Latest news with #Ennis
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Man (27) jailed for asking mother if he could have sex with her daughter (2)
A judge has jailed a man (27) for asking a mother on Snapchat if he could have sex with her two-year-old daughter. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford imposed an 18-month prison term on father-of-three Thomas Quinn, of Watery Road, Ennis, Co Clare, and with a bail address in Co Cork, for the offence committed on August 29th, 2020. Judge Comerford said there was an intent to harm a child, and the public understandably shows revulsion at this type of crime. He said there has been no admission by Quinn to the offence of communicating with the woman online for the purpose of facilitating the sexual exploitation of her then two-year-old girl. READ MORE A jury convicted Quinn of the offence at a trial at Ennis Circuit Court in May and the case was adjourned for sentencing. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Comerford said Quinn's crime was one of intent. He said Quinn's actions in the Snapchat exchange with the mother were 'irrational and impulsive'. He said: 'The child was never going to be in danger because her mother was always going to protect her.' He said he was going to put the offence in the lower level of such offending for one to four years in prison, where terms of up to 14 years can be imposed. There was 'an absence of direct or indirect consequence for the victim', he said and that the offence didn't seem to be in any way calculated. Garda Nadine Keane, who investigated the case, said the girl's mother came to Ennis Garda station to complain that Quinn had communicated via Snapchat and asked her if he could have sex with her two-year-old daughter. Counsel for the State Sarah-Jane Comerford BL said that in the Snapchat, Quinn asked the woman if he could 'feek' herdaughter. Ms Comerford saidthere is no dictionary definition for 'feek' but the woman understood that he wanted to have sex with her daughter. Later in the exchange, Quinn said 'if you let me, I would…' and persisted when asking 'but would you let me?' Garda Keane said the mother had known Quinn for a number of years and had been messaging him on and off for six months before August 29th, 2020. Garda Keane said the woman kept screenshots ofQuinn's request. Judge Comerford saidQuinn always denied making the comments and had argued that some third party had interposed themselves on his Snapchat. However, Judge Comerford said those denials were ' set at nought by really good police work'. He set a headline sentence of 26 months and reduced it to 18 months. Quinn is now on the sex offenders register and can be identified in the reporting of the case.
BreakingNews.ie
3 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Brothers carried out firebomb attack over family row about engagement ring, court hears
Two brothers carried out a firebomb attack on a home where their 22-month-old niece was present at the time arising from a family row sparked by an engagement ring, a court has heard. Peter Molloy (23) and Martin Molloy (25) were jailed for 20 months for the 'completely outrageous' petrol bomb attack on the home of the Quinn family on Watery Road, Ennis, Co Clare, in November 2023. Advertisement Ennis Circuit Court heard that the Quinn and Molloy families at the time were in dispute over an engagement ring. Seven months after the petrol bomb attack, Peter Molloy suffered an "unspeakable tragedy" through the loss of his infant son, Hunter, in May 2024 when he was struck by a vehicle near his home on the Quin Road in Ennis. On the events of November 2023, Judge Francis Comerford said it was 'a planned petrol bomb attack on a house'. He said he was 'deeply conscious of all of the tragedy that has touched the Molloy family'. Advertisement The judge said: 'Peter Molloy lost his 18-month-old son last year, but a 22-month-old daughter of his deceased brother was present in the house at the time.' 'It is a deeply, deeply serious crime,' Judge Comerford said. No one was injured in the petrol bomb attack which took place at 8.30pm on the night. The fire was quickly put out, and the damage caused totalled €3,000. Both Peter Molloy and Martin Molloy, of Ballaghboy halting site, pleaded guilty to the criminal damage of windows and the front door belonging to Margaret Quinn at Ennis's Watery Road on November 18th, 2023. Advertisement Judge Comerford imposed a 45-month prison sentence on both and suspended the final 25 months in each case. The judge said it was impossible not to impose an immediate custodial sentence to make sure that 'blatant attacks of this nature involving petrol bombing of occupied residential homes don't occur'. Counsel for Martin Molloy, Aaron Desmond BL, instructed by Shiofra Hassett, said a brother of the two Molloys, Jim, died and had been in a relationship with a member of the Quinn family. 