IT WAS seen as one of the watershed moments of Limerick history when thousands of people took to the city streets wearing red in the memory of murdered Roy Collins.
It marked the beginning of an “up front policing” policy by the Gardaí that eventually ended the reign of Limerick’s feuding gangs.
In April 2009, Roy Collins was shot dead outside his place of work at a time when the community was already in shock over the murder of Garryowen rugby player Shane Geoghegan who was shot outside his home in a case of mistaken identity.
A month after his son was laid to rest, Steve Collins called on the people of Limerick to stand together and declare that criminal gangs and their activities would not be welcome here.
He said that the Collins family did not want Roy’s death to be in vain.
In July 2009, the then Justice Minister Dermot Ahern presented new legislation to the Dáil. The Criminal Justice (amendment) Bill 2009, was aimed to tackle the the way “gangs displayed callous disregard for human life and a brazen contempt for community”.
Offences specifically linked to organised crime were introduced to eliminate the intimidation of jurors or witnesses by gangs.
In its wake, a raft of prosecutions and convictions were levelled against the key figures on all sides of the feuding gangs as well as their foot soldiers and runners. Many of the key figures are now either dead or in prison.
A CONVICTED sex offender who sexually assaulted two Limerick girls on the Luas on their way to a Rihanna concert has been given a four year sentence with the final two years suspended.
John Daly (53) was arrested three months later as he was about to board the tram at the O2 after a One Direction concert. He had been identified as a suspect after Gardaí viewed CCTV footage from the tram when the then 13-year-old and 16-year-old girls reported him.
He admitted that he deliberately got on the Luas for the Rihanna concert to touch young girls and get sexually aroused.
He said he had it “in my head to do it” and had been doing it “for my own satisfaction”.
Daly of Cabra Park, Phibsboro pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of sexual assault on October 3, 2011.
In February 2000, he was sentenced to three years with one suspended by Mr Justice Paul Carney in the Central Criminal Court for other sex charges. This sentence was appealed by the Director of Public Prosecutions on the basis of undue leniency and increased to a six year term by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Daly had pleaded guilty to attempted rape and indecent assault charges relating to two young girls on dates from 1980 to 1984, and to aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault of a woman on dates from 1997 to 1998.
Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted that the concert would have attracted a young and predominantly female audience.
“It was clear from the evidence that this was a matter known to the accused and he knew there would be on the Luas to the O2 at the time a number of young females,” she said.
She referred to the two Victim Impact Statements which had been handed into court on a previous occasion. She noted one of the girls had coped well with the incident but the other girl had been affected to a greater extent and was more afraid generally.
Judge Ring said the incident had been a “shocking and damaging event” for the girls and that there was an element of planning and forethought in the offence.
She said that Daly has indicated that he wanted to get treatment and he had been assessed as suitable for the ‘Safer Lives’ programme. It was to everyone’s benefit that treatment should be a part of sentencing but she could not overlook his record and the nature of the offending.
She imposed a four year sentence and suspended the final two years on conditions including that he be under the supervision of The Probation Service during the suspended portion of the sentence and attend the programme.
Luigi Rea BL, defending, said Daly had been a model prisoner while serving his earlier sentence but accepted that he had obviously not successfully dealt with “the demons in his mind” while in custody. He was now committed to availing of any treatment he can while in prison
A report before the court concluded that he “functions in the mild intellectual disability range”. He wanted to apologise to the girls who had been on this “nightmare train journey” and said this “dreadful” incident should never have happened.
Gda Caitriona Gilmartin told Lisa Dempsey BL, prosecuting, that the girls had been brought to Dublin by one of their fathers that day and he had put them on the Luas at Heuston Station when they noticed the heavy traffic.
The tram was busy and Daly approached one of the girls and put his hands between her legs. He touched her outside her shorts and tights and continued to molest her until the group got off the stop at the O2.
The teenager later reported to gardaí that she felt she had “no way out” because she had been squashed against a bar. She said she didn’t know how to get out of the situation.
Daly touched the other teenager’s backside after she bumped into him and apologised for standing on his toe. She moved out of Daly’s way at the first opportunity she got.
The girl’s father was waiting for them at the platform at the O2 and they told him what had happened.
