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A man found near a stolen SUV in Shannon and allegedly in unlawful possession of a vehicle diagnostic unit was “somewhat of a ghost in this jurisdiction”, a court has heard. Michal Grzegorek (31), of no fixed abode, was arrested in Shannon in August in close proximity to a stolen Range Rover, Ennis district court heard. Opposing Grzegorek’s application to be released on bail, Garda Robert Grant, of Shannon Garda station, said the accused was located approximately 500 metres from the vehicle in Shannon on August 25. Garda Grant said Grzegorek could not account for his movements on the night nor his proximity to the vehicle. The garda said Grzegorek was searched and is alleged to have had in his possession, a Range Rover key and a diagnostic key for vehicles. Grzegorek is charged that at Shannon garda station Tullyvarraga, Shannon on August 25, when not at his place of residence, he possessed a Range Rover key and an on-board …

IT has been confirmed that Permanent TSB will be opening a new premises in Shannon Town Centre. Earlier in the year Permanent TSB had received planning permission for works at what was the Ulster Bank premises at Unit A29 in the Town Centre. A statement from the shopping centre said, “Shannon Town Centre shopping centre has secured yet another new client this year – Permanent TSB is the latest addition to the centre. “TSB joins an impressive roster of new services and retailers who have chosen to come to Shannon in 2022.” Shannon Town Centre manager Brian O’Leary said he is delighted with the diverse range of tenants that have been secured. “TSB coming to Shannon is a vote of confidence in the region and the town. “The recent lettings demonstrate our determination to attract huge retail brands while also giving local entrepreneurs the platform to grow and develop their businesses. ” The statement also said that car hire company …

THE lack of a projected date for the publication of the long-awaited Junior Certificate results is causing frustration and anxiety for Clare students, according to a local Dáil Deputy. An Taoiseach Micheál Martin wasn’t in a position to give Deputy Cathal Crowe any definitive date or expected time frame for the issuing of Junior Certificate examination results when he was questioned in the Dáil recently. The Clare Fianna Fáil Deputy has expressed his disappointment with a company that runs seminars that suggested these results would be published on October 12 without any foundation, which is causing even more anxiety for students. “Having spent many years in the classroom, I really feel for these students. A lot of past pupils of mine have contacted me. “These are a cohort of students who experienced a lot of disruption in First and Second Year due to Covid-19. A lot of them worked their socks of for the Junior Certificate and they are anxious …

IT’S that time of year when the members of Corofin Dramatic Society present their autumn productions. The Society will run with a string of one-act plays in St. Patrick’s Community Hall on Wednesday and Thursday, October 19 and 20, and again on Wednesday, November 2. “It’s great to be back bringing live theatre to local audiences in Corofin,” commented Neil Haran, chairperson of Corofin Dramatic Society. “We are excited to perform a varied programme of one act plays that will showcase a mix of new and experienced talent from within the Society.” Husband and wife team, John and Maura Clancy, will bring their 2021 film, The Covid Diaries, to the stage, the first time that the film will be performed as a piece of theatre. The Covid Diaries details the experiences of five women during the Covid-19 pandemic, with two of those stories being presented to Corofin audiences. Neil Haran will direct his first play on behalf of the Society, …

A CLARE man who lives in Westbury Residential Centre has organised coffee mornings for Milford Hospice in recognition of the great care they provided to his late parents. Up to 100 family members and friends of Fergal Enright (39) from O’Briensbridge, attended a coffee morning in the residential centre where he lives and another one in his workplace at the Tait Business Centre in Limerick. The coffee mornings raised €1,339 for Milford Hospice. In an interview with the Clare Champion, Fergal said Milford Hospice is very close to his heart because of the treatment staff provided when they cared for his late father, Noel Senior and his amazing mother, Eithne. “My parents got great care in Milford Hospice. I was more than delighted with the support I got for the coffee mornings. If people have any spare money, I would ask them to make a donation to Milford. “I attend the Tait Business Centre three days a week and do …

‘ARROGANCE’ on the part of government was sharply criticised, by a Clare TD, during a debate on a new concrete levy, proposed as a method of funding the defective concrete blocks grant scheme.  A private members’ motion, tabled by Sinn Féin, called for the levy to be scrapped and the suppliers of the defective products to be pursued vigorously for redress. While a promise to modify the terms of the levy in the forthcoming Finance Bill was enough to secure the support of backbenchers, including Deputies Cathal Crowe and Joe Carey, for the government’s position, there was stinging criticism from Clare’s Independent TDs. Deputy Michael McNamara asserted that the law underpinning the new scheme – which is to include Clare and Limerick – was badly drafted. He recalled the concerns of the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG) at the scant level of pre-legislative scrutiny, and his own calls for legal action to be taken against suppliers. “At the time the …

PROPERTIES in county Clare were among a number searched in an Interpol investigation into organised crime, it has emerged. An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with Interpol and Law Enforcement Agencies across 13 countries on four continents carried out enforcement activity under Operation Jackal, or Operation Skein, as it is named in Ireland. As part of Operation Jackal, nine premises were searched in Dublin and Clare and 11 persons were arrested and detained under Organised Crime legislation. Twenty-three persons were arrested for the purpose of charging and 62 charges were levied for money laundering, with three more for organised crime offences. As part of Operation Jackal a week of international Law Enforcement action was planned for the week commencing September 26. Led by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) due to the volume of arrests/ detentions/ charges in Ireland, the period of action commenced in mid-August. The searches and detentions were conducted by GNECB. The arrests for charging were conducted …

Jack Heaslip was one of the gatekeepers — one of the last of a breed that they don’t make anymore writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh who pays tribute to the Kilkenny-born businessman and GAA man who became more of an Ennis Townie than the born and bred Townies themselves. YOU mightn’t want anything in the shop, but you still went in. To say hello, to talk, or more importantly to listen to some of the nuggets of history that went from Clare to Kilkenny and back again. Many times over. And, they were always nuggets. It could be about Jack’s journey from one shop in Knocktopher in rural Kilkenny to another shop in urban Ennis. It could be about the Kilkenny footballers — yes the Kilkenny footballers that came from his parish and won Leinster senior championships for Kilkenny and county championships for Knocktopher in the early 1900s. Captain Dick Holohan, Jimmy Cody and Dick Dalton were the Knocktopher men he’d …