On today's edition of Morning Focus with John Cooke
Mark Brenneach Referendum Commission Spokesperson spoke to John to outline what it is that we are being asked to vote on in the upcoming Referenda on Same Sex Marriage and lowering the Presidential Age to 21 years – Mark also outlined what it will mean if the referenda are passed.
A retired West Clare principal who was convicted of the indecent assault of 11 girls has had his jail term reduced on appeal. 81 year old Patrick Barry of Well Road, Kilkee was found guilty of 59 offences at Ennis Circuit Court last year, after the court found he had molested the former pupils at his Moyasta National School from 1964 to 1985. In November, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison, with the final five suspended, but on Friday last the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to five years, with three suspended. Miriam Duffy Director of the Rape Crisis Centre Mid West commented saying that this reduced sentence victims coming forward with their stories if there is a belief they will not be taken seriously.
Clare’s County Registrar has briefly adjourned proceedings concerning 157 applications for the re-possession of homes, after they were disrupted by activists on Friday morning. Friday's proceedings see banks looking to take control of dozens of homes, though no re-possession orders have been granted so far. Ken Smollen Leader of the Irish Democratic Party has launched a public awareness campaign to have repossession cases adjourned until the new legislation announced by the government last week aiming to tackle mortgage arrears crisis is enacted. Ken feels it is unfair and inappropriate for these cases to be carried out while legislation is not yet in place. Noeleen Moran Clare's Sinn Fein Election Candidate also spoke about the scenes at Friday's proceedings.
Garda Focus with Sergeant Joe Downey Crime Prevention Officer Ennis Garda Station next, Sergeant Downey revealed that Gardai found a large-scale cannabis growhouse at a house in Miltown Malbay where a man was stabbed on Sunday.He remains in a stable condition in hospital following the incident, which has also resulted in another man being arrested and questioned at Kilrush Garda Station. Gardaí have now revealed that 124 thousand euro worth of cannabis plants were found in the attic of the house, and that the fire services were called to quench a blaze which started there at around the same time. Sergeant Downey is appealing for your help in solving recent local crime – should you have any information please contact Kilrush Garda Station on 065 9080550.
The Presidential Age Referendum Debate: As the country prepares to decide on the age of presidential candidates, it's claimed today that younger people could have problems with some of the duties that go with the job. Gerard Howlin Public Affairs consultant and Irish Examiner columnist is advocating a NO Vote in the other of the two referendums we are being asked to vote on this coming Friday. Voters will be asked if they want to bring the lower age limit down from 35 to 21. Mairead Healy CEO of Future Voices of Ireland is advocating a YES vote. Mairead argues that, “just like any other job in the country”, a person’s CV is not judged by their age.
Deborah Evers of Clareville House Kitchen Garden Ballyvaughan and Birgitta Curtin of The Burren Smokehouse Lisdoonvarna both spoke to John Cooke about the Burren Slow Food week that kicked off at the weekend with lots of events taking place in the lead up to the main festival this weekend the 23rd & 24th May 2015. For the first time ever, the Burren Slow Food consists of a Week of events leading up to the Burren Slow Food Festival Weekend. This Week is full with day-time events suitable for families, and evening tasting dinners. Bookable events will take place in the area of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher.
Tom Lynch Secretary of the Clare branch of Birdwatch Ireland joined us in studio to speak about the Dawn Chorus which took place in Corofin over the weekend and the last of the Migrant birds arriving on our shores.
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