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AN ENNIS man who held an elderly woman and a 23-year-old girl at knifepoint before rob- bing them, in separate incidents, did so because he was on heroin, Ennis Circuit Court has been told. Robbie Nestor (25), with an address at Tulla Road, Ennis, and formerly of Hermitage, Ennis, pleaded guilty to two charges of robbery in En- nis in September 2004.

Det Gda Jarlath Fahy told the court that a 75-

year-old woman was sitting in her car in the car- park of the VEC building in Ennis, on Septem- ber 16 when she was approached by the accused. He produced a knife and said he wanted her bag. She handed it over and he left the scene with the bag and its contents, which included €600.

Ten days later, the accused was buying match- es in Liddy’s Gala in Ennis. He held a knife to the 23-year-old shop assistant and held her by the shirt, before getting away with more than €500 in cash.

When asked about the circumstances which led to the robberies, Dt Gda Fahy replied, “the fact that he was on drugs.” He said Nestor has 21 previous convictions.

Defending barrister Mark Nicholas said his client’s real problem is his addiction to drugs.

“If he takes drugs, that seems to be it. He gets into trouble and commits crime,’ replied the garda.

“TI think this was hardly the work of a pre- planned criminal brain,” said the barrister.

Judge Carroll Moran pointed out that Gda Fahy had been extremely fair to the accused.

‘This was a despicable crime, particularly tar- geting a 75-year-old lady,” said the judge.

“Garda Fahy is of the view, if this man stays off the drugs he will not get into trouble. Let’s put it to the test,” he added.

He said he would adjourn the case for 12 months and will impose a three or four year sentence then. He may consider suspending the sentence, he said.

THE families of the two men missing following last Monday’s tragedy are said to be “furious and very upset” that the men were named in the me- dia “without their consent or any consideration for what they are going through.”

“The families of these two men are going through hell and the coverage of the story and the insensitive and unsubstantiated speculation published by certain elements of the media at such a heart breaking time 1s not helping the situ-

ation any bit,’ according to a close relative of one the men.

“T understand that the media has a job to do, but it also has a responsibility to handle any sto- ry with the sensitivity is deserves. In this case, certain organisations named the two missing men without the permission of the families. You cannot imagine what these families were going through and then they read in the papers or hear on the radio the names of their loved ones,” said the family spokesman.

‘There has to be a humanness to all of this. It

is not easy for the families involved. I can only speak for the family to which I am closest and they are furious and very upset by the media cov- erage on a local and national level. I have been in touch with the garda Superintendent in Ennisty- mon who has been extremely helpful and under- standing,’ the family spokesman added.

It is known that the father of one of the miss- ing men is seriously ill and was not immediately told of the tragedy while the family of the other man has already been bereaved by the loss of his father at a young age.

THE trial of five anti-war protesters accused of causing over $US 2.5 million damage to a US naval plane at Shannon airport over two-and- a-half years ago will enter its second week this (Tuesday) morning.

The accused — Ciaron O’Reilly (45), an Aus- tralian living in Rialto, Dublin; Damien Moran (25), of South Circular Road, Rialto, Dublin; US citizen Nuin Dunlop (34), of Walkinstown Road, Dublin; Karen Fallon (34), a Scottish native liv- ing in Rialto, Dublin; and Deirdre Clancy (35), of Castle Avenue, Clontarf – are pleading not guilty to causing damage without lawful excuse to a na- val plane, the property of the US Government and to glass door panels, the property of Aer Rianta at Shannon Airport, on February 3, 2003.

Prosecuting barrister Conor Devally said, in opening the case, there was “no huge issue” on the facts of the case but rather whether the five felt they had “lawful excuse.”

The implements used to damage the C40 plane – which had earlier arrived from Fort Worth in Texas – were engraved with Celtic symbols and slogans such as, “the war ends here”.

Sergeant Michael O’Connell said he was on se- curity duty at Shannon Airport. At around 3.45 am, he heard glass breaking and saw five people entering the hangar.

He was “terrorised by their appearance” and heard them say words which might have included “God.”

He said Ciaron O’Reilly was “belting an axe into the front nose cone of the plane” and Damien Moran hit the side engine cover with a hammer.

The women were at the back of the plane hitting the exhaust pipe.

Sgt O’Connell took the weapons from the men and they offered no further resistance. All five knelt in a circle to recite the rosary.

