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Builders move in for massive school facelift

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

ONE OF Wexford's oldest schools is set for a long overdue facelift thanks to a €1.4 million refurbishment programme which commenced this week. St. John of God School in the Faythe will undergo a complete overhaul over the coming months, which will include the installation of new windows, heating, lighting and security systems throughout the school.
A new library, wheelchair access, and the relocation of the PE hall are also included in the plans, along with classroom extensions, new toilets, a kitchen/dining area and a science hall.

Call to name and shame those caught littering

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

COUNCILLORS from around County Wexford exchanged tales of roadside dumping horrors on Monday, against a drop in the number of litter fines being issued by the county council. But officials were not enthused by a call from Cllr. Paddy Kavanagh for a name and shame policy to apply to people caught breaking litter laws.

Wexford Half Marathon entry fee reduced by €5

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

THE WEXFORD Half Marathon, which made a very successful debut last year, has reduced its entry fee to try ensure that as many people turn out again this year and are not sent running scared by the recession.

Grieving family in appeal to public to carry donor cards

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

A GRIEVING family who laid their beloved daughter and sister to rest last Saturday have appealed to people to carry organ donor cards.

Court hears allegation of abuse from age of eleven

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

JUDGEMENT was reserved in a civil action brought by a father and three sons against a fellow member of the Jehovah's Witnesses which concluded before Judge Alice Doyle at Wexford Circuit Court last week.

Free fruit and veg for local schoolkids

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

HUNDREDS of children in Wexford primary schools are chowing down on fruit and vegetables provided by the Department of Agriculture and Food.

Workers oppose move of mental health acute unit

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

WEXFORD MENTAL health workers are poised to oppose any move to shift the St. Senan's Hospital admissions unit to Waterford Regional. Psychiatric nurses union S.I.P.T.U. believes that the move is under active consideration by the H.S.E. but local organiser Pat Cody has warned that it will be resisted by his members.

High drama in Kilmuckridge

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

LOS ANGELES might have had its Oscars Ceremony this weekend, but local awards were just as eagerly anticipated at the close of the 52nd Kilmuckridge Drama Festival last Saturday night after an entertaining week of drama at the Kilmuckridge Memorial Hall.

Buildings required to meet access standards

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

NEW buildings will soon be required to meet stiff standards to allow disabled people full access to all parts, councillors were advised on Monday.

Health issues force Fenlon to step down as chairperson

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

CLLR. ANNA Fenlon has stepped down from the chair of Wexford County Council for health reasons. Unable to attend meetings of the local authority since November, she has been replaced by Fine Gael party colleague Jim Moore.

Funds for road repairs 'won't be sufficient'

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

THE URGE to talk at length about the bad state of repair of frost damaged roads was curbed at Monday's council meeting. Chairman Jim Moore told councillors that they should reserve their comments for a special council meeting on the subject on April 6.

This did not prevent Cllr. Michael Kinsella making a plea for repair crews to abandon their shovels in favour of more modern equipment.

He was sure that that his brother, a landscape gardener would not be able to make any money if he tackled work with picks and shovels. Such old fashioned tools had long since been abandoned in favour of mini-diggers.

Cllr. Declan MacPartlin urged to officials to consider any offers of help from residents and business owners affected by broken roads. Such volunteers should not be turned away because of health & safety red tape, he suggested.

Director of services Adrian Doyle advised Enniscorthy representative Keith Doyle that the money available for road repairs is traditionally divided equally between the four districts in the county. The director added a warning: 'The money won't reach to all the roads that legitimately should be done. The money won't be sufficient. You can't get a quart out of a pint and that is what we are going to be at.

Council on target to achieve accessibility at all facilities

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

WEXFORD COUNTY Council is on target to achieve full accessibility to all its buildings and services for people with disabilities. But progress may be slowed by spending cuts.

Elected members of the local authority were briefed on the situation by council access officer Caroline Horan at their Monday meeting. She reminded councillors that the year 2015 has been set to have all work done.

She reviewed progress on bringing everything from local authority offices to picnic areas and fire stations up to the mark. The drive to allow access extends to Wexford's nine halting sites and the heritage park at Ferrycarrig as much as swimming pools and car parks.

Councillors were shown pictures of public libraries throughout the county, as the library service has been to the fore in meeting the criteria for access. Pictures of ramps, handrails and toilets were put up on the screen.

The same approach applies to the internet and Ms. Horan explained it is now a matter of policy to put all information on council websites in large type, for the benefit of those with a sight problem. She also mentioned that walkways can be provided at beaches to assist people with physical frailties. However, she warned that the Government spend on such measures is set to fall to half of what it was last year.

