The Clare People Archive

GARDAÍ are hunting for a gang who they believe are responsible for a spate of post office robberies in the east Clare/north Tipperary area over the past few months.

A woman in her 40s endured a terrifying ordeal when she was tied up and locked in the bathroom of her home, adjacent to the post office in Whitegate in the early hours of last Wednesday.

Three intruders, wearing balaclavas and carrying a baseball bat, broke into her home and tied her up, at around 3.20am. She remained tied up until another family member arrived on the premises shortly after 8am.

The men fled with what gardaí described as “a very small sum” of cash, after they failed to gain entry to the safe.

An aluminium folding ladder, with the initials “EW” written on black marker, was found at the Whitegate premises, the bottom rung of which was green. Gardai say this did not belong there. They have urged people to check their premises, to see if a ladder is missing.

Inspector Kevin Moynihan said a link between this robbery and post office robberies in Broadford – in which €30,000 was stolen – Kilkishen and various parts of north Tipperary in recent months was been investigated.

“We are certainly actively pursuing that there may have been a link between the Broadford post office robbery in November and this one. There is a possibility that other post office robberies in north Tipperary and Clare were carried out by the same gang,” said Insp Moynihan.

He is advising people to have alarms fitted to their premises and to ensure they are connected to a monitoring station.

“People should look at the possibility of having CCTV cameras installed. These people would case the place a day or two before carrying out a robbery, maybe not buying much, but paying attention to a premises.”

Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) said the break-in at Whitegate should prompt An Post to improve security measures at rural post offices..

A spokesperson for An Post would not comment publicly on security matters.

But she said the company would spend €15 million on security across the national post office network this year.

CLARE junior Minister Síle de Valera has said she has no intention of resigning her ministerial post, despite political pressure to do so.

The long-serving TD, who announced that she would resign from politics at the next election, said she was encouraged by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to keep her ministerial portfolio until then.

However, just a fortnight ago, Mr Ahern was believed to be coming under pressure from TDs in marginal constituencies to banish the outgoing Clare politicians to the backbenches.

Elements within the party believe a junior minister’s post would benefit areas such as Mayo, Cork South-West and Limerick-West, because, they believe, Clare can return two seats.

A minor shuffle is expected within the junior ranks this week, with Junior Minster Pat “the Cope” Gallagher likely to take the post vacated by the controversial former junior minister, Ivor Callely.

Mr Gallagher’s replacement is expected to come from Dublin North, so side-stepping a need for a major reshuffle. Without a major reshuffle, junior Minister de Valera is likely to see out her political career in her education portfolio.

Meanwhile, a date for the Clare Fianna Fáil convention has yet to be decided.

The Constituency Committee, headed up by Finance Minister Brian Cowan is to begin considering a new date for the local convention in consultation with party officials in the county.

THE Department of Transport has come under fire for refusing to release the vast majority of records relating to Government talks with the US on the phased ending of the “Shannon stopover”.

Fine Gael TD, Pat Breen, said yesterday that refusal to release the records raised suspicions about the stance of the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, in his negotiations to end Shannon’s gateway status.

“This is a very important issue that affects the whole of the west of Ireland and the Government should be open and accountable in relation to the decisions that it takes that affect people of this region.”

In response to a Freedom of Information request from The Clare People , the Dept of Transport refused to release 98 of the 129 records held by the Department on the issue.

The Department refused to release 89 of the records through Section 20 and 21 of the Act, as the records were part of the deliberate process and releasing the records could also be contrary to the public interest. The Department also refused to release the records as they would disclose positions taken for the purposes of any negotiations carried out on behalf of the Government.

The Government also refused to release nine records under Section 19 and Section 27 of the Act, the latter due to commercial sensitivity.

The 31 records released are mainly documents already in the public domain and shed no light on the negotiations that went on between the Irish and US sides.

The phased ending of the “stop-over” is due to commence in November of this year, when a transitional phase of a ratio of Dublin/Shannon flights will go from one for one to three for one in favour of Dublin. From November, Irish airlines will have access to three additional US destinations, while cargo services from Shannon will not be subject to any “stop-over” requirements from next November.

The decision to end the “stop-over” has already met with strong opposition in the region with SIGNAL, the Shannon workers lobby leading the chorus of disapproval.

