News

KILMURRY Ibrickane Development Project CLG has been granted planning permission for a multi-purpose community development including a hall, gym, cafe, viewing area, enterprise space and car park at Pháirc Naomh Mhuire in Quilty. An architectural design statement which accompanied the application said, “Beyond the actual architectural and functional qualities of the building, the structure creates a balance and establishes a dialogue with the coastal location. The application noted that the paritcular area in the centre of the village was lacking a heart “and a space symbolically constituting the centre for all activities, a place to meet, talk and have fun”. They said the key idea was that the space can be used flexibly for community activities of various kinds giveing examples of meetings, conferences, entertainment, sports and group learning events. The structure, they wrote, is intended to meet the needs of the local and neighburing communities, surrounding schools as well as the local GAA club. “The proposed design creates a …

A JUDGE has called on Gardai to interview a father accused of sexually abusing his daughter “as a matter of urgency”. At the Family Law Court, Judge Mary Larkin said, “I hate to say it but if the man went down to Supermacs and stole a burger he would probably be interviewed within the week”. Judge Larkin made her comment after solicitor, Pamela Clancy for the man said that it may be a number of months before Gardai interview her client on the matter. Ms Clancy said that there was a complaint made against the man to TUSLA of sexual abuse of his child two weeks after a circuit court judge struck out a family law appeal by the child’s mother. Ms Clancy said that an independent child expert last year recommended in a report that the father should have sole custody of his daughter. The estranged couple are currently going divorce proceedings and on the need by Gardai to …

THE 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 in Clare has slumped dramatically to the second lowest in the country, new figures have revealed. The prevalence of the virus has fallen in recent months from a high of 208% on May 25 to just 55% in the last two weeks. This compared to Limerick, which is the fourth highest in the country with 120 cases per 100,000. The number of confirmed Covid-19 PCR cases in Clare is edging closer to 40,000, In total, there were 39,898 confirmed PCR cases in the Banner County on Wednesday following five new diagnoses on Tuesday. There were 66 PCR cases in the Banner county over the last two weeks and the 14-day incidence in the county per 100,000 is 55.5% These latest figures only include PCR confirmed cases of Covid-19 and don’t include those who register online with a positive antigen test.

A VIDEOED flashpoint in a siblings’ row over land in east Clare “was a very bad production – nearly as bad at Flatley’s Blackbird”, a court has heard. At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, solicitor Daragh Hassett made the comment referring to a film directed by and starring Michael Flatley that has received extremely poor reviews. The solicitor told the court that a yard row between his client, Ciaran Griffin and two siblings, Anthony Griffin and Ruth Griffin “was a complete set-up”. Both Ruth Griffin and Anthony Griffin in evidence stated that this wasn’t the case. Ruth Griffin videoed the row on a mobile phone and the footage was played to the court as part of the State prosecution against her brother, Ciaran Griffin. Mr Hassett said that this was a case of ‘Lights, Camera, Action’. While cross examining Anthony Griffin on his evidence, Mr Hassett said: “This was a very bad production – nearly as bad as (Michael) …

Revenue officials have seized 4kgs of herbal cannabis, with an estimated value of €80,000, at Shannon Airport. The illegal drugs were concealed in a parcel that had originated from Italy and were destined for an address in Cork City. The seizure came about as a result of routine operations at the airport this Tuesday, September 6. Seperately, this Wednesday, as a result of routine profiling, Revenue officers at Rosslare Europort seized approximately 200,000 cigarettes with an estimated retail value of €150,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of almost €118,000. The illegal cigarettes, branded ‘Dunhill’, were discovered with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner when Revenue officers stopped and searched a Bulgarian registered truck and its accompanying trailer, that had disembarked a ferry from Dunkirk, France. Investigations into both seizures are ongoing. These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the shadow economy and smuggling. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, …

A SIXMILEBRIDGE teenager has been denied a bus ticket to his Limerick school, leaving his mother perplexed and angry. Mary Casey’s son Sean is in fourth year at Ard Scoil Rís in Limerick City and she said that other children who travelled on the bus last year were given tickets for this year, but so far Sean has not got one. “A bus leaves Sixmilebridge every morning for Limerick. Sean had a ticket on that bus last year, every other child who had a ticket on that bus last year got one this year except Sean. I’m trying to figure out how did they select him not to have a ticket.” Ms Casey said that Government policy changed to allow all people access to bus tickets, even those who had little use for them, and it has meant capacity being exceeded in some cases. “Basically all parents applied for bus tickets by the end of April and were willing to …

STUDENTS across the county will have their fingers crossed this Thursday as the first round of CAO offers for college places are released. Among those are Ennis students Daniel Saunders and Emmanuela Moses who last week were delighted with their Leaving Certificate results. Daniel who was a student of Gaelcholáiste an Chláir is hoping to do an arts degree and study law at University of Galway. While Emmanuela of Ennis Community College has her heart set on Biotechnology at Maynooth University. Principal of both schools Brian O’Donoghue congratulated all of his students on the results of their exams, while reminding anybody disappointed that their school is there to offer support. “We are very proud of all of our students. Leaving Certificate results day is always a proud day for us all and we are delighted for all of our students.” He paid tribute to the hard work and dedication that the students have shown during a difficult two years due …

A MAN accused of assaulting his 74-year-old neighbour in an alleged unprovoked attack in Barefield last week has been granted bail. At Ennis district court this Wednesday, September 7, Ciaran Cullinan (32) was granted bail on conditions including that he reside at an address outside Clare. Cullinan, with an address at Curraderra, Barefield, appeared in court via video link from Limerick Prison where he has been on remand since his first court appearance on charges relating to alleged incidents at Curraderra, Barefield on September 3. After hearing this Wednesday’s bail application, Judge Patricia Cronin granted Cullinan bail subject to what she said are “serious conditions”. Cullinan was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear again in court on September 21. Cullinan’s application for bail was opposed by the State. In evidence, Garda Conor Langan said gardaí responded to a report of an alleged assault on a 74-year-old man in Barefield on the afternoon of September 3. The court …