On Friday’s Morning Focus, John Cooke spoke to John Kerin, the Chief Superintendent in the Clare Garda Division. Following on from this week's sentencing of three men for the shocking robbery of a Cree Pensioner the issue of rural policing is in the spotlight.
Noel Garry of Tullycrine, Kilrush was jailed for three years for a robbery that forced 68 year old Michael McMahon to flee his isolated house for a nursing home, while Shane Donnellan of Clohanbeg, Cree and Joseph Lernihan of Finnanon Park, Mullagh were given three year suspended sentences.
Ennis Circuit court heard that Mr McMahon remains in a nursing home as he's too afraid to return home to Cree following his ordeal in 2012 which lead him to cycle 30 miles through the night to check in to St. Joseph's Hospital in Ennis.
While Chief Superintendent Kerin said he can’t say rural communities are completely safe and he knows of fears among residents, he does feel gardai are making significant progress against crimes targeting the elderly and vulnerable.
Outlining how Gardaí have investigated three aggravated burglaries at the homes of elderly people in Inagh, Kilmihil and Miltown Malbay last year, the Chief Superintndent said this number had fallen from 9 in 2012, including incidents at the home of Cree pensioner Michael McMahon.
Chief Superintendent John Kerin insists crime has fallen in recent years, despite a 15% reduction in the number of Clare Gardaí, though he concedes that people will never be fully safe despite their extensive efforts.
He also revealed Gardai in Kilrush have been subject to threatening text messages and letters after recent operations targetting drug dealers and illegal money lenders.
Saturday is International women's day and ahead of that Mia de Faoite, a survivor of prostitution, spoke to John ahead of a public discussion in Ennis entitled the Human Pricetag which will deal with issues of prostitution and human trafficing with input from the Clare women's Network and transition year students from Colaiste Mhuire in Ennis .
Mia is from Dublin and was 33 when drug problems lead her to take to the streets as a prostitute to pay for her heroin habit. She’s now involved in the Turn Off The Red Light Campaign and will speak at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis at 7.30 on Friday evening.
John also spoke to Freelance Journalist Gordon Deegan about a case in which a 41-year old man has been found guilty of threatening to kill an Ennis dentist.
At Ennis Circuit Court, a jury found Eoin Hannan of Kilrush Rd, Ennis guilty of threatening to kill Dr Tony Cotgreave at his Ennis surgery on May 11th 2012.
In the weekly Health Matters slot, John discussed Female Contraception with Dr. Maire Finn who answered listeners queries. Doctor Maire Finn is from the Ennis Family Medical Centre and welcomes your thoughts and queries by email [email protected], but if you have concerns or queries about your own health right now please contact your local GP
Ahead of the Ennis Book Club Festival, John spoke to Rachael English, well known RTE Journalist, Shannon Native and now fiction writer about her first novel Going Back and her second book due out later this year – Each and Every One. On Saturday Rachael English and Kathleen MacMahon – are taking part in author readings in Glor. www.ennisbookcubfestival.com
John also spoke to Mary Miniter from Miniter's Shop, Kilrush about Clare’s new millionaire, or millionaires. The National Lottery has confirmed that a winning ticket for worth 8.3 million euro, was sold at Miniter's on Henry Street in Kilrush. It's rumoured to be a local syndicate , but the true identity of the winner is still unknown.
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