The Clare People Archive

SERIOUS crime in Clare has increased while burglaries have rocketed and drink driving arrests have gone up by a massive 62 per cent in the first six months of this year.

But the Garda response to the various jumps in criminal activity is bringing the stats down, Chief Superintendent Liam Quinn told a meeting of Clare County Council last night.

There were 762 serious crimes committed in the Clare Garda division in the first six months of 2005. This jumped to 832 in the same period for 2006.

Chief Supt Quinn said that these were the “type of crime which would require trial by jury” including selling drugs and serious firearms offences.

But the Clare Garda chief told the meeting that various Garda operations in the district were bringing these figures down and this would show when crime figures for the whole year were available.

One of the most marked increases was in burglaries and these were up by 33 per cent to 220.

“This is part of a national phenomenon and while no specific study has been made of the reasons for this, most of these crimes were committed during daylight hours and it is possibly because houses are more often empty now with both people out working,” he said.

Garda initiatives in Clare included Operation Sixkilla, a crackdown on the activities of criminal gangs from Limerick and Dublin and Operation Nightwatch in Ennis and in holiday towns including Kilrush and Kilkee, all of which are “having an impact”, the Chief Superintendent said.

The Garda boss and Superintendent John Kerins were making a presentation to members of the council as a follow-up to issues raised by the councillors at a previous meeting with the Garda.

At the end of the meeting, the Mayor of Clare, Flan Garvey, presented a carved wooden sculpture of a boat to the chief superintendent, who is retiring and was attending his last meeting with the local authority.

He thanked the mayor for the gesture and said that he believed the challenge for policing in Clare “involves excess. Excess of drugs, excess of alcohol and excess of speeding. If we can deal with these we can solve many of our problems.”

FINE GAEL selected its Clare officers that will see it through what is likely to be one of the party’s bitterest elections in the county in years.

Despite assurances from members that the new team of officers selected on Friday will act as a unifying force for a party divided by a controversial selection convention, one Fine Gael source said it would be every candidate for themselves come the election.

On Friday last Cree man Dick Pilkington was elected chair of the Clare Fine Gael branch when outgoing chair Ciaran O’Halloran from Meelick did not seek re-election.

Connolly’s Eugene McMahon was elected vice-chair while Bríd Hanniffy from Ennistymon became the new secretary.

The Carey name continued to hold prominence in the party with Michael Carey from Ennis elected to one of the treasurer positions and Sinead Carey as the Youth Officer.

Earl Mulqueen, Ennis and Sean Chambers, Cooraclare, as well as Michael Howard and Michael Griffin were also selected for prominent positions within the local party.

Former county councillor Paul Bugler has the position of organiser while Myra English retains her position as PRO.

Already stories have emerged as to which officer is loyal to which of the four candidates.

But the party was adamant that the officers would play no role in the canvassing – in an official capacity.

Candidates have admitted however that gaining the second seat will be difficult with so many vying for the blue vote.

Following a disappointing vote in 2002, the lowest since 1954, the party had built its confidence, re-marketing itself in the run up to the convention in May, where the sitting deputy Pat Breen and then Shannon mayor Tony Mulcahy were selected.

A promise by the leader, Enda Kenny, to Cllr Taylor-Quinn saw her name added to the ticket with Cllr Joe Carey.

Pundits now fear however that history will repeat itself for the party that was poised to take two seats.

At the 1997 convention, then councillor Pat Breen and former Deputy Madeleine Taylor-Quinn were selected ahead of sitting TD Donal Carey, who was later added to the ticket.

This according to Sean Donnelly in his book “Election 2002” left the party with one candidate too many “and in the end undermined their challenge for a second seat.”

With such consequences still in their mind, many predict blue murder during the coming months, in the lead up to the 2007 contest.

AS OPEN verdicts were returned in inquests into the deaths of three young men in Doolin a year ago, gardaí last night stressed they were satisfied nothing untoward led to the triple fatality.

