The Clare People Archive

Dont let it go all to waste

CLARE County Council is to be asked by Kerry County Council to support a motion to have rural rep- resentatives appointed to An Bord Pleanala, as proposed by Kilbaha- based Irish Rural Dwellers Associa- intone

The IRDA has posted a booklet on this topic to every elected member in Ireland and at this month’s meet- ing of the Kerry local authority, Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae (Ind) called for the association to be supported.

The IRDA has also called for a sworn enquiry into how it is that farming and rural issues are official- ly represented on the board by two senior planning inspectors. “These inspectors were employees of the board up to the minute they were appointed on the board by Minister Noel Dempsey on January 1, 2002. They will be there until 2012 with a possible reappointment until 2017; at least 10 years and possibly 15, of rural representation on the board, by planners. These are the bare facts and from a rural perspective they are shocking enough in themselves but what is even more disturbing are the step-by-step details of the ap- pointment process as explained by the IRDA in their booklet,’ said Clir

Healy-Rae.

The IRDA maintains that An Bord Pleanala is inextricably linked to the Department of the Environment, and as the department controls the ap- pointment process as well as all other aspects of planning, the board can- not be considered truly independent, is not a balanced group with diverse backgrounds and is, in the view of the IRDA, undemocratic in its con- stitution.

‘These are very serious statements, but they have never been challenged since they were published. They paint a picture of an appeals process which is functioning in the exact opposite way to what was intended when it was established by the Oireachtas in 1977,’ said the councillor.

“An Bord Pleanala doesn’t live on a different planet. Councillors who spend up to 80 and 90 per cent of their time on planning matters must have total confidence that decisions appealed to the board are going to a completely independent body, whose members are a balanced group with diverse backgrounds and a_ body which is democratic in its constitu- tion – not the other way around.”

Kerry County Council also agreed to write to all of the other council’s in the country seeking support for the IRDA proposal.

A NEW website which promotes Clare as a value-for-money destina- tion for visitors will be launched on Friday at a landmark tourism confer- ence in Ennistymon.

The conference in the Falls Hotel, is the 21st all-Ireland conference for those involved in the tourism busi- i entoe

Up to 300 people will attend the conference over the course of the weekend and one of the first orders of business will be the launch of the website.

www.clareoffers.com is a compli- mentary website to the existing clare. ie site, which showcases everything there is to do in Clare.

‘The new site 1s an opportunity for people to publicise their special of- fers. It gives them a forum and show- cases Clare as a value for money destination – that’s important in the current climate. Value is what peo- ple are looking for,’ said Maureen Cleary of the Clare Tourism Forum.

The forum is responsible, in con- junction with Clare County Council, for setting up the site, which carries offers on packages for hotels, spe- cial menu offers for restaurants, and money-oif and discounts at business-

es all over Clare, from Durty Nellies to the Russell Art Gallery.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will open the weekend conference, which is being organised by the Clare Tour- ism Council.

The site 1s open to anyone who is a member of the clare.ie site. New members are welcome to join at any mbeaten

Key-note speakers include Brian Simpson, MEP who is head of Trans- port and Tourism with the EU. Coun- ty Manager, Tom Coughlan will also address the conference.

This is the 21st year that Ennisty- mon has played host to the confer- ence and the theme – ‘Promoting Partnership in Tourism, 21 years of progress’ – reflects the milestone.

Participants have signed on from all over the country, including Northern Ireland.

Anyone who would like to join and avail of the new website can contact Maureen Cleary, Marketing Execu- tive with Clare Tourism Forum on 065 6846462.

Clare lakes hold the Ice Age secret

THE managing director of a north Clare-based electronic display man- ufacturer said yesterday that the company is aiming for break-even this year after sustaining its worst ever year last year.

Paul Neville of Data Display Hold- ings Ltd was commenting after com- pany filings showed that it incurred a pre-tax loss of €898,000 to the end of December last year. This com- pared to a pre-tax loss of €69,094 in 2007.

Established in 1980, the Irish- owned company is based in Ennisty- mon and employed 167 at the end of December last.

The company includes the New York Subway, the London Un- derground and the French SNCF amongst its customers, with 92 per cent of its products exported.

Revenues last year dropped 27 per cent from €19 million to €13 mil- lion with Mr Neville conceding, “It was probably our worst year ever.”

