The Clare People Archive

FOUR men will appear in court next month, charged with assaulting a man at a service station in Liscannor last year. Ennistymon District Court was told that more than 20 witnesses – including 10 gardaí – will give evidence in the case, which is expected to last a number of hours.

Before the court are John McNamara and Martin McNamara, both of Tarmon West, Kilkee, who are charged with assault causing harm, at Liscannor service station, on July 17, 2005. Two others, Joseph Malone and Michael Malone, both of Ballyvislane, Liscannor, are charged with assault, at Liscannor service station, on July 15, 2005.

It’s alleged that the two Malones approached a man at the service station on July 15 and abused him. They allegedly pulled the man’s shirt and punched him.

It is also alleged that the two McNamaras went to the same location on July 17, and headbutted, kicked and punched the same man.

NEW bylaws governing behaviour on Clare’s beaches have been ratified by Clare County Council.

At Monday’s monthly meeting of Clare County Council, members elected to adopt the laws which apply to 12 beaches. Under the new laws, patrons will not be allowed to walk dogs on beaches between 11am and 6pm during June, July and August. The laws also impose speed restrictions on jet skis that are being used 300 metres from the shoreline. The new byelaws will serve as an amalgamation of existing guidelines regarding public behaviour on beaches. Enforcement of the laws will be carried out by council officials and in some cases An Garda Síochána.

The bylaws no longer apply to Ballyalla after members decided not to include it as a beach area. Concerns had been expressed by councillors at yesterday’s meeting of the Ennis Area Electoral Committee about the classification of Ballyalla as a beach, following a presentation made by Dara McGuigan, Senior Staff Officer with Environment Section of Clare County Council. Final consideration of the bylaws had been deferred until after the Environment SPC recommended that all electoral area committees be given the chance to examine the representations made by parties.

Councillor Christy Curtin said he supported the bylaws, provided they would be reviewed after a year.

Cllr Joe Carey said there was nothing new in the bylaws and added that “our views aren’t being taken on board and we are becoming too entangled in legislation.”

A MAN became agitated at a garda station after the officer he was looking for was not available, and then refused to leave, Ennis District Court has heard.

Dermot Tuohy, of 19 An Páirc, Bruach na hAbhainn, Ennis, failed to comply with the direction of a garda at Ennis Garda Station on December 23.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the accused went to Ennis station looking for Sergeant Michael Haran. Garda Lisa McDonagh told him to wait and he got agitated and refused to leave.

“He was insistent on seeing Sgt Haran, who was not available. He kept banging on the hatch door and ringing the bell. He was quite aggressive and refused to leave. He refused to listen to her (Gda McDonagh’s) explanation,” said Inspector Kennedy.

Defending solicitor Billy Loughnane said his client had met with Sgt Haran in relation to a particular problem, four or five weeks earlier. That particular problem reemerged on that day and he went to see Sgt Haran again to discuss it.

The solicitor said his client was highly embarrassed and apologised to the court. He said he was willing to make a contribution to the court poor box.

Judge Joseph Mangan said he would dismiss the charge under the Probation of Offenders Act in the mitigating circumstances, if €100 was paid and this was paid in court.

CLIFFS of Moher trader, Gerry Cahill, has said he will sue Clare County Council for loss of income should they succeed in obtaining a high court injunction preventing him from trading at the Cliffs.

This follows comments last week by Clare County Council’s Director of Services, Gerard Dollard, who reaffirmed his commitment to take legal action to prevent casual trading at the site of the €30 million interpretative centre.

Speaking to the Clare People , Mr Cahill also criticised Mr Dollard for refusing to meet with the traders. He has also critisised the management of the project in general, particularly those in charge of the walkway and car park facilities.

“When you are dealing with Clare County Council I don’t think much thought goes into it,” said Mr Cahill. “This could be sorted out easily if they just sat down and talked with us. He (Gerard Dollard) has never responded to us at all.

