Date Published: {J}

An extraordinary attack was made on the house of Mr. Berty Powell, assistant county surveyor, in Athenry last Friday night, About midnight loud knocking was heard at the front door and this was followed by kicking at the door and a man put his foot through the door and broke glass in the panels.

The windows on the ground floor were then broken – nine panes in four or five windows having been smashed.

The following morning, an Athenry man was taken before Mr. Stephen Ruane P.C. at a special court and charged in connection with the attack.

Paths problems

The residents of Mountbellew are about to petition the County Council to have the paths of the town repaired. Since the opening of the roads for the laying of pipes in connection with the sewerage schemes, the paths in some places have fallen under the road level and in wet weather, the water remains on the surface. The path leading to the Church, Convent and Monastery is also in very bad repair.

Slums menace

The relationship between housing and public health was stressed at a recent meeting of the County Galway Board of Health when the insanitary conditions in Ballinasloe were put forward as the main grounds for sustaining a petition by the people of Ballinasloe for a district hospital in the town.

It was stated that doctors were often called to see patients living in conditions in which even the most elementary principles of hygiene or comfort were absent.

About £13,000 was due by patients for treatment at the Galway Central Hospital.

No small portion of that was due by patients who could have been treated in their own homes if the surroundings were such as to enable the doctors to work effectually.

Fire tragedy

As a result of falling into a fire while her mother was fetching water from a barrel outside the door, a three year old from Derrygimla, Clifden, received burns which resulted in her tragic death at Galway Central Hospital.

Dr. Casey, Clifden, who was sent for, came at once, and having done all he could ordered the child to be sent to Galway to hospital where she died shortly after admittance.

1959

Sheep invasion from the North

The cattle invasion from over the Border has greatly diminished, but the invasion of sheep and lambs had markedly increased, especially since the sheep and lamb prices slumped in the North and Britain.

Victuallers are feeling the effects in loss of trade. Lambs imported from the North have particularly depressed trade in the West, where dressed lamb is being offered at prices so low that one would have to go back many years to find a parallel.

Urgent needs

To meet the increasing demand for a water and sewerage scheme to serve the urban area of Ballinasloe, both of which were urgent, would cost £68,000, the Council was told by their engineer. This would mean an additional 2/11 in the £ on the rates – this year 47/9 in the £.

In detailing the need for an extension to the water plant, Mr O’Connor, Town Engineer, said it was urgent. In the past eight years, demand for water went up 40 per cent.

Free houses

Tenants on the Scanlon Estate, Dunlo Hill, Ballinasloe, are anxious to purchase their houses from the trustees of the state, and are negotiating to do so. These seven houses were offered ‘free’ to the local Council by the owner, a Miss Scanlon, at present in the U.S.A., but the Urban Council refused to accept the offer.

Pub talk

How men in a public house at Ballymore put Fianna Fáil in and out of office and then did the same with Fine Gael with the result that the time passed until the Gardaí ‘caught’ them, was told the District Justice Loftus at Williamstown Court, when a Ballymoe publican was summonsed for a breach of the licensing laws at 1.40am on 16th June last.

Defence said it was the night of the Presidential Election and the men began discussing politics and put Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael into and out of office. In fact, the breach might be said to be caused by the Government having too many elections.

Shanty towns

Referring to “misunderstandings” with regard to recent statements made at Galway Chamber of Commerce in connection with “shanty towns” around Galway City, Mr. J. Lydon, president, said that he wished to make it clear that the members only wanted to control “unsightliness”, and that all types of holidaymakers were welcome to the city.

1984

Car tax strike over potholes

A ‘golden’ half-mile of road between Galway and Moycullen on which £500,000 has been spent over five years has sparked off a car tax strike threat from angry motorists.

For though half a million pounds has been spent by Galway County Council, the stretch is known among motorists as ‘the corrugated road’ because it is unfinished and potholed.

Frequent users of the road have reacted by threatening to withhold road tax payments.

Residents’ fears

People living in Corrib Park in the city have threatened to block a newly-built roundabout near their estate to prevent it being brought into use in a row over the safety of their children.

They plan to form a human chain on the roadway to prevent traffic from using the partially-completed roundabout, built as part of the approach network to the new bridge planned to cross the Corrib between Newcastle and Terryland.

Bus attacks

CIE may withdraw its bus service at night from a number of Galway City estates following a series of incidents in which drivers have been attacked and windscreens smashed by stone-throwing youths.

There have been at least four incidents over the past six months in which buses travelling through Inishannagh Park have been attacked with stones, while there have been numerous incidents in which the drivers of the one-man buses have been abused.

New trains

The most recent and up-to-date CIE train, the Inter-City Mark III, has passed its first week in operation – running from Galway to Dublin four times a week – with flying colours.

It is now faster to travel to Dublin by Inter-City than it ever was before. The Mark III is capable of doing a maximum speed of 95 miles per hour, compared to 72mph on the older trains.