Victim Impact Reports were handed into Judge Ring at a previous sentence hearing but not read out.
Andrew Carey at the Special Criminal Court, Dublin
andrew@limerickpost.ie
THE trial of two Limerick men, Wayne Dundon and Nathan Killeen accused of the murder of businessman Roy Collins in 2009, has been adjourned at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to allow the State disclose further recordings from the Prison Service amongst other materials that make up the prosecution case.
Amid heightened security at the specially designed court buildings, the two accused arrived to the Courts of Criminal Justice at the Phoenix Park under a garda and army escort where they were brought to the custody area ahead of this Tuesday morning’s sitting.
In a packed court room, rank and file gardai including, detectives, inspectors and superintendents were present along with members of the Collins family including Steve Collins, his wife Carmel, daughter Leeann and Ryan Lee.
Dressed in a black shirt and grey pants, 36-year-old Dundon was brought to the dock area of Court number 11 along with his co accused 24-year-old Nathan Killeen, dressed in a grey waist coat and pants, white shirt and silver tie, where they had a brief consultation with their defence teams before proceedings began.
Addressing the three judge court, senior counsels Michael O’Higgins and Sean Guerin told the court that there was now a “manageable list of disclosure material” to be furnished to the defence teams and that a “significant proportion of garda resources – almost on a full-time basis – have been assigned to deal with disclosure.”
Mr O’Higgins said there was “no complacency” on the part of the State but he did accept that there were a number of matters still outstanding.
Lawyers for Nathan Killeen said that it was “not satisfactory that matters were coming so late”, adding that they felt there was no “reality in the short term to the case going on”.
Ms Justice Iseult O’Malley, together with Judge Margaret Heneghan and Judge Ann Ryan said that the court appreciated the amount of work being done in relation to the trial advancing.
The opening of the trial was adjourned and an earlier court order was extended for the Prison Service to disclose recordings made, between a range of agreed dates, from garda stations to potential witnesses who were in custody at the time.
Mr O’Higgins said that he would hope that the trial could open on Thursday next and hear from some preparatory witnesses but added that no “controversial evidence” would be heard before the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Ms Justice O’Malley said that the court, which normally sits Tuesday to Friday, would also sit on Mondays once the trial opened to allow the case progress within the proposed timeframe.
Dundon and Killeen were returned to custody pending the opening of the trail next Thursday.
TWO men suffered heart attacks with one dying on an Alitalia plane bound for New York when the scheduled flight from Rome was diverted to Shannon Airport this Tuesday evening.
It is understood that Alitalia flight AZ-610 was just over 50 miles off the West Clare coastline when the crew onboard notified air traffic control at Shannon that an emergency had unfolded with two men suffering heart attacks.
An immediate emergency plan was put in place for paramedics and a doctor to be put on stand by for when the plane touched down shortly after 5:30pm.
A man in his 70s was pronounced dead at the scene while the second passenger was taken to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.
The flight left Flumicino airport in Rome shortly after 14:45 local time and had just passed over the south of Ireland bound for JFK international Airport when the medical emergency occurred.
A COUNTY Limerick man has been granted bail on charges relating to possession of €180,000 worth of heroin at his home almost six years ago.
Barry Hodgins (32) was arrested after Gardaí found the drugs at his home in Carrig House, Clarina on July, 7, 2008.
At Limerick District Court last week, Judge Aeneas McCarthy was told that the State had no objection to bail being granted subject to a number of conditions including that he must surrender his passport to Gardaí; sign on daily at a nominated Garda station and enter into his own bond of €1,000 with an independent surety of €20,000.
Gardaí also sought that €10,000 be lodged to the court pending his release and there was no objection to his mother acting as independent surety.
The case was adjourned for the preparation of a book of evidence with the Director of Public Prosecutions indicating that the matter would proceed by way of trial at the Circuit Criminal Court.
A LIMERICK business owner is hoping to make a positive impression when he appears on RTE programme ‘Dragons Den’ on Sunday night.
Keith McGuigan, originally from Raheen and now living in Mayorstone, will pitch his business MarketDirect.ie to the dragons as he seeks €50,000 for a 20 per cent stake in the firm.
