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THERE was some hysteria in Shannon last week, after posts appeared on Facebook about men trying to lure children into a white van. However, following an investigation, gardaí say there was no risk of child abuse, while they have urged people to come to them when they have concerns. Sergeant Seamus Mulligan said that whenever there is suspicious activity, people need to contact gardaí, rather than getting onto social media. “They might want to vent on social media but they should also contact the gardaí.” He said that the van that was the subject of the social media posts in Shannon was subsequently met by gardaí in Limerick, who became satisfied that there had been no risk to children. The van was taken in, due to concerns about road traffic offences, but it is not expected that the matter will come before the courts. Earlier this year, Sergeant Mulligan addressed a meeting of Shannon Municipal District councillors, at which he …

Ennis woman Irene Hehir shares her struggle with depression in the hope of helping others to seek help.  IRENE Hehir describes herself as an “everyday girl living in the town of Ennis”. She has a good life, she has a good job, she has a great family and a great network of friends, but behind it all she was struggling with her mental health. To everyone who knew her, including those closest to her, the now 42 year old, was “Happy go Larry”, “the life and soul of the party”. Her outward life was about being seen to be “having the craic”, “being pure bould, carrying on and having a laugh”. But inside she was in turmoil. Her parents, extended family and friends, who have always been so supportive, didn’t know any of this was going on. In her early teens Irene was systematically bullied, and a physical assault which rendered her unconscious left her in constant fear. Although she …

A CLARE man who is accused of attacking his former partner with a brush handle is to be assessed by a forensic psychiatrist as a matter of urgency. The 33-year-old, who has an address at The Mews, Lifford, in Ennis appeared before Limerick District Court this Friday [September 14] after he was charged with assault causing harm in relation to an incident near Lisdoonvarna on Tuesday. Detective Garda TJ Molloy said it will be alleged that a 30-year-old woman was struck with a brush handle and that a knife was held to her throat during the incident on Tuesday evening. He said gardaí were alerted by neighbours who were alerted to a commotion inside the caravan where the woman lives on the grounds of Ballinalacken Castle Hotel. “It was a loud verbal and physical altercation,” he said adding that witnesses described seeing the caravan “shaking viciously”. He said they feared it could overturn. Being questioned by defence solicitor Tara Godfrey, the …

NEWS has broken this afternoon that US President Donald Trump may not visit his resort in Doonbeg on November 12. While an official statement has yet to emerge from the White House, it seems that the visit, which was to coincide with a trip to Paris on November 11, may not now go ahead. The US President, who bought the golf resort in Doonbeg in 2014, was to have spent a day in Dublin before travelling to West Clare. News of his now cancelled visit was announced by the White House on Friday August 31. At the time the White House said that the trip was to “renew the deep and historic ties between our two nations”.

US President, Donald Trump, is likely to visit Doonbeg this November. Informed sources have confirmed to The Clare Champion that President Trump’s visit to Ireland is very likely to involve a visit to the family-owned golf resort in West Clare. He last visited Doonbeg in May 2014, following the purchase of Trump International Golf Resort. On Friday night, The White House said that President Trump will visit this country, during a trip to Europe to “renew the deep and historic ties between our two nations”. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that the US President will be in Ireland for a “brief visit.” “It will be an opportunity to follow up on the issues discussed in the White House in March, including migration, trade, climate change and human rights issues,” the Government statement said. By Peter O’Connell

Gardaí believe the sub machine gun that was seized from lands at Killmurray on Friday was used to fire shots at houses in Clarecastle earlier last month and late last year. On Friday Clare gardaí discovered drugs with an estimated street value of €125,000 and a sub-machine gun and ammunition at a property and lands in Kilmurray, Sixmilebridge . This week, gardaí say they believe the gun was used to fire shots at a house in St Joseph’s Terrace in Clarecastle on August 12 last, and on November 3, 2017 at Clarehill Clarecastle. The operation is on-going  but it is understood gardaí are “making good progress”. Anyone with information can contact Ennis Garda Station on 065-6848100.

Gardaí from the Clare Divisional Drug Unit have seized drugs valued at €21,000 at a house in Miltown Malbay. The seizure forms part of follow up searches that took place on Sunday, August 26, and follows seizures at lands and a property in Kilmurray, and from a vehicle on the Tulla Road in Ennis on Friday and brings the total drugs seized in Clare this past weekend to €181,000. As part of the most recent seizure gardaí obtained a search warrant for a house in Miltown Malbay and in the course of their search seized cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €21,000. A 22 year old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Ennis Garda Station where he was detained under Section 4, Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The man has since been released from custody and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Keep it to yourself but one of my humans recently celebrated his 50th birthday. That’s ancient – around seven in dog years. Seeing as he’s always so good to me and looks after me so well, I decided to do something nice for him. I checked my bone account to see what it could stand and thanks to the excellent Bone/Euro exchange rate, on account of Brexit worries, I found that I could manage a few nights in BrookLodge in County Wicklow. It’s one of my favourite places as I get to look at the hens, chickens and geese that roam the grounds. My humans love it for the peace and tranquillity, not to mention the organic food for which it’s renowned. There’s a further attraction – the two resident dogs, my pals, Oscar and George, who are always good for a laugh and a chat. It was late afternoon when we arrived so after checking in with my American …