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A JUDGE left his bench after a pris- oner lashed out during a district court sitting in Ennis on Thursday. Several prison officers and gardai restrained the young man, who lashed out af- ter a young woman approached him from the body of the court, at Shan- non District Court, sitting in Ennis courthouse.

As he was being restrained, the young man in his 20s — with an ad- dress in Shannon — screamed at gardai, while the girl also lashed out and roared, “Get off my brother.” The young woman was immediately taken from the courtroom by gardai, while the man — who was in court, charged with motoring offences — was taken back to the cell by prison eno ne

Judge Joseph Mangan left the bench while the incident was taking place and returned to the courtroom after calm had been restored. A short time later, Inspector Tom Kennedy, pros- ecuting, asked that the young man’s

case be adjourned for a month. The defendant’s solicitor said his client was involved in the fracas and was “in a very highly elated and aggres- sive state’. Judge Mangan adjourned the case until July 16 next.

This was the second time that the same courtroom was the scene of chaos in recent weeks. Five weeks ago, three prison officers ended up in hospital with injuries after a prisoner lashed out and attacked them, also during a Shannon District Court sit- ting in Ennis.

One officer sustained a broken arm and was bitten, another received head and shoulder injuries and was detained overnight in hospital, while a third sustained a badly swollen wrist. The incident occurred after a 30-year-old prisoner – in custody at Limerick prison – became irate.

It took several prison officers and gardai to control the man, who was handcuffed, as he lashed out both physically and verbally outside the courtroom and later in the holding AI eCey ace b race

A MASTERFUL display from Ger- ry Kelly inspired Kildysart to victory over Michael Cusacks on Saturday.

Kelly kicked six terrific points from play as Kildysart edged past Cusacks in a closely contested and high qual- ity encounter at Clareabbey. Kelly also played the crucial role in the goal that ultimately proved the dif- ference between the sides.

Just two points separated the teams when Kelly curled a free that dropped below the posts, and, with assistance from Brian Sullivan’s waving arm, travelled to the back of the net.

Christy Clancy’s point a minute later gave Kildysart a six point cush- ion and it looked like they had finally broke clear from a determined and impressively mobile Cusacks side. fel aey

Cusacks, like they had done throughout, stuck doggedly to the task at hand. Urged on by Pat Hynes and Niall Hehir, the north Clare side pared Kildysart’s lead back to three points.

But despite the threat posed by the pacy Neil Quinn, who contrib- uted a sparkling O-6 over the hour, Kildysart finished strongly enough to take all two points.

A brisk and entertaining first half offered convincing evidence of both side’s championship — credentilas. Barely 30 seconds had elapsed when Kelly stroked over his first point of the day. Micheal Jordan replied with a point for Cusacks three minutes ltoe

The blueprint of the game was set. Kildysart edging ahead. Cusacks reeling them back in. The sides were level on seven occasions in the first eee

Playing with the wind, Kildysart’s forwards won plenty of possession. Points followed from Christy Clancy, Noel O’Grady and another sweet strike from Kelly. But Cusack’s dy- namic full forward line was causing problems for Kildysart. Jordan point- ed before Neil Quinn converted two frees to tie the game O-4 O-4 in the 15th minute.

Quinn waltzed through for a great point in the 21st minute but two points from Kelly and a rousing effort from Eoin Kelly ensured Kildysart led 0-8 Q-7 at half time.

Kildysart made an excellent start to the second half with Shane McNeelis storming through for a point. Jordan replied with a fine left foot point for Cusacks. Kelly rounded off a patient build up with a point as Kildysart

edged 0-10 0-8 clear.

The crucial goal arrived in the 42nd minute and was swiftly followed by a point from Christy Clancy. That put Kildysart 1-12 0-9 ahead but Cusacks weren’t about to give up. Hynes and Hehir pointed before Quinn struck his sixth point of the day. Hynes’ free cut Kildysart’s lead to two but Kelly had the last say to see his side home.