MarketDirect.ie is an online company which sells quality produce from Irish craft workers and tradespeople, and Keith came up with the idea after identifying a market niche.
He explained: “I have two young kids and, a couple of years ago, I found that I couldn’t get to the Milk Market in town. It was hard to get time to go out and it was too busy in there on a Saturday to bring a buggy around. I thought there must be another way so I looked online and I couldn’t find anything which sold quality Irish produce.
“I have a passion for helping small Irish businesses and when I did my market research I found that most of them weren’t online, and I couldn’t find the others online because they didn’t have the time, money or expertise to set up a proper website.”
MarketDirect.ie helps Irish traders by selling their produce online with no setup fee and no risk for the craftsperson, with Keith’s company taking a 10 per cent commission on any products sold.
He had worked as a chartered accountant for 14 years prior to establishing his own business, a decision that he made with his head as well as his heart.
“I had always wanted to set up my own business and, when I was doing my research, I realised that I had a choice to make. I could continue what I was doing or I could follow my dream and take a leap of faith.
“I told myself that if I didn’t go for it, I wouldn’t be able to look my children in the eye and tell them to follow their dreams. I also looked at the financial side of it and realised that we wouldn’t end up on the street, so I’ve no regrets.”
Speaking about the Dragons Den experience, Keith said: “I’m delighted to get the opportunity. I have a lot of experience in presenting to groups of people, but this is a different ball game going to face five people and a camera. “You’ll have to watch the show to see how I get on!”
Keith will make his TV appearance on RTE One on Sunday May 4 at 9:30pm.
This month’s prize bond draw brought good news to one new Limerick millionaire.
A LUCKY Limerick person has won €1million in this month’s Prize Bonds Millionaire draw. In addition to the €1million winner, over 9,000 other Prize Bond holders across the country won prizes.
The winning bond number for the €1million prize is UY 869614 and it was purchased in 2013. Over €1,450,000 was won in this month’s draw.
Recent changes to the prize structure will see the €1 million prize awarded on the last draw of every second month (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec). In all other weeks, the top prize is €20,000. Other cash prizes awarded each week include 5 of €1,000, 500 of €100 and over 8,500 of €50.
STUDENTS from Laurel Hill Secondary School took part in a financial literacy programme under tuition from volunteers from Dell.
‘Finance Your Future’ is a six-week programme sponsored by the Citi Foundation, with transition year students around Ireland learning about the importance of financial management, the importance of education and its role in improving potential earning power and using credit and cash wisely.
The programme began in 2012 and has educated more than 3,000 students nationwide in financial literacy modules. Volunteers from a variety of support organisations, including Dell, have delivered the lessons to students in a classroom setting.
More than 90 Laurel Hill students enjoyed the programme taught to them by Dell volunteers Siobhan O’Connor, Stephen Martin and Fearghal Carroll, and career guidance counsellor Eithne Lyons said that the students took enormous benefit from ‘Finance Your Future’.
“It is an excellent programme. The students learned through group work, interaction and activities – a perfect recipe.
“Siobhan, Fearghal and Stephen are great role models for the students, giving them a real taste of life in the workplace and also how good financial decisions impact on their lives now and in the long term. We are grateful to both Citi and Dell for giving our students this opportunity.”
INDEPENDENT city councillor John Gilligan described Environment Minister Phil Hogan as a “moron” at the last ever Limerick City Council meeting this week.
Cllr Gilligan took umbrage at the fact that a local government that has existed for over 800 years could be disbanded at Minister Hogan’s behest. The Limerick City East councillor said the Fine Gael Minister was “incompetent” and accused him of “killing our city”.
“We all have a love of our own place and I love Limerick. Limerick City Council has been in existence for 818 years and what gives that moron Minister Hogan the right to disband it?” asked an angry Cllr Gilligan.
“It’s incredible to think that this Council existed before America. Minister Hogan couldn’t find Limerick on a map. He never had any interest in the place. How dare that incompetent man decide Limerick City no longer exists,” he said.
Cllr Gilligan believes the first role of a councillor is to defend their city. He also accused Fine Gael councillors of lacking the bottle to stand up to the Minister, instead opting to “lie down and accept it”.
“They strangled our city. They should have given us the boundary extension but instead they allowed us to die,” he claimed.