Ennis Coroner’s Court was told yesterday that Martin Griffin (24) from Ennis died due to head injuries, while Joe O’Callaghan (34) from Tulla and Michael Doran (31) of Broadford both drowned.

The three died after the the Suzuki Vitara jeep in which they were traveling fell 80 feet over a cliff and into the sea in Doolin – at a speed of 35.3 kilometers per hour – on the morning of Monday October 31 last year. The trio, all carpenters, had socialised in Doolin on the Bank Holiday Sunday night and spent the night in Mr O’Callaghan’s Jeep.

Ennistymon Superintendent Eamon Dolan said it appeared the jeep went over the cliff at 9.30am on October 31. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis told the inquest that Mr Griffin sustained brain injuries and died due to head injuries. “Acute alcohol intoxication” was a contributing factor in his death.

The head injuries were, he said, unusual in the context of a road accident. “He may well have been dead before entering the water. This man must have survived for a few hours after sustaining brain injury,” said Dr Curtis.

Witness Andrew Smith told the inquest that he drove past McGann’s Pub at around 1.30am. He saw three men on the street, one of whom was lying on the ground. “It looked as if he had fallen backwards or was tripped,” said the witness, but he could not identify who was on the ground.

Dr Curtis said Mr Doran and Mr O’Callaghan died due to drowning. Mr Doran had sustained head and chest injuries while Mr O’Callaghan appeared to have drowned once he was in the water.

The inquest heard the trio were drinking in McGann’s from 6pm to 1.30am, when they purchased whiskey and vodka and left the premises.

Coroner Isobel O’Dea said the evidence of Andrew Smith was consistent with Dr Curtis’ evidence relating to Mr Griffin’s head injuries. She said that there was no evidence of third party involvement in Mr Griffin’s death.

“We have no evidence of wrongdoing, no evidence of the vehicle entering the water. In the absence of evidence of what exactly happened, but satisfied that nothing untoward happened, I suggest the most appropriate verdict is an open verdict.” said Ms O’Dea.

Superintendent Dolan said, “nothing of a suspicious nature was found in the investigation into the death of the three young men.”

THE Taoiseach’s three weeks in turmoil have brought Independent TD James Breen back into the national limelight, as trouble simmers between the Government coalition parties.

The former Fianna Fáil councillor has been named among seven to eight other independent deputies likely to fill the gap should the Progressive Democrats pull out of government.

The Clare TD was playing his cards very close to his chest when asked about such a possibility however. He said no such approach had been made as yet. And if it had?

“I’d sit back and evaluate and do what was best for the country and democracy,” he said.

Deputy Breen, who last week called for an early General Election, declared as an independent candidate in 2001 when he was not selected to represent Fianna Fáil in Clare.

He went on to make history in 2002 when he polled 9,721 first preference votes, just 333 short of the quota.

During the campaign, he was vocal on issues such as Ennis General Hospital and Shannon Airport, two issues that continue to dominate the political landscape.

Time will tell if the Fianna Fáil Independent will work with his former colleagues in the dying months of this Government.

Whatever the outcome, the nation’s eyes will continue to focus on the political landscape of Clare on Sunday.

The second of a series of TNSMRBI Nuacht TG4 opinion polls on voting preferences in the upcoming General Election will be broadcast live from Ennis that evening at 6.45 pm.

Voters will be asked to indicate how they will give their preferences to all the declared candidates in the constituency.

In this comprehensive poll, people will be asked to indicate as many preferences as they wish, as they will on polling day.

THE blizzard that took hold of the county just over two weeks ago blew back in on Friday, but while Gordon was blamed for the previous storm this one was strictly Bertie.

As the media scrum prepared to do battle to reach the Taoiseach, the soldiers of destiny stood tall to protect their chief from the hail of questions about to be fired.

The officers stood shoulder to shoulder on the steps of the Great Southern in Shannon awaiting his arrival, the first line of defence for a Taoiseach very much on the defensive.