Since striking the deal, Minister Cullen has consistently refused to carry out an economic impact statement into the ending of the stop-over. Already, an independent study has forecast that Shannon’s transatlantic traffic will drop from 700,000 to 400,000 under an “open skies” regime.

THE Arts Council this week eased the financial burden on Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council by subsidising the activities of Glór Irish Music Centre, to the tune of €100,000.

The Arts Council also increased funding to the Willie Clancy Summer School by 60 per cent to €80,000, while Clare County Council’s Arts Programme received one of the highest allocations in the country to a local authority at €100,000.

The allocation for Glór for 2006 will be seen as a recognition of the centre’s growing reputation and is more than three times the allocation Glór received last year. In 2004, Glór received €30,000, while in 2003, it received only €6,000.

Accounts for last year are not yet finalised. However, Glór recorded a profit for the first time in 2004 after subsidy, following sustained losses over the previous first two years.

Last Summer, Glór axed its summer traditional Irish music programme aimed at tourists, due to the programme losing money over the previous three years.

Currently, Glór receives an annual subsidy of €317,000 from Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council. The Arts Council funding follows a successful campaign by Glór in 2002 for Government to fund the independent traditional music sector.

The Willie Clancy Summer School were allies of Glór in that debate and the Arts Council has provided the School with €80,000.

Director of the Willie Clancy Summer School, Muiris O’Rochain, told The Clare People , “We’re absolutely delighted with the allocation. It is a recognition of the work we have been doing.”

Mr O’Rochain said that last year, the Summer School received €50,000 and in 2004 €25,000.

He said, “The allocation will be very valuable to us as this year we won’t have the use of the Mill Theatre and will have to provide a marquee. This could cost us an additional €30,000 to €40,000 in expenses.”

SIX workers, suspended earlier this week for playing rugby on a ramp close to moving aircraft at Shannon Airport, have been formally dismissed by their employers following an investigation of the incident.

The six, all of whom worked for international ground handling agent Servisair, were sacked last Thursday, four days after they were originally suspended for their parts in the incident, which occurred after a rugby ball fell from baggage as it was been loaded onto the aircraft.

A seventh employee, who was inside the cargo hold of the plane at the time, was not involved in the incident.

The ramp staff were observed by the captain of a Ryanair flight that had just landed at Shannon.

The aircraft was taxiing past at the time and the matter was immediately reported by the pilot to air traffic controllers.

An airport source said that another taxiing aircraft had to brake suddenly after the ball “came within 50 yards of the plane.”

It had been feared that the ball could have been sucked into an engine.

It is understood that the incident was also captured on airport CCTV cameras.

All six men had their security clearances revoked and were suspended pending the outcome of an internal investigation by the company. That investigation is understood to have been completed on Wednesday evening and the workers were notified of the company’s decision to terminate their employment on Thursday morning.

The incident occurred the day after Munster beat Sale Sharks at Thomond Park to qualify for a home quarter-final in the Heineken European Cup.

A spokesperson for Servisair stated that, “the incident took place in an exposed area near aircraft. The captain of an aircraft saw this and expressed concern about it. It is a serious health and safety issue and we are taking it very seriously. We have to be 100 per cent sure of the safety of travelling passengers.”

A spokesman for the Shannon Airport Authority said, “this is an internal disciplinary matter for the handling company, but we will be interested in the outcome of their investigation insofar as it concerns ramp safety.”

A LIMERICK woman who was given a laser card in Limerick and told to go to Ennis and do “the best she could” with it, then used it in nine premises in Clare.

Ennis District Court was told that Kathleen Stickle (22), of Pineview Gardens, Moyross, Limerick, was a ‘very small link in the drugs chain’ and was being used by drug dealers.

Stickle, a mother-of-one, unlawfully obtained goods to the value of €865 in total, in the premises, which included two phone shops, two sports shops, a newsagents and two service stations, in Ennis and surrounding areas, on September 30, 2004. Six of the premises were in Ennis, and one each in Clarecastle, Shannon and Newmarket-on-Fergus.

The court heard that the owner of the laser card was reimbursed in full by the bank, but that no compensation was paid by the accused.

Detective Garda Brendan Rouine said it would appear as though the accused was being used by other persons and was given the card to use.

