The Clare People Archive

THE HSE is continuing to monitor the Ennis water supply, even though it has “generally” been within the statutory limits for drinking water since the installation of the temporary filtration system.

According to the HSE West, in order to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the system a heavy programme of monitoring and sampling is continuing.

This includes daily monitoring of raw and treated water for general coliform, E Coli, turbidity, colour and chlorine. Weekly monitoring is also carried out for Cryptosporidium.

All samples of treated water were negative for E Coli and Cryptosporidium. The chlorine dosage levels have also been reduced as a consequence of the installation and successful operation of the treatment system. However it was decided not to remove the limited precautionary boil notice just yet, as weather conditions had not varied enough since the installation to adequately test the system.

“Levels of cryptosporidium, clostridium perfringes and giardia tend to occur in the raw water to a much lesser degree in summer early autumn time of year. However, a seasonal escalation of concentration in this regard would be expected from now on,” the HSE said. The health service said it hoped that by the time the next meeting took place, confidence in the supply would be such that it would be possible to completely remove the boil notice.

Meanwhile, a boil notice had been issued for the first time ever in the 30-year history of the Kilmaley-Inagh Group water scheme, following the discovery of a small quantity of E-coli. The scheme caters for 1,800 households and is the largest group water scheme in the country. A new treatment works was due to replace the scheme on June 30 but was delayed. The group water scheme holders were informed that the scheme would “go to production” on the week beginning September 11. Last Thursday, the new system was not in place.

A LITHUANIAN man has been told by a judge if he has difficulty understanding in court, he can arrange his own interpreter as the State will not incur any interpretation costs.

Judge Joseph Mangan made the comments in the case of Thomas Salaka, who appeared before Kilrush District Court last Wednesday on public order charges.

Mr Salaka (25), of Orchard Lane, Ennis, was accused of been intoxicated in public and of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, at Henry Street, Kilrush, on August 27 last.

The accused, a chef, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and the other charge was withdrawn.

The court heard that as the accused’s friend was been arrested for drunken driving, the accused, who was a passenger in the car, got out and acted in a threatening manner to the garda, waving his fists. He later apologised.

“He was using his own language. I don’t know what it was,” said the garda.

Judge Mangan asked did the accused intend to stay in Ireland and was told that he has lived here for the past two years and planned to stay here.

The accused’s partner was sworn in for another case in court and she translated proceedings for Mr Salaka.

The judge adjourned the case until November and said, “The State is not to incur any interpretation costs. If he has a problem with understanding, he can bring his own interpreter.”

The accused’s solicitor Gearoid Williams said, “Under the Convention of Human Rights, it is an obligation on the State . . . In any case he will bring his own interpreter.”

The judge said if the accused had paid for an interpreter, he would take that into account in imposing any monetary fine. Mr Williams replied, “The interpreter is the mother of his child.”

A spokesman for the Courts Service said €2 million was been spent on providing interpreters for court, in 210 dialects, this year. This is a 15-fold increase since 2000. This is a national figure and figures for Clare were not available, he said.

He said the provision of interpreters for court cases was “daily routine,” but that any decision regarding allocating interpreters to cases rested with judges.

“The judge runs the court. It is up to the judge to certify if an interpreter is needed. If an interpreter is needed, the Courts Service provides it and covers the cost of this. It is a matter for the judge to decide,” he added.

THE Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) yesterday celeberated the 70th anniversary of the opening of Shannon Aeradio, Ireland’s High Frequency (HF) communications centre at Ballygirreen near Newmarket-on-Fergus and marked the occasion by announcing a €4.5m investment at the facility.

Founded in 1936 to provide long-range communications for the transatlantic flying boat service in Foynes, the centre is responsible for communicating via long distance radio with up to 1,250 transatlantic flights per day.

2006 also marks the 40th anniversary of the Shanwick agreement. Under this agreement, signed by the Irish and UK governments in 1966, Shannon Aeradio provides HF communications to aircraft on the eastern half of the North Atlantic while Prestwick in Scotland provides air traffic control services to aircraft in the same area.

