Tag Archives: Ennis

A TEENAGER in the 1960s, Seán (not his real name) became the target of a sexual predator but kept the ensuing trauma entirely to himself for well over 30 years. Although he kept it hidden, the pain still bubbled up throughout his life, leading to depression and what he calls “unhealthy relationships in the past” with drink, gambling and drugs. Only recently has he found support through the Rape Crisis Centre in Ennis, which he feels can finally help to free him from the effects of his experience. Coming to The Clare Champion offices last Friday to talk about his devastating teenage experience was very hard for him but he did it to show other people that there is help available to deal with their pain. “I’m sweating now just talking to you about it, even though I’m glad to talk about it. I know, on one level, that I haven’t done anything wrong and I haven’t anything to be …

THERE is no “quick fix” when it comes to treating someone entrenched in addiction, and it requires not only the will and desire to get clean, but a host of supports also need to be in place, according to the Probation Service. Getting into treatment does not necessarily resolve the problem. According to Leah McGuire, assistant principal Probation Officer in the county, many pieces of the puzzle need to come together for it to be a success. “It’s not a quick fix. Addiction builds up over time and people see abstinence as the only answer and the only way they’ll see improvement. Whereas if you are taking someone off heroin, down to nothing, that takes time. I think the criminal justice system has got to see it like that as well. “A case might be adjourned for three months and [the offender] has got to get into treatment and get clean. They do it, and they might avoid prison. Then …

IF you were an outsider with a reasonable sense of perspective and you heard about the introduction of the sugar tax, you’d think Ireland cared about its young people far more than it actually does. On May 1, cans of fizzy drinks went up by 10 cents and two-litre bottles by 60 cents, with the thinking being that this new charge –debated in the press and at political level for months – was a wonderful move to combat obesity. Yes, this caring, health-conscious society was taking concrete action to make sure its young people were going to grow up as close to the peak of health and fitness as possible. But on May 1, as the new charge came into operation and our policymakers lauded themselves, teenagers all over Clare (and undoubtedly everywhere else), were out buying cannabis, cocaine, benzos and heroin. The ability to ignore this inconvenient truth is absolutely staggering, with no coherent strategy to tackle the parasites …

UNBEARABLE pressure is being inflicted on young people once they fall into the debt of Ennis drug dealers, a local mother has warned. She once worked in two jobs to clear her own son’s debt and was subjected to numerous threats, with warnings that her young daughter could be a target. “They threatened me, they threatened my son, they threatened my [other, younger] child. They told me that if I had sexual relations with them they would take money off the debt. I’d say I have been threatened at least 40 times. At least. It’s been on my doorstep, up the town, if your son doesn’t pay up, this is what’s going to happen.” At its worst stage her son’s debts reached €2,000, with cannabis very much his drug of choice. “It’s awful stress, oh my God, it’s awful. Even talking about it now, I’m not living through it now, but Jesus it was so hard, working two jobs paying …

Gardaí have renewed their appeal seeking the assistance of the public in tracing the whereabouts of 17-year-old Natasha McNeil who is missing since Thursday June 21, 2018 and who may be in the Ennis area. Natasha is described as 160cm (5’2”) and is of slim build. She has brown hair, and has tattoos on her right ankle and wrists. She was last seen near Heuston Railway Station in Dublin. Anyone with information is asked to contact Henry Garda Station, Limerick on 061 212400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

AN illegal encampment may jeapordise the future of a planned development of social housing in Ennis, it is feared. Plans are underway by the council to build 40 housing units at Ashline to, according to the council, “address the high needs in the Ennis area”. However, a family has set up an illegal encampment in a nearby laneway regularly used as a shortcut to Ennis National School. Last month Clare County Council assisted the gardaí in removing the barriers after parents told how their young children didn’t feel safe going to school along the route. Members of the Ennis Municipal District voiced their concerns at their monthly meeting where plans for the housing development proposal at Ashline were outlined. A preliminary public consultation meeting about the development is set to be held on Tuesday next,  June 19 in the Temple Gate Hotel from 6pm to 7.30pm. While councillors welcomed the plans, they highlighted the need for the illegal encampment to …

ENNIS teenager Shay Moloney will be remembered by his family as “forever young, forever our warrior, forever our hero”, his funeral mass was told. The 15 year old was laid to rest on Monday after tragically losing his life in a swimming accident along with is friend Jack Kenneally, who he had desperately tried to save. Ennis Cathedral was packed to capacity as mourners, including friends from St Flannan’s College and Ennis Rugby Club, gathered to say their final goodbyes at the emotional ceremony. His uncle Louis Moloney, speaking on behalf of the family, told those gathered, “What can you say about a young man who only had 15 years of his life. The answer is a lot, too much to mention here. Shay crammed more into his 15 years than most do in a lifetime.” He described his nephew as “a character in every sense of the word, with a bubbly personality and a cheeky grin for everybody. There …

THE two boys who drowned while swimming at a disused quarry near Knockanean yesterday have been named as Jack Kenneally and Shay Moloney. The 15 year olds got into difficulty while swimming yesterday afternoon and they were pronounced dead after being brought to University Hospital Limerick. Ennis Rugby Club posted pictues of the young men on its Twitter account this morning and it paid tribute to the two. The club’s tweet said, “Our brothers and arms Our warriors when the going got tough. Our leaders when the pressure came on. Our pride when they took the field. Our joy when they lit it up off the field. Our devilment when it all got too serious. Our gentlemen always. Our terrible loss.”