News

AN appeal for witnesses has been made after a man in his 20s was assaulted and had his mobile phone taken by four other men in Ennis last week. The victim received minor injuries during the incident which occurred last Thursday at Dalcassian Drive. Urging witnesses to the assault to come forward, Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks outlined, “On Thursday evening last, May 25 at approximately 8.30pm four males assaulted a male in his mid-20s at Dalcassian Drive and took his mobile phone. He received minor injuries as a result of the assault. We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw this incident or anyone that may have dashcam footage to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100.”

GARDAÍ seized over €100,000 of suspected cannabis and arrested one man during the course of searches conducted in the early hours of Thursday, May 25, in Ennis. The searches were conducted as part of Operation Tara targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the Clare division. At approximately 12.20am, Gardaí from the Clare Divisional Drugs Unit stopped a vehicle in the Tobarteascain area of Ennis. Approximately €100,000 of suspected cannabis was seized and an occupant of the vehicle, a man in his late 20s, was arrested. During the course of a follow-up search of a residence in the area, a further €5,000 of suspected cannabis was seized, along with a weighing scales and other drug paraphernalia. The seized drugs (totalling €105,000) will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. The arrested male is being detained at a Garda station in Clare under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. Investigations are …

AN APPEAL is being made for information on the final resting place of a 21-year-old Canadian, whose body was washed ashore at Doughmore Beach, more than 80 years ago. James Hutton, a sailor, was among 207 people who lost their lives with the sinking, off County Donegal, of the troopship, the SS Nerissa on April 30, 1941. In the weeks and months that followed, bodies were discovered along the western seaboard, as far south as Clare. The remains of James Hutton were discovered on May 27, 1941, and laid to rest the same day in Clohanes Graveyard. In the intervening years, knowledge of the exact location of his burial plot has been lost. This week, retired officers of the Canadian Navy travelled to Clare in a bid to find the grave. They are hoping that local knowledge may identify exactly where James Hutton is buried and that the grave will be formally marked.  Retired Lieutenant Commander with the Royal Canadian …

GARDAÍ have renewed an appeal for information on a missing Kildare teenager, last seen in this county. Sixteen year-old Briain Holmes is missing from Kildare town and was last seen in Clare on the afternoon of Thursday May 11. Since then, two more possible sightings have been reported in the North of the county. Briain is described as being approximately 5 foot 10 inches in height, of slim build and has fair hair and blue eyes. When last seen, he was wearing black jumper, dark black trousers and black runners. Gardaí and Briain’s family are concerned for his wellbeing. They are appealing to landowners in the North Clare area to check any sheds, outhouses, unoccupied houses or other remote buildings on their lands. Anyone with information on Briain’s whereabouts are asked to contact Kildare Garda Station on 045- 527 737, Ennistymon Garda Station on 065-707 2180, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

FORMER US President Donald Trump has arrived in Clare. While he was expected at Shannon Airport between 3pm and 5pm this afternoon, it was around 6.30pm when his aircraft touched down. He later left Shannon for Doonbeg in a motorcade consisting of approximately 20 vehicles, while a helicopter kept watch overhead. Neither Shannon nor Doonbeg saw protests of any note this evening and in fact there were a small number of Trump supporters in both areas. One woman brandishing a Trump banner outside Shannon Airport as his motorcade passed said she was thrilled to have come so close to him. “I’m absolutely delighted. I came down from Ballinrobe in Mayo, I brought the kids down, it’s a once in a lifetime experience and I wanted them to see it and feel it.” She claimed that Trump was the winner of the last US Presidential election. “Trump’s amazing isn’t he? He’s the one. Trump won!” Mr Trump is being accompanied by …

The 22nd annual World Stone Throwing Championship will take place in Bofey Quinn’s in Corofin this coming Sunday, with contestants set to battle it out for the most prestigious prize in stone throwing. After a strong local showing in last year’s competition with Corofin natives Saundra O’Brien and Dylan O’Loughlin claiming the main prizes, a major national and international challenge is expected for this year’s event. The competition, which is part of the annual Festival of Finn, was originally thought up over a pint by Cormac McConnell and Johnny Campbell in 2000. Participants are challenged to break glass bottles placed on spikes using nothing but stones. There is both a male and a female trophy and the competition in both categories is fierce. The competition attracts stone throwers from all over the world with previous winners coming from as far away as London, Chicago, Scotland and Germany. There is an entry fee of just €5 per contestant, which entitles you …

A PROPERTY marking clinic will be held at Ennis Mart on Tuesday, April 18 from 10am to 1pm. The Clare County Property Marking Scheme is part of a nationwide property marking programme which aims to combat property theft and assist in the identification and return of stolen property. “Property that is marked is less likely to be targeted and less desired by thieves,” outlines Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. Garda Cormac Fallon, Ennis Garda Station, Ennis Mart and Clare County Council are hosting the clinic. Farmyard equipment such as trailers, chainsaws, consaws, power tools, or any items of value, can be marked at the clinic. The service is being provided for free. Gardaí from the Divisional Roads Policing Unit will also be present to meet people and answer any questions they may have in relation to trailer and towing safety, driver licencing and agricultural machinery on the roads.

BLOOD donation clinics will be held at Treacy’s West County Hotel on Tuesday, April 4 and Wednesday, April 5 from 4.45pm until 8pm. Please phone 1800 222 111 for an appointment. Approximately 1000 people in Ireland get blood transfusions every week. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service needs to collect 3,000 units of blood every week to maintain the national blood supply. The issue with blood is that no one knows who will need it, when they will need it, how much they may need, or  what type they require. Transfusions can happen for a variety of reasons – cancer treatment, surgery, car accidents, and childbirth complications to name a few. Urging people to donate the Irish Blood Transfusion Service outlines that one in four of us will need a blood transfusion in our lifetime. 67% of donated blood is used to treat cancer patients and people with blood disorders. 27% of donated blood is used in surgery and emergency situations. …