'There was an argument about an engagement ring between the two families, and the engagement ring had significant sentimental value for both families," Mr Desmond said. Advertisement 'This unfortunate and tragic circumstance was the root of the animosity between the two families.' Mr Desmond said his client had never served a custodial sentence before. Counsel for Peter Molloy, Pat Whyms BL, instructed by Daragh Hassett, said the families had resolved their difficulties and 'there are members from both families seated together in the back of the courtroom'. Mr Whyms said his client had engaged in a 'ludicrous escapade' on November 18th, 2023. Advertisement He said, 'the families were fighting over an engagement ring' and what occurred on the night 'was totally out of proportion'. Mr Whyms said Peter Molloy was 'in a heightened state on the night, and what happened was not pre-planned. They had talked themselves up into a state'. Ireland 'This is just a pure tragedy': Families in mournin... Read More He said everything must be seen through the prism of 'the speakable tragedy' suffered by the Molloy family with the loss of their 18-month-old boy in May 2024. Mr Whyms said the tragic event of May 2024 put something like the row over the engagement ring in context. He said Mr Molloy's attitude to life had changed over what is important and what is not important. Mr Whyms said the Molloys have three children and are expecting another baby next month. He said his client was very remorseful for his actions and had engaged well with the Probation Service.
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
Farmers face fines for blocking access during transmission line projects under plan
Farmers are vowing to stop transmission line builders from using their land, despite the threat of large fines and clashes with police. The Victorian government plans to change legislation around land access for transmission project construction, which would introduce new penalties and give authorities the ability to use force if needed. The proposed amendments to the National Electricity Bill are expected to be debated in state parliament this week. The law change would facilitate the design and construction of new transmission projects like VNI West and the Western Renewables Link (WRL), which are key parts of the government's renewable energy transition. The projects have faced huge opposition from landowners and sparked numerous protests. Claire Grant farms with her partner Tim at Glenloth East, between Kerang and St Arnaud. VNI West, a high-voltage transmission line planned to run from New South Wales to Bulgana, would cut directly through their farm. Compensation is on offer for landowners who have towers and infrastructure built on their property, but Ms Grant said no amount of money would buy their support. "[The government] just doesn't understand that money can't win us over," Ms Grant said. Under the new legislation, Ms Grant could be fined $12,000 for refusing access to builders. Authorised workers would also be able to use reasonable force to get onto her property, with the backing of police. But Ms Grant said none of that mattered to her. "We don't want them on our land. We will have our tractors [at the front gate]. We will have our dozer there. We will have whatever we need to block them from entering our land," she said. Beck Legal property and development director Josh Ennis said there would be very few circumstances where an access order would not be granted by a court, under the legislation change. "You would be looking at safety concerns or biosecurity concerns," Mr Ennis said. Mr Ennis advises farmers about the legal implications of the VNI West project, and said authorities already had access rights for surveys, but there were no enforcement provisions in the existing laws. "The bill before parliament takes it a step further in that it introduces the concept of authorised officers," he said. "Those officers have the ability to issue on-the-spot fines if people obstruct them, and they also have the power to get an order from a Magistrates' Court. "Once they have that, they've got the right to use reasonable force and attend with Victoria Police." Ms Grant said she was opposed to VNI West for a long list of reasons, including a potential loss of land value, restricted use of machinery, fire risk and aerial spraying limitations. The couple recently built a new house that would look out on the transmission line. "We're going to have a lovely view of VNI West out our window," Ms Grant said. "We probably wouldn't have built the house if we knew this would happen. The Victorian opposition has repeatedly said it would seek to repeal the legislation if it wins the next election in 2026. The coalition's energy spokesperson David Davis described