“We have spoken to a number of local representatives who say that he is determined to bring it to court. Ger Dollard has a bee in his bonnet about us traders when the whole place in a mess up there,” continued Mr Cahill.

“They wouldn’t get away with it if they were in the private sector and their jobs depended on it. The people visiting the Cliffs are angry, some say that they won’t be back.”

While Mr Cahill is campaigning to prevent traders from being barred from the Cliffs, he does believe that some regulation is necessary.

“We have asked verbally and in writing for proper regulation and legalisation so why have they never done it?” he asked. “If some of the traders don’t want to be legalised then I’m not responsible for them. I’m representing those who have licences and want to trade legally.”

This is not the first time that Clare County Council has gone to court in order to remove traders from the Cliffs of Moher. In 1994 six traders were granted permits by the council after a court battle.

“They have already lost on this issue in the past. We have a right to work and a right to make a living, and they have already established this precedent,” said Mr Cahill. “If we go to court and lose, we lose our jobs, if they go to court and lose they are just wasting more of the taxpayers’ money.”

A SPATE of vandalism, during which 11 cars were damaged over the weekend, has prompted Ennis gardai to warn car-owners not to leave any valuables in their vehicles. Three cars were damaged while their owners were attending mass at Ennis Cathedral on Saturday evening. The cars were parked in the Holy Family school carpark, between 6.40pm and 7.10pm and the front passenger windows were broken.

“Nothing was taken. However, this was a despicable crime, given that people were at mass at the time,” said Ennis Supt John Kerin.

Five other cars, parked in Glór, were damaged on Friday evening, while their owners were attending the panto. Their windows were damaged between 7.20pm and 9.45pm. A sum of cash and driver’s licence was stolen from one. Gardai are examining CCTV footage. Meanwhile, three cars were damaged at Quay road, Clarecastle, shortly before 2am on Saturday. The windows on each of the cars were broken in the process.

“We believe six youths were involved in this and we are following a definite line of enquiry,” said Supt Kerin.

SPIRALLING wage costs are to push Clare County Council’s budget for this year over the €100 million barrier, for the first time in the local authority’s history.

In the budget presented to the 32-member Council yesterday by County Manager, Alec Fleming, the council was told that in 2006, the Council will spend €101 million this year – an increase of 8.4 per cent on the spend last year of €93 million.

The council adjourned ratifying the budget until next Monday to allow for other council business to be discussed. According to the manager’s report, however, 2006 represents almost a doubling of the council’s budget since 2000.

The largest factor behind the increase is the additional €2.5 million staff will be paid as a result of national pay agreements. The largest programme in this year’s budget was the €34 million roads programme. The County Manager told the members that he would like “to do a lot more in the area of roads” and he was making a strong case for additional cash.

He expressed concern about the level of central Government funding allocated to the council – €14.65 million for 2006.

“The increase in the fund is at the lower end of the scale when compared with other county councils, whether measured in percentage of absolute terms. Given the funding pressures outlined in this report, that is a matter for concern,” explained the manager.

Cllr Christy Curtain informed his fellow councillors that Clare was in the bottom five local authorities in the country when it came to getting an increase, citing Cllr Madeline Taylor Quinn to ask why the Banner County’s residents were being treated like second class citizens.

In a bid to finance the escalating budget, the county’s businesses are to be hit with a 5.5 per cent rates increase that will generate an additional €1.55 million. The local authority has also expanded the rates base which will bring in a further €1.1 million.

Mr Fleming also told members that the council will this year have to provide €731,000 in loan interest payments for the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre – over €300,000 more initially envisaged. Last year, loan interest on the project cost €200,000.

The anticipated drop of €1.3 million in income from the county’s waste management facility at Inagh will also place pressure on the budget.

Mr Fleming said the council has budgeted to spend €500,000 on a new water treatment system for Ennis and that the money is being sought on the understanding that it will be recouped from the Department of the Environment.