Det Sgt Michael Houlihan was asked if he or his colleagues considered interviewing any of the 90,000 US troops who travelled through Shannon

Airport between May 2002 and March 2003, in relation to breaches of the articles of the Geneva Convention which related to attacks on civilians. Det Sgt Houlihan replied that no specific com- plaint of breaches of law outside the State, which could breach Irish law, had been passed to him. He agreed that a complaint regarding the move- ment of troops through Shannon had been made.

TWENTY-eight per cent of all planning decisions in Clare were reversed by An Bord Pleanala in 2004, four per cent less than the national average.

More than two thirds of Clare planning decisions appealed to the planning authority last year were for residential properties.

The board varied a further 27.3 per cent of the Clare planning au- thorities decisions, according to

An Bord Pleanala’s annual report.

Planning authorities in Clare made more than two and a half thousand planning decisions last year.

Clare County Council, Kilrush Town Council and Ennis Town Council – the three planning au- thorities in the county- made a de- cision on 2,564 planning applica- tions throughout 2004.

Five per cent, or 130, of those were appealed to An Bord Plean- Ee

The board upheld 44.4 per cent of the council’s decisions.

Almost eight per cent of the ap- peals were in relation to retail; with five per cent of appeals for utilities and a further five against mixed planning applications.

Ninety residential units were granted permission on appeal.

Chairperson of An Bord Pleanala, John O’Connor, said that the strong increase in the intake of planning appeals in 2004, was continuing in the current year and that this was

putting severe strain on the Board’s resources. It is now proving diffi- cult to maintain the performance achieved in 2004 in terms of the time taken to determine appeals.

Up to the end of September 2005, the intake of appeals and infra- structure cases was up 13 per cent on last year.

It is showing an increase of 27.5 per cent over two years. On present trends, the 2005 intake is set to ex- ceed 6,000 cases. This would be an all-time record.

FAVOURITE Tyrur Ted owned by PJ Fahy of Galway landed the Irish Lau- rels, which is the last classic of the Season, at Curraheen Park Cork on Sat- urday. Trained by Paul Hennessy the dog was undefeated in the classic and recorded a winning time of 28.33. Student Pass was back in the win- ning enclosure at the Cork venue af- ter winning race 8 for owners Cathal O’Doherty and Vincent Meaney of West Clare. The dog recorded his best

time to date at 28.35 for the 525 trip and has now won prize money in excess of A OL OOF

Thurles track is proving to be a happy hunting ground for Ennis owner Fia- chra Hennessy and Noel Coote with Drimeen Rumble, who has recorded a number of successes over the past number of months, obliged again on Saturday night.

Burnpark Fortune, owned by Mrs Mary Browne of Cree, was a winner in the first round heats of the Galwegians AO sweepstakes at the Galway Track on

Thursday night.

The dog, who was having his first out- ing, had a winning time of 29.60 and is expected to show further improvement in next weekends second round.

The Carrolls of Cratloe continued their winning run in the Marsh Insur- ance A3 Stake at Limerick on Saturday pub Rea a

Jet Wash was a winner in a time of 29.37 for Liam Carroll while Scratch it Mac followed up on last weeks vic- tory for Aaron Carroll taking race 9 in a time of 29.25.

ENNIS golfer ‘Tricia Mangan has crossed a major hurdle in her bid to fulfill her dream of play- ing in next year’s Curtis Cup.

The Irish champion and European number nine has been included in the training squad of 16 from which the Brit- ish and Irish team to take on the Americans will be selected.

The Ladies Golfing Union selected the train- ing squad last week and Mangan is one of eight players included who were part of the British and Irish team that won the Vaglano ‘Trophy against Europe in July.

Mangan’s selection comes as no surprise as he had an outstanding year in both individual and team play. She won her first Irish champion- ship in Port Salon, while she led the Irish team in the European Team Championship and _ the Home Internationals.

On the club front, Tri- cia was the inspiration behind Ennis’ march through the All-Ire- land Senior Cup series, when they reached the final only to succumb to championship specialists Royal Portrush.

This impressive run of form throughout the season has put her on the cusp of winning that first Curtis Cup cap against America in Bandon Dunes, Oregon, next July. Other Irish players on the squad are Martina Gillen and Claire Coughlan.

“IT am both delighted and excited to be work- ing with a squad of this strength. It has a fantas- tic blend of successful mature players and new talented youths. The new members will be eager to make their mark thus creating competitiveness amongst the squad,” said captain Ada O’Sullivan.