The occasion also marked the installation of new equipment at Shannon Aeradio worth €4.5 million and the beginning of a new co-operative agreement with the Icelandic Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA). Under this agreement, the IAA and the ICAA will provide a seamless HF communications service across a wider area of the strategic North Atlantic region.

Speaking at the unveiling of a plaque to mark the 70th anniversary, IAA Chairman, Jerry Liston, congratulated past and present staff and said the station’s success was a testament to the enthusiasm and professionalism with which they carry out their work.

Shannon Aeradio is also home to the national AFTN Centre, which delivers data such as airline movements and flight plans to a worldwide network, and also a weather broadcast service heard throughout the world.

Almost 90 per cent of air traffic over the North Atlantic passes through Irish airspace. Shannon Aeradio communicates with the vast majority of these flights every day. This amounts to up to 1,250 flights per 24 hours during the busy summer months. The IAA employs 70 people at Shannon Aeradio.

A DEADLINE has been imposed on a developer to erect fencing along a stretch of river, after Ennis Town Council bowed to the concerns of local residents.

The council will today (Tuesday) erect a dangerous place notice in the Aughanteeroe Housing estate.

The council has moved after residents expressed strong fears concerning the ease of access to the River Fergus, which runs directly behind the Gort Road housing estate.

The area, which is prone to heavy flooding, is easily accessed by children living in the area and residents have long campaigned to have suitable fencing erected.

There were also concerns over a green area fronting on to a section of the Corrovorrin river, near the entrance to Aughanteeroe.

“We are absolutely delighted the safety notice will be issued. It’s not only the Fergus but the river near Cois Na hAbhana is very deep and fast and is particularly dangerous at the moment,” Geraldine Sullivan, secretary for the Aughanteeroe residents association said.

Under the terms of the notice, Kamer Construction must erect fencing within a set deadline, typically seven or fourteen days. Otherwise the council will use the money from a bond held over from the developer to cover the cost of the work.

The issue was raised at yesterday’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council where members called for immediate action to be taken.

Town Engineer Tom Tiernan explained discussions had been held with the Office of Public Works in an effort to expedite work on the Ennis flood relief scheme due to take along the banks of the river.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said residents deserved better and the situation could no longer be ignored.

“It could take up to 18 months for work to begin. The developer has made a lot of money out of that community and should be made to fulfil his responsibilities. This is a very urgent issue we cannot wait until one life is lost”

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind,) who had previously raised the issue with the council, asked “are we waiting for someone to get drowned?”

Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) echoed these concerns while Cllr Taiwoo Matthew (Ind) said the council needed to be pro-active in matters of public safety.

AN EGYPTIAN man has appeared in court, charged with the extortion of €100,000 from an Ennis businessman last week.

Essam Eid (50), with an address in Cairo, Egypt, is also charged with the theft of a laptop and desktop computer, at Westgate Business Park, Ennis and with handling stolen property, on dates last week.

It is alleged he demanded €100,000 from a businessman, at Ballaghboy, Doora, last Tuesday, September 26. His solicitor Tara Godfrey applied for free legal aid. Inspector Michael Gallagher said the accused’s circumstances would have to be checked out, as he lived outside the jurisdiction.

Judge Joseph Mangan pointed out that the accused had an average weekly income of €1,000.

Mr Godfrey said, “While he would earn that when he is working, he is currently on holiday. They only have €200 and don’t have means to pay a solicitor.”

Judge Mangan said, “I see also he has a mortgage, which means he has a property,” and deferred the legal aid application.

Ms Godfrey said she was applying for bail, and that her client had no previous convictions either in Egypt or the US.

Inspector Gallagher said he was objecting to bail and sought a remand in custody for a fortnight. Judge Mangan agreed.

Gardaí say that a 43-year-old American woman arrested in connection with the same investigation was released without charge.

AN TAISCE has stated that it is concerned over the impact that the proposed €20 million greyhound stadium may have on otters in the River Shannon.

The trust has stated in a submission to Clare County Council that the welfare of the otters is its main concern. Otters are protected under the EU Habitats Directive.