He said, “This year is much bet- ter and I believe that we have turned things around and we are heading for usr Gao te

“We were affected earlier by the re- cession, but we are hoping to recover a lot quicker.”

He said that the sales this year are up 10 per cent on 2008 revenues.

“We are leaner now, but we haven’t let anyone go. That is some achieve- ment ina very difficult environment,” he added.

Mr Neville said that the order book looks reasonable for 2010.

“The environment is still very chal- lenging. That is what you are dealt with and you get on with it.”

Mr Neville explained that the com- pany has grown organically since etree

Data Display paid dividends of €35,600 to its shareholders last year.

The directors’ report attached to the accounts state, “In common with the economic climate in general, the group experienced a drop in turnover as some significant customer projects were delayed in 2008. The directors anticipate a return to profitability in PAU Oia

The company had an operating loss of €761,696 compared to €113,543 the previous year.

The accounts show that at the end of December last, accumulated prof- its stood at €2.49 million while shareholder funds amounted to €6.7 million.

A MAN rang his sister to say “good- bye” moments before jumping to his death from the Cliffs of Moher, a court has heard.

The detail emerged yesterday at the inquest into the death in June of a 47- year-old taxi driver from Clare. The Coroner’s Court in Ennis heard that the man also rang a close friend to say that he was going to “end it all now’.

The court heard that following a short search the man was pronounced dead after his body was brought ashore at Doolin.

The deceased’s sister told the court that when her brother rang, he told her he was standing on the Cliffs of

Moher. The woman told him not to do anything.

She told the court that her brother ended the call by saying “goodbye”.

The inquest heard from a family friend who received a call from the man to say he was standing on the cliffs and that he was going to “end it all now”.

The inquest heard that the friend immediately contacted the emergen- cy services.

Michael Hayes, a ranger at the Cliffs of Moher, told the inquest that on the day in question, he saw a man holding a phone, walk towards the viewing area at the cliffs. “I heard him saying ‘it’s not your fault’,’ Mr BEAT NCE

Mr Hayes stated that he saw the

man jump and that there had been no time and no way to prevent him from eCeyunhcanrey

Bernard Lucas, member of the Doolin Branch of the Irish Coast Guard, told the court that the man’s body was recovered from an area of eround “well above the shore” at the base of the cliffs.

Garda Mervyn Forde told the court that he had received a call about a “possible suicide” at the Cliffs of Moher on June 24.

After meeting with rescue services and contacting a local priest, Garda Forde stated that the man was pro- nounced dead at the Doolin Rescue Soins

A post-mortem report prepared by pathologist Dr Elizabeth Mulcahy found that death was due to multiple traumatic injuries consistent with a fall from a height.

County Coroner Isobel O’Dea told the court that the cause of death was multiple injuries consistent with a fall from a height.

Ms O’Dea expressed her sympathy to the man’s family and his “wide circle of friends” and also praised the work done by the Doolin branch of the Irish Coast Guard.

Inspector Michael Gallagher ex- tended his sympathy to the man’s family, adding that the deceased was “well known and will be sadly missed”’.

THE continuing difficulties posed by flooding led to the early adjournment of an inquest at the Coroner’s Court in Ennis yesterday.

County Coroner Isobel O’Dea ad- journed the inquest into the death of a Tubber man after being told that a garda due to provide a statement would be unable to attend as he was currently on vital flood relief duty.

After initially calling a temporary adjournment, Ms O’Dea then stated that she was adjourning the inquest entirely. She told the court that the garda in question was assisting with flood relief efforts and would be un- able to attend.

A jury had earlier been sworn in for the inquest into the death of Michael Conroy who died following a tragic accident at his farm on July 12, 2009. Prior to the adjournment, the inquest heard details of the incident that led to Mr Conroy’s death.

Inspector Michael Gallagher read

the deposition of Tim Walsh who had been visiting the deceased’s home when the accident occurred.

The Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Walsh, who lives in the American State of Massachusetts, had been in Ireland to see his sister.

The inquest was told that Mr Walsh arrived to Mr Conroy’s farm on July 12. Mr Walsh stated that Mr Conroy wanted to show him a new tractor. He said that when Mr Conroy turned the key, “the tractor jumped forward”.

