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AN IRANIAN refugee who admit- ted stealing thousands of euro worth of jewellery from 23 homes in Ennis has been handed a suspended jail reese

In May, Ali Reza Velayati, (40), of Avondale, Kilrush Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to 23 burglary charg- a

He admitted taking jewellery worth €53,020, along with cash — €1,280; $US5,500; £300 sterling and 140 Litas — a digital safe and sports bag, on various dates over a seven-week period between September 19 and November 8 last year.

When evidence was heard in the case last month, Judge Carroll Mo- ran warned the accused that he may face three years in jail. At Ennis Cir- cuit Court yesterday, Judge Moran said he was taking factors in the case into account in imposing a suspend- ed three-year sentence. He noted that Velayati has no previous convictions, co-operated with the probation serv- ices and that he suffers from depres- sion.

Defence counsel Lorcan Connolly BL told the court that his client has spent two spells in custody in rela- tion to this matter.

Judge Moran said that Velayati had “invaded on the privacy of 23 homes. It’s an intrusion into the private lives of people, even where the houses were unoccupied.” He said the ac- cused had packaged the jewellery “in a certain way which was quite unu- sual.”

He suspended the three-year jail term for three years and bound Ve- layati to the peace.

The homes were burgled in sev- eral parts of Ennis, including Col- lege Green, Abbey Court, Elm Park, Victoria Court, Odakpark, Bramble Lane, Inis Carraig, Gleni- na, Lifford, Tobartaoscain, Ard Aoi- bhinn, College Grove, Fergus Lawn,

St Senan’s Road, Cahercalla Estate, Glensheen, Ard na Greine, Clon Road and Shannon Park.

An investigation got underway af- ter gardai were receiving reports of burglaries on a daily basis.

The homes, which did not have alarms fitted, were targeted during the daytime. The houses were ran- sacked and jewellery and cash was taken. All of the houses were tech- nically examined, but no forensic

evidence was found. As the investi- gation continued, gardai were noti- fied about suspicious behaviour in the town on November 8&8, after two houses located close to each other were broken into. Two gardai, Ser- geant John Cunningham and Garda Cyril Page were involved in a chase, which culminated in the arrest of the accused in the garden of a home.

He was arrested but would not dis- close any information to gardai and

told them his name was Fred. However, the day after Velayati was arrested, his wife reported him miss- ing and through the identification photograph she brought to the garda station, his identity was established.

YOUNG Ruan angler, Paul Norton, returned home last week after help- ing the Irish U-16 team to the silver medal at an international competition THOMA EN ene

Norton was one of the mainstays of the Irish team, beating his direct competitors from England, Scotland and Wales on both days of competi- n(n

His performance was enough to lift the Irish team to second overall.

The competition took place in Wales last weekend and featured the best

sea anglers from each country going head to head in team competition.

“There was a bit of work involved in getting there. I started off by getting on the Munster team and after that I fished in the inter-provincials. The top five from the inter-provincials made it onto the Irish team,” he said.

‘There were four countries taking part and each country had an U-16, U-21 and senior team.

‘There were a lot of fishermen tak- ing part but I was in a zone against one U-16 angler from England, Scot- land and Wales.

‘‘T managed to win the zone on both

days which was great. It’s a team competition and we won the silver medal when all the scores were put together. We fish as a team, this is nothing to do with individuals, it’s all about the team.”

Paul was the only Clare representa- tive on the team and was joined by young anglers from Waterford and Dublin. The angler fished from the beach with dogfish, flounder and tur- bot the main fish on offer.

‘There is a good bit of beach fishing in Clare. There is a nice bit of rock fishing around Fanore and we would fish in Lahinch in the night time as

well as Fanore beach or Spanish Point. It’s not just in Clare either, I travel around a good bit with my Dad and fish in different counties,” he continued.

“T am very happy at how things turned out. It was great experi- ence over there. I would really like to thank everyone who sponsored me and helped me along the way. I couldn’t do it without their help.

“Next year I will be in the U-21 section which will be exciting. I will have to start from the bottom and fish my way up all over again but hope- fully I can do that.”

A YOUNG man who attacked a Supermarket manager in Shannon has been handed a three-year jail sentence, one year of which 1s sus- joer aXe Cereb

Dominic Hayes (18), of Inis Ealga, Shannon, admitted assaulting John Cleary at Dunnes Stores, SkyCourt, Shannon, on February 1, 2008.

Sergeant Michael O’Connell told Ennis Circuit Court yesterday that since this incident, Hayes has been

convicted of possession of drugs and assault, in the district court.

Hayes has spent the past month in prison, having been remanded in custody on this matter.

Defence Counsel Lorcan Connolly, BL, said his client did not enjoy the experience, but it afforded him the chance to “reflect” on things.

The court heard previously that Hayes has a violent temper and Mr Connolly said his client is willing to participate in an anger management programme.