'We are maximising the funding we have,' she assured councillors.

Cllr. Padge Reck accepted that tremendous progress is being made but was concerned that the design of lower 'dished' pavements at road crossings was actually defective and dangerous to many disabled people. He was assured that the design used is in line with international standards.

Cllr. Robbie Ireton felt that every harbour around the coast of Wexford should have a hoist to assist wheelchair users and others with a physical difficulty in or out of boats. 'Fishing gives people with disabilities a lot of enjoyment,' he said. 'If hoists could be made available, it would be a big help.'

Contractors under fire for missing deadline

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

DUBLIN-based contractors Pierce's have come under renewed criticism for their failure to finish work on the new County Hall and the civic offices in Gorey on schedule. The charge was led by Cllr. Malcolm Byrne who commented that the delays had become a joke. He predicted that the new June deadline for the County Hall would not be met and wondered aloud whether someone else could be brought in to complete the work.

'The contractor has strung us along,' he complained. 'How long more are we going to suffer this appalling procedure?'

Labour's George Lawlor noted that at least the two jobs appeared to be crawling along. County manager Eddie Breen said he shared the frustration expressed by elected members.

Building work in both Gorey and Wexford, should have been finished long ago, he remarked. He pointed out that, under the terms of penalty clauses, it was in the interest of Pierce's to conclude the contract as quickly as possible. He assured councillors that any money which had been paid was for work done, not advance payment, and that the sites had not been abandoned. Work was progressing every day, he continued, though not at the rate that he would like.

Cllr. Byrne's impatience was not shared by Labour's Robbie Ireton who reckoned that the new council offices in Gorey are now 'near enough finished'. The nearby library only needed shelving before it too would be complete, he added.

€700 in fines for couple who raided house

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

A MAN and woman from Wexford have been fined a total of €700 for a break-in at a house at Newlands, with the judge noting that 'the violation of the victim's privacy can often be worse than the theft'.

Thomas Murphy (45), of 49 Westgate Park, and Tracey Aherne (29), of 9 Trinity Street, were both charged with a burglary at 13 Newlands on August 16, 2008.

Garda Stephen Burke told Wexford District Court that the injured party and her partner went to Wales and came back to find the house had been broken into.

However, while the break-in occurred on August 16, 2008, Garda Burke said that the Gardaí did not receive a report until March 23, 2009.

They investigated the break-in, which led to the arrest of Murphy and Aherne, who admitted taking a small quantity of cash, mainly comprising coins, and jewellery, some of which has been recovered.

Garda Burke said their is a dispute over the value of the jewellery, with the injured party valuing the stolen items at around €1,500, which is disputed by the defendants. The Garda said the value of the jewellery cannot be proven.

The amount of the coins taken from the Newlands house amounted to around €50, Garda Burke said.

Judge William Earley heard that Tracey Aherne had two previous convictions, one for theft (2003) and another for handling stolen property (2000).

Thomas Murphy had 15 previous convictions, the most recent of these was January of this year, for possession of drugs, and they dated back to 1982, when he received a seven-year sentence at the Circuit Court for manslaughter.

Eva Lalor, for the defendants, said it was 'a joint venture, where very little was gained by either of the accused'.

Garda Burke said that Tracey Aherne had been co-operative, hasn't been in trouble since this incident and he doesn't expect that she will be again.

Ms Lalor said that Thomas Murphy has had his difficulties with the law, but is now attending the Cornmarket Project and is due to start a computer course. She said he is trying to improve his situation and is currently free of drugs, which he has had problems with, along with alcohol.

Judge Earley pointed out that 'the violation of the victim's privacy can often be worse than the theft'. He fined Murphy €500 and Aherne €200.

Pair clash over exclusion of youths living at home from housing lists

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

YOUNG PEOPLE living at home are being excluded from council housing lists. The recently introduced cost saving policy prompted a shouting match between Wexford district councillors Padge Reck (Ind.) and George Lawlor (Lab.) at Monday's meeting of the county council.

The issue was raised by Cllr. Reck who passed on complaints that young people were being refused the opportunity to apply for local authority housing. He suggested that there was pressure from 21-23 year olds on the issue and observed that some people are impossible to live with.

He knew of instances where a 'young fella' was living at home and taking half the pension as well as whatever he was receiving in his own right. He felt that such people should not be living in the family home. The meeting was reminded that unless they were on the council list, they were not entitled to rent subsidy.

Housing director Tony Larkin confirmed that a stricter line has been adopted.