He said that Mr Conroy was stand- ing beside the tractor. “I think the big wheel ran over his chest,’ said Mr Walsh.

The court heard that Mr Conroy’s daughter identified her father’s body to gardai later that day.

No further depositions were heard and Ms O’Dea adjourned the in- quest.

A COURT has heard that a man threatened to break a traffic warden’s face while he took photographs of cars parked on a green area in Kil- Met ep

Aidan Carrig (34), of St Patrick’s Terrace, Kilrush, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on November 5, 2008.

A traffic warden told Kilrush Dis- trict Court that a complaint was made to the town hall in Kilrush in relation to parking on the green at St Patrick’s Terrace, on November 5 last year. He said he was asked to go there and take photographs. He went to the area and while there, he encountered Aidan Carrig.

“He threatened me to smash my face if I used the photos as evi- dence,’ he said. He said the accused later apologised to him.

Defending solicitor Eugene O’ Kelly

said his client’s behaviour was totally out of order and that the traffic war- den’s job “is difficult enough without people speaking to you in that man- ner”.

He said his client’s recollection of what was said was somewhat differ- ent. “There was reference to putting the camera where the sun don’t shine,” he said.

He said his client did not realise he was doing wrong by putting his car up on the green. “The width of the roadway is insufficient for the number of cars parking there. Had he been asked not to park there, he wouldn’t have parked there,’ he said.

He said his client reacted very bad- ly and does not have any animosity towards the traffic warden.

The court was told the accused has a number of previous convictions and a one-month jail term was im- posed. A bond was fixed in the event of an appeal.

A COURT has heard an allegation that a young man called to a neigh- bour’s house in Kilrush looking for a ‘top-up’ of money, telling the man ‘You don’t need me as an enemy.”

Arising out of this, Martin Blunnie (21), of Beech Park, John Paul Estate, Kilrush, was charged with assaulting John Naughton, on April 17, 2009.

John Thomas Naughton told Kil- rush District Court last Wednesday week that he was at home at Beech Park, on April 17 last. He said there was a knock on the door at 8.20pm and his wife answered it.

He said that Martin Blunnie was at the door and was looking for a loan of €20. “I told him I had no money to give him. He said he wanted a top- up. He had €50. He said, ‘You don’t need me as an enemy. I’m a big man’ and kicked me to the leg. My knee was bleeding,’ Mr Naughton told the court.

The case was adjourned on that date for a week after Mr Naughton told the court he did not have his read- ing glasses with him. Judge Joseph Mangan told him to return, with his

glasses, last Wednesday, so that he could read a statement.

However, on the adjourned date, Superintendent Michael Comyns said Mr Naughton wished to with- draw his statement.

Solicitor Joe Chambers, on behalf of Mr Naughton, said, “I’m satisfied

his attitude to this is solely related to the fact the defendant’s mother is in hospital.”

The case was then struck out by Judge Joseph Mangan.

A SHANNON man who was con- cerned about teenagers gathering outside his house slapped a 14-year- old boy in the face, fracturing his nose, a court has heard.

Father-of-two Mark Murphy (39), of Cul na Gréine, Shannon, admitted assaulting a 14-year-old boy causing him harm, on March 21 last.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Shan- non District Court that the boy was outside the accused’s home. “Mr Murphy got annoyed with the boy and hit him into the face and frac- tured his nose,” he said.

Defending solicitor John Callinan said there was a “somewhat longer story”’.

He said his client, who has never come to Garda attention before, has had difficulties with regard to teenag- ers gathering near his house. He said he has complained to gardai about damage to his car. “Things were so bad that two-and-a-half years ago he installed CCTV,” he said.

He told the court that his client had never seen the 14-year-old boy be- fore that day. He said his client had a few drinks while watching a rugby

match and youths had gathered out- side his house.

‘He had no idea that the boy was only 14. He was taller than Mr Mur- phy,” he said.

The accused is very remorseful and was in a position to offer compensa- tion to the victim, said Mr Callinan.

Judge Angela Ni Chonduin ordered that €500 compensation be paid and

this was done in court. “You don’t take the law into your own hands. Young people hang around. I do ap- preciate this man got a bad fright. He paid for it,’ she said and dismissed the charge under the probation of of- oe(oucm lee