Judge Carroll Moran said the ap- propriate sentence was a three-year term.

However, he suspended the final year.

He said he would have suspended the entire sentence if Hayes had stayed out of trouble and if he had co-operated with the probation serv- ice, adding “but that doesn’t arise”.

CLARE dairy farmers received a vital lifeline last week with the an- nouncement that EU Council of Agriculture Ministers decision to extend SMP and butter intervention into 2010.

The move was welcomed by the IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman, Richard Kennedy, who said that it was absolutely critical to preserve a longer term floor under dairy markets and that a “different approach” would need to be taken by the EU Commission in the future.

“We need support measures which will help boost demand to speed up dairy price recovery, and ultimately

lift producer prices,” he said.

“The council have now agreed to the Commission’s proposal to extend butter and SMP intervention from 31st August to 28th February 2010, so that there is now a very secure floor to dairy markets right into 2010.

“This must be welcomed, because markets bottoming out is the pre- condition to any recovery. However, the EU Commission now must go further, and put forward, in its July 22 report, measures to boost dairy demand and help lift prices.

“In my recent meeting with the EU Director for Common Market Or- ganisations for agricultural products, Mr Hermanus Vesteylen, I empha- sised just how important a more ag-

gressive export refund policy would be in promoting greater demand. “Also critical would be the reacti- vation of the casein, feed, and pas- try and ice-cream schemes which in past years have aided hundreds of thousands of tonnes of skimmed milk, skimmed milk powder and butterfat.” Meanwhile, the Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith, last week welcomed the Commission rec- ognition of Irish concerns in relation to the implementation of electronic identification (EID) in sheep. According to the minister, he has “pressed” the EU Commission on these issues and is glad that he has been effective in winning “signifi- cant concessions” that he says will

ease the burden on the sector in 1m- plementing EID.

These were approved by Member States at this week’s Standing Com- mittee on the Food Chain and Ani- mal Health (SCOFCAH).

Under the new regulation, all lamb intended for slaughter and under 12 months old can now be exempted from EID. Furthermore, where these lambs are subsequently retained for breeding purposes they can then be tagged with an EID device at the sec- ond holding.

The minister said that he will con- tinue to impress on the Commission and his European colleagues at the council his view that EID should proceed in a voluntary capacity.

A COURT has heard allegations that a garda was set upon and struck to the face and head.

Arising out of the alleged incident, Alan Black, with an address at Ard na Mainistreach, Quin, is charged with assaulting a garda and public

order, at Shalee Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis, on April 12 last.

Sergeant Joe Donoghue told En- nis District Court that a number of gardai were at the scene of an inci- dent in Cloughleigh.

He said it would be alleged that one of the gardai was “set upon by Mr Black and received blows from Mr

Black to the face and head.”

He said the garda had to be taken to hospital and is still undergoing treat- ment for his injuries.

Judge Joseph Mangan declined ju- risdiction of the case and it will now go forward to the circuit court. The case was adjourned for preparation of the book of evidence.

Sonny spins tales of Corofin life

TWO youths have pleaded guilty to a string of charges arising out of a spate of crime in east Clare and south Galway that culminated in a major search involving two dozen gardai.

A 17-year-old youth pleaded guilty to nine charges, while a 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to eight charges, at Ennis Circuit Court last week, arising out of several incidents on April 30 last.

Both admitted burgling a business premises in Sixmilebridge and an- other premises in Quin. The two also admitted damaging a car by fire in Gort and stealing building items in

Sixmilebridge.

The 17-year-old also pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried in one stolen car in Limerick and an- other in Cratloe; unlawful possession of a car in Gort; and possession of a set of ignition keys with the intention that it be used in the course of an of- fence, at Meelick.

The 15-year-old admitted stealing a car in Limerick; allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car in Gort and unlawful possession of a car in Quin.

Sentencing in the case was ad- journed and Judge Sean O Donnab- hain directed that probation reports be carried out.

SMALL businesses allowed the Celtic Tiger to grow and prosper and now they have to be supported.

That was the message from a finan- cial services expert in the wake of the Government Independent Review of Credit Availability for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Graham Byrne, Bibby Financial Services Ireland sales director, said that while it is welcome news that the Government has realised the 1m- portance of freeing-up credit for the SME sector, the report highlights that there is more to be done.

“Irish SMEs underpinned the growth of the ‘Celtic Tiger’ and it’s vital we continue to support them while Ireland, like the rest of the world, strives to navigate its way out of the recessionary maze.

“The good news is that the report shows there has been some improve- ment by the major lenders to assist the SME sector, however, anecdotal- ly we know this continues to fall well short of the mark and more measures are needed to ensure SMEs have adequate finance to enable them to weather the current economic SKeyu 00

Byrne said he believes that the Government needs to go further and “build its recommendations into ac- tions, following some of the steps taken by other European Govern- rns NLS

Such actions, he said should ensure a stricter enforcement of late pay- ment legislation, setting up a task- force to assist SMEs making funding applications, a viable and affordable credit insurance scheme and _ the introduction of a government loan guarantee scheme for SMEs.