However, it is at present impossible for the Mark III to do its maximum speed as the track running between Galway and Dublin would not be capable of holding it.

Signpost plea

A demand has been made for proper signposting and safety measures at unprotected piers in Connemara – it came following the deaths of three brothers who drowned when they lost their way in dense fog and their car plunged into the sea at Caladh Thadhg.

Date Published: {J}

Leitir Mór 2-14

Westport 2-13

(after extra time)

Declan Tierney atTuam Stadium

THERE is much greater satisfaction to be derived from winning a gripping encounter than prevailing in a rout. The expressions of the faces of the Leitir Mór players after this cracking Connacht intermediate club football final bore testament to that.

As darkness drew close at Tuam Stadium on Sunday, the South Connemara side could scarcely believe their good fortune as they edged out an equally wonderful Westport side in a match that had everything.

Some well taken scores, crucial goals, fantastic saves and a nailbiting finish evoked every emotion possible from the near 1,000 spectators who witnessed a match full of more twists and turns than they would find on a Gaeltacht road.

It was not surprising that Leitir Mór players, management and supporters were absolutely ecstatic after the match because apart from winning the prized provincial crown, they knew full well they could equally have lost it.

In fact, it was Leitir Mór who forced extra time to be played when Ferdia Breathnach scored a last gasp equaliser in injury time – they knew they had gotten out of jail and were relieved that they still had two 10 minute periods to prove themselves.

And that they did. Their hero of the day, Patrick Mark O Fatharta, really came into his own and scored the crucial goal three minutes in the second period of extra time to give his side a two point cushion.

O Fatharta, listed amongst the substitutes on the programme, played the full game at corner forward and contributed a tally of 1-7 and was ultimately the difference between the sides and his valiant efforts have put Leitir Mór within an hour of appearing in Croke Park.

However, even though his tonic goal late in the match proved the crucial score as far as his side was concerned, there was still plenty of wind left in the Westport sails and they had at least four chances of either making a draw of it or winning it for themselves.

If O Fatharta was doing the business up front, then so too was goalkeeper Eoghan O Conghaile who pulled off two incredible saves – the most crucial one coming in the dying seconds when Westport seemed odds on to snatch victory.

The Westport full forward Damien Keane had crept inside the Leitir More full back line and had a goal at his mercy only for O Conghaile to approach from his line and smother the kick. The sighs of relief from the Leitir Mór supporters were palpable.

While Leitir Mór looked like winning the match on several occasions, there were as many times when they appeared to be heading across the Corrib potless. It was an incredible match, full of intensity and excitement and was played at a blistering place throughout.

On occasions, Leitir Mór’s over elaboration threatened to be their undoing but they compensated with some brilliant patches of play – and particularly late on when it counted most.

Leitir Mór had the better start, looked comfortable when they held a four point lead during the first half and ended up having to summon up all their reserves to force extra time.Through Antaine O Griofa and Cristoir O Flatharta, they won the midfield exchanges throughout the first half but yet there was only a limited supply of ball reaching their forwards with the Westport backs marking very tightly and successfully.

County player Fiachra Breathnach moved from full forward closer to midfield and this had an immediate impact with Leitir Mór scoring four points in a five minute spell to lead by 0-7 to 0-3. Ferdia Breathnach, Daithi MacDonnchadha and Patrick Mark O Fatharta all finding the range.But this advantage was short lived with Leitir Mór relinquishing a lot of possession needlessly and it was one of these blunders which led to Lee Keegan finding the net for Westport in the 29th minute which actually gave them the lead at the break with Philip Keegan having earlier scored two points from play.

With Westport leading by 1-5 to 0-7 going into the second half, the sides were level twice before substitute Eamon O Lionsigh found the net having been on the field a mere four minutes. It came from a move involving Daithi MacDonnchadha and Fiachra Breathnach and put Leitir Mór into a two point lead.

Things were not going great for Westport who saw a couple of good scoring chances being wasted and then wing back Brian Higgins being sent off for an after tackle foul. With a Leitir Mór victory seemingly on the cards, Westport corner back Liam Joyce turned the game on its head with a goal the start of three minutes of injury time – putting the Galway intermediate champions a point in arrears again.

When Ferdia Breathnach scored a long range equaliser for Leitir Mór, it was no more than they deserved – neither did Wesport deserve to leave Tuam with a victory in such a last gasp manner.

It was to extra time and again Leitir Mór were guilty of hemorrhaging a lot of good possession as they stayed one point in arrears at the end of the first period, 2-11 to 1-13 in favour of Westport.It was Patrick Mark O Fatharta’s goal three minutes into the second period which sealed the match for Leitir Mór although they did have to endure some agonising moments as Westport sought a winner or at worst an equaliser but it was not to be.

