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MORE than 17,000 first doses of vaccines against Covid-19 have been delivered by vaccinators in the Mid-West, according to official figures. The UL Hospitals’ Group vaccination programme resumed administering the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at the Mid-West Vaccination Centre in the Radisson Blu on Sunday, March 21. Up to close of business on Sunday March 21st, ovaccinators had delivered a total of 17,167 first doses, and 5,248 second doses of Covid-19 vaccine. The group’s Vaccination Programme has been rolled out to healthcare workers across the Mid-West, including staff from the group, HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare, the National Ambulance Service, and staff and residents of some nursing home facilities. It has also included patients at very high risk of illness associated with Covid-19, of whom some 699 received their Dose 1 vaccinations on Sunday. Colette Cowan, Chief Executive Officer, UL Hospitals’ Group, said staff are privileged to be part of this mass vaccination programme and noted it is a great boost to …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of six additional cases of Covid-19 in Clare and 18 additional deaths related to Covid-19 nationally. Of the deaths reported today, six occurred in March, seven in February and five in January. There has been a total of 4,628 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Tuesday, March 23, the HPSC has been notified of 683 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 232,164 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.* Of the cases notified today: 324 are men / 359 are women 75% are under 45 years of age The median age is 32 years old 308 in Dublin, 68 in Donegal, 49 in Kildare, 35 in Meath, 30 in Offaly and the remaining 193 cases are spread across 21 other counties**. As of 8am today, 329 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 76 are in ICU. 18 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. As of …

A 34-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a woman in Ennis. Patrick Ballard, with an address at Ashford Court, Ennis, appeared at Ennis District Court today (March 24). He is charged with the murder of mother of two, Sharon Bennett (29). Ballard was previously charged with assault causing harm to Ms Bennett in the Market area of Ennis on January 28. That charge was today withdrawn and struck out. The accused was remanded in custody to appear at Gort district court tomorrow. The issue of bail was not raised in court as the district court does not have jurisdiction to deal with a bail application on a murder charge. Sharon Bennett, a native of Wexford, died at University Hospital Limerick on February 10, thirteen days after she was admitted. In court today, detective Garda Noelle Bergin of Ennis Garda Station said she arrested Ballard for the purpose of charge at Ennis Courthouse at 10.29am At 10.30am, the court …

GARDAI have seized €9,000 of suspected drugs on March 23, 2021 as part of two separate investigations. Shortly before 2.30pm on Tuesday Gardaí from Clare Divisional Drugs Unit executed a search warrant at a house in Miltown Malbay. During the course of the search Gardaí seized €1,000 of suspected cocaine. No arrests have been made but Gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry. At around 6.30pm Gardaí from Clare Divisional Drugs Unit executed a search warrant at a house in Ennis. During the course of the search Gardaí seized €8,000 of suspected cannabis herb that was split into small bags. A man, aged in his thirties, was arrested at the scene and brought to Ennis Garda Station. He was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and has since been released. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. All of the suspected drugs will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for …

A YOUNG woman missing from Ennis has been located safe and well by Gardaí, along with her baby daughter. 16-year-old Larisa Rostas and her ten-month-old daughter Narcisa had been missing for a number of weeks. Gardaí confirmed this evening that both have been found, safe and well. The force has thanked Gardaí and the media for their help.

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of fewer than five new cases in Clare along with 24 additional deaths related to Covid-19 nationally. 12 deaths occurred in March, 10 in February and 2 in January. The median age of those who died was 82 years and the age range was 49 – 100 years. There has been a total of 4,610* Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Monday, March 22, the HPSC has been notified of 371 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 231,484** confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 183 are men / 187 are women 75% are under 45 years of age The median age is 30 years old 151 in Dublin, 31 in Offaly, 27 in Donegal, 25 in Galway, 21 in Meath and the remaining 116 cases are spread across 16 other counties***. As of 8am today, 357 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, …

CLARE gardai have warned the public of a number of sophisticated scams in operation in the county at the moment and have appealed for vigilance. Crime prevention officer Sergeant Triona Brooks has highlighted a number of scams and provided advice on the proper way to respond to suspicious solicitations on the phone and online. One of the main examples of scams currently in operation is the so-called ‘Technical Support and Impersonation Scam’. Fraudsters set up fake customer support phone numbers and impersonate a variety of legitimate companies. These scam phone numbers are placed on the internet to attract unsuspecting victims seeking assistance from what they believe to be the legitimate company. The scammers who are skilled in social engineering have the ability to deceive and manipulate victims into providing their personal data. Gardai have also warned of giveaway/competition scams whereby the perpetrators use social media to advertise a fake giveaway. They post forged or fake screen shots of messages from …

CLARE County Council has been granted a sum of just over €4 million towards the Ennis Town Centre Public Realm Regeneration project, writes Owen Ryan. Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien announced that Ennis was among the successful applicants under the State’s Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which is intended to drive regeneration and rejuvenation of strategic and under-utilised areas in cities and large towns. In Ennis it will see works at O’Connell Square, High Street, Bank Place, Barrack Street and Old Barrack Square, with an overall cost of €5,390,391. The URDF funding comes to €4,042,793 with Clare County Council financing the remainder. In O’Connell Square, High Street and Bank Place there will be civic space and public realm enhancements including traffic calming, resurfacing, provision of upgraded street furniture and planting. The Barrack Street and Barrack Square area will see traffic calming, planting of street trees, public artwork, the provision of distinctive street furniture and lighting …