He said that an 18 year old, for example, who had a room in his/her parents' house was not now normally considered to be in need and are not put on the list. He said it was no longer possible to consider providing an apartment for everyone at the State's expense.

The director suggested that young people could consider house sharing, as people of his generation had done.

But Cllr. Reck responded that 18 year olds are adults and all adults should be treated equally. He called the change of policy disgraceful.

George Lawlor weighed in with an observation that everyone was being treated fairly by housing officials.

He observed that bad behaviour at home by young adults should not be rewarded with subsidised housing at State expense. Then the discussion degenerated into abuse.

'We've had enough of you, Cllr. Reck,' he thundered.

The man from Mulgannon countered loudly: 'Go back to your Fianna Fáil roots. It's a red flag job.'

Cllr. Reck insisted that it was wrong that applicants were being turned away on age grounds. Tony Larkin told him that the same line was being taken, in accordance with national policy, across the four local authorities in the county.

Lorry sheds load

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

AN UNEXPECTED weekend assignment was taken on with great efficiency by council workers after a lorry shed its load in the village of Ferns. The stricken vehicle was carrying a consignment of offal which spilled out on to the road in the Saturday sunshine, Cllr. Declan MacPartlin told his fellow councillors.

Local resident, council engineer Neville Shaw, was alerted to the foul smelling problem and called up a gang of workers who tackled the problem at the roundabout. The councillor was full of praise for the staff who took on what he called a horrible job. His praise was echoed by director of services Niall McGuigan.

Landlords can see if rates paid

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

LANDLORDS with commercial properties are welcome to check with Wexford County Council to see if their tenants are paying rates. But the local authority feels no obligation to take the initiative and warn property owners when arrears are accumulating. The question was raised at Monday's meeting by Cllr. Malcolm Byrne.

Officials confirmed that, when a building becomes unoccupied, responsibility for the money due to the local authority automatically switches to the landlord. Cllr. Byrne said he knew of one case where a bill for ¤6,000 was presented to the owner after the occupants walked out. He felt it was unfair that a business could go belly up and then leave someone else with a bill they did not expect. However, council finance chief Ger Mulvey said the law on the point was clear.

On the other hand, he said his officials would be happy to provide information on the standing of tenants to landlords who applied.

New cemetery

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

ENNISCORTHY'S NEW council run cemetery will be open later this year, Cllr. Pat Cody has been informed. The councillor told officials on Monday that soon no plots will be available at the long established St. Mary's burial ground on the other side of the Nunnery Road. He said that families without plots reserved were becoming anxious about the matter but he was assured by officials that the council is working with a view to having the new burial ground ready in autumn.

Man selling stolen goods at Un-Yoke fined ¤400

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

A 25 -YEAR-OLD Dublin man who offered stolen power tools for sale at the Sunday market in the UnYoke near Blackwater was dealt with at Enniscorthy District Court last week.

David McDonagh of 34 Boroimhe Hawthorn in Swords arrived late in court at Ardcavan but, when he finally did appear, he pleaded guilty to handling stolen property. A similar charge against 21 year old Thomas McDonagh of 6 Bill Shelly Park was dropped by Gardaí.

The case arose from the investigations of Garda Sergeant P.J. Griffin who fielded a call from a man called Seán Beatty on April 12 last year. The caller reported he was at the Un-Yoke and that his property, which had been stolen from a car parked at the Hermitage medical centre, was for sale at the market.

He met Beatty there and found David McDonagh with up to €600 illicitly acquired tools – a drill worth €200, drill bits worth €150, an €80 tool box and a saw reported stolen by a man called Martin McDonagh. Gardaí also seized €2,600 in cash.

The court was informed that the accused man had no previous convictions. He was married with a four year old child. Solicitor Caitriona Walsh added that McDonagh, unemployed, lived near his mother who was very unwell and relied on him for his support.

Judge Early told the defendant that the courts viewed such offences very seriously as, without people prepared to handle and receive stolen property, there would be fewer thefts.

He ordered David McDonagh to pay €600 in compensation, as well as recording a conviction with a fine of € 400.

Doyle court appeal

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

DISGRACED former swimming coach Ger Doyle has appealed his conviction for abusing five young boys over a 13-year period.

Doyle, of 7 Emmett Place, Wexford, was sentenced to six and a half years in
prison at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court earlier this year.

He had protested his innocence last November when a jury of six men and six
women found him guilty of 35 offences involving five boys aged 10 to 15
years old at New Ross Swimming Pool between January 1981 and December 1993.