The council has also budgeted for an additional €30,000 in legal costs, pushing the total up to €100,000. A total of €15 million will be spent on water supply and sewerage scheme and the €15 million environmental protection programme.

The council also intends to spend €9 million next year on housing and €5.7 million on planning, while €7.2 million will be spent on recreation and amenity.

A TOY gun bought in Glasgow by a Kilkishen man and brought back through customs in Shannon landed him on a firearms charge, after gardaí declared it an offensive weapon.

Bobby Gleeson, of 21 Hillcrest Grove pleaded guilty to an offence under the Firearms Act, at Tulla District Court.

Sergeant Francis O’Grady told Superintendent Tony Kenneally that he received a complaint after a ten-year old boy was struck by plastic pellets fired from the gun.

Sgt O’Grady said a young person told him that Gleeson pulled up in a car and fired the gun at him, as he stood in the street on April 18.

“The plastic ball bearing hit him just below the groin and when I saw him a couple of hours afterwards, his leg was still marked,” said Sgt O’Grady.

The sergeant said that Gleeson claimed he had not intended to hit the boy, but had aimed the gun at a stray dog. The gun was sent to the Garda HQ and after been examined, was declared illegal and an offensive weapon in the meaning of the Firearms Act.

“It was clearly written on the packaging that it should not be fired at people. It fires at quite a high velocity.”

Gleeson’s solicitor said his client had bought the gun on a trip to Glasgow and had brought it home in his luggage through customs at Shannon Airport. Gleeson wanted to apologise to the boy and his family, the solicitor said.

“The gun wouldn’t be illegal in Britain, but bring it across the Irish Sea and it is illegal – we accept that,” he added.

Judge Joseph Mangan asked “What did the dog do to incur his displeasure?”

The court heard that 28-year old Gleeson had a partner and a young child and was working as a block layer.

The boy had fully recovered, Judge Mangan was told. After hearing that Gleeson earned in the region of €600 a week, Judge Mangan fined him €1,000, with 90 days to pay the fine.

THE provision of a hostel for homeless people sleeping rough in Clare is the priority for the newly appointed outreach officer with St Vincent de Paul.

Sandra Cox has recently taken up the post, which will see her providing support for homeless people across the county.

The Homeless Forum in Clare has said the lack of supported hostel accommodation is a major problem, in meeting the needs of the homeless.

Ms Cox, who has previously worked with the homeless in Limerick, will have a tough task ahead of her in Clare, where the number of homeless people has doubled in just two years. More than 500 people reported as homeless to the local authorities in Clare last year and Ms Cox is the first ever Outreach Officer for St Vincent de Paul in the county. Her role will be to focus on those who find themselves homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, amid difficulty acquiring a site for a hostel for the homeless.

A particular accommodation, on the outskirts of Ennis, which would provide an emergency home for 20 men, has been identified by St Vincent de Paul as suitable, but this has yet to be agreed by the relevant authorities.

“There have been three deaths in Ennis – on the streets – in the space of six years. Nobody is working with that group at the moment,” she said. “We are provided supported housing for people, by placing them in B & Bs, which is unsuitable. St Vincent de Paul is hoping to acquire houses, to be used as temporary accommodation, rather than B & Bs”.

Comparing the situation with Limerick, Ms Cox said, “Limerick is more advanced in that there is a homeless peoples’ unit and three hostels in Limerick.”

Clare people are currently referred to hostels in Galway and Limerick, but this is not satisfactory.

“People don’t necessarily want to go to Limerick or Galway. They want to stay in the area they are familiar with,” she said.

She believes people find themselves on the streets due to a variety of problems and issues, including domestic violence, alcohol and mental health issues and various family problems.

“They tend to be young males, between the ages of 18 and 25 and they are generally more town-based. You get a culture of people drinking on the streets over a period of time and they get used to it,” she added.