it as "sharp, harsh legislation" and "significant government overreach". "The government should not have brought in this bill that has a very authoritarian tone to it and a dramatic escalation in penalties and control," he said. "The government already has very significant powers to build infrastructure." VicGrid chief executive Alistair Parker told the Victorian Country Hour that voluntary access agreements were his top priority. "Our position is that we should be seeking voluntary access from people, we should be negotiating with them, we should be understanding their biosecurity concerns, we should be honouring those," he said. "Our really strong message to transmission companies is 'get voluntary agreements'. VicGrid is responsible for planning and developing the new infrastructure and Mr Parker said he believed voluntary access would be secured with all but "one or two people" in the path of VNI West. VNI West developer Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) declined to be interviewed, but in a statement, a spokesperson said it was "committed to voluntary agreements" and "working with landholders". Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio was also contacted for comment but was unavailable for an interview.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Dramatic opening weekend in Clare SHC as Feakle and Wolfe Tones share the spoils
A timely reminder of just how wide open the race for this Clare Senior Hurling Championship fittingly surfaced inZimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg on Saturday evening when the reigning senior and intermediate champions shared the opening spoils. With the sides deadlocked eight times over the hour, Feakle, off the back of bridging a 36 year gap, looked to have snatched a successful first defence of their senior crown when the talismanic Shane McGrath arrowed over his twelfth point in the 62nd minute. However, a defiant Wolfe Tones, bolstered by Darragh Lohan's early second half penalty, simply refused to yield and in a similar grandstand finish to their intermediate final win last October, Jack Cunningham popped up with a dramatic last gap leveller at 0-19 to 1-16. It was much more straight-forward in the other Group three tie in Clarecastle on Friday evening when 2022 finalists Éire Óg produced a superb start to the second half to brush aside a disappointing Newmarket-on-Fergus by 2-24 to 1-18. Guided by the unerring Danny Russell's nine point half tally, the Ennis side defied the conditions to edge 0-11 to 0-09 in front by the break. The tie altered irrevocably on the restart though as Darren O'Brien and Marco Cleary fired goals within the first five minutes, an eight point cushion that was only extended by the final whistle despite a late Mikey McInerney goal in riposte. At the same time in Ennis, 2023 champions Clonlara showed their teeth with a gritty minimum 1-19 to 1-18 derby victory over Sixmilebridge in Group 1. Michael Collins' 20th minute goal had helped Clon to a 1-10 to 0-09 interval lead, only for Brian Corry to do likewise by the two-thirds mark and ensure a blow-for-blow finale that saw the neighbours locked together six times before Cathal O'Connell converted a last gasp 60 metre free. At the same venue the following evening, 2023 finalists Crusheen joined Clonlara at the summit of Group 1 after unearthing a rousing finish to hold off neighbours St. Joseph's Doora/Barefield by 0-23 to 1-15. Having carved out a 0-13 to 0-08 half-time cushion, Michael Browne's side were left shellshocked by a remarkable Parish backlash as a Padraic O'Donovan goal saw them outscore Crusheen by 1-6 to 0-1 to power three clear by the 40th minute. However, Crusheen's experience eventually told as they scored seven unanswered points to flip the script and relievedly endure. There was an even more dramatic derby turnaround in Sixmilebridge on Saturday afternoon as Kilmaley produced a twelve point second half turnaround to pip 2022 winners Ballyea with an injury-time Mikey O'Malley free at 2-20 to 3-16 in Group 4. Nothing but a handsome opening success seemed on the cards for Ballyea after a Tony Kelly masterclass saw the fun-forward score 2-3 and tee up Mossy Gavin for a third goal to power 3-9 to 0-7 in front by the break. However, there would be a complete sea-change on the resumption as Kilmaley, buoyed by an early Tommy Barry goal, found their feet, with the dismissal of Jack Browne and a second goal through Conor Cleary completing the comeback before finishing the job through their captain O'Malley. It was Cratloe's young guns that shaded the other tie in the 'Group of Death' as Daire Neville (3) and Cathal Lohan combined for four of the last five points to finally see off Scariff by 1-24 to 1-21 in Broadford. A superb end-to-end contest saw the sides tied a whopping 13 times entering the final ten minutes