The Clare People Archive

THE end of a long, historic era was marked at Shannon Airport yesterday when demolition of the old hostels got underway, to make way for an enlarged carpark.

The hostels were built in the 1960s and catered for overnight passengers, over the years. In the early days, staff at the airport stayed overnight in the hostels but this changed over the years as hotels and guesthouses were built and transport improved.

As a result, most of the hostels had, over the years, fallen into a state of disrepair. They are now being knocked, to facilitate the extension of the airport’s car park by 850 spaces.

Planning permission was granted by Clare County Council for the new car park last August and came on foot of growing passenger numbers at the airport. A record-breaking 3.3 million passengers passed through Shannon last year.

Shannon Airport spokesperson Claire McEnery confirmed that contractors went on site yesterday and stressed that some of the buildings would be retained.

“Some of the hostels will be demolished, not all of them,” she said.

“This is to meet the demand due to increased passenger numbers. We signalled this a long time ago,” she added.

The car park spaces will be available by next summer and airport management is hoping to handle 3.6 million passengers next year.

“We do need those spaces to meet the demand,” she added.

Some of the buildings are understood to be listed structures and will be retained. One of them has been used as a storage area while another has been used as a training school for the airport police.

Shannon-based County Councillor Patricia McCarthy (Independent) said the demolition marked the “end of an era”.

“Even thought the hostels have been empty for a long time, this is a reminded of what Shannon started off as. Things are happening at the airport. There is a need to change and redevelop and it is time to move on. Car parking spaces are needed,” she said.

She said the idea of building a multi-storey should be considered, in an effort to put the land in the vicinity of the airport to good use.

SHANNON Development has announced the appointment of eleven leading business figures from around the Region to the company’s new Shannon Region Tourism Development Board. The new board held its first meeting last Thursday at Shannon Development’s head office in the Town Centre, Shannon.

The Board is being chaired by well known Ennis Solicitor Michael Houlihan. Board members were nominated by local authorities, regional tourism and tourism industry groups. The new Board has been appointed for a three-year term during which time their role will be to advise Shannon Development on the preparation and implementation of a strategic tourism plan for the Shannon Region.

Announcing the new Board appointees Kevin Thompstone, Chief Executive Shannon Development said, “I would like to welcome the new board members, I look forward to working with them. The tourism industry in Ireland is at a crucial point in its development. The factors central to our success in the past are not necessarily the ones to carry us forward into the future. Tourism is one of the most important indigenous industries in the Shannon Region.”

Accepting the position of Chairman of the new tourism Board, Houlihan said that “all of the board appointees are very successful in their own fields and I believe that the variety of experience they can bring to the task ahead will be invaluable”.

In 2005 more than 1 million overseas visitors came to the Shannon Region along with a further 750,000 domestic visitors. Tourism spend of €400 million in revenue to the Shannon Region was recorded in 2005.

“New accommodation coming onstream in 2007 will bring the Region’s total accommodation base to an estimated 7,500 beds. The challenge for Shannon Development and the tourism industry will be to develop and sustain the Shannon Region as a high quality and competitive tourism destination. To achieve this we will work closely with the tourism industry, local and regional bodies, and our colleagues in Fáilte Ireland /Tourism Ireland to provide focused, strategic, and practical actions to deal with the critical issues”, said John King, Director, Heritage and Tourism, Shannon Development.

A WOMAN died after she fell at her Kilrush home last July, Ennis Coroner’s Court has heard.

Mary Linnane (57), of Beech Park, John Paul Estate, Kilrush, died on July 13 last.

Her son Seán, in his deposition, recalled being in the sitting room of the family home with members of his family, on July 13 last.

He said his mother had been upstairs and she came down for a cigarette. He told her to go upstairs and he would bring her something to eat.

A short time later he heard a thump and went to his mother. He initially thought she was knocked out. He said she’d had a few drinks that day.

Sergeant Deborah Marsh said she received a report of a sudden death on the evening in question, and attended the home of Mrs Linnane.

Pathologist Dr Stephanie Curran carried out an autopsy on the body of Mrs Linnane, at Limerick Regional Hospital.

“She had died at home. It was suggested she may have fallen down the stairs,” she said.