Defending solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client was addicted to cocaine at the time and

had fallen into “huge arrears” with a drug deal er in Limerick.

“Somebody obtained the card. She was given the card and was told to go to Ennis and do the best she could . . . The goods are given to a drug dealer and he sells them on,” said Mr Hassett.

He said the card was taken off her afterwards, in Limerick.

“This lady is petrified you would give her a custodial sentence. She says she has prospects. She is very much a small link in the drugs chain. She is paying a very high price for her wrong.

“She is being used by drug dealers. Once they have you within their grasp, it is hard to get out. I’d ask you to give her a chance. She will pay back the full amount,” said Mr Hassett.

Judge Joseph Mangan adjourned the case for two months, for a probation report to be carried out.

THE newly-published Lonely Planet Guide to Ireland states that the Cliffs of Moher has turned into a “sightseeing circus”.

But, according to the Clare County Council official responsible for a new €32m visitor centre at the Cliffs, the Lonely Planet assessment is, “something we already knew”.

Ger Dollard said, “the fundamental principles of the new visitor experience is to bring order to chaos and introduce better visitor management arrangements to deliver a more positive visitor experience.

“The internal exhibition and interpretative elements are also designed to provide a sensory experience that allows the visitor to become one with nature at the Cliffs of Moher.

“Extending existing walkways will improve, very significantly, the health and safety aspects at the site.

“The cliffs are world-class standard and the new visitor experience project will ensure that facilities complement that.”

Overall, Clare receives a glowing endorsement from the Lonely Planet guidebook.

Its publication coincides with the council increasing its tourism promotion budget by 200 per cent this year.

The chapter states, “Clare sits quietly between Galway to the north and Kerry to the south, unmoved by the starry reputations of those two famous Irish counties. Yet Clare wins hands down when it comes to startling landscape and dramatic prehistoric artefacts.

“It may not boast the great mountains of Galway and Kerry, nor their corrugated coastlines, but there are few more compelling landscapes in all of Ireland than the Burren of north Clare, with its swooping hills of raw limestone and its mosaic of vividly coloured wild flowers. The Burren region is one of those compelling places that will captivate you and may never let you go.

“Here you’ll find the bare bones of ancient burial chambers, the curving walls of Iron-Age castles, medieval tower houses and remote beaches.

“Many of Clare’s towns and villages retain their traditional charm. The county town of Ennis has an engaging network of narrow streets, while villages such as Miltown Malbay and Kilfenora have grand old pubs that host traditional music sessions on various evenings.

“Two villages define Clare’s keynote attractions. Doolin on the breezy west coast draws music lovers and backpackers, while lovely Ballyvaughan, on the southern shores of Galway Bay, is an ideal base for exploring the Burren.”

Mr Dollard said, “I think the guide confirms that whether you go north, south, east or west, Clare has it.

ENNIS Chamber of Commerce has said that closed circuit security cameras may only arrive in Ennis in 2007, despite Government assurances that the town is on its priority list, for the roll out of the new equipment.

Ennis is included on a Department of Justice priority list, for the Garda CCTV programme. Six new areas have been added to that list, bringing to 17, the number of towns on it.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said last week that more than €5 million had been set aside to extend CCTV coverage to provincial urban centres, this year. He said the initial public procurement process would get underway shortly.

A spokesman for the department told The Clare People all 17 would be rolled out in an “outsourcing initiative”.

“What this means for Ennis is it will be delivered quicker than previously would have been the case.

“Hopefully a lot of this will be done this year or next year,” said the spokesman.

The CEO of Ennis Chamber of Commerce said CCTV should be installed sooner rather than later in Ennis, the tenth largest town in Ireland.

“They [Dept of Justice] say they are starting the process, but the process takes between seven and nine months. It looks like we won’t get it until 2007,” said Rita McInerney.

“The process would want to start immediately in order for us to have it by next Christmas, given the length of time it takes,” she added.

The process will include the establishment of a committee between Ennis gardai, Ennis Town Council and the Chamber of Commerce.

“It is a very complicated process. If the committee is set up immediately, I would see no problem us working with the gardai and the Town Council. The organisations in the town are ready for it,” added Ms McInerney.

The Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Frankie Neylon, has said the CCTV issue has been on the backburner for far too long, having been put back four times.

“We were told we were third or fourth on the 2006 to 2008 priority list. If they have now added on other places, they have probably put them in front of Ennis, rather than behind it,” said Cllr Neylon.

But he warned that the arrival of CCTV should not be allowed to cause the transfer of crime problems to other areas of the county.

IN THE end, all it took was one line.

A line that finally brought closure on something that dragged around the beautiful Burren and beyond for 15 years. Mullach Mór – that mountain of a controversy.

The line didn’t smack of defeat, but that’s what it was. The final admission from the State that the interpretative centre game was up. A game the State started, the game the State lost.

The game started the April 22, 1991 day that the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Vincent Brady, announced that the OPW was going to build a £2.6 million interpretative centre in the shadow of Mullaghmore mountain.

The State moved in the bulldozers – intent on building its centre of interpretative excellence without planning permission. The State was above the law in planning matters, so their rules said.

Game on. The State’s loose interpretation of the planning laws amounted to bulldozing on the rights of ordinary citizens. Citizens like James Howard, PJ Curtis, Emer Colleran, Lelia Doolan, Fionnuala McNamara, John O’Donoghue and Patrick McCormack of the Burren Action Group.

They risked everything – their homes, their livelihoods. Lose and the State would show no mercy. They didn’t lose because An Bord Pleanála finally ruled in 2000 that the Mullaghmore centre “would result in an unacceptable degradation of the physical environment of an area of outstanding beauty and that it would not be in accordance with the principles of published by the Government in 1997”.

Still, the State showed no mercy when it was revealed by The Clare People last month that its agents, Crosskerrys Solicitors, had moved to try and get €35,000 from the Mullaghmore Seven.

It had another storm brewing in the Burren – even Mullaghmore supporter, Minister Tony Killeen, voiced his opposition to the move. The State smelled some small revenge – it only left their nostrils with their climbdown on Friday.

The one line letter to the Burren Action Group told this story. “I wish to inform you that I have now been instructed not to pursue any further the balance of the State’s costs in this matter,” said Chief State Solicitor, David J O’Hagan.

Another victory for the Burren Action Group. The final one. The end of the terrible affair.

THE State has dropped its pursuit of seven members of the Burren Action Group for €35,000 in legal costs arising from the decade-long Mullaghmore conflict.

Last month, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office appointed a debt collection agency to pursue the seven, including author, John O’Donoghue, and NUIG academic, Prof Emer Colleran, for €34,427 in legal costs.

However, the Chief State Solicitor, David O’Hagan, has now written to the Group to state, “I have now been instructed not to pursue any further the balance of the State’s costs”. Mr O’Hagan gives no reason for the State’s climb-down.

After the appointment of the debtcollectors last month, the Action Group wrote to Mr O’Hagan, contesting the claim that they owed anything to the State, or its agents.

“We acted at all times in the public good and we were successful in our litigation campaign against the State’s plan to locate an Interpretative Centre at Mullaghmore.

“We also sought to minimise the costs to the State which, in spite of our efforts, amounted to €5.1 million of public money.”

The move by the State to pursue the seven also came under fire from the Action Group’s chief political opponent in the ten-year long battle over the proposed interpretative centre at Mullaghmore. Junior Minister, Tony Killeen, described the State’s action as “very unhelpful”.

One of the seven plaintiffs, author and broadcaster, PJ Curtis, expressed his delight that the “sword of financial persecution” had been lifted.

“We are all so delighted that five years after being proven right, we now have had the sword of financial persecution lifted from above our heads. The State should never have held this threat against us, but this is a great day.”

A spokesman for the Action Group this week welcomed the move by the state not to pursue the seven for the €35,000.

“Whilst perplexed that the state pursued us thus far, we, nevertheless, welcome the decision to put an end to the matter. It should give heart to those who pursue legitimate concerns through the courts in the public interest.”

Dean of the Faculty of Law at NUI Galway, Donncha O’Connell said, “The decision not to pursue the Burren Action Group for costs, however belated, is welcome.”

The other plaintiffs pursued include two Burren farmers, Patrick McCormack and James Howard, broadcaster, Lelia Doolin, and Fionnuala McNamara.