Fianna Fail local election candidate for Limerick City West, Geraldine Leddin with one of the residents who have expressed concern over the Irish Water meters installed at the Cedar Downs housing estate in Raheen
HOUSEHOLDERS in Raheen are furious that not only will they have to pay water charges but will also have to spend more money to fix leaks caused by Government contractors.
According to residents of the Cedar Downs estate, J Murphy & Sons, who are installing the water meters throughout Limerick, have actually installed meters that are leaking.
They claim that when they complained to the company about the leaks, they were told that the leaks were on their side of the meter and therefore their responsibility.
Fianna Fail local election candidate for Limerick City West, Geraldine Leddin, has criticised Irish Water for installing leaking water meters in the estate. She said it was bad enough that people didn’t know the full extent of the water charges they will face from October, never mind the fact that Irish Water are actually causing leaks.
“This is a disgraceful situation that cannot be tolerated. I thought this initiative was meant to be a conservation measure. Instead the Government contractors appear to be causing leaks and then taking no responsibility for their actions.
“Residents are already very annoyed that they have no clear idea whatsoever what their bills will be for the provision of water from October. So far, about €800 million of taxpayers’ money has been pumped into the establishment of Irish Water; the removal of assets from local authorities; the water metering process and the framework for charges.
“Not one cent has been spent on fixing leaks and now they are actually causing leaks,” she said.
Irish Water told the Limerick Post that it was always anticipated that in the course of installing a meter, pre-existing leaks and other latent defects, due to the age or condition of the water pipes, would be discovered.
A spokesperson said that it is not accurate to say that these leaks are caused by Irish Water contractors or by the meters being installed.
“The meter installation programme gives Irish Water a strong starting point for mains rehabilitation by enabling the discovery of pre-existing leaks and helping to target more effective investment in leak repair.
“With regard to the Cedar Downs estate in Raheen, Irish Water can confirm that, to date, only three meters and meter boxes were installed in January. One complaint was received on April 24 about a possible leak and this was immediately investigated by Irish Water with the householder involved.
“The result of this investigation has since shown that there is no leak at the property,” the spokesperson concluded.
STEVE Collins was the intended target when his son Roy was murdered in Limerick by a gunman who shot him in the chest on April 9, 2009, the Special Criminal Court has been told.
Two men, 36-year-old Wayne Dundon of Lenihan Avenue and 24-year-old Nathan Killeen of Hyde Road are standing trial for the murder of Roy Collins and prosecution counsel for the State have outlined that they will provide evidence from five witnesses formerly connected to the McCarthy Dundon gang in support of the allegations.
At the beginning of the trial the two accused men only spoke to confirm their names and enter not guilty pleas.
Opening the trial, Mr Michael O’Higgins SC told the all female three judge non jury court that the alleged involvement of the two men goes to common design and joint enterprise.
Mr O’Higgins said that a third man, James Dillion, would not trouble the court during the trial.
Declared homeless but originally from Limerick, Dillion, the hired gunman, is currently serving life for the murder of Roy Collins after he shot him at the Coin Castle arcade business he owned.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin this Thursday was told that the State will offer evidence from five witnesses including former Dundon McCarthy gang associates, siblings Gareth Collins-Keogh, his sisters Lisa and April and Dundon cousins, Anthony “Noddy” McCarthy and his brother Christopher McCarthy.
In his address to the court, Mr O’Higgins said that in the days leading up to the murder, a car was stolen, a firearm organised and that Nathan Killeen was instructed to be the driver for James Dillion and that the pair would go to the Steering Wheel bar and “whack Steve Collins in the pub”.
Mr O’Higgins said that the State will provide evidence outlining the details of how the 36-year-old accused Wayne Dundon was the “designer and director” of the murder from his cell in Wheatfield prison.
He said that Gareth Collins Keogh would testify that he was asked to be the driver for the shooting and offered up to €20,000 and heroin, known as “dirty stuff” to carry out the hit, but that he refused to get involved.
The State will say that evidence will be given from Anthony “Noddy” McCarthy, who is serving life in prison for the murder of Kieran Keane, of hearing Wayne Dundon on the phone the morning of the murder shouting down the line to another person while incarcerated in Wheatfield Prison.