“The Training Commit- tee has set action packed weekends throughout the winter and spring at spectacular venues, bear-

ing in mind the terrain of the links course at Ban- don Dunes, a truly mag- nificent host venue for the Curtis Cup.

‘The selectors have had a difficult job in keeping the squad to 16, such is the talent in Britain and Ireland, and while it will be tough work for all in- volved, the desire to be in the winning 2006 Curtis Cup team will have just reward,” she added.

Meanwhile, Mangan has also been named on the Irish Ladies Golfing Union panel of players who will attend coach- ing and training over the winter months.

She will attend sessions from November through to February at St Mar- garet’s Golf and Country Club in Dublin. This will be followed by a week of warm weather training at the La Cala Resort in Spain in early March.

Shannon’s Heather No- lan wasn’t available for selection on this panel due to overseas engage- ments.

AT a consultation meeting held at stately Carnelly House last Thursday, Ray Kelliher, Managing Director of Dublin-based developers Master Group, outlined his company’s €50m proposal for the development of Ire- land’s first retirement village, on the 75 acre grounds of Carnelly House, just outside Clarecastle.

The planning application to develop the village, replete with 120 houses of various sizes, 35 apartments and a 64 bed retirement home, will be lodged

imminently with Clare County Coun- cil. Plans include the restoration of the existing, stunning Georgian prop- erty, as well as the build of additional accommodation. The ambition is to house 300 residents within the ‘vil- lage’. If planning is granted by early 2006, Master Group will have the vil- lage up and running in 2007, with the creation of 100 jobs.

The retirement village will include facilities such as a leisure centre with 12 metre pool and a specially equipped gym. The restored mid- 18th century Carnelly House, which was designed

by the Irish Palladian architect, Francis Bindon, will be used as a country club for the enjoyment of village residents with library, meeting rooms, snooker rooms, card rooms and other facilities, while a club bar and restaurant will be sited in the restored stables.

Ray Kelliher, Managing Director of Master Group, said, “the retirement vil- lage concept has long been established in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavia and more recently in the UK. “The proposal at Carnelly envisages houses and apart- ments in a mature wooded setting, us-

ing the main house and courtyard as the pivotal hub”.

Kelliher further stated, ““our ethos will be governed by the safety, comfort, dignity and medical welfare of all our residents. This retirement village will be operated to the highest standards with 24-hour nurse on call, alarms fit- ted to each home, on-site cardiac am- bulance and 24-hour security”.

Carnelly House, the former home of the late Dermot and Rosemary Glee- son was snapped up by Master Group, when it went on the market earlier this year, after a nation-wide trawl seeking

an ideal location for this innovative project.

“Carnelly Hall the perfect location for a retirement village. It’s close to hospital facilities at Ennis and Limer- ick, to provide the necessary back-up, to the on site medical support facilities and it is easily accessed from Shannon Airport, Ennis, Limerick and Galway. The grounds are spacious and mature with woodlands and walkways, pro- viding a tranquil setting for a relaxed and healthy lifestyle for your future residents”.

SCARIFF people campaigning for 24-hour am- bulance cover for their area are bitterly disap- pointed that Health Minister, Mary Harney, has refused to meet them.

The group had planned to send a deputation to present the Tanaiste with a petition containing thousands of signatures, calling for 24-hour am- bulance cover for Scariff and surrounding areas.

But when asked in the Dail whether she would meet members of the newly-formed group, Min- ister Harney said that in her view, “any request for a meeting in relation to this matter would be appropriately addressed to the Executive.”

Group members have vowed not to give up, and are now planning the next move in their campaign to provide cover between 7pm and midnight, the time when the ambulance is without a crew.

‘We are very disappointed but we are not going to stop now,” said Cora Long, one of the founder members of the group.

“At the first meeting we had, it was said that everyone deserves the same quality of health care, whether they live in a city or in a rural area and that is true. We had bargained on being able to put our case to the Minister, but if she won’t meet us we will just find another way to progress,” said Ms Long.

The group is now calling another meeting for this Thursday to decide what the next move should be.

“We will open it up for ideas and we will have to put our thinking caps on but we won’t go away. Accidents happen between 7pm and midnight, and that is the reality,’ said Ms Long.

The group was formed after locals experienced difficulties in getting an ambulance to come to a

fatal house fire in June while last month, a seri- ously injured motorcyclist lay in pain for almost an hour waiting for an ambulance after a crash. Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD, Pat Breen, has called for the Minister “to stop ducking her re-

sponsibilities. Increasingly, the Minister is pass- ing the buck to the Health Service Executive when questioned on health issues. Every time a parliamentary question is submitted, she replies that the responsibility lies with the HSE.”