She said the cause of death was acute cardiac respiratory failure, secondary to intercranial haemorrhage.

County Coroner Isobel O’Dea said there was no evidence as to what exactly had happened. She returned an open verdict.

She expressed her sympathies with the Linnane family, as did Superintendent John Kerin, who said it was sad to lose “a mother and wife at such a young age.”

A YOUNG man lost his life in a crash after he overtook a car, before colliding with a truck, near the village of Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, one year ago last week.

Ennis Coroner’s Court heard yesterday that Seamus Keogh (36), a labourer, from Lodge Road, Sixmilebridge, died in a crash at Ballymulcashel, Kilmurry, at lunchtime on December 6 last year.

Joe O’Gorman (44), of Woodfield Drive, Ballynote, Kilrush, recalled, in his deposition, driving from Tulla towards Bunratty for a load of gravel.

He was driving a truck, at Kilmurry village, at around 35 miles per hour. He said he passed a bad bend and then approached another.

He saw a car driving towards him and then noticed another car overtaking it.

“It was coming at such a speed I knew it was going to hit me. I could see the driver’s hands holding the steering wheel,” he said.

He drove along the edge of the ditch and “braced” himself for a collision.

The front of Mr Keogh’s car hit Mr O’Gorman’s truck and he hit his head off the roof of the cab of the truck.

“I could see that part of the car had gone under the cab of my truck… There was liquid leaking onto the road,” he recalled.

Mr O’Gorman was taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged.

The inquest was told that Emma Nicolai was driving to Tulla with a friend on the afternoon of December 6.

She believed she was driving at no more than 40 miles per hour.

She said a red car was travelling behind her and overtook her. “He was going around the bend and appeared to lose control. He appeared to take the bend too wide. He appeared to tilt onto two wheels and veered into the truck at an angle,” she recalled.

Ms Nicolai’s passenger, Josephine Bergfeldt, said the red car overtook them, no more than 20 metres before a bend.

“The red car was on the wrong side of the road and collided with a lorry,” she said. She tried to get a pulse, but to no avail.

Sergeant Con Ryan attended the scene of the accident, just after 1.45pm. He said the truck was on the correct side of the road, up against a ditch. Pathologist Dr Stephanie Curran carried out an autopsy on the body of the deceased.

She said death was due to shock and haemorrhage, secondary to multiple injuries. Superintendent John Kerin told the inquest that a file was sent to the DPP, who directed that no charges be brought, arising out of the accident. A verdict of accidental death was returned. Coroner Isobel O’Dea said it was a “shame that a young man was killed in such a fashion.”

CLARE County Council planners need to be given a short course on Irish history, telling them that British rule ended in the 26 counties as far back as 1921, a former chairman of the local authority stated this week.

Councillor PJ Kelly (FF) launched a scathing attack on the council’s planning department at Monday’s monthly meeting of the local authority, accusing planners of breaking the law when turning down house building applications around the county.

“We have planners in this county using a British document, the Queen’s Highways Agency document, that was never adopted by this council to turn down planning applications,” blasted Cllr Kelly.

“This is wrong,” added Cllr Kelly brandishing a copy of the Vehicular Access to All Principle Trunk Roads document. “This document was never adopted by Clare County Council, but it’s now a case where we apply the Queen’s rules to the disadvantage of people here in Ireland. Are we working outside the law? That is the serious question that has to be addressed here.

“Using this document is an open admission that something that is not a policy is being used as a policy when it comes to planning. There is a contradiction here and it has to be said that we are way beyond the law in using documents that have not been approved to refuse planning applications.”

Cllr Kelly has been a trenchant critic of Clare County Council planning practices for a number of years, particularly when it comes to championing the cause of those who wish to build once-off houses.

He concluded by calling on the council executive to take planners aside and teach them some Irish history.

“When are we going to let them know out in Westgate (Clare County Council planning office) that the Brits left Ireland 85 years ago? It shows how out of touch they are out in Westgate.”

CLARE County Council has been asked to prevent housing developers in the county from converting crèche facilities in large housing estates into residential units.

At Monday’s December meeting of Clare County Council, North Clare councillor, Joe Arkins (FG), accused property developers of taking advantage of planning regulations in relation to the provision of childcare facilities.