The court was told that Anthony “Noddy” McCarthy will say that when he asked Dundon who he was shouting at on the phone, Dundon will say he told “James Dillion to go down and do Collins”.
Noddy McCarthy will also say that he heard Dundon speak to his brother Dessie on the prison hallway in the wake of the murder saying that “Steve Collins thought I was joking”.
The trial was told that evidence will be offered from Lisa Collins, April Collins and Christopher McCarthy that will corroborate the testimony of Gareth Collins Keogh and therefore prove the State’s case and the involvement of Wayne Dundon in the “joint enterprise” as “organiser and designer” and the involvement of Nathan Killeen as driver for the murder.
CITY Council is now intent on closing down a Limerick halting site once a “sustainable solution” is found for Traveller families in Rhebogue.
Controversial proposals to spend more money on the halting site in Rhebogue were stopped earlier this month by city councillors who are now pushing to have it closed.
The site has been at the centre of claims that members of the nearby St Patrick’s GAA club are being harassed and intimidated by persons associated with the site.
At Limerick City Council’s last ever monthly meeting under the current local government structures, City Manager Conn Murray told council members that it was now their intention to close the Rhebogue site.
He described the site as “a serious problem with complex issues”. However, he said there was no immediate fix and until a sustainable solution was found for families on the site, he vowed to abide to the local authority’s statutory duty.
At a special meeting last month, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon (FF) strongly opposed plans for refurbishment and the construction of additional accommodation at the site, citing it as a waste of taxpayers money.
According to Cllr O’Hanlon, not only do the residents of Rhebogue and members of the neighbouring St Patrick’s GAA Club want the site shut down, but most of the Travellers also want to move and be freer to practice their culture and way of life.
“This site has failed. It’s time for firm action and dialogue between senior Council officials, families on the site, the Irish Traveller Movement (ITM), local residents, St Patrick’s GAA and the Gardai,” Cllr O’Hanlon insisted.
“The conditions on this site are deplorable and unacceptable for any human being. The site is overcrowded and the traveller families themselves want out to live in conditions that are acceptable to them where they can practice their traditions,” he said.
Cllr John Gilligan (Ind) said it was a very difficult situation and called on the Gardaí to take immediate action in addressing issues at the site.
“The word Traveller is a misnomer. They don’t travel anymore. It’s political correctness gone mad when travellers are claiming to be a different ethnic group. They are certainly not; they are Irish people,” said Cllr Gilligan.
“I don’t care if they are white, black, Jews or Protestants but they do not have the right to behave anyway they want and disturb the peace and rights of every other person in their houses. If they want to make progress then they have to be integrated into society,” he concluded.
Derrick Towell, Brian Hinchy and Cian Prendiville protesting over property charges
THREATENING letters have started to arrive at the homes of Limerick people who have not paid their household charges, demanding payment within two weeks or face deduction at source from wages or social welfare payments.
The Revenue Commissioners began sending the letters last week and Limerick home-owners are being told to pay up €200 — €100 for the original household charge and a further €100 penalty for non-payment.
Limerick City North local election candidate Christy McInerney told the Limerick Post that he has received numerous complaints from Rhebogue residents in Drominbeg requesting that the 2012 household charge be paid within 14 days.
“It is disgraceful that households who were exempt from paying the household charge in 2012 are now being asked to pay the same charge. There seems to be a mistake made by the Revenue in relation to this estate, which needs to be rectified in the coming days,” Mr McInerney commented.
“The key issue for residents is the fact that €200 is to be deducted automatically from their wages or social welfare payments after a 14 day period. Any estate that was exempt from paying the household charge in 2012 should remain exempt from paying the same charge,” said the Fianna Fáil Local election candidate.
Meanwhile, Anti Austerity Alliance election candidate for Limerick City East, Derrick Towell, claims that Limerick householders are now aware that the Revenue Commissioners office are “acting on the policy of the Fine Gael/Labour Party Government”.
“I have been contacted by many people upset at receiving this threatening letter. They will not forget this when they go to the polls this month,” warned Mr Towell.
Garryowen pensioner and AAA activist Brian Hinchy, who last week received the letter from Revenue, confronted Minister Jan O’Sullivan last year, and requested a meeting with Enda Kenny about threats to take the property tax out of his pension.