The first in command in the division stood tall, confident in his poise and title. Tony Killeen greeted all present with accuracy, speaking but saying nothing that would upset the volatile political situation. He showed no nerves, indicating only the ministerial poise his leader had previously attributed to him.

At the other end of the line up stood a veteran warrior. Brendan Daly had weathered bigger battles than this in

his career, and showed a calm exte rior.

He revealed none of his moves when asked how it would all play out. Despite his years, he was slow to call what would happen over the coming days.

The new recruit in the line was eager to please. While learning from the older heads he stood beside, one couldn’t help but wonder if nerves and experience would see him pull the trigger prematurely, but Timmy Dooley held his own.

A little jittery as he waited for the Taoiseach to arrive, could the young soldier be thrown into battle sooner than he planned and without back up?

And among the officers stood the aristocracy – Síle deValera. She was the only one among them whose plans could not be affected by the fall out of the coming days. Whatever ricochet hit this woman, her destiny was to play out the same. She stood confident, secure and loyal to the end.

As the Taoiseach came up the drive, his officers ran to greet him before the media descended with their questions.

Smiling, with less ease than he had in Kilrush the previous fortnight, he dodged the bullets, refusing to answer questions on trouble in the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat camp.

His entourage had also multiplied since his last whirlwind spin around Clare. The number of press officers and advisors had doubled – preparing for war.

BRING them on!

The days when clubs get to walk behind Tulla’s pipe band. County final days in hurling and football, the pairings of which have now been decided.

First serving will be Wolfe Tones and Newmarket-on-Fergus an intraparish final you could call it. You see, old Rineanna used to be in Newmarket parish. Rineanna stands on its own now; now to see who stands tallest on October 22.

Then it will be time for the first mid-Clare football final since Ennis Dalcassians and Clarecastle Emmets clashed in the 1899 final. Éire Óg v Lissycasey. Anybody’s game. All county finals are.

Bring them on, band and all.

A 21-HOUR siege which rocked the town of Gort came to a successful end last night as an armed man who had barricaded himself inside his home gave himself up.

Anthony Burke (40) had been locked into his home off Crowe Street in the town since shortly after 11pm on Sunday night, following a domestic dispute.

A stand-off ensued throughout the day yesterday (Monday), as gardaí attempted to coax the man out of the home.

He had been in contact with gardaí between 11pm on Sunday and 2am on Monday. However he subsequently cut all contact, but answered calls from trained garda officers at teatime yesterday, raising hopes of a breakthrough.

This materialised and the siege ended at 8.20pm last night, when he walked voluntarily out of his home.

A number of shots were discharged from one of two shotguns he legally held, before Mr Burke was disabled by a beanbag round – a non-lethal weapon introduced in the wake of the Abbeylara siege in April 2000 in which John Carthy was killed – fired by a member of the Emergency Response Unit, which had been deployed to Gort for the siege.

Mr Burke was injured, but not critically, and was taken to University College Hospital, Galway, just after 8.30pm.

The horrific drama unfolded after 11pm on Sunday, when neighbours alerted gardaí that shots were fired from Mr Burke’s house in the local authority housing estate just off the main road between Gort and Galway.

His partner, who is understood to be from Kinvara, and two children quickly left the house, while shocked neighbours – who initially thought the shots were Halloween fireworks – were evacuated and were accommodated at O’Sullivan’s Hotel nearby.

Several more shots were fired between 11pm and 2.30am and two garda patrol cars and street lighting were damaged, but no-one was injured.

After hours of avoiding contact with gardaí, he answered his phone just before 6pm and continued to negotiate in “meaningful discussions” with gardaí.

Locals in Gort welcomed the breakthrough after a tense day. Mr Burke was described locally as a “decent, normal man who is liked in the town.”

A large number of garda resources were drafted in yesterday, including the Emergency Response Unit, the dog unit and the air support unit, while gardaí from all over the Galway division were drafted into the south Galway town.

A CLARE woman has been recognised at the annual Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards 2006. Madeleine McAleer who’s project, Clare Community News, is a webbased information service for the community and voluntary sector, which aims to improve networking and the sharing of a wide range of information locally.