Developers are required to provide childcare facilities in developments of 75 housing units or larger but Cllr Arkins expressed his worries that this arrangement is being abused.

“The developers look for €1,000 a week rent for the crèche building or offer to sell it for one or two million,” said Cllr Arkins.

“They then apply to Clare County Council for a change of use for the crèche facilities and state that they have proved that there is no need for the facility.”

These “contrived vacancies” were heavily criticised by Cllr Arkins who called on the council to decline any submission for change of use for these crèche facilities in all cases.

“They probably designed it in such a way as to make it easier for them to be converted back to apartments,” continued Cllr Arkins.

“There should be no changes in use whatsoever as long as deficiencies in the childcare system still exist.

“It should not be tolerated for a developer to look for exorbitant rents for these facilities,” Cllr. Arkins concluded.

PROPERTY developers will be forced to carry some of the financial burden in providing sewerage schemes around Clare, it was revealed at Monday’s council meeting.

Responding to a motion put forward by Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind), County Engineer Tom Carey revealed he had been informed by the Department of the Environment that the exchequer is no longer prepared to fund “nonresidential” sewerage schemes.

The definition of “non-residential” properties includes future housing developments as well as commercial properties. The specific details of who will foot the bill for future housing developments is unclear but property developers and Clare County Council will have a role to play in meeting these expenses.

“I’d like to think that my report is more positive than reports in recent times. There has been some significant movement – we have come close enough to starting construction and quite a number of schemes will be underway in 2007. We are starting to catch up but it does appear that some schemes are moving faster than others,” said Mr Carey.

“If there are situation where the affordability issue is a problem and environmental issues demand it, then the costing issue is not set in stone. There are still affordability issues, we are working on them and being as innovative as we can – but they will have to be, to some extent, developer-driven.”

Responding to the new “polluter pays” approach, North Clare councilor, Martin Lafferty (Ind), expressed his disappointment at the unit costings system and commented that he wanted to see “reality on the ground, never mind promising things that never appear”.

PUBLIC confidence in the ability of Clare County Council engineers to deal with Ennis’ water quality problem has reached a new low, Monday’s monthly meeting of the local authority heard.

Ennis area councillors Brian Meaney and Joe Carey hit out at the council’s efforts to solve the drinking water problems that have beset the county capital in recent years. Both have called for new measures to address the problem, Cllr Meaney (GP) backing a curb on future development in Ennis and Cllr Carey (FG) calling for the introduction of a voucher system for those buying bottled water.

“The people of Ennis are very angry,” warned Cllr Carey. “And they have a very low degree of confidence in the water service. They are spending between €20 and €30 a week on water and have being doing this for the past two years. It’s unacceptable.

“Ennis is one of the fastest growing towns in Europe and it doesn’t have a clean water system. It’s shocking and it’s not on. I’ve proposed in the past about getting another source of water, but that was not listened to.

“Now the issue is dragging on and public confidence is at a very low ebb. I want assurances about when the boil notice will be lifted. There should be a voucher system in place for people who are spending €20 to €30 a week,” added Cllr Carey.

“We’re in a most appalling situation with the water in Ennis,” said Cllr Brian Meaney (GP). “There is very little confidence with what’s being done with Ennis’ water.

“Maybe we should look at the development of the town – if we took a stance that there would be no additions to the water supply, then we might see motivations coming where there would be a sufficient response to the water quality problem,” added the deputy mayor.

Responding, county engineer Tom Carey said “modifications to the system are a very significant step towards the removal of the current boil notice in the near future.”

A boil notice was placed on water in Ennis on November 24.

A SHOPLIFTING charge against a 60-year-old woman has been dismissed, after her solicitor said the layout of an Ennis supermarket “lacked clarity.”

The comment was made in the case of a woman who had filled her trolley, before walking out past the last point of payment and onto the Dunnes Stores Mall, on O’Connell Street, Ennis. She claimed she had intended to pay for the items. A BRAZILIAN man, accused of indecent exposure near a girls’ school in Ennis, has been further remanded in custody.

