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that they “join with the community in offering support to

Mary Shannon during this traumatic time, for her and her family”’.

The statement continued that those involved in the organisation felt that the three-year suspended sentence served on her perpetrator “was nel- ther fair nor consistent with other rape sentences. This man pleaded not guilty to rape, thus forcing Mary to give evidence of her experience. He was found guilty by a jury, yet the fact remains his crime goes unpun- ished”.

The statement said that it is “ex- tremely difficult for women to come forward and report rape or domestic abuse. It is worrying that the outcome of this trial will discourage women

from disclosing rape and abuse, thus leaving them in a potentially danger- ous situation and undoing all of the good work and practices that many agencies in this country have striven hard to achieve”.

The Clare Haven statement added that they “commend Mary on her courage to waive her anonymity and in her determination to challenge the system, and we offer her our full sup- port now and in the future”.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Rape Crisis Centre in Limerick said they were “horrified” at the sen- tence.

She said there was a “huge swell of phone calls from women after the

sentence and every one of them ex- pressed support for Mary. The other thing that most of them said was that if they were raped, what would be the point in reporting it?”

The centre recently ran a major me- dia campaign under the title of “An- other Silent Night”, urging victims of rape and sex abuse to speak out, report the crime and seek help.

“Tt is so difficult to convince wom- en to report rape, it’s so hard to get a rape case as far as court, and then When you do get a conviction, the rapist gets a suspended sentence. It’s sending out the message to perpetra- tors that it’s fine – go ahead and do it. After all, what will they do to you?”

DOONBEG Community Develop- ment Ltd has added its voice to the objections against the proposed clo- sure of aright of way on to the White Strand.

In its letter to the council, chair- man John Smith, said it was decided to object to the proposed closure fol- lowing a meeting of the development company on March I.

He said the company objected to the “proposed closure of the public road to Murray’s (Carrig’s) gate and the consequent extinguishment of the public vehicular and pedestrians

right of way to the beach from the said gate which has been obstructed by a boundary wall”.

“We would remind the council that it was this company which proposed the golf development in the first place and supported it through planning on the understanding that right of way to the beach would be honoured,’ he wrote.

‘We have always been of the opin- ion that a tunnel capable of taking an ambulance was the best solution to this particular problem,” the letter eyeTebaLeCeem

“We welcome the long overdue provision of a car park.”

Doonbeg man Murt McInerney has also written to the council with a similar objection.

In his letter he said the proposal to provide a car park was welcome, and agreed with the development compa- ny that a tunnel under the fairway ca- pable of taking an ambulance should be provided.

Meanwhile Cree man James Mc- Nulty has written to all council members asking that they object to the proposal.

The proposal in question is for a 120-metre portion of the public right of way on a local road, from where the existing roadway turns to give

access to Doonbeg beach to the point where it enters the private driveway.

Any extinguishment of a right of way is the reserved function of the council and can only be changed by the council members.

Kilrush’s county councillors have already unanimously proposed to defer any consideration of the pro- posed extinguishment of a public right of way at Doonbeg pending the outcome of a judicial review.

The councillors also agreed to move their March meeting from the Doonbeg Golf Club to Lissycasey, for fear of a perceived conflict of in- terests.

THE Farm Relief Services has this week announced a major addition to their service team in East Clare with the arrival of Dutch born hoof care operator Roland Dross.

Mr Dross, who now lives in Bod- yke, brings with him a state of the art hoof care crush with is believed to be the only one of its kind in Ireland.

Born in Holland, Dross perfected his trade in Denmark before return- ing to Ireland recently with his Irish wife and four children. He will most- ly cover the East Clare area.

Roland comes from a long line of dairy farmers in the Drenthe region of Holland, his father has a Holstein Friesian herd of 110 cows and a poul- try farm of around 14,000 chickens, so farming has always been a way of life for him.

After agricultural college, he traveled to Canada to broaden his knowledge and gain dairy manage- ment experience. He then travelled to New Zealand to round off his dairy experience before meeting his Irish wife in Holland in 1994.

In 1997 he moved to Denmark Where he bought a dairy farm of

70 Holstein Friesian cows and 120 acres. Over the next 9 years, he suc- cessfully managed, modernised and expanded the farm to 360 acres and a milking herd of 165 Jerseys.

He switched to a computerised feeding system using transponders on the herd and built a new dairy and free stall in 2002. He also carried out the entire hoof trimming on his herd, using his own crush and found this enjoyable and interesting and an area in which he would like to spe- cialise.