The Courts Service confirmed this week that Ger Doyle has appealed the
conviction to the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Last November the jury at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court returned a unanimous
verdict on the sexual assault charge and 32 indecent assault charges, with
majority verdicts on the two remaining indecent assault charges. 'I am not
guilty of these charges,' Doyle said, after the verdict was read out.

When he came before Judge Doyle on January 28 for sentencing, defence counsel
John O'Kelly said his client, a former Olympic and national swimming coach
had suffered 'a terrible fall from grace'.

Mr O'Kelly said Doyle was also 'finding it very difficult in prison', where he
has been since his conviction last November.

'He's a man who has never smoked and is now living in a smoke-filled
environment despite the best efforts of the prison authorities. While he had
made a good recovery from two very severe life-threatening conditions he's
finding prison life considerably difficult,' said Mr O'Kelly.

Judge Doyle said the offences had been carried out over a period of more than
ten years and that Doyle had breached the trust of children under his care
and that of their parents.

'No market' for sale of Diocesan property

Anne Marie O'CONNOR — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

LOCAL auctioneers say selling off Diocesan properties to pay sex abuse settlements and meet legal bills is not realistic, as the Diocese has 'missed the boat' on a sinking property market.

In a letter to the parishes at the weekend, Bishop Denis Brennan cited the sale of 'one or more of the five diocesan properties to meet all of the costs of outstanding claims and legal bills' as one of the options the Diocese has to meet its financial responsibilities to abuse victims.

But auctioneers say the property market crash has made them unsaleable.

'You'd never be able to sell the Bishop's Palace in the current market. If they came into me and put it on my books I don't think I'd have one client who would be able to buy it,' said one auctioneer .

Selfless couple Andy and Joan take 'People of the Year' title

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:47 +0000

A SELFLESS commitment over the past fifteen years to the children of Belarus earned Caim couple Andy and Joan Cloake the prestigious Wexford Person of the Year title.

Regarded as a 'labour of love' Andy and Joan have committed themselves to helping and showing love and respect to the sick and poor children in Belarus.

For the first ten years they were associated with the Cork Charity 'Chernobyl Children's Project'.

However, in 2004 they set up their own charity 'Chernobyl Child Aid' in the Enniscorthy region, and since then twice every year, in April and October, they muster a force of volunteers to accompany them on their journey of mercy to Belarus.

They bring with them truck loads of essential goods and when there they often transform a situation by rolling up their sleeves and working on the ground.

In late 2009, as well as medical and hospital equipment, clothes, toys and building materials, they brought with them to Rathanka, six voluntary helpers. Among the things completed while there, they built and equipped a Laundry Room and upgraded the toilets in a hospital for children.

Every Summer Andy and Joan, along with their friends from the Enniscorthy area, organise a group of about forty of Belarusian's sick children to come on holidays to many parts of Enniscorthy and surrounding areas for a muchneeded respite holiday.

MC Ronan Collins said this couple show enormous humility and honesty in everything they do, whether it is fundraising for the cause, or delivering goods to Belarus, or completing DIY work schemes in orphanages while there.

Having stayed silent while earlier accepting the Humanitarian Award, from sponsor Wexford's Farmers Co-op's P.J. D'Arcy, an emotional Joan thanked their nominator.

'In my opinion we don't deserve this. We appreciate it. The numbers of people doing work in this country deserve it more than we do, thank you to everyone,' added Andy.

In paying tribute to all the award winners, the Leas Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Jim Moore, said that volunteering is a word traded around quite a bit but is a most powerful force for change.

'We don't seem to be able to put a price on human endeavor, the price is invaluable. Tonight is exceptional in an exceptional time. While the award categories are varied, the winners all see a challenge and say how can I make a difference. They serve as an inspiration to us all in our every day working lives,' he said.

'It is a celebration of endeavor, sheer hard work and community spirit,' said David Tucker, representing People Newspapers.

'As a paper we share your aspirations and dreams. In this great county there is a sense of community and a coming together of people from all walks of life. All our winners are shining lights... Each has made, or is still making, an indelible mark in their communities,' he added.

LEFT: Rehab People of the Year overall winners Andy and Joan Cloke are congratulated by sponsors, back (from

left), Eddie Breen, County Manager, Mary Nolan of Rehab, Marie O'Connor of Rehab and David Tucker of People Newspapers. Front: Cllr. Jim Moore acting chair of Wexford County Council and award winners Andy and Joan Cloake from Enniscorthy. BELOW: Rehab People

of the Year overall winners Andy and Joan Cloke celebrate their

success with their delighted supporters. A SELFLESS commitment over the past fifteen years to the children of Belarus earned Caim couple Andy and Joan Cloake the prestigious Wexford Person of the Year title.