Hamilton Abrenhosa (29), of 54 Cregaun, Tobartaoscain, Ennis, is facing four charges of indecent exposure in Ennis. He was arrested on November 30 last.

Two of the alleged offences occurred at Tulla Road, Ennis, another is alleged to have happened at College Road – close to Coláiste Mhuire, an all girls secondary school – while the other incident allegedly took place at Harmony Row. The alleged offences relate to four separate dates during November.

When he initially appeared before Ennis District Court last Friday week, bail was refused, after gardaí expressed a fear that he may not stand for trial if he was granted bail.

Gardaí had also objected to bail based on the seriousness of the charges, while they said further enA 40-YEAR-OLD man is facing charges, arising out of a garda surveillance operation into alleged drug dealing at a licensed premises in Ennis earlier this year.

Patrick Anderson, of 72 Springdale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5, is charged with possession of ecstacy tablets, at AN Ennis solicitor has said it is not acceptable for the Minister for Justice to keep a person in custody, pending deportation.

Chang Loon, of Henry Street, Kilrush, appeared before Ennis District Court, arising out of an incident in Kilrush on November 6.

He was charged with driving without insurance and an immigration offence.

He was previously remanded in custody after gardaí expressed reservations about the validity of his

The accused, Jarolava Metlickova, of Ard na Gaoithe, Ennis – who is originally from the Czech Republic – denied stealing groceries, valued at €540.98, on January 28 last.

Paul Smith told the court he was employed by Dunnes on the date in question.

He said the defendant was seen with a trolley full of shopping, near the fruit and vegetable section.

She put items from the lingerie, flowers and household section into her trolley, before walking out – past the last quiries have to be carried out in relation to the case.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client has lived in Ireland for the past four years, and is married with one child. She said he is a driver and earns €500 per week.

Mr Abrenhosa is also charged with an immigration offence, in that he failed to inform officials within 48 hours of his arrival in Ennis.

Inspector Kevin Moynihan told Ennis District Court on Friday last that a file on the matter is being prepared and the State was applying to remand the accused in custody for a fortnight.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey did not object to this application. Judge Joseph Mangan remanded him in custody to re-appear in court on Friday week. an Ennis pub on March 31 last. He is also charged with possession of ecstacy, for the purpose of sale or supply.

Inspector Kevin Moynihan told Ennis District Court last Friday that gardaí put an operation in place, to investigate alleged drug dealing on the premises. passport. Gardaí were subsequently ing to this. satisfied with the passport and he was remanded in custody, pending guilty to driving without insurance deportation. in Kilrush. “He has spent a month in

Last Friday, Ennis District Court custody. He has served his sentence was told that the Minister for Jusin relation to that matter,” said the tice has signed a deportation order, solicitor. requesting the deportation of the accused. there was an issue over the accused’s

Loon has 15 days to object to this. address. “I need an address to give to The court heard an application from the Minister for Justice as to where he the State to further remand the acis going to reside,” said the garda. cused in custody for a month, to ascertain if he wished to object. it’s acceptable the State or the Min-

However, defending solicitor ister can keep someone in custody Daragh Hassett said he was objectpending deportation.” point of payment – on to the O’Connell Street Mall.

“I saw her when she was at the fruit and veg and followed her out of the Mall,” said Mr Smith. He stopped her outside Claire’s accessory shop on the Mall.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said her client had money and had intended paying for the goods.

“She was phoning her son, asking him to collect her, that she had done her shopping,” said Ms Godfrey.

Mr Smith replied, “The woman During this operation, plain clothes gardaí purchased drugs from people inside.

36 ecstacy tablets were seized from the defendant and money was found on him, afterwards.

“It is alleged he travelled from Dublin solely for the purposes of dealing,” registered as a non-national in the He said his client has pleaded Irish State. Mr Hassett said his client came here, through Dublin airport but the garda said that could not be proved. Garda Morgan O’Donoghue said time on Friday. Garda O’Donoghue later told the court he had ascertained an address for the accused, in Kilrush. He was granted bail, pending his deportation.

Mr Hassett replied, “I don’t think tached, including that he reside at the named address and that he sign on regularly at Kilrush Garda Station. walked out with the goods without paying for them. I was doing my job.”