including the swapping of goals for Lohan and All-Star Mark Rodgers but without key protagonists Cathal McInerney and Podge Collins, Cratloe admirably prevailed. It had to take a late goal from substitute Darragh McNamara to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat against a plucky Broadford by 1-18 to 2-12 in their Group 2 opener in Shannon. First quarter goals for Oisin Kavanagh and Diamruid Moloney had given Broadford a major platform and while the sides were level by the midway mark at 2-06 to 0-12, a Niall O'Farrell led second half surge ensured that Paddy Meehan's side still carried a two point edge entering the final moments. However, Peter Duggan's persistence and that McNamara goal altered the narrative irrevocably which would be in total contrast to the other Group 2 tie in Gurteen in the last action on Saturday as 2021 finalists Inagh-Kilnamona had twelve different scorers including nine from captain Aidan McCarthy on their way to a handsome 0-31 to 0-18 triumph over neighbours Corofin.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (28) jailed after being caught with €300k worth of cocaine
A judge has imposed a nine-year three-month prison term on a 28-year-old west Clare man after he was caught with just under €300,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford imposed the 111-month prison sentence on Stephen Healy of The Hand, Cloonalheen East, Miltown Malbay for 'repeated drug trafficking' and 'offending of the highest order'. Advertisement Judge Comerford imposed a 66 month sentence for the possession of cannabis and cocaine valued at €230,470 with the intent to sell or supply on July 11th 2023 at a property at Drumatehy, Connolly, Co Clare. Judge Comerford imposed a 45 month prison term consecutive to the drug dealing offence for a money laundering charge concerning €40,645 on the same date. Described in court previously as a 'typical country lad' by his solicitor, Daragh Hassett, Mr Healy evaded capture on July 11th 2023 but was arrested by gardaí on August 13th 2023 after a second drugs swoop by gardaí on the same date where Gardai recovered €37,212 worth of cocaine and €31,568 in cannabis at a mobile home at Furoor Upper, Kilkee in west Clare. Judge Comerford said that 'these types of crime cause great harm to society'. Advertisement Judge Comerford said that Mr Healy 'was holding the money for drug dealers'. At Garda interview, Mr Healy said that he was looking after the drugs and cash as he had a drug debt to pay off. Mr Healy - who entered guilty pleas to the charges - told the Gardai 'I am ashamed and I deeply regret it'. The offending occurred during a previous 20 month suspended sentence imposed on Mr Healy for drug dealing. Advertisement Judge Comerford said: 'A very significant aggravating factor in the case is that a person who was afforded a very significant opportunity to turn away from criminality commits further offences relating to drug dealing while that suspended sentence is in place." At the sentencing hearing, Det Sgt Dara O'Sullivan described Mr Healy as an "integral part of a drug trafficking operation that was going on in this case'. Counsel for Mr Healy, Lorcan Connolly SC told the court that Mr Healy lived at home with his mother and received the carer's allowance to look after his mother who requires the use of a wheelchair. Mr Connolly said that Mr Healy is very close to his mother, who he said, has her own health difficulties. Advertisement On Mr Healy, Mr Connolly said: 'That is not someone who is high up in the drugs trade. He is someone who has nothing." Mr Connolly said that 'the mobile home wasn't his, the house wasn't his and vehicles weren't his' and that Mr Healy "was acting under duress" when handling the drugs and money. Mr Connolly said Mr Healy was 'previously subject to an assault by dark forces and his mother's house was damaged'. Mr Connolly read out extracts of a letter from a former employer of Mr Healy who said that the accused 'is not a bad person but is someone who has made bad choices'. Advertisement The businessman said that Mr Healy faces a lengthy prison sentence ahead but added that he will do all he can to support him 'and I will take him back into employment when he is released'. The employer said: 'I have paid thousands of euro to these horrible people to get them off Stephen's back.' Mr Connolly also handed in a written personal plea from Mr Healy's mother and he described the letter as 'genuine and from the heart'. Mr Connolly said Mr Healy is a father of two young children with the youngest only born a few months ago while Mr Healy was in custody. Mr Healy has been on remand in custody since last November. Mr Connolly said that Mr Healy 'assures me that he really wants to turn the corner and really wants to have a bright future'. Judge Comerford backdated the sentence to last November.