Late last year however, he sold the farm following a family decision to

return to Ireland and pursue a future in hoof care. The next three months were spent gaining intensive hoof trimming experience with a Dutch expert Gerwin Cnossen in Germany and Denmark.

Roland will now work for the Farm Relief Service and he will mainly be based in east Clare as well as in parts of Galway, Limerick and North Tip- oe Nae

To view a video of his unique cattle crush check out www.klovbeskaeren. dk/sider/main_video.htm or for more details contact Liam O’ Rourke, Farm Services Manager at 063 90666.

PLANS are underway for a west Clare community facility to provide offices and working space for the many voluntary organisations in the area.

Joe Saunders, who carried out the feasibility study for such a facil- ity, told Kilrush Town Council that there are more than 100 community groups registered in Kilrush and a further 60 to 70 groups in the wider west Clare area.

There are 15 organisations in total with their own staff, needing premis- oe

To date there are eight buildings hosting community groups in Kil- Murs ee

The consultant said that as the town changed and grew there was a need for a place where civil marriages could be performed.

Outlining the gravity of the situ- ation he said the Gardai in Kilrush have nowhere to address the local public outside the cells in the sta- tion.

Meanwhile artists have to exhibit their work in inadequate facilities or move outside the area.

He said that as the voluntary sec- tor is becoming more professional it needs proper facilities.

“A hotel conference centre would meet some of the needs but a lot of eroups would like to be with like minded groups,” he said.

In his report Mr Saunders con-

cluded that the current community and training services accommoda- tion base in Kilrush and west Clare is considered generally unsuited to the task of serving the sector over the next decade.

“Already organisations with a sig- nificant remit and serving large num- bers are finding the available accom- modation to be an impediment to maintaining and developing services to their target groups. In addition, newer organisations are coming on stream as the not-for-profit and train- ing sectors grow in size nationally,’ he said.

Mr Saunders said that a communi- ty facility would probably have core tenants that would have contracts of service agreement the would provide

funding for ongoing rental charges.

“The capital element of the project will need to be provided through lo- cal and national exchequer routes,” he said.

“Ownership structure and ongoing management will require negotiation between core tenants and relevant stakeholders.”

Town Manager Bernadette Kinsella said west Clare was suffering due to a lack of integrated facilities.

She said that Mr Saunders report confirmed the view that there was a deficit in this area.

“Now we will go back to the eroups, look at what a facility would look like, who would fund it, and audit where it might be located,” Ms Kinsella said.

OXFAM Ireland is calling on gar- deners all around Clare to get in- volved in their annual Spring grow for Africa scheme. OxfamGarden is aimed at getting experienced garden- ers and enthusiastic amateurs alike involved in raising plants, as well as funds to help some of the worlds poorest people.

The charity organisation are invit- ing people to get involved by simply buying a four back of seed from any of their Oxfam shops nationwide of from www.oxfamireland.org

“I consider it an honour to be asked to be involved with the Oxfamgarden Grow for Africa campaign,’ gar- dening guru Dermot O’Neill at the launch in Dublin last week.

“You don’t need to be an expert to get involved. By growing the Oxfam Ireland range of seeds you are con- tributing to a worthwhile and valu- able cause while at the same time reaping the pleasures and joy of erowing plants too.”

Oxfam are also calling on more experienced gardeners to volunteer to become OxfamGarden expert or to donate old tool to your local shop.

The charity are also hoping to get school, resource centres and commu- nity groups involved in the project.

“We hope Dermot’s support for Oxfamgarden will encourage other gardeners to get out their trowels and Grow for Africa,’ said Peter Tomlin- son, Oxfam Ireland business devel- opment manager.

‘The beauty of this scheme is that everyone involved wins. Customers love the plants, growers get a real sense of achievement from seeing their handiwork sold in our shops and, of course, we raise funds for Oxfam Ireland’s vital work.”

Oxfam is committed to ending poverty and suffering in developing countries. They promote understand- ing of the causes of these injustices, and campaign for a world where every man, woman, and child can live free from hunger, poverty, and oppression.

Although the work in most coun- ties in the world their current focus in on Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda, Sudan, Chad, South Africa and Ethiopia.

Seeds can be bought at any Oxfam shop for just €1.50 while seed mats are also available from €5.25.

COCAINE use in Clare has risen sharply and is the second most used drug in the county, with its popular- ity now outgrowing ecstacy.

The use of heroin is also continuing to increase in Clare, as addicts travel to Limerick to get their fix, accord- ing to gardai.