MILLIONAIRE movie star and accomplished pilot John Travolta jetted into Shannon Airport on Thursday on board his private Boeing 707 jet which underwent a maintenance check before he con- tinued his journey to London Hea- throw late on Friday.

Mr Travolta, who recently turned down an opportunity to play the next James Bond, has been in Shannon at least three times this year and is thought to spend sev- eral thousand Euro annually on refuelling, landing charges and other services at the County Clare “bu oe a

On this occasion, the star’s jet which he flies himself, was seen being towed from a maintenance hangar at the airport. While au-

thorities at Shannon are reluctant to speak about private visits to the airport, a source confirmed that “there was no problem with the jet, it was just a routine technical check.”

During his last visit to the region in May, Travolta and his entourage, comprising as many as twenty four people, stayed at Adare Manor for a number of days. The wealthy ac- tor is known to have played several rounds of golf during his stay. Last March the star made a brief refu- elling stop while returning from a movie premiere in London on what have now become regular stopo- (ouSe

Travolta does not often enter the main terminal but usually parks his aircraft 1n a more remote area of the airport where he is “handled” by a private company. On this oc- casion however, the star mingled

with passengers in the departures lounge before boarding the jet.

The stars 40 year old jet parked at stand 37 at the airport’s main terminal building where it was refuelled. The superstar’s Boeing 707-138, appropriately registered N707JT, was first built in 1964 for Australian Airline Qantas and still retains the airlines old livery. Tra- volta purchased the jet from Qan- tas six years ago.

Plane mad Travolta, who named his son Jett, earned his wings in 1974 and also owns a Gulfstream II jet. He bought an airport near Ocala Florida and built a home right next to the 7,500-foot run- way. His Boeing 707 is equipped with bedrooms, a recreation room and three dining areas. The avid aviator 1s also accompanied on his transoceanic flights by two other captains and an engineer.

FARMERS have received a stay of execution from an EU directive requiring them to have a prescription when obtaining animal medication that previously would have been available over the counter.

Late last week the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, confirmed that she was finalising new regulations on veterinary medi- cines following consultation with the statutory Animal Remedies Consultative Committee and interested groups. This follows concern in the farming community that the EU directive would lead to huge increases in cost for farmers, who would require a vet for each prescription.

The Minister said that the new regulations will transpose aspects of the EU Medicines Directive while also amending aspects of existing national feat ETBTODee

The EU directive requires that all medicines for food producing animals should require a pre- scription but also contains a mechanism for ex- cluding certain medicines from that requirement. The EU has not yet decided on the medicines that will be granted this exemptions but it must do so

before January | of 2007.

In the interim, existing national prescription arrangements can remain in place. In essence, this means that most medicines currently avail- able without prescription will remain so until the 2007 deadline and farmers can continue to get these medicines in the normal way.

However, intramammaries that contain anti- biotics are highly unlikely to qualifying for ex- emption at EU level and consequently such medi- cines will become subject to prescription. It is hoped that the new deadline will allow further time to finalise arrangements for prescriptions to be written in the context of mastitis control programmes implemented by co-ops and avoid the prescription requirement applying to differ- ent products from varying dates.

‘IT am pleased that the Department has seen sense in holding back on the regulations,” said Clare County Councillor Michael Kelly (FF). “The proposal that only vets could prescribe drugs would add considerably to farmers work when they are already struggling to survive.”

‘Farmers are subject to the most stringent reg- ulations already and I have not seen one shred of evidence of how the proposed new rules would

benefit the quality of our produce. At the same time we allow Brazilian beef into our country ev- enthough foot and mouth is in existence there.”

“However, it 1s essential to treat cows with in- tramammaries at the time of infection,’ he fin- ished.

Meanwhile, because of the temporary suspen- sion of the farm medicine directive the prospect of allowing people other than vets to write pre- scriptions has also been shelved. However, the Minister stated that this option could come back on the table in the future if requires.

A number of measures have also been put in place in an attempt to lower the cost to farm- ers. These include a removal of the requirement for mandatory farm visits by vets prior to writ- ing a prescription, the extension of the life of a prescription from the current 31 days up to six months and the introduction of a new require- ment on vets to issue written prescriptions 1n all or one

In addition, according to the regulations pre- scriptions must now indicate at least two prod- ucts where a suitable alternative was available in order to give farmers more choice as to the appropriate product.