Eoghan O Conghaile, Coilin O Hogain, Seosamh Seoige, Ciaran Bairead, Tomas O Griofa, Antaine O Griofa, Cristoir O Flatharta, Daithi MacDonnchadha, Patrick Mark O Fatharta, Eanna O Cathain and Fiachra Breathnach were the heroes of this 80 minutes of inspirational football from both sides.

Date Published: {J}

I have to admit that my knowledge of the Colombian cocaine cartels comes from films like Clear And Present Danger – with Harrison Ford playing CIA agent Jack Ryan battling some spectacularly evil people indeed.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that the cartels might become central to the Irish drugs trade – but that was the extraordinary link posed by RTE Crime Correspondent Paul Reynolds in a riveting lecture to NUI Galway Law Society last week.

He gave a frightening glimpse into the dark world of drugs – a €5 million per day trade in Ireland. And, he said, the gangs have gone truly international – with nine Irish criminal gangs operating on the Continent forming alliances with the Turks, who are the middlemen to supplying heroin to Europe.

“Irish criminals are doing direct deals for cocaine with Colombian cartels,” Reynolds told the audience.

“We should be worried about the amount of drugs coming in. €5million per day is what the market is worth . . . that is some business to go into. There is €5 million to be made in the business every day . . . the amount of money that can be made is staggering.”

He said that 50kilos of heroin bought for €1 million, would mean that a drugs gang would make €10 million. That was a “hell of a return” and explained why they were prepared to fight and kill to retain control, or to oust others.

The result was the type of criminal feuds which were now going on in a number of centres around the country, while the diversity of drugs now on offer – including the so-called ‘businessman’s drug’, cocaine – meant that drugs had infected all areas of society, though the neighbourhoods which had been devastated were usually the deprived ones.

The devastation was not confined to poorer areas, he said. Drugs gangs knew that if they were dealing with people from the business and professional classes, that ‘mummy or daddy would pay-up’, or the gangs would shoot their sons and daughters who were using cocaine and were in debt to the gangs.

Reynolds said in some cases, it was not an exaggeration to say the gangs were better armed than the Gardaí, and guns were often used as a sort of ‘sweetener’ in a drugs deal. The international suppliers frequently just put in a few guns with the shipment, and these were later on the streets – with the current favourite appearing to be the Glock, which could fire 16 single rounds, or bursts.

“I don’t think it an exaggeration to say that criminals are better armed than the Gardaí,” said Reynolds, who added that the paramilitary arsenal had also seeped into the drugs trade.

The use of drugs by hitmen, said Reynolds, meant that you now had gunmen who had no inhibitions, no reservations, who had become dehumanised. The cold-blooded shooting of a number of absolutely innocent people had shown the scale of the aggression and dehumanisation in the modern hitman, who was very often in the teens or twenties and high on drugs.

He warned that drug dealers and hitmen could be a sort of celebrity in the eyes of young people who were uneducated, abused, unemployed and had no future. The gang members were the ones with the flash cars, the girlfriends, the big houses, the drugs, the guns.

There was also the danger of very young kids being recruited as “baby dealers and boy soldiers”. He said one youngster picked up by Gardaí in Limerick was carrying a shotgun which was bigger than himself. Many of the individuals now going into the drugs business were “young . . . going straight in at the top, violent, highly unstable, and more dangerous because they have access to guns”.

The background causes of crime increase were population increase, poverty, poor education, drugs, marginalisation of certain areas of cities and towns, an education system which often meant that youngsters at 12 could not read or write, alcohol abuse – with 80% of all crime being related in some way to alcohol abuse.

He said drugs crime needed a societal response – there must never be a sort of half-acceptance of a level of crime and violence. We had not seen a repeat of the outrage that manifested itself when Veronica Guerin was murdered. Anyone who wanted to see the effects not just on gang members killing each other, but ordinary people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, should look up the website www.innocentvictimsofviolence.ie

On the issue of sentencing, Reynolds said that in his opinion, there seemed to be reluctance on the part of judges to hand down the type of long sentences which the Government had expected when mandatory minimum sentences were being set.

Asked how society might tackle the growth of gangland drugs crime, Reynolds said that we had to have a response by society. We also had to come up with radical solutions – we probably had to start with education, but in a way that would tackle deprivation in communities.

No society should take a resource like its schools and open them at 9 in the morning and close them again at 3 in the afternoon. After school, they might, for instance, be voluntarily manned and used as centres for doing homework, for games, for kids socialising, for keeping them off the streets and out of danger, but with discipline to ensure they had a responsibility as well for their actions.

Society should be really radical and feed those kids, if necessary, in the evening. In many cases, if they were let on to the streets, they were in danger of being out all night, of going home to a home where there was no one, where there was alcohol or drugs abuse, where they might be abused themselves . . . the school could provide a place of safety.

If necessary, they should be able to sleep there on mattresses on the floor and then a group of ‘super cleaners’ should be brought in at seven in the morning to have the place ready to be a school again when 9am came. That was the kind of radical action that was needed in the longer term.