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THE multi-million euro retraining package for Dell workers and com- panies affected by the 2,000 layoffs at the computer company could be in place before the end of the month.

European Commissioner for Em- ployment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Vladimir Spidla, con- firmed in an official visit to Shannon and Limerick last Friday that the proposal was being fast-tracked by the EU Commission.

Spidla, who was accompanied on much of his trip by An Tanaiste Mary Coughlan, also announced that the total funding applied for from the European Globalisation Fund could run into more than €20 million.

As well as meeting with Dell em- ployees in Limerick, the Czech com- missioner also toured the FAS train- ing centre in Shannon, where some of the proposed retraining funds could be invested. There he met with representatives from IDA, Enterprise Ireland, FAS and Shannon Develop- ment.

“T can’t tell you yet what the out- come of this application is. But I am committed to processing this ap- plication as quickly as possible,” he said.

‘And as I’ve said before, as long as the application meets the criteria set out in the regulations, we will look at it favourably.”

Commissioner Spidla also visited the Moyross area of Limerick as part

of his tour.

“We are committed to making our societies more inclusive, and helping everyone into work and out of tough situations, in particular the most vul- nerable,’ he said.

‘I know the situation in Moyross is tough. Getting a better understand- ing of the situation right here, on

the ground, will inform my thinking when, with my colleagues in Brus- sels, we’re working on what are the best ways out of the crisis. I deal not only with employment issues, but so- cial issues too.

“We are striving not only to get people back into work, but also to improve housing, access to education

and provide specific help for vulne- ble groups such as young people.”

Diesel spillage runs into trouble

ALITTLE-KNOWN Shannon-based aircraft engine leasing firm employ- ing just 22 people made a pre-tax profit of $72.3 million in 2008.

Accounts filed to the Companies Office, show that US-French owned Shannon Engine Support Ltd in- creased its turnover last year by 17 per cent from $139m to $163m. Pre- tax profits dropped by 14 per cent from $84m to $72m to the end of December last.

The drop in profits was related to a 33 per cent increase in direct oper- ating costs from $68m to $91m and this was, according to the directors, due to the investment of $284m dur- ing 2008. The company had accumu- lated profits of $380.4m at the end of 2008 with total shareholder funds at owen

Shannon Engine Support Ltd leas- es engines to 140 airlines around the world and is a subsidiary of CFM, which is a joint venture between US giant, General Electric (GE) and the French-owned engine manufacturer, Snecma.

The company’s directors report that the Shannon operation had another successful year in 2008, even though the overall business environment and general market outlook deteriorated during the year as the global eco- nomic slowdown worsened.

“Demand for the company’s prod- ucts as measured by the utilization of its engine assets remained strong throughout 2008, but is expected to be softer in 2009, as the global econ- omy continues to slow down.

“The financial condition of the commercial airline industry is of particular importance to the com- pany and in the current global down- turn, the company expects reduced demand for its engines.”

“It is expected that the company will continue to expand its portfolio of engine assets during 2009, and that it will continue to be well posi- tioned to benefit from any upturn in the aviation sector.”

No dividend was paid last year.

Of the 22 people employed at Shan- non, seven are in customer support, Six in financial, five in administra- tion and four in marketing. Staff costs increased by 34 per cent from $2.8m to $3.8m.

The directors state that the com- pany’s operating profit decreased by 3 per cent after a significant rise in direct operating costs and the weak- ness of the US dollar versus the euro during the year.

A TWO-WEEK jail term has been handed down to a woman was got involved in a scuffle at Ennis court- Ce) btstes

Mother-of-three Margaret McDon- agh (29), of Dun na hInise, Ennis, was charged with engaging in threat- ening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Ennis Courthouse on January 12 last. Ennis District Court heard that the accused was involved in ex- changes, described as “scuffling and shouting” at the courthouse.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client’s maiden name was Mongan and she has married a Mr McDonagh.

“Her parents house was burnt down in Shalee Drive. There was a lot of difficulty between them and

other families. My client spoke out. She shouldn’t have shouted. She shouldn’t have roared. She would maintain they had been under se- vere provocation all day. The entire Mongan family and who they were married to and their children upped sticks and left Ennis. They moved to Cork. They live in caravans on the side of the road. Their entire lives were turned upside down as a result of what had been ongoing. She was at the end of her tether,’ she said.

“She told the other side of this dispute exactly what she thought of them. Unfortunately it wasn’t in very nice English,” added the solicitor.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a 14-day prison sentence and directed the state to inform the HSE of the or- der. He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

PFera tera iscercm i awterm Cerone:

THE case of four people charged in connection with a row outside Ennis Courthouse last month will be heard in September.

