien,

in Dublin last week to express the “extreme dissatisfaction” that pro- ducers are feeling about the slow pace of implementation of country of origin beef labelling in restau- rants, pubs and catering outlets. ‘“Itis unacceptable that nine months after the legislation was introduced by the Government, no documenta- tion explaining the requirements and obligations under the law have been sent to the country’s 30,000 food outlets. Further delay in implement- ing this legislation cannot be toler- ated. The FSAI has assured the IFA that briefing material on the legisla- tion was now complete and would be sent to all establishments over the

next four weeks,” he said.

In addition to this, the FSAI said food outlets such as restaurants and hotels could expect to be inspected by Environmental Health Officers a number of times during the year and prosecutions will be taken if they are found not to be implementing the law on food labelling.

The FSAI also confirmed that they will be undertaking a comprehensive programme of advertising and infor- mation campaign for the public on country of origin beef labelling over the coming weeks.

Surveys conducted by the IFA last autumn indicated that up to two- thirds of restaurants, pubs and hotels

are not complying with country of origin beef labelling requirements.

The country of origin of beef reg- ulations state that a food business operator providing prepared beef to consumers shall not advertise the beef for sale or supply, present it for sale or supply, or sell or supply it un- less the country of or countries of origin of the beef is indicated at the point of advertisement, presenting, sale and supply in clear legible type on the advertisement, menu or other presentation used.

Concerns have been raised that beef from South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina is being sold as Irish beef.

ANOTHER defeat for Clare — three on the bounce after the morale boosting start to the Paidi O Sé reign with victories over Carlow and Lei- trim. Another cloud in a relegation dogfight, but the upbeat mood of the Clare contingent afterwards showed that it had something of a silver lin- ing.

Paidi was positive as he gathered his team around — barking encourag- ing words about commitment, deter- mination, pride in the jersey. Things taken for granted in a county with 34 All-Irelands; questioned after the 13- point drubbing at home at the hands of Monaghan.

Afterwards Vincent O’Connor made similar soundings as he took the players for a warm down. There

was no warm down after the Mona- ghan game — maybe it was because the team didn’t break enough sweat to warrant one.

It was different in O’Connor Park on Sunday. Another precious two points went the other way but Paidi still preached positivity for the fu- ture when fielding questions after the game.

‘“We’re very upbeat after today,’ he said. “We played very well and the lads gave a great account of them- selves. We were unfortunate to lose Frank O’Dea during the course of the day and before the game we hadn’t David Russell available to us. Apart from that we played very well.

“We should have capitalised a bit more with the wind. We’ve only our- selves to blame for that. It’s the sign of good character in a team that can

bounce back against Offaly, up here in Offaly, after the drubbing against Monaghan.

“There was a good bit more fight and while we’re disappointed in the manner in which we lost the game in the end but we’re quite happy with the way we played, just a little bit dis- appointed that we didn’t get a share of the spoils.”

As for the future, Paidi was already looking forward to the game against London this coming Sunday. Lowly London, the cannon fodder of Na- tional League football. Still a big game for Clare insisted Paidi, be- cause he says “every game that Clare play in is a big game. We’re looking forward to it.”

It’s the only thing Clare can do in their desperate attempt to avoid the ignominy of Division 4 football for 2008. That would be worse than the bad old days of Division 3 South.

REDUCING headline crime and increasing garda resources in tour- ist locations during the summer will be among the priorities for the new Kilrush Superintendent, Declan Bro- eee

The Kinvara native has just taken up the post as Superintendent of the Kilrush District, replacing Joe MckK- eown, who has gone to Dublin, after a year-and-a-half in Kilrush.

Supt Brogan has moved to Kilrush, having spent the vast majority of his years in the garda force, in Dublin.

Prior to moving to Clare, he worked in the regional traffic unit, based at Dublin Castle, for six years. During that time he was involved in some major infrastructure projects, includ- ing the development of the Port Tun-

nel and the Luas.

He has also spent almost 18 years working in the Special Detective Unit, based at Dublin Castle, while he has spent three-and-a-half years working overseas, mainly in Croatia.

‘IT have been looking at issues that have been happening here (in west Clare) over the past year. I will be fo- cusing on decreasing headline crime, like public order and assaults.

“You have to look at where public disorder arises from and try to ad- dress it, through CCTV and enforce- ment,” he said.

“Coming from a road traffic back- eround, I have particular interest in the Road Traffic Act,” said Supt Bro- eee

“The legislation is there for the guards to implement random breath testing and it is up to us to do it.

Since its introduction last year, it has had a huge effect on the number of road fatalities. If it works… great,” he said.

He also plans to increase garda re- sources in areas where populations dramatically increase during the summer months.

“You have a summer issue and a winter issue. The population of plac- es like Doonbeg and Kilkee increase during the summer and we have to look at putting extra resources out there,” he said.

While he is not opposed to alcohol, its abuse and that of drugs, lead to many problems.

“The abuse of alcohol and drugs leads to public disorder and people have to be responsible,” he said.

Additional resources have recent- ly been pumped into the detective

branch in Kilrush, on a temporary basis, and Supt Brogan is hopeful that these may remain in place, to tackle drug use and other serious crime in west Clare.

The Brogan name is well-known in Clare – Declan’s brother Paddy, an Ennis publican, is a prominent spokesman with the Vintner’s Feder- ation in Clare, while another brother, the late Enda Brogan, was County Registrar for Clare, prior to his death four years ago. Their father Michael was a garda based in Kinvara for many years.

Declan is happy to be back near his roots in Kinvara. “I am looking forward to it. It is great to be able to drive to work in the morning and not be stuck in traffic jams. Rural po- licing has a lot to offer and is more community-based,” he said.

A FIRST in a series of information evening about the use and potential benefits of IFA Broadband in Clare will take place this week. The meet- ing and demonstration will take place at the Doonbeg Community Development Centre on Wednes- day March 28 at 8pm and is aimed

at people from the whole Loophead area.

IFA Telecom is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Irish Farmers As- sociation which is dedicated to pro- viding the best possible value in telecommunications to members and associates. All profits made as a result of IFA Telecoms goes to help fund the work of the association on

behalf of its members.

“This is a service that rural com- munities have been crying out for. People are tired of waiting for Eir- com to update their local exchange to receive Broadband. The fact of the matter is that approximately 80 per cent of rural homes and businesses cannot get Broadband over their telephone line and this is not going

to change anytime soon,’ said Ray Breen, IFA Broadband Development Manager.

The IFA currently has a number of wireless access points around the Loophead area as well as Corofin, Kilfenora and Ruan. A new service is now in Kilmaley. For more info contact IFA Telecom by phone at O01 4265512.