The future of the otters in the area has also attracted the attention of the Government’s National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

In its submission to the council, the NPWS has asked the council that the developers carry out a second survey of otters in the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

The NWPS said that the first survey contained in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was inconclusive because of large rainfall.

“Particular attention should be given to the likely effects on otters of habitat fragmentation, including creation of barrier and avoidance, as a result of the proposed development and the nearby Limerick Southern Relief Road.

“This should include underpasses or safe routes for otters to traverse the existing N18 in that general area and should extend outside the immediate site boundaries.

“If forced onto the road, otters will be killed and this would also create a hazard for road traffic.”

The NPWS states that the part of the application site is located within the Lower River Shannon SAC and “in our opinion, there will be direct and indirect impacts on parts of these sites as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed development”.

The NWPS state: “In order to assess the likely effects on birds and on the SPA, dedicated wintering and breeding bird surveys should be undertaken.”

The plan is to construct the five storey stadium and a three storey office building at Meelick.

A decision is due on the application later this year.

The people of Gort have branded as ‘rubbish’ media reports that Brazilian gangs are beginning to take hold in the south Galway town. This follows claims in last week’s Sunday World newspaper, which stated that some people in Gort were “frightened that someone is going to be killed” as a result of violence between the Brazilian and Irish communities.

Locals say there was an incident between a number of local and Brazilian youths outside one of a Gort Pub. Two arrests were made following this incident and a file is currently being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“The whole situation was completely blown out of all proportions,” said Niamh Clune of the Gort Regional Alliance for Community and Environment (GRACE).

“We will be starting an integration process with the guards and the Brazilian Association so if there is any trouble coming from a small element of the Brazilian community, we will be on top of it like a flash.

“The Brazilian Association is part of GRACE and as such I know that they don’t want to see any of this kind of behaviour happening.”

Gort has the highest level of Brazilian nationals in the country with more than 1,000 immigrants arriving at the town from the South American country over the last five years. Initially they arrived to work in Duffy’s Meat Factory, but have sense integrated themselves into a wide variety of industries in the town.

“It really isn’t as bad as (what has been reported),” a spokesperson from Gort Garda Station told The Clare People yesterday. “I was working on Saturday night and it was completely quiet.”

The population of Gort has swelled dramatically is recent years with the latest census figures showing a 53 per cent increase over the last four years. The majority of the Brazilian National’s have arrived in Gort from the city of Bralilia.

In recent years gangs, have become commonplace in many of Brazil’s major cities. In May of this year more than 150 died in clashes between rival gangs and police in Sao Paulo.

The Clare People contacted the Brazilian Association in Gort, but they declined to make any comment on the situation at this point.

A YOUNG MAN yesterday pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of two west Clare teenagers near Carrigaholt almost three years ago.

David Naughton (18), with an address in London and formerly with an address at Westside House, a unit for homeless adolescents in Galway, appeared before Ennis Circuit Court yesterday (Monday).

He pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Kilkee girls Stacey Haugh (16) and Lorna Mahoney (13), at Moyarta, Carrigaholt, on October 17, 2003. The two girls died instantly when the car in which they were travelling struck a wall only a few hundred yards from the seaside village of Carrigaholt.

Naughton was extradited from the UK in July and appeared before Kilrush District Court on July 26.

That court heard on that occasion that the accused was arrested at Shannon Airport the previous evening, on foot of a bench warrant issued on February 20, 2004.

The Book of Evidence was served on July 28 at Ennis District Court and he was returned for trial to Ennis Circuit Court.

The case was due to go to trial on the week of October 17 next.

However, Naughton entered a plea of guilty yesterday and the case was adjourned for sentencing in three weeks’ time.

Earlier, the court was told that there would be 19 State witnesses in the case and the accused was granted a request for a Senior Counsel.

Naughton first appeared in court in Ennis on October 24, 2003, a week after the fatal crash. He was remanded to St Patrick’s Institution in Dublin, but he was released on bail, on condition that he remain at a voluntary care unit in Galway.

After absconding from there, he was rearrested and brought before Ennis District Court where he was again remanded to St Patrick’s Institution.