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IT was the same old story for the intermediate side in The Gaelic Grounds on Sunday. As they showed in large chunks of this game, they were certainly good enough to win this semi-final but a lack of serious preparation, backing and a coopera- tion from all sides again conspired to hamper Clare’s challenge. That is of no fault of the players or management who commited to Clare’s second side and gave it their all but really unless the county takes the competition seriously, Clare will always be the bridesmaids at this level.

Like other counties, Clare should treat this championship as a feeder side for the senior squad, using sen- ior substitutes that aren’t on the 30 man squad and more of the Under 21 squad, and that way it would be of infinitely more benefit to the county going forward as it would provide players with the opportunity to rep- resent their county on big champion- ship days.

Take the appearance of Nicky O’Connell and Darach Honan as a prime example. While the support in the stands wasn’t exactly heaving, many did come to have a glimpse at the Clonlara duo’s progress after last year’s senior championship suc- cess and they weren’t disappointed as O’Connell produced an immense display at centre-back for the side while Honan’s cameo appearance at full-forward suggests he may finally be back to his best after a prolonged NO bs entce

The most frustrating aspect of this game was that Clare could have actually won the game had events gone slightly differently. The Ban- ner began in fine form, going 0-6 to O-2 in front by the tenth minute with O’Connell grabbing three (two frees), Sean Chaplin converting a

brace of frees and Peter O’ Brien add- ing the other.

However, Cork’s main threat came in the form of full-forward Luke Farrell who singlehandedly dragged Cork back into this game, scoring three points to get the Rebels to within one before he took advantage of a Clare defensive error to grab the opening goal of the game in the 25th minute.

Going firmly against the run of play, it was a significant blow to Clare, particularly as Clare were frustrated

by two good smothering saves by Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash from Padraig Hickey and Clive Earley.

By half-time, Cork held a 1-10 to 0-11 point advantage but on the balance of play, Clare would have been optimsitic for the second pe- riod. In an effort to regain control, Clare brought out Blaine Earley as a third midfielder and they were soon level with another Chaplin free and a trademark monster score from O’Connell.

Je yuspeter-bel

Ring and Cormac

O’Donovan swapped points by the end of the final quarter but that was as good as it would get for Clare as they visably tired and a fresher Cork side, aided by a flurry of substitutes, resumed control. They tacked on a further five points in a ten minute period to put some daylight between the sides while Clare’s only oppor- tunity came by way of substitute Darach Honan whose effort hit the side netting.

Cork finally put the result to bed in the 56th minute and again it was

Farrell who did the damage, raiding down the right wing before deliver- ing a cross that eventually broke to Maurice O’Sullivan to pull to the net. Clare did reply with a goal of their own only seconds later when Cormac O’Donovan burst through the centre of the Cork defence before somehow kicking to the net after his shot was hooked but it was too little too late as Cork marched on to the final.

So it’s back to the drawing board again for Clare but hopefully the county board can redevelop the county’s interest in the competition and not just provide different col- oured chalk.

TWO youths who broke into cars in Cratloe Woods last year had gone off the rails at the time, their solicitors told a court.

One of them pleaded guilty to four charges, while the other pleaded guilty to two charges.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Shan- non District Court that the two were

together when they committed the offences.

Detective Garda Stephen Ryan told the court that people would leave their cars to go for a walk or run and would return to find that a window had been broken and items taken. He said the incidents happened over a four to five month period. He said that one of the accused was respon- sible for taking €920 worth of prop-

erty, while the other was responsible for property worth €150.

Dt Gda Ryan said that a witness saw them leaving the scene – on a motorbike – of the last car that had been broken into. The motorbike was tracked down to one of the accused.

The court was told that neither youth has any previous convictions. Both recently completed the Leaving Certificate and they intend to study a

year-long course.

The accused who was responsible for the €150 worth of property gave the money to the court, through his solicitor. The solicitor said that his client “went off the rails” due to do- mestic issues.

The other youth’s solicitor said he “has gone off the rails a small bit” but he would pay €920 in compensa- tion at a later date.

“What they did was absolute stu- pidity. Of what was taken, they never kept anything. It was madness. I ap- preciate the public have to be pro- tected, but I’d ask you to give him a chance,’ he said to Judge Joseph Mangan.

The judge adjourned the case for three months and said, “Anything not fully in order that day, we are talking custodial.”

