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Fine Gael Clare Senator and Seanad spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Disability, Martin Conway, has proposed the nationwide extension of the Small Areas Policing Programme currently operated by An Garda Síochána in Dublin. The Small Areas Policing Programme aims to put gardaí back in touch with the communities they serve by building relationships with local people, instead of just responding to crime after it happens. It currently operates in Dublin with great success since its inception five years ago. “I believe that this ‘back to basics’ programme, which reconnects the gardaí with the communities they serve represents a welcome return to the core essence of policing-community engagement. It represents an adherence to the fundamental mission of An Garda Síochána, which is to work with communities to protect and serve. In the course of an Adjournment Debate on this matter in the Seanad Senator Conway asked the Minister to consider the expansion of this programme to cover the whole country in …

A CLARE family have today collected a Lotto jackpot of €4,433,754, won in last Saturday night’s draw. The family, who do not wish to be identified, declared themselves ‘shocked and stunned’ after winning the jackpot. They said that they do not have any immediate plans for their millions, but are looking forward to making the most of their good fortune. The winning ticket was a €4 quick pick that was bought at Reddan’s in Sixmilebridge last Friday.    

Eighty-year-old peace activist, Margaretta D’Arcy  was brought to Limerick Prison on Wednesday  after she presented herself at a garda station in Galway. On June 24, Ms D’Arcy of 10 St Brigid’s Place, Woodquay, Galway and Niall Farrell, a 60-year-old man with an address at Ballynacloghy, Maree, Galway were both found guilty of interfering with the proper use of Shannon Airport on September 1, 2013, at a sitting of Ennis District Court. The defendants were sentenced to two weeks in prison, which was suspended on condition that they enter a bond to stay away from restricted areas of Shannon Airport, something Ms D’Arcy refused to do. Speaking on Wednesday, Ms D’Arcy’s son Finn Arden said, “She brought herself to the garda station in Galway at 11am this morning and then she was carted off in a garda car to Limerick.” Speaking about his mother’s frame of mind on Wednesday, he said, “Gardaí came to the house earlier and they wanted to …

CLARE hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald and Clare Champion journalist, Peter O’Connell, have both given their version of events regarding an incident at Cusack Park on Saturday evening, following the Banner’s draw with Wexford. As a result of the incident, Fitzgerald was restrained by members of his backroom team, while O’Connell was ejected from the tunnel area by Clare County Board secretary, Pat Fitzgerald [Davy’s father] and backroom squad member and referee, Seanie McMahon. They have claimed they ejected O’Connell from the enclosed area of the stadium due to safety concerns. However, O’Connell has firmly denied that such a move was required or that he had behaved in an aggressive or abusive manner. The incident occurred in the enclosed area behind the dressing rooms and close to the mouth of the tunnel, about 45 minutes after the match had ended. Emotions were still running high after one of the most dramatic games of the championship to date when Fitzgerald directed a …

A group of Germans took a break from the music in Miltown Malbay on Tuesday to celebrate their country’s 7-1 win over Brazil in the World Cup.  They are among a large contingent from all over the world at this year’s Willie Clancy Summer School. Festival administrator, Harry Hughes, has reported steady participation in most of the classes on offer in Miltown, while the town has been generally busy, day and night. “We seem to have an enrollment that would certainly match last year. We have an increase in the banjo, fiddle and concertina classes. The piping and other classes would be rather stationery but we are returning the same figures as last year,” he explained. “The picture seems to be pretty busy. The pubs are busy at night-time, as are the hotels. I think the town has the same numbers back again as they would in previous years. I’ve just come up the town now and the streets are pretty …

STAFF costs at Shannon Airport in 2013 came to €17.17 million last year according to the accounts, with an average cost per employee of slightly over €65,000. Wages and salaries came to €14,312,000, social welfare costs were €1,469,000, pension costs were €1,076,000 and other staff costs came to €315,000. The average number of weekly employees during the year was 263, 200 working in operations and administration and 63 on commercial. In the section on director’s remuneration it states that €87,685 was paid in fees to them. Shannon Airport Chair Rose Hynes received the largest amount, which was €20,688. Under the same heading it states that the amount paid for other emoluments came to €236,458. With regard to payment of Shannon Airport Authority Chief Executive Neil Pakey, the accounts state that his basic salary for a single year is €175,000. “Total remuneration in respect of the Chief Executive Officer from the date he commenced employment with the Company, being June 10, …

Two Clare swimmers have been included on Swim Ireland teams announced this week that will represent Ireland and Northern Ireland at this summer’s international meets. There will also be a Clare representative on the Irish Paralympic swimming team for the European championships. Two years out from the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, swimmers will compete in European Championships and Commonwealth Games. Shannon native and Ennis swimming club member Chris Bryan who is also part of the UL Swimming Club, will be competing at the European swimming and open water championships in Berlin on August 13 and 14. Rory McEvoy from the Ennis club will be in Montreal with the Irish team for the Canadian age group championships from July 23 to 28. A member of the same team will be Ciara Doran from Limerick swimming club. Meanwhile, Killaloe’s Jonathon McGrath, a member of Limerick swimming club, will be part of the Irish Paralympic team for the European championships where he …

Officers from Revenue’s Customs Service at Shannon Airport seized €20,000 on Tuesday when they stopped and searched a 36- year-old male passenger, during a routine operation, as he was about to board a flight to Paris. The cash was seized by Revenue in accordance with the proceeds of crime legislation. At Ennis District Court this Wednesday morning, officers were granted a three month detention order in respect of the cash by Judge Patrick Durcan in order to carry out further investigations.