At his next court appearance, he pleaded with Judge Joseph Mangan to again grant him bail after claiming he was assaulted on three different occasions by other inmates while in custody.

Despite objections from the State, Judge Joseph Mangan granted the accused bail, but warned that he faced being sent back to St Patrick’s Institution if the conditions of his bail were breached again.

However, he absconded for a second time, but on this occasion fled to England. In February 2004, a bench warrant for his arrest was issued after he failed to appear in court.

PRECISE details relating to a number of security-related aspects of the €10 million plan to construct an explosives factory on the shores of the Shannon estuary are to remain a secret.

According to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) lodged with the plan, “Irish law dictates that selected information, in particular process engineering and security aspects of the proposed developments, are considered security sensitive.”

The EIS states, “The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has the legal right to restrict the disclosure of information, which might pose a risk to national security.

“Therefore, details of selected detailed information submitted are classified and under security control of the Department of Justice and the Garda Síochána in order to ensure that explosives are adequately secured and protected at the site.

This information includes storage arrangements and the detailed design of the buildings in which the explosives are stored; details on security lighting, perimeter fence and any other on-site security systems; the process for manufacture of explosives and details on explosives transport arrangement to and from the site.

The EIS states, “though these arrangements and details are not made known to the public, the public may be assured that they meet the specifications of the Government’s Inspector of Explosives in relation to safety and the Garda in relation to security.”

The EIS states that outline details on all of the sensitive information are available to the public.

“Additional information, if required, may be sought from the Inspector of Explosives and the gardaí subject to security clearance of the person seeking the information.”

It goes on, “In this context, it should be noted that no restriction has been placed on the disclosure of information to the planning authorities, but only on its publication to the public by the planning authorities.”

It adds, “No restriction has been placed by the Minister on the disclosure of information relating to the safety or the environmental impact of the proposal save insofar as such information may be considered security sensitive.

“In imposing such a restriction, the Government Inspector of Explosives has liaised closely with senior Garda members.

“It is noted that this approach has been ratified by means of the judgement of the High Court judicial review proceedings case. No information relating to the proposed development has been omitted from the EIS.”

The statement also points out that Shannon Explosives Ltd will implement state-of-the-art safety and security procedures and systems.

THE proposed €10 million Shannon Explosives factory proposed for Cahercon, Kildysart, will result in a €30 million spend through capital and operational costs over the first 20 years of its operation.

That is according to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project re-lodged with Clare County Council.

The revised plan was initially lodged with the council in August but was invalidated due to a technicality and has now been re-lodged and deemed a valid application.

According to the EIS, “The net present value over 20 years of all income injections arising from capital and recurrent expenditures associated with the proposed development ranges from €27.4 million to €29.5 million.

“As a result of the increased expenditure within the local area arising from increased income, it is likely that existing retail and service outlets in Kildysart will be commercially strengthened with a resultant underpinning of the social infrastructure of the settlement and the rural hinterland that it serves.”

The EIS states, “The overall residual impact of the scheme on the human environment is likely to be positive, due to the large benefits that will arise from the proposed development.”

It states that “in relation to tourism, the proposals to landscape the site proposed for development and its environs will make it a more attractive place of resort for residents of the local community as well as tourists and will enhance its fishing potential.

“It is the intention of the developer to construct and operate a safe, environment-compliant and visually pleasing facility, thereby minimising the adverse environmental, aesthetic and socio-economic impacts of the project.”

The EIS shows that no significant adverse affect on the environs should occur as a result of the proposed explosives manufacturing development.

The EIS states that the visual aspect of the plant will not be alien to the locality due to the other industrial developments already located in the area, such as Aughinish Alumina.

A decision is not due on the application until some time next year. A previous application for an explosives factory on the same site sparked a four-year long planning battle that led to An Bord Pleanala refusing planning permission in February 2003.

Without a sod being turned on the scheme, the Whelan Group has already spent almost €7 million on the project.

The factory has been opposed by local residents as well as environmental lobby, the Friends of the Irish Environment.