News

A CENTURY on, the Christmas Truce on the Western Front in 1914 was remembered at a special event in Iveagh House in Dublin, where the keynote address was delivered by former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charles Flanagan hosted the remembrance, while the British Secretary of State, Philip Hammond, was also in attendance. Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pat Breen was also present. Jerry Lynch, from Kilfenora, sang a moving rendition of the Cormac Mac Connell-penned song, A Silent Night Christmas 1914, accompanied by the Island of Ireland Peace Choir. The Christmas Truce describes the extraordinary event on the Western Front 100 years ago, when the guns fell silent and when soldiers from all sides stepped out from their trenches, shook hands and took a break from hostilities. Deputy Breen said, “It is very important that we remember and reflect on the events that took place in the trenches on …

THE health watchdog has been asked to conduct an investigation into care at a Spanish Point residential facility, after several deficiencies were revealed in a recent inspection conducted by the Mental Health Commission. Mental health support group, Support Link, has asked HIQA to conduct a review into the Cois Mara facility which, at the time of inspection on November 27, 2013, had 14 residents ranging in age from 52 to 77. Support Link highlighted the findings of the report, including a lack of specialised nursing staff, no occupational therapist, physical therapist or proper therapeutic intervention. The group claimed it was “disgraceful” that residents were paying €134 weekly, despite the absence of a multi-disciplinary team and other basic services. It alleged the HSE is breaching the Mental Health Act by keeping it open as an ‘unapproved’ centre since 2002. Apart from the renovation of the accommodation, such as extending the activities room and shower rooms, the report did not outline any …

A 24 year old West Clare man has appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court today charged in connection with the seizure of almost €700,000 worth of cannabis. Ronan Clohessy of Crossfields, Cree, is charged with the possession of €680,000 worth of cannabis herb at QuerrinKilkee in County Clare and having the drugs for sale or supply on December 19. At the hearing before Judge Aeneas McCarthy Garda Trevor Shannon outlined that at 2.32pm on Friday he arrested the defendant on suspicion of having drugs for sale or supply at an address in Querrin. He then gave evidence of charging the accused with the offences before the court. Garda Shannon said the defendant replied “sorry” to one of the charges and made no reply to the other. Free legal aid was granted to the defendant. Detective Inspector John Galvin told the court the State had no objection to bail, subject to conditions. These included that the defendant surrender his passport and undertake not to apply for any …

Active Ennis Leisure Complex has today (Friday) been presented with its 14th White Flag Award. The prestigious awards scheme, which is coordinated by Ireland Active and endorsed by Fáilte Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), is the only comprehensive quality and excellence award for Irish health and leisure facilities. Ennis Leisure Complex is the only facility in Clare to have received the White Flag every year since the award scheme’s inception in 2001. The White Flag Award was presented to Tim Forde, Active Ennis general manager, by Mayor of Ennis, Johnny Flynn and Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, John Crowe. Mr Forde said, “The staff are immensely proud to have achieved the benchmark for highest standards within the health and leisure industry. They regard this success as a vote of confidence in the range and quality of services provided at Ennis Leisure Complex, including the 25-metre public swimming pool, state-of-the-art gymnasium, and various training and fitness programmes.” He added, …

A-35-year old sex offender, who has been living in the Ennis area but failed to comply with a requirement for him to notify a change of his address with the gardaí, has this week received a four month prison term. The defendant, who is currently of no fixed abode, initially appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday charged under the Sex Offenders Act 2001 with failing to notify a change of address between December 4, 2014 and December 14, 2014. On that date, Detective Garda John Casey outlined to the court that the defendant was convicted in the Central Criminal  Court on April 25, 2005 and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register. Following his release from his sentence charges of sexual assault and rape of a male person, the defendant was required under the Sex Offenders Act 2001 to notify gardaí of his home address. Detective Casey said the defendant had spent three nights sleeping rough in Ennis town, …

THE HSE has come under fire for its decision to spend in the region of €2,500 on the Christmas tree outside the acute hospital in Dooradoyle, Limerick. Councillor Ann Norton highlighted a claim that €2,500 was spent purchasing a massive Christmas tree for University Hospital (UHL). Describing the expenditure as a “waste of money”, Councillor Norton claimed it should be possible to purchase a good Christmas tree for €200. She stated that this money could be put to much better use in hiring nurses to try and reduce the long waiting times for people on trolleys in UHL. While acknowledging that it is important to create Christmas spirit, she said patients would prefer to see a smaller Christmas tree but better care, when they had to attend the emergency department. “I am not against the principle of putting up a Christmas tree but it is important that the HSE gets its priorities right. Which is more important, spending money on …

THE number of people waiting for outpatient treatment in Galway’s two main public hospitals would practically fill Pearse Stadium for the Connacht Senior Football final, a meeting has been told. Official confirmation that 23,395 people are still waiting for treatment on Galway University Hospitals (GUH) outpatients list has left a local councillor “astounded”. This doesn’t include 7,109 adults and 381 children who are on the in-patient waiting list, ranging from one month to more than 12 months. Speaking at a recent HSE West Forum meeting, Councillor Padraig Conneely claimed the situation concerning people waiting for outpatient treatment in the public health system hasn’t improved in recent years. Despite obtaining a new chief executive officer, a new logo and hiring a new private public relations company, Setanta Communications, Councillor Conneely said the one thing that isn’t new is the fact that more than 23,000 people are still waiting for treatment. He expressed concern that some patients are waiting more than three …

A 35-year-old sex offender, who has been living in the Ennis area, has appeared before the district court, having failed to comply with a requirement for him to notify a change of address with the gardaí. The defendant, who is currently of no fixed abode, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday charged under the Sex Offenders Act 2001 with failing to notify a change of address between December 4, 2014 and December 14, 2014. Detective Garda John Casey outlined that the defendant was convicted in the Central Criminal Court on April 25, 2005 and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register. Following his release from his sentence on charges of sexual assault and rape of a male person, the defendant was required, under the Sex Offenders Act 2001, to notify gardaí of his home address. Detective Casey said the defendant had spent three nights sleeping rough in Ennis and had also spent a number of nights at the acute …