IT’S a case of “beware the wounded animal’ this Wednesday for Clare as first round victims Waterford travel to Ennis in search of revenge. Clare certainly rode their luck in a last gasp 1-12 to O-14 victory over the Deise in Fraher Field, Dungarvan in April but with a back-door system in place for the first round losers, it al- most seemed inevitable that it would be Waterford to re-emerge as Clare’s opponents for this week’s semi-final.

As the last meeting between the sides demonstrated, there will be little between them on Wednes- day and really it is all about which side has learned the most from the last encounter. Despite edging that game, Clare didn’t perform to their

undoubted potential that night but perhaps that can be put down to first day nerves and the incessant rain that made conditions quite treacher- O)USd ere

However, Clare’s biggest dilemma this year has been their tendency to play more as individuals rather than as a team, a somewhat inevitable re- sult of being the best players at their clubs. It is particularly up front that this has hurt Clare as individual greed to take on a shot overrides the need to find a team-mate in a better position, resulting in a total of fifteen wides in the first game. Still, Clare have had eight weeks to rectify that fraility along with tackling (excuse the pun) the problem of needless in- discipline that almost cost Clare last ebeslemelULM

It is envisaged though that the per- sonnel may stay the same for Clare this week, with perhaps only a few alterations to positions. That said, main forward Conor McGrath needs more support in the scoring stakes if Clare are to survive here as Wa- terford will be targetting the Cratloe player after his 1-7 haul in the quar- ter-final. Daire Keane did chip in with two storming points from the wing but they need the likes of Gary Guilfoyle, Aaron Considine, David O’Halloran and Eoin Hanrahan to share the load.

Waterford’s half-forward duo of Paudric Mahony and_ Brian O’Halloran were the chief cause of concern for Clare in the quarter-fi- nals, scoring three points apiece and they tacked on a further 1-6 between

them in the play-off against Limerick at the beginning of May. That added to the leadership of Martin O’Neill who almost singlehandedly beat GUE Tcceeyn We eve s0Ue, sLN0Ur: clei elo dom clen ond half display in Dungarvan, scor- ing eight points makes Waterford a dangerous opponent, particularly as they will need no motivation to take on Clare after their previous meet- ing.

Still, with home advantage, the confidence gained from the last game and the huge carrot of playing in a Munster final, this is a unique opportunity that Clare cannot afford to pass up. And in the right frame of mind, they should grasp that oppor- tunity here.

A MAN has been convicted of bur- gling a house in Kilrush, in a case that centered on a fingerprint which was found at the scene.

Bartosz Ksiazkiewicz (24), of Cui- snace, Cappagh, Kilrush, had denied a charge of burgling a house at Clo- verhill, Moyadda, Kilrush, in June 2008.

The case was heard in court in April and was adjourned for a deci- sion by Judge Joseph Mangan.

He said in court last week that he was convicting the accused and im- posed a three-month jail sentence. He fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

During the hearing of the case, a woman told the court that when she returned to her home at Moyadda, Kilrush on the date in question, she

initially did not realise the house had been burgled, “as there were no visu- al signs at the time.”

However, she later realised that a computer, camera and mobile phone were missing. No damage had been caused.

She said the defendant was known to her husband and he had been in her house previously.

A garda who examined fingerprints found at the scene told the court that one of four prints examined matched a fingerprint taken from the ac- Corer

The defendant told the court he had visited the house in question quite often. Asked how his fingerprint was found on the window frame, he said he did not know, but that it may be because he had opened the window. He said he did not break into the house.

SAME room. Same result. Same fat purple bruise. 11 months ago Brian O’Connell walked into the narrow kitchen under the Mackey Stand in the Gaelic Grounds to face the media after Clare’s defeat to Tipperary in the Munster final. His forehead was marked by a big purple bruise.

On Sunday, O’Connell returned to that same room to offer his thoughts on another Clare defeat at the hands of Tipperary. Again he wore the scars of battle. Another bulging pur- ple bruise, caused, as O’Connell ex- plained, by a dropping sliotar, he lost in the sunshine.

O’Connell had no complaints last July. But on Sunday, after a battling second half display, the Clare captain believed his side deserved at least a draw for their efforts.