The head of the Clare Garda Di- vision’s Drug Unit, Sergeant John Brennan, said the trends in drug use in Clare had changed dramatically over the past few years and cocaine was now widely available.

“Our seizures of cocaine would be next to cannabis. It would have been very rare, going back three or four years ago.

“It has eclipsed ecstacy and am- phetamine,” said Sgt Brennan.

“It is the demand for cocaine that is causing problems. A lot of people with good wage packets are indulg- ing in cocaine at weekends. Once there is a demand, there will always be a supply,” he said.

While gardai in Clare have not made any major seizures of cocaine in recent years, they believe that a string of minor hauls is resulting in inroads being made into its supply.

‘A lot of individual seizures are be- ing made. There has been a substan- tial increase over the past number of years in the amount of cocaine vis- ible to us anyway.

“It seems to be deemed acceptable across the board, by all sections of the community,” he said.

He said the link between cocaine use and violence was significant as people who wouldn’t generally have violent tendencies resorted to vicious assaults after taking the drug.

“It is very obvious it is responsible for violence and public order inci- CSN

“It is commonly accepted that the use of cocaine leads to violence and it has been a factor in some of the se- rious assaults that have taken place,” |ntemncy-B (em

The majority of drugs are brought into Clare from mainland Europe, via Limerick, and gardai believe that cocaine and cannabis come in Koons

A number of prosecutions have been brought to court and a number of others are still pending, relating to possession of cocaine.

Sgt Brennan said the use of heroin continued to pose huge concerns for ee KerNe

“There is still a considerable amount of it. A lot of our people are going in to Limerick to get heroin. Some of the notorious drugs gangs in Limerick are cutting back the supply of cannabis, because it is more bulky, and are replacing it with heroin,” he Sr HLGe

He said that the popularity of ecsta- cy tablets has “dropped completely”’.

THE people of the Burren region have been invited to come on board with new projects which aim at cre- ating an overarching tourism man- agement system in north Clare.

The Burren Project, which is a combination of Clare County Coun- cil, BurrenBeo, Failte Ireland, Shan- non Development and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, has started work from a new base office in Ennistymon and hoping to shape the evolution of the tourism product in the area over the next few years.

“We are really hoping to work with everyone – voluntary organisation like BurrenBeo, the businesses, the

farmers, everyone who has an inter- est in the area,” said project leader Carol Gleeson. “It’s really a case of finding out exactly what is happen- ing and working in partnership with these people. “In the long term, what we want to do is have a Strategic overview and help integrate and co- ordinate a lot of the things that are already going on in the Burren. That is the aspiration the County Council would have for this project.”

The group are hoping to promote a diversification in the tourism market which would see more people com- ing in the off-season and visiting different places. They are also hop- ing to promote the environmentally sustainability of the area by promot-

ing ‘soft footprint’ eco-tourism and establishing a code for visitors.

“There are a lot of returns from that sort of tourism in the long run. We are looking for people who would stay longer, go for walks and eat in the restaurants. These people tend to come at any time and stay longer. It’s people who are interested in their health, active people and people who are interested in finding out more about what is actually going on in the Burren,’ said Emer McCarthy of the project.

“We are working closely with Bur- renBeo who have been providing info on the Burren for the last number of years. They have been working a lot with regard to education and have al-

ready done a lot of work especially in the schools. It is very much a part- nership approach, we really want to work together with people like Bur- renBeo, the IFA or anyone else who is providing a service for local peo- ple.”

Projects that the group is currently looking at include educational pro- erammes for school and _ visitors, the creation of a number of Burren viewing points, the establishment of a Burren Code about, a signage au- dit and the establishment of a Burren brand

For information contact Carol and Emer at cgleeson@burren. ie, emccarthy@burren.ie or O65 7072295.

A CALL was made yesterday to re-appraise spending on security at Shannon Airport after it emerged that it cost the State over €3 million to protect the airport last year.

Minister for Justice, Michael Mc- Dowell confirmed that the cost of ongoing Garda policing arrange- ments at Shannon Airport in 2006, including normal salaries, was ap- proximately €3.85 mullion.

Minister McDowell said that the Garda authorities allocated resourc- es in accordance with the assessed threat, so it was the Garda which ultimately determined the associated costs.

He was speaking in response to a Dail question from Green Party lead- er, Trevor Sergent.

He said, “I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda

management is satisfied that the con- tinuance of the ongoing policing ar- rangements at Shannon Airport is es- sential for the integrity of the airport itself and of both its employees and clients.