“With the report highlighting that refusals for new credit are predomi- nately related to working capital re- quirements to address revenue cuts and a slow down in collecting out- standing payments from debtors, it’s clear there is a growing appetite for greater funding flexibility.

‘Indeed, with Bibby’s own research showing the recession has led 69 per cent of business owners to keep a closer eye on their finances, it’s 1m- portant SMEs are aware of all the options available as the economic forecast improves.”

Byrne said that alternative forms of funding outside of traditional overdraft facilities, such as invoice finance, “can provide a vital and ef- fective way of managing cash flow. Indeed, these alternative solutions continue to grow in popularity. Last year saw 52,000 businesses in Ire- land and the UK use invoice finance and this looks set to grow throughout 2009 as increasing numbers of Irish businesses realise it’s an acceptable and credible form of business finance and one worth embracing.”

EACH farmer in the environmental- ly sensitive Burren area is to receive an average of €6,000 over the next three years to insure the survival of the threatened Burren landscape.

A new €3 million fund was an- nounced by the Department of Agri- culture last week which will directly fund Burren farming to introduce farm techniques which will reverse the encroachment of scrub on the karst Burren landscape.

The funding will be used to intro- duce a Burren wide roll out of many of the ideas developed by the Burren- LIFE Project over the last five years. It does not, however, guarantee the continuation of the project past this August.

“This is the best day of my farming lite. This decision is way bigger that the initial EC funding of the pilot phase of BurrenLIFE,” said head of the Burren IFA, Michael Davoren.

“It represents a very serious buy by the Department of Agriculture for the work being undertaken by Bur- ren farmers. It is now critical that the Department of the Environment fund the operational side of project and ensure that the project offices and team are retained.”

Should the BurrenLIFE Project not receive a late funding reprieve from the Department of the Environment or other sources, it is not clear who will oversee the €3 million invest- ment.

“This is a stunning statement of support for the Burren, its farmers and the innovative BurrenLIFE ap- proach to farming for conservation,’ said Brendan Dunford, Project Man- ager of the BurrenLIFE Project.

‘“BurrenLIFE is a very focused and targeted scheme, all of its actions are carefully researched and closely monitored. The strict emphasis on delivering tangible, measurable re- sults and good value for money are so critical now that resources are so tight.”

Dunford also paid tribute to the

project team of Sharon Parr, Ruairi OQ Conchtir and James Moran as well as Sean Regan from Teagasc for the work done on the project and se- curing the funding.

Meanwhile, Clare TD, Tony Kil- leen has confirmed that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, will visit the Burren region over the coming weeks to be briefed on the BurrenLIFE Project.

AN estimated 2,000 Clare farmers are facing a bleak financial future following the Department of Agri- culture’s shock closure of the REPS 4 scheme last Thursday.

Some 35,000 Irish farmers will fin- ish their environmental plans over the next three years and will now not be allowed to join the REPS 4 scheme.

The effects of this will be felt by some 2,000 Clare farmers who will also now have to plan with a further reduced Disadvantaged Area Scheme payments from 2010. The IFA called an emergency Executive Council in Portlaoise last Friday to discuss the

situation.

Mr Walshe called on the Minis- ter for Agriculture, Brendan Smith to immediately come forward with a new meaningful scheme for the farmers effected by the latest round of cuts. “The previous budget cuts plus this proposed cut will hit the hard pressed livestock sector espe- cially hard,” he said.

‘Farmers are outraged at these de- cisions at a time when farm incomes are at their lowest level in almost a decade and tens of thousands of farm families are struggling to survive.”

The ICSA Rural Development Chairman, Gabriel Gilmartin has said the news of the closure of REPS 4 is another nail in the coffin of farm-

ers and will cause many to question their future in farming.

“This decision is wholly unaccept- able and is further evidence of a total lack of understanding on the Govern- ment’s part of what measures are in fact needed to encourage economic activity in rural Ireland,” he said.

“Under the new agri environment scheme farmers will have to apply without knowing whether they will be accepted or not and they will have no idea what the rate of payment will be. Modulated money was intended to create additional rural develop- ment funding, not to facilitate the elimination of existing schemes.”

Meanwhile, while announcing the cuts, the Minister for Agriculture

also announced proposals for spend- ing €207 million in EU funding for Irish farmers over the next four years.

These proposals relate to the use of unspent Single Payment Scheme and Modulation funds and the European Economic Recovery Programme from 2010. The minister said that his proposals reflected the outcome of consultations with the various stake- holders over recent months.

In addition to this Minister Smith confirmed details of a new €113 million targeted scheme for on-farm investment to support a number of specific categories of farmers and focused on supporting productive in- vestment.