The Clare Community News website, which is currently being developed, will allow this sector to make more effective use of the advances in information technology.

Previously, Madeline has been involved in the setting up of Care Haven Services, a community based organisation which now provides a range of services for women who experience domestic abuse and was cofounder of Clare Family Resource Centre, the first community based childcare initiative in Clare.

This year is the second year of the awards which are led by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) and aim to encourage and support the development of social entrepreneurship in Ireland.

SEI offers a range of supports to leading social entrepreneurs including financial assistance, technical assistance, access to a network of fellow social entrepreneurs to share best practices and a connection to other innovators in the business, public and community sectors.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Managing Director of SEI, Sean Coughlan said that social entrepreneurs “deserve public recognition, acknowledgement and support, not just at award ceremonies such as this but also at local and national level throughout the year. “It is now time for all of us in Ireland to step up to the mark and provide the encouragement and practical support that social entrepreneurs need in order to grow and thrive,” he concluded.

HEALTH professionals and volunteers around Clare are busy preparing for a week of workshops, seminars and classes in aid of Mental Health Week.

The theme of the this year’s Mental Health Week according to Catriona Burke, a PR volunteer for the Kilrush Mental Health Association is mindfulness and the aim of the events being held around Clare is to promote the link between physical and mental health.

“Mindfulness is about teaching us how to pay attention to our experiences in life in the present moment. Whether we’re sitting in a car, struggling to meet some deadline, or facing some difficult challenge in our lives, mindfulness teaches us a way of being present to wherever we are and and to deal with it,” said Catriona.

Activities are taking place in venues around Limerick City, Tipperary and Clare where some high profile people are giving classes, seminars and workshops.

In Ennis, a series of laughter workshop and laughter yoga parties will be held at the Templegate Hotel from Monday, October 9.

Elsewhere in the county, a walk has been organised in the Burren with Dr Pat Wallace; a music workshop will be run by Archie Simpson and the Lismorahaun Singers at the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon and in Lisdoonvarna, an evening of poetry and reflection will take place at The Spa Wells.

In Kilrush, a series of workshops are being held throughout the week in Kilrush Library and an exhibition of art by local artists and people who have benefited from the services of Kilrush Mental Health Association will be on display at the library from October 9 to 13.

“The week has been designed to allow people to experience the wonder of mindfulness for themselves in a gentle and non-threatening way. We are trying to breakdown the barriers on what people think of mental health. Mental health is a wealth if we mind it,” she added.

We are constantly looking for volunteers to help us push forward the connection between the community and mental health. We will welcome anyone who would like to help the service.”

A MAN who indecently assaulted a young girl in west Clare over 30 years ago has been handed a two-year suspended sentence.

Handing down sentence at Ennis Circuit Court yesterday (Monday), Judge Carroll Moran said he would suspend the jail term for two years.

Stephen Hennessy (69), of Shanganagh, Kilkee, pleaded guilty to a number of charges, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. At the time, he was in his 30s and his victim was aged between 11 and 14.

The court heard that one of the incidents took place in a parked car, while another happened in a field.

On one occasion, the accused put his hand inside the girl’s panties and touched her vagina, while they were in a parked car.

On another occasion, while he was driving his car, he let her change gears and touched her between the legs.

Hennessy used to buy presents for his victim, including a watch, sweets and chocolate.

The court was told that Hennessy – who had no previous convictions – wrote a letter to his victim, apologising for his actions. He stated, in the letter, that he would “regret it all his life.”

“I hope you can put it behind you and get on with your life,” he added.

Judge Carroll Moran was told that the injured party made a statement in relation to the matter, three years ago.

Hennessy, who was immersed in the GAA, was described in court as an exemplary, well-respected man in his local community, a man who was very honest and truthful.

Judge Moran said the accused “committed a pretty heinous offence against a very young girl, albeit a long time ago.” He was told gardaí were not aware of any other complaints made about the accused.