A spokesperson for the Revenue Commissioners explained that Drominbeg was listed as an unfinished housing estate for household charge (HHC) purposes and therefore exempt from that charge however it was not exempt from the local property tax (LPT).
“The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) register did not capture such exemption details. For that reason, Revenue could not identify every property that was exempt from HHC through the cross-referencing process.
“Any unfinished housing estate that was exempt from the HHC is not liable to pay the €200. The property owner should let us know that they are exempt by either going online and correcting the information on the register or contacting the LPT Helpline on 1890 200 255 to confirm that they are exempt,” Revenue commented.
THE new Rathkeale Youth Space will be formally opened by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald later this month.
This new dedicated centre will be opened on Thursday May 15 and will provide a permanent base for the Rathkeale Youth Project, which has operated out of temporary hubs up to now.
Minister Fitzgerald will be joined at the opening ceremony by Bishop Brendan Leahy and Rev Trevor Russell, as well as local civic and political representatives and the community of Rathkeale.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Sasha Noonan of Limerick Youth Service’s Sasha Noonan said: “At the moment it is all hands on deck with young people, volunteers and staff busy preparing for the launch which our youth committee has called ROAR – Reclaim Our Amazing Rathkeale.
“With the stereotyping and negative media that is often associated with Rathkeale, the young people see the launch of their Youth Space as an opportunity to give a positive and more accurate image of Rathkeale.”
Joe Walsh of Limerick Youth Service added: “Rathkeale Youth Space will be a hub for youth work activities and programmes as well as open evenings and volunteer training in Rathkeale and west Limerick.
“In addition to the outdoor facilities, which will be available to our young people, Rathkeale Youth Space will have three activity rooms and a dedicated Youth Café.
“We’re delighted that Rathkeale will have its very own Youth Café and it promises to be a fun filled addition to the town.”
The opening day celebrations run from 4pm to 7pm with a barbecue and live music
A €16.8 million redevelopment has been announced for Limerick’s Colbert rail and bus station.
Plans include a modernisation of the station and the creation of a €3.75million pedestrian plaza in the city’s heart.
Public Transport Minister, Alan Kelly, arrived in the city to announce the €16.8 million redevelopment of Colbert bus and train station in Limerick.
The plans, prepared by Iarnród Éireann in collaboration with Bus Éireann, Limerick City and County Council and the National Transport Authority, will see a major programme of works carried out on the site in the coming years.
There will be construction of a new pedestrian plaza and public drop-off point that will serve as a civic area for the city, replacing the current car-park and disused fuel station on site.
The train station’s existing toilet block will be demolished to make way for a new bus station, with the current bus station being converted into the access area for a new 235-space car park.
Announcing the news, Minister Kelly said: “This will give both the station and the city a huge boost. The station is in need of investment and the creation of a pedestrian plaza at the front of the station facing the city-centre will provide a new civic space for the people of Limerick while dramatically improving the aesthetics of the area. I can see it becoming a real focal point of the city in time. The plaza is the centrepiece of the works and will open up the station to the entire city,”
The station will be modernised with a seamless interchange between bus and rail services with shared ticketing office, waiting areas and retail spaces. The capacity of the station for both bus and rail will be increased and this will become the key public transport hub serving all of Limerick city.
Colbert station sees approximately 2,500 rail passengers a day serving four rail routes while the Bus Éireann services approximately a million passengers a year with 125 busses departing each day.
The proposal, which will be submitted for planning in the coming months, is consistent with the Limerick 2030 – Economic and Spatial Plan. Subject to planning approval, the project will be completed on a phased basis with funding allocated over a number of years.
The plaza, which will form phase one of the development will be completed within two to three years once planning is granted.
The project will also see a significant refurbishment of the interior of the station with new finishes throughout and provision of a new ticketing office, cafes and shops.
It is intended that the project will be funded through the Regional Cities programme of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
EVERY week hundreds of motorists are openly breaching the rules of the road on the outskirts of Limerick, according to a local election candidate.
Elena Secas, the Labour Party candidate for Limerick City East has warned of the “dangerous antics” of drivers on the Dublin Road on a stretch between the Viacom and Kilmurray roundabouts. She claims the problem is at its worst in an area between Chalks retail centre, Lidl, and the Munster GAA offices.