“It was kind of a game of two halves. We came from six points

down at the start of the second half. We could have come away with a draw. A draw would have been justi- fied’, said O’Connell.

The Wolfe Tones club man admit- ted that Clare’s poor start made tat- ters of their pre-match game plan but added that the players never gave up hope.

“The plan was not to give them a start but obviously that didn’t work out too well. They got a good lead and after that we were just trying to peg it back, peg it back. In the second half we gave them a couple of more points again’, he said,

O’Connell added, “But credit to ourselves, we kept on digging in and its something we talked about, that if we got a goal conceded against us or a couple of scores then we’d keep on digging in. We really pushed them to the end. I suppose the match that they had kind of stood to them. They had a bit more in them. But we’ll build

on today”.

Agreeing that Clare’s re-modelled half back line stemmed the influence of the Tipperary attack in a superior second half display, O’Connell said that Sunday’s game was about show- ing pride in the jersey

“In our own county, we’ve been knocked. Our heart has been ques- tioned. That’s all we wanted out of today. To prove that we have heart and we love playing for Clare. It’s a joy for us to wear our jersey. When that was questioned, we had to come out with answers today. We tried our best to come out and represent the jersey as best we could”, he said.

A MAN who damaged two cars in Kilkee has been handed a six-month [EMmKour

Jason Tupper (22), who is from Doonaha, Kilkee, but who is living in Limerick, pleaded guilty to dam- aging the cars.

Detective Garda Oliver Downes told Kilrush District Court that the cars were damaged in Kilkee last October. €150 worth of damage was done to one, while €186 worth of damage was done to the other. He said the accused admitted being in- volved in both incidents.

Defending solicitor Eugene O’ Kelly said his client “was acting stupidly” and had consumed alcohol at the time. He said the accused wanted an opportunity to pay compensation.

The court heard the accused has a number of previous convictions, mainly for public order.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a six-month jail term and fixed a bond in the event of an appeal.

RESIDENTS of Cloughleigh no longer feel safe and in some cases are too afraid to sleep at night because of recent violent activity in the area.

The concerns were expressed at a public meeting in Ennis last Friday where there were also calls for En- nis Town Council to more effectively monitor tenants living under shared ownership schemes.

The meeting at Waterpark House was attended by senior members of the Gardai in Ennis, local coun- cilors, TDs, community representa-

tives and a large number of residents from Cloughleigh.

It follows an incident ten days ago when a grenade was thrown into a house on Childer’s Road, the latest in a series linked to a feud between two settled Traveller famillies.

No one was injured though 10 homes in the area were evacuated. Local resident Marie Miller told the meeting that she was one of the peo- ple who had to leave her home on the night in question.

“Tam living in constant fear. I can’t sleep at night,” she said.

A former resident, Tina Lysaght,

described how she had enjoyed a “happy childhood” when growing up in Cloughleigh.

She said there were many decent people living in Cloughleigh but that she was seriously alarmed by the lat- est violence.

“T have three children and I had a happy childhood in Cloughleigh but I wouldn’t bring them up there. It’s not going to happen,’ she said.

Dolores Nevin, community repre- sentative with RAPID, said a strong sense of community existed in Cloughleigh. She praised the com- mitment of gardai but added that

people were afraid.

‘For the first time in my life, in my community, I don’t feel safe. I heard two fire brigades going by the other night and my heart nearly stopped. Thankfully it was nothing sinister. But do we have to live like this,’ she said.

Ms Nevin also called for more ef- fective monitoring by Ennis Town Council of houses rented under shared ownership schemes

The schemes allow residents to enter into a joint ownership arrange- ment on property with Ennis Town Council. Residents agree to pay 50

per cent of the mortgage on a prop- erty with the council responsible for the other half.

Town manager Ger Dollard said that the council maintained a moni- toring role on houses in shared own- ership schemes.

Flan Brennan, community repre- Sentative with RAPID, said that a lot of “tremendous work” had been done through the programme.

He said Cloughleigh had been let down by certain sections of the com- munity, but added that it was only a “small number’ who were engaged in criminal activity.