Anyone with queries should contact Sandra by calling Clare County Council homeless unit on (065) 6821616.

THE number of suicides in Clare last year was half the 2004 figure.

Provisional figures obtained by The Clare People show ten suspected suicides in 2005, compared to the previous year’s total of 20.

The provisional number is the lowest total in five years – there were 13 suicides in 2003, 12 in 2002 and 13 in 2001.

All the victims last year were male and nine were single, with the tenth married, but separated. The figures show that men under the age of thirty are most at risk with five taking their own lives.

The next largest grouping are those aged over fifty with three taking their own lives.

There was one person under the age of 20, one in his thirties and one in his forties.

The deaths of two other people who lost their lives in the River Fergus last year remained “unexplained” and cannot be categorised as suicide.

Last year was the first time in a number of years when no suicide took place at the Cliffs of Moher. In 2004, four people lost their lives at the Cliffs.

Two men took their lives over the recent holiday period. However, from July to December no suicide took place in the county.

The figures also show that the largest proportion of suicides took place in rural parts of west Clare.

In response to the figures, consultant psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee told The Clare People : “the drop in confirmed suicides is a good sign, but we cannot be complacent and it is too early to identify a trend.

Dr Bhamjee added: “suicides have traditionally been underreported, while I would be very concerned at the number of single men under the age of 30 that have taken their lives.

“Anyone that is feeling suicidal should contact the Samaritans who are available 24 hours a day.”

Dr Bhamjee said that he was not surprised that all the suspected suicides were males last year. He said: “the normal ratio is four to one in favour of males.”

West Clare-based councillor, Tom Prendeville said that the largest proportion of victims coming from west Clare doesn’t come as a surprise as the area is a disadvantaged area.

“One suicide is too much and it is an area that we need to look at even further in terms of education and awareness that would allow early intervention,” he said.

ENNIS Hospital is encountering additional pressure on bed space due to a new policy of allowing people with alcohol-related problems to detox in the hospital’s wards.

Last week, The Clare People revealed that the highest proportion of admissions to Ennis’s psychiatric unit in 2004 was people with alcohol-related problems.

The figures supplied by the Health Research Board show that people with alcohol disorders accounted for 22.5 per cent, or 134 of the 597 admissions to the acute psychiatric unit in Ennis.

However, arising from a new policy put in place by the Health Service Executive (HSE), those people with alcohol-related problems are now being admitted to Ennis Hospital instead of the psychiatric unit.

Already, the Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO) has complained this year of overcrowding at the hospital and a hospital spokeswoman said that the policy of admitting people with alcohol problems is adding to the pressure on bed space.

She told The Clare People : “of course it adds to the pressure on beds as every new referral does, but we are dealing with it as we have to.”

She added that those admitted are cared for in the hospital’s wards, while an out-patient service is also provided. The spokeswoman said that psychiatrists also attend those presenting with alcohol problems at Ennis Hospital. The admissions are made to Ennis Hospital through GP, or self-referrals.

Consultant psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee said that the change in policy has freed up much needed bed space in the psychiatric unit. However, he added: “there is still pressure on beds on the acute unit.”

Dr Bhamjee said that the next report by the Health Research Board will show a very large decrease in people presenting with drink problems at the acute unit.

However, Dr Bhamjee said he has “personal reservations” over the new policy.

“The patients are not kept as long in the medical wards as they would be in the psychiatric wards. Also, the psychiatric staff would have built up a relationship with a number of the patients over a number of years,” he said.

Dr Bhamjee said that after detoxing in the medical wards, or as out-patients, patients are then referred to the Bushy Park Treatment Centre, addiction courses, or the local office of Sláinte.

On the 13 or 2.2 per cent admitted for eating disorders to the acute psychiatric unit in 2004, Dr Bhamjee said that the vast majority would be suffering from anorexia and that the age-profile of those being admitted with the condition is lowering all the time.