The four initially appeared before Ennis District Court on June 8 last, following a row earlier that day and re-appeared in court last Friday.

Inspector John Galvin, prosecut- ing, told the court on Friday that one of the accused, John McDonagh Jun- ior (21), of Nashes Boreen, Fairfield, Cork, is accused of damaging a car outside the courthouse, while three others are each facing a public order 8 Ko Neen

Judge Joseph Mangan asked, “Will

the State be saying this incident is part of a feud?”

Inspector Galvin replied, “Yes, it will be, but the property has nothing to do with it.”

Asked was the property caught in the crossfire, Inspector Galvin said, ‘The car was parked in the vicinity of the incident.”

Judge Mangan asked was the car in the wrong place at the wrong time and was told that it was. The judge said he would accept jurisdic- tion of the case in the district court. Inspector Galvin said it would take 90 minutes to hear the case, but the accuseds’ solicitor said it would be likely to take three hours. “We have a lot to say,” she said.

The case was adjourned until Sep- tember. The solicitor then asked for a relaxation of bail conditions, so that her clients could go on holidays during the summer. Judge Mangan said, “Bail conditions are bail con- ditions.” Inspector Galvin then said, “With the present circumstances, if these people were to leave the area it might cool the situation. However I’d like to know the dates they are going and the dates they are coming back.” The application was adjourned until later this week.

CLARE’S long puck specialists will be going for glory this weekend in Munster final action as they bid to reach the All-Ireland finals that take place in the famous Cooley mountain range in Louth. Three county long puck titles were decided last week, at under |6 level and senior level as well as e-laalesellcn

At under |6 level nine were involved in a close contest, with the winner by the distance of less than two foot being Kerth Hogan from Clooney/ Quin. Keith is in goal at all levels for his club and was a very Impressive Forrestal custodian last Sorel a)

His effort was just ahead of Killian McNamara from Kilmaley whilst a yard behind Killian was Frank Melody from Newmarket-on-Fergus who put in a huge last effort that very nearly won the honours.

Others to go close were Rory Halpin (Crusheen), Kevin O’Callaghan (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Aaron

Gaule (Cratloe), Kevin Kearney (Corofin), Paul McArthur (Killanena) and Michael Mcilnerney (Broadford).

The senior contest involved some of the better known hurlers in the county and once again huge efforts were witnessed by the leading contenders. Brendan McNamara from Scariff won the senior crown from reigning champion Bernard Gaftney (Newmarket-on-Fergus) with Shane O’Neill (Bal- lyea) a close third.

The other four competitors were Christy O’Connor (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Mark Regan (Wolfe Tones), Aidan Lynch (Ruan) and Kevin Ryan (Broadford). Inagh/Kilnamona’s Fiona Lafferty won the camogie title in Tulla, edging Clare captain Deirdre Murphy (Clooney) and Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge) into second and third place respectively. Others to take part were Edel Griffy (Kilmaley), Ailish Considine (Kilmaley) and Aine McNamara (Sixmilebridge).

The Munster finals take place at Thurles race- course on Saturday next.

Grenade attack men released

THREE men arrested in connection with a grenade attack on a home in Ennis over two weeks ago have been released without charge.

Christopher and Julie Ann McDon- agh and their six children were asleep upstairs in their home on Childers’

Road in Cloughleigh shortly after 4am on Saturday, June 13, when a live hand grenade was thrown through a glass panel at the front of the house. The army explosive ordnance dis- posal team was brought in to deal with the device. A controlled explo- sion was carried out on the device at a nearby quarry. The grenade was

live, but was faulty and did not deto- ateltep

Gardai say the incident was part of an ongoing feud in the town, but those living in the house say they are not involved in any feud.

The arrests were made as part of a major garda investigation into this incident. ‘Two men – aged 26 and 30

– were arrested in Ennis last Wednes- day morning, while the third – aged 35 – was arrested on Friday morning. All three were questioned at length, before being released without charge. A file will now be prepared by inves- tigators for the DPP, who will then decide if charges are to be brought.

The men were detained under Sec- tion 30 of the Offences Against The State Act, which gave gardai 48 hours to question them. Gardai were granted an extension of 24 hours in each case, by a district judge at two separate hearings – one on Thursday evening and the other on Sunday morning.

Gardai are also investigating a number of other incidents in the town in recent weeks. Windows of a house on John Paul Avenue and a car parked outside the house were bro- ken last Thursday evening.

The investigation into the grenade attack has been intense. Gardai have carried out house to house enquiries, while several statements have been taken, while examinations have been carried out.

Superintendent John Scanlan, who is heading up the enquiry, said, “The investigation 1s ongoing at pace.”

He told

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