“This is where too many road users are breaking the rules of the road every day, which has led to some serious accidents, including fatalities, in recent times,” Elena commented.
“The problem is that motorists in a hurry are taking a short cut by not going to the next roundabout to make their necessary turn,” she explained.
She believes that centre-line bollards would improve road safety by stopping drivers from taking short cuts and has asked Limerick County Council to take the necessary measures. She has also called on Gardaí to launch a road safety campaign with a visible presence in the area.
“I believe that the Road Safety Authority need to consider some road safety promotion as it’s in the common good that this hazardous practice by motorists is stopped before more accidents happen,” she said.
LABOUR Party city councillor Joe Leddin has called on Bus Eireann management in the city to consider the hosting of annual public information meetings.
Cllr Leddin believes public consultation would allow members of the public and other interested groups such as sporting or community organisations an opportunity to meet with officials from Bus Eireann and discuss how best to improve the bus service offered.
“Every day I canvass I am meeting people who highlight some issue regarding the current bus service. In some parts of Raheen and Dooradoyle the location of bus stops is not suitable, in other locations there are bus stops with no shelters and in some cases there are problems with the timing of certain bus schedules,” he said.
According to the city councillor, residents in Glencairin are worried about their children’s safety as the bus drives through narrow roads around the estate. He also claimed that in other housing areas such as Kilteragh residents have to walk long distances to access a bus service opposite the Crescent Shopping Centre.
“These public consultation days which would include Bus Eireann officials with maps of existing bus routes on display provides customers both existing and potential customers an opportunity to raise issues and suggestions as to how the company can provide a better service,” he concluded.
LIMERICK Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LSPCA) are seeing more cases of horses being mistreated in the city than at any other time in their 130 year history.
According to the Hyde Road based voluntary group, cruelty to horses in Limerick is the worst it has ever been. The LSPCA have dealt with 50 cases in the city over the last six months where horses had to be put down due to mistreatment and neglect.
Manger of Limerick SPCA, Finola Kelly, said the charity has just had the worst winter in its long history, with animal cruelty cases more than doubling on previous years. They are currently dealing with around 80 call-outs per month while call-outs to cases of horses being mistreated have also risen by 70 per cent in the last six months.
“I’m here 10 years and the phone hasn’t stopped ringing at the minute. We are constantly dealing with cases of animal cruelty. Our inspector has had one day off since last October, there has just been no let up at all,” said Ms Kelly.
At an incident on the Groody Roundabout on the Dublin Road recently a horse, which collapsed with double pneumonia, was left dying for three hours. Two different vets who tried to help the animal were threatened by a gang that they would be “put down if they touched the horse”.
According to Limerick SPCA, cases of cruelty to horses are more prominent in Limerick now than ever. Most of the suffering horses they are called to assist have been beaten and starved.
“They can buy a horse for as little as €5, so they don’t care. These poor animals are dropping like flies. Most of the them are being starved. Horses are being left out in rain and all kinds of conditions where they get rainscald and pneumonia. We have seen horses with broken pelvises, broken fetlocks and wires stuck into their bones. Vicious cruelty,” said Ms Kelly.
Limerick SPCA’s chairperson Geraldine Nardone has been with the charity 40 years. She said that 2014 has been the worst for animal cruelty that she has witnessed in Limerick during her long years of service.
She believes that current local authority bye-laws for the control of horses need to be enforced in Limerick and she called on Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to see that the full weight of the law is used to punish those responsible for the mistreatment of animals. She also maintains that Gardai should be made aware of their increased powers to investigate complaints of animal cruelty under the 2013 Animal Health and Welfare Act.
“Animal cruelty is nothing new, it’s just more frequent now. We concentrate on taking animals out of cruelty. We’re about prevention. I would urge people to let us know if they see animals being mistreated. We’ll find the money from somewhere,” said Ms Nardone.
It costs Limerick Society for Prevention to Cruelty to Animals €70,000 a year to carry out their work in dealing with the prevention of cruelty to all animals in Limerick City and County and the surrounding counties of Clare and Tipperary.
