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A BURGLAR in Ennis flew the coop after making off with some pigeons, and gardaí are appealing to anybody with information to contact them. At approximately 9pm on Thursday, February 3 a male was seen jumping the rear wall of a house in the Lenabeg estate on Drumcliffe Road. A short time later he got back over the wall carrying a black bin bag. When the owner returned home he realised that five pigeons had been stolen from their coop at the rear of his house. This is just one of a number of burglaries to occur in recent weeks which gardaí across the county are investigating. In Kilrush between 6pm Monday, January 31 and 12 midnight on Tuesday, February 1 the rear window of a house in Place de Plouzane, Kilrush was smashed. Entry was gained to the house and a number of electronic items including a black Sony laptop, a Samsung S7 mobile phone, a Huawei mobile and …

A 25-year-old man arrested in Shannon airport following an alleged incident aboard an airplane is due to make his second court appearance this week, writes Ronan Judge. Ioan Remi Makula, with an address at Fearran Rí, Doughiska, Galway, appeared before a special sitting of Ennis district court on Saturday. Judge Mary Larkin remanded Makula in custody to appear again in court on February 9, via video link. Makula is charged with a single offence contrary to the Air Navigation and Transport act. The charge alleges that on a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Shannon on February 4, 2022, Makula engaged in behaviour of a threatening, abusive or insulting nature whether by word or gesture with intent to cause a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned. Garda Chris Healy of Shannon Garda station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He told the court Makula made no reply …

THE newest fully qualified member Lough Derg RNLI’s lifeboat crew has told how good it feels to be able to help others, as the organisation urges others to volunteer and get involved. Following his final assessment with Helena Duggan, RNLI Assessor/Trainer, earlier this month, Tom Hayes has been passed out as a fully qualified lifeboat crew member with Lough Derg RNLI.   Encouraged by volunteer helm, Dom Sharkey, Tom joined the station first as a Deputy Launching Authority, a responsibility he held for two years.  The role of Deputy Launching Authority is central to operations within all RNLI lifeboat stations, as they make the decision to launch the lifeboat when a request is made by the Coast Guard to do so. Once the decision to launch is made, crew pagers are activated and both lifeboat crew and shore crew immediately travel to the station to attend to the call out.  Watching volunteers train and launch on ‘shouts’, and encouraged by Liam Maloney, …

CLARE gardai have issued a renewed appeal for witnesses to an incident in Lahinch in October when a man was struck by a horse, whose rider subsequently left the scene. The incident occurred between 2.20pm and 2.25pm on Sunday, October 24, 2021 when a male in his forties was struck by a horse while walking on Lahinch beach close to O Brien’s Bridge, which is located at the Liscannor side of Lahinch Beach. There was a young girl in her late teens with the horse. It is believed that the horse and the girl left in the direction of Liscannor. The gentleman received medical attention as a result of this. Local enquiries have been conducted but the identity of the horse and jockey remain unknown. An appeal is being made for any witnesses who may have any information to assist with the identification of the horse/ jockey or any transport that was used to contact Ennistymon Garda Station on 7072180.

THERE was a large attendance of Oireachtas members and councillors at the recent pyrite protest in Ennis when politicians were warned that their seats could hang in the balance if redress isn’t provided soon. They could also face a further challenge in the form of election candidates standing on the issue of pyrite redress. Deputy Cathal Crowe told The Champion the frustration of homeowners was “very understandable”. “We have to respect where they are coming from,” he said. “They’re slowly watching their homes fall around them and with each month, the structure of their home deteriorates further.” In relation to a meeting with Minister Darragh O’Brien which was cancelled, at short notice, last week, Deputy Crowe was confident it would be rescheduled. “I’m in constant contact with Minister Darragh O’Brien and also with the redress group here in Clare,” he said. “Minister O’Brien made a firm commitment in Mary Hanley’s front lawn in August last year and he stands over …

CLARE County Council has granted planning permission for 14 houses at Dun Aras Avenue in Shannon despite strong local opposition. Ballycasey Property Developments Ltd’s planning application was granted permission subject to 25 conditions. It is now open to the objectors to appeal the Council decision to An Bord Pleanála should they wish to do so. Among the conditions of planning is a requirement for a payment of €77,686 to the Council “in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting the development”. The developers are also required to provide a cash surety of €70,000 and there is a further requirement for a Special Development Contribution of €20,000 to be made to the local authority. Another condition included states, “The open spaces shall be developed for and devoted to public use and shall be kept free of any development, save for the proposed picnic area. “When the development is being taken in charge, the public areas including the open spaces that have …

A FUNDRAISING cycle from Malin Head to Mizen Head will take place during the first week of June in memory of two women who spent many years cycling and fundraising before passing to their eternal reward during the second half of last year. On July 20, 2021, Susan O’Neill, from Ballyea, died from cancer and on November 11, 2021, Antoinette Pender from Quilty also died having contracted cancer. Both women had fought bravely before finally succumbing and the fundraising cycle is titled ‘South for Susan and Antoinette’. A limited number of cyclists will undertake the journey from Malin Head to Mizen Head between June 6 and 10. Overnight rest points are scheduled for Donegal Town, Claremorris, Ballyea and Blarney. Susan’s husband Michael O’Neill and Antoinette’s husband Jamsie have commenced training in preparation for the once-off event. Both are experienced cyclists and the long miles are not likely to be too daunting to them. Other cyclists who have volunteered for the …

THE cost of providing military assistance to gardai for duties at Shannon Airport has come to nearly €800,000 over the last three years, writes Owen Ryan. In the Dáil Deputy Catherine Connolly asked Minister for Defence Simon Coveney for details on the expenditure and in reply he said that in 2019 it came to €214,213, in 2020 it was €270,708 and last year €273,027. Mr Coveney said, “Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested. “I am satisfied that there is ongoing and close liaison between both An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, and between my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality regarding security matters generally, including the Defence Forces ATCP roles.” He said costs relate to security duty allowance paid to members of the Defence Forces, rations and fuel.