“Accordingly, I remain satisfied that Garda policing arrangements at Shannon Airport continue to be both necessary and appropriate.”

Last year, the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) made an estimated profit of €9 million from the 280,000 US troops that passed through Shan- non, keeping the airport in profit.

However, Green Party election can- didate, Brian Meaney said yesterday, “It is time to re-appraise the security operation at Shannon.

“A significant amount of Garda resources is being spent on the op- eration at Shannon and this must be having an effect on policing levels elsewhere in Clare.”

THE amount of waste landfilled at Ballyduff Beg last year was the low- est since the facility was opened in 2002.

Almost 34,000 tonnes of waste were landfilled last year, which is a significant reduction on almost 53,000 in 2005. Almost 44,000 tonnes were deposited there in 2004, and nearly 56,000 in 2003. During the first seven weeks of this year, almost 7,000 tonnes of waste were deposited there.

The annual report of the facility, presented to councillors yesterday, stated that the reduction last year was mainly due to a decrease in quanti- ties brought by one major collector.

The maximum licensed intake of 56,500 tonnes per annum was almost reached in 2003 and 2005.

The facility’s expenditure last year was €1.78 million for landfill, €223,000 for the recycling centre and €7,000 for composting. Pay- ments to suppliers of goods and serv- ices accounted for 38 per cent of the landfill operating costs; machinery was 33 per cent, with payroll 29 per Cone

The gate fees last year were €125 per tonne, for quantities up to 10,000 tonnes per annum and €120 per tonne, for quantities over that. These fees are reduced by €5 per tonne this year.

The income budget for the facility is €3,750,000 this year.

The report confirmed that off-site odours have been detected from time to time, as a result of inspections by the council and the HSE.

‘The main odour being reported 1s that of landfill gas, with some reports also of fresh waste odour. Landfill gas consists mainly of methane and carbon dioxide, which are green- house gases, but are odourless, but a small fraction of landfill gas is made up of volatile organic compounds, Some of which are odorous,” stated the report.

Two non-compliance notices, cov- ering four subjects, were received by the Environmental Protection Agency, in the year ending March 2007. Odour off-site and the felling of trees outside the dates specified in

the licence were referred to, 1n one of the notices. The council asserts the trees were felled in late February, to facilitate construction of Phase 3 of the facility, which got underway last August.

The report also pointed out that complaints were made about ma- chinery noise and surface water run- off, relating to Phase 3 construction.

According to the report, the prob- lems raised were discussed at the Community Liaison and Monitor Committee meetings.

“Odour management in particular has been a recurring subject. Com- plaints about site noise, early entry to site and late departure, and quality of surface water run-off, have been raised at this stage,” it stated.

LISDOON VARNA National School are on the road to repeating last years heroics in the Credit Union All-Ire- land quiz competition as their U13 team qualified for the national final last week.

The team saw off stiff competition from schools from all over Munster to finish first in their age grouping. It was however, a bitter sweet evening for the school as their U1] team nar- rowly missed out on qualification themselves, finishing third in their age group.

“We give them encouragement at

the school but they do most of the work themselves, off their own bat. Each of them gets a lot of support and help at home as well but at the end of the day they do all the work themselves.” said school principal John Hehir.

‘Both teams qualified to represent the school at the regional final in Limerick. The UI3 team won it and got through to the nationals but the U1] team finished third.

“Only the first two teams qualify so the U1] team were very unlucky not to make it. They were unlucky but at the same time they will have learned a lot from the experience and they

have more years in front of them.”

Indeed, this year the U13 team fea- tures three students, Orla Burke, Rob- ert Hillery, and Eimear O’Sullivan, who claimed the U1] All-Ireland last year.

The team in completed by Eleanor Collins who will be looking to taste her first All-Ireland success in Dub- lin on April 1.

“It is a 32 county, All-Ireland com- petition, so there will be more than 100 teams involved. All these teams would have come through two or three qualification rounds to make it this far so they really are the best of the best,” continued Mr Hehir.

“The whole competition is very well run. From local level in En- nistymon, through the other rounds in Ennis, Limerick and on to Dublin. The Credit Union deserves a lot of credit for it.”

Lisdoonvarna has been one of the most consistent performers in the competition over the last decade. The came joint sixth when they first reached in national final in 2001.

They came second in 2005, first in 2006 and have given themselves eve- ry chance of a great finish this time around.

The competition takes place in Dublin’s RDS on April 1.