News

A STONEMASON was not in his “full senses” when he used a consaw to try and damage a wall outside a pub, a court has heard. At Killaloe district court, Brendan Ryan (37), with an address at Cooleen, Birdhill, Co Tipperary, pleaded guilty to the production of an offensive weapon during the commission of an offence and a further charge of being intoxicated to such an extent so as to be a danger to himself or others. The charges arise from an incident at O Riains public house in Ballina, Co Tipperary on November 1, 2021. Sergeant Aiden Lonergan said in light of the guilty pleas, the State would be offering no evidence on the two remaining charges of criminal damage and breach of the peace. Outlining the facts of the case, Sergeant Lonergan told the court that gardaí responded to a report of a man damaging a wall outside the premises in question. Gardaí spoke to staff who informed …

AN Garda Síochána have unveiled a newly developed mobile app for people to record their personal property. Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks explains, “The new Property App supports An Garda Síochána’s efforts to encourage people to clearly mark their property and make a record of it – property that is well marked is less attractive to a thief and more difficult to sell on.” The app enables you to take photographs and record receipts, store registration codes and property markings. Any information entered into the app is either stored locally on the device or backed up to your cloud account. No data will be stored by An Garda Síochána, she outlines. If the user’s property recorded is stolen they can use the report feature on the app to report the theft to An Garda Síochána. “In addition, having a record on the app about your property will greatly assist investigating Gardaí in the event of a theft. “Also, …

PATIENTS are left to “wallow” in pain on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick for long periods after they are assessed, a local Dáil deputy has claimed. Having attended the ED recently with a family member, Deputy Cathal Crowe told a recent Dáil Health Committee meeting there isn’t enough follow up with patients who are left waiting in corridors. “Charts and extensive data can be seen by someone going to the toilet or the shop, people going into see their relatives can see patients with bedpans. There is no privacy there. There is very few people who come along with a cup of tea or a slice of toast to perk patients up.” “There is enduring pain when you are sitting on a trolley. People feel from triage to trolley, you are left to wallow.” Professor Brian Lenehan said UHL are focusing on providing privacy and dignity for patients following the HIQA report. He explained patients are triaged for care based …

THE Irish Blood Transfusion Service has organised a clinic in County Clare next week. The clinic comes at a challenging time for the service with RTE reporting that supplies of certain blood types are “critically” low and a pre-amber alert has been issued to hospitals as IBTS appeals for donors. One in four of us will need a blood transfusion in our lifetime and one blood donation may save three lives. IBTS Operations Director Paul McKinney said the problem is “simply a supply and demand situation”. Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said despite clinic collections actually being very strong over what is traditionally a very challenging period for the service, the demand from hospitals, particularly for O-negative, the universal blood group, and other rhesus negative groups, is not being matched by supply. The Clare clinic takes place next Tuesday, October 11, at Scariff Community College 5.45pm – 9pm. Appointments may be booked on 1800 222 111. Existing and new …

GARDAI in Clare are investigating a number of burglaries and thefts across the county. On Thursday evening last, September 29, between 7.05 p.m. and 7.15 p.m. a number of persons entered a business premises on Main Street, Tulla. A quantity of cigarettes and alcohol were stolen and a black Skoda Octavia was seen in the area at the time. If anyone saw this vehicle or anyoe who may have dash cam footage they are asked to contact Killaloe Garda Station on 061 620540. In Carron, on the same night between 10pm and Friday morning, a silver 8 x 4 flat body trailer with a high ramp and ladder rack was stolen from a farmyard in Poulacarron. Meanehile between 9.20pm and 9.50pm a Team MX 26” child’s mountain bike with bright yellow and black writing on the crossbar was taken from the green area in the Ard Na Deirge estate in Killaloe. Clare crime prevention officer Sergeant Triona Brooks said, “If …

A NEW direction in design undertaken by Clare County Council to create a beautiful public realm space at a Shannon cemetery has been praised. The extension to Illaunmanagh burial ground in Shannon was officially opened by Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Tony O’Brien. The Council undertook a different approach to the design and layout of the extension moving away from the traditional dense grid layout. The new space, Councillor O’Brien observed, combines an homage to the nature, geography, heritage, and the people of Shannon The newly opened extension allows bereaved families to reflect in the comfort of nature and the Shannon Estuary. Councillor O’Brien, said, “Our graveyards are so important to us all here in County Clare. This project has taken many influences from scores of historic graveyards across Clare, where those who built this county now rest. “I know this place will be a fitting resting place for those we lose in the coming decade, and a place of …

CANCER Care West launched its 2021 annual report recently, which showed that during that year the majority of its 8,000 consultations were conducted remotely. The charity moved to a hybrid service model during the pandemic, and it found that once the initial challenges with technology were overcome, both patients and service providers became comfortable with the format, and the remote services were very successful and highly appreciated. The charity’s 33-bedroom residential facility, Inis Aoibhinn, for patients undergoing radiotherapy at Galway University Hospital (GUH) also continued to run to capacity in 2021 with nearly 7,000 bed nights provided to cancer patients by the organisation. As well as its ongoing day-to-day activity the charity also developed and delivered two key projects during 2021. The first, named Children United in Bereavement Support (CUBS), is an eight-week online bereavement support group developed for children aged between 7-12 years, whose parent has died from cancer within the last 3-18 months. CUBS was developed by its …

CONSTRUCTION on a new social housing development in an east Clare town is due to start before the end of the year, a Senior Engineer has confirmed.  Plans for 18 homes on a site at the Feakle Road in Ballyminoge, Scariff, were lodged by Clare County Council in November 2021. Last July, the authority was granted just over €6.09 million for the development, which is to be named ‘Droichead Nua’.  Last week’s meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District heard an update on the scheme, following a question from Councillor Joe Cooney. The Fine Gael member welcomed a progress report from Senior Executive Engineer in Housing, Niamh Madden. He noted that there are 140 people on the housing waiting list in the area, and expressed the hope some might be looked after with the new development.  Ms Madden’s response outlined that funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) had been granted “with an all-in budget of €6,093,289 …