Ms Godfrey said there were “no clear lines of boundary in relation to where you stop.” Mr Smith replied, “It is the last point of purchase.”

The solicitor said, “My client felt she hadn’t left the store until she walked out onto O’Connell Street,” but Mr Smith said, “That is not my interpretation of it.”

Ms Godfrey said the manner in which Dunnes Stores is laid out “lacks a clarity. . . There must be a reasonable said the inspector.

Judge Joseph Mangan said he was declining jurisdiction in the District Court and the case will go forward to the Circuit Court.

Mr Anderson did not appear in court and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. The garda said Loon has never The case was adjourned for some A number of conditions were atdoubt.”

“From her experience, this hasn’t happened at Tesco. I would submit there must be a doubt in the mind of the court,” said Ms Godfrey.

Inspector Kevin Moynihan, prosecuting, said, “Dunnes Stores are not on trial here. She passed the last recognised place of payment. She has admitted to being in Ennis for two years and had been in Dunnes Stores previously. I submit the case has been proved.”

Judge Joseph Mangan dismissed the charge. KILRUSH man Anthony Kelly has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court, accused of murdering nightclub bouncer Brian Fitzgerald in Limerick, four years ago.

Mr Kelly (49), of Cragg House, Kilrush, appeared before Limerick District Court last Tuesday, where the Book of Evidence was served.

His solicitor Eugene O’Kelly said in court, “We were given the understanding there were hundreds of statements. I see there are about 50 statements, most of them from gardai. I see the tainted testament of a man who has already been dealt with.”

Mr Kelly, who is currently in custody, will apply for bail in the Supreme Court on Friday. A MAN who served as a priest in west Clare has pleaded guilty to indecent assault charges in Waterford.

Con Desmond admitted indecently assaulting a boy six times in the early 1980s. He is a former principal of the De La Salle boys’ national school, Stephen Street, Waterford.

He was living in west Clare when he was arrested in relation to this case. He is to be sentenced at Waterford Circuit Court next week. AN EGYPTIAN national, accused of extorting €100,000 from an Ennis businessman, has been returned for trial to Ennis Circuit Court.

Essam Eid (50), with an address in Nevana, US, is also charged with burglary and handling stolen property, at Westgate Business Park, Ennis, on September 25 last. The Book of Evidence was served last week.

DRIVERS caught speeding are being advised to read their fixed charge notices carefully, or they may find themselves before the courts.

The Head of the Clare Traffic Corps, Inspector Moynihan, was speaking to The Clare People after one man claimed in court that he wrote an incorrect driver’s licence number on the fixed charge form, in error, and subsequently received a summons.

The man told Ennis District Court last Friday that he put the number from the outside of his driver’s licence on the form. He should have written the number from the inside of his licence.

The fixed charge notice processing centre at Capel Street in Dublin did not recognise the number and issued him with a summons.

Inspector Moynihan said, “A few people are getting caught. If people read the notice they receive, they should not get a summons. It points out on the form what to do.”

A driver who is caught speeding is given 28 days to pay the fine. If it is not paid within 28 days, a notice is issued and if the fine is still not paid after 56 days, a summons is issued.

Inspector Moynihan said since the introduction of the fixed charge notice system last April, the number of people caught speeding in Clare has increased.

This has also coincided with the enlargement of the traffic corps in the Clare Division. Six new members have been added – bring the numbers to 20 – while another six will be added before the end of next year. A new traffic corps has also been set up in Killaloe.

Meanwhile, there has been a 94 per cent increase in the number of people arrested on suspicion of drink driving, since the introduction of random breath testing on July 21, compared with the same four and a halfmonth period last year.

Since the start of the year, there has been a 75 per cent increase in the number of drivers arrested for alleged drink driving – 458 so far this year, compared to 264 last year.

Several garda checkpoints are mounted every day and “less than 10” drivers have been arrested on suspicion of drink driving the morning after drinking alcohol the night before.

“Every area of the county is showing a big increase in the number of arrests,” he said.

The level of garda manpower previously afforded during Bank Holiday weekends is now available throughout the year.

“This level of enforcement is now the same all year round and will continue throughout the year. Random breath testing has been a great aid to us,” he said.