With cruelty to animals now more prominent than ever, so too is the charity’s need for donations to continue its work.
“If things don’t improve our costs will continue to go up, and we’ll be gone,” said LSPCA’s Finola Kelly.
To make a donation to LSPCA contact 061-415618 or log onto www.limerickspca.com for more details.
Shannon Airport staff member Pamela Brooks is looking forward to the Great Limerick Run
THE organisers of the Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run have spread its wings ahead of the May Bank Holiday weekend event by adding Shannon Airport as a sponsor.
One of the premier mass participation events of the year in Ireland, 12,000 people are expected to participate in marathon, marathon relay, half marathon and the six mile race through the streets of Limerick this Sunday.
Commenting on the sponsorship, John Cleary, organiser of the event, said, “There are already people flying in to participate in the event from abroad and we see an opportunity to grow that, which would be of great benefit to Limerick.”
“Having Shannon Airport on our doorstep makes this so much easier and makes it an ideal sponsor for us,” said Mr Cleary.
In just three years the Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run is now the fastest growing participatory event in Ireland with over 10,000 race entrants registered in 2013. According to an economic and social impact report commissioned by Limerick City Council, 49 per cent of respondents stated that the event was the main reason they started physical exercise.
According to airport marketing manager Marie Slattery, the growth of the Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run has been “spectacular”.
“We are delighted to have come on board as a sponsor. Sports tourism is big business and the Barrington’s Hospital Great Limerick Run is a perfect example of what a strong event can do for city or region and we are delighted to be able to support its growth,” said Ms Slattery.
THE Property Registration Authority of Ireland (PRAI) have withdrawn plans to make amendments to digital maps of homes in Kilteragh, where residents have been told they do not own their driveways.
Notification of the error that some of the houses on its digital map of the Dooradoyle estate incorrectly included parking spaces, was lodged with the PRAI last November. Residents were informed earlier this month that the parking spaces would be excluded from the folios “to more accurately reflect the original documents lodged”.
However, this week the PRAI revealed that they are withdrawing their intention to revise maps to residents’ homes in Kilteragh.
In a statement to the Limerick Post, the PRAI explained, “It is clear that a dispute exists in relation to this matter and in accordance with normal practice, in the absence of agreement between the parties or a court order giving direction as to how to proceed, no amendments will be made to the map representation of the relevant boundaries at this time.”
Labour councillor Joe Leddin welcomed the PRAI’s decision and said it was a huge relief for stressed and worried home owners.
“Now we can focus on having the common area transferred to the management company that represents all home owners. The final resolution will be the council moving to take the estate in charge which will result in the management company no longer required,” said Cllr Leddin.
Last week Limerick Post identified property developer Robert Butler as the registered owner of the common areas in three neighbourhoods in Kilteragh. In 2012 NAMA appointed statutory receivers to 15 companies in the Robert Butler group. The group’s development portfolio includes substantial properties in the Shannon Free Zone and the National Technology Park in Limerick.
Fine Gael councillor Jim Long has now urged Environment Minister Phil Hogan to step in and clean up the mess regarding ownership of residents’ driveways in Kilteragh estate. Cllr Long wants Minister Hogan to put this matter right for Kilteragh householders in Ardbracken, Clonmore and Glendara.
“Someone has to be held accountable. Surely the residents should not be asked to redress this problem. The developer is, I am led to believe in NAMA, this would mean that Nama now hold the common areas under their their remit,” said Cllr Long.
“As there would be hundreds of affected householders involved here, there would be no incentive to NAMA to deal with this issue. The cost to them would be huge and would take forever and one day. Under these circumstances I am calling on the Minister for Environment to step into the breach and address this error,” he concluded.
When the Limerick Post contacted a media spokesperson for the National Asset Management Agency this week we were told, “My information is that NAMA has no connection to the properties to which you refer.”
A LIMERICK business owner is hoping to make a positive impression when he appears on RTE programme ‘Dragons Den’ on Sunday night.
STUDENTS from Laurel Hill Secondary School took part in a financial literacy programme under tuition from volunteers from Dell.
THE new Rathkeale Youth Space will be formally opened by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald later this month.
A €16.8 million redevelopment has been announced for Limerick’s Colbert rail and bus station.
