MORNING FOCUS FRIDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER
THREE men in their 70s have been seriously injured, with one understood to have lost a leg, in a hit and run incident at Parteen after they were knocked down by a stolen car driven by two burglars which was being pursued by gardai this Thursday evening. The three men had earlier played pitch and putt at the Parteen course before they called to Brown’s Bar in the village for refreshments. Cllr Cathal Crow who represents the Parteen area joins me now. Freelance journalist Katherine Hayes spoke to John about this disturbing story
The Toaiseach has denied claims of stroke politics, cronyism or that he told his Arts Minister appointed to the board of the IMMA. It follows John McNulty’s decision to resign from the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, after just 13 days.Fine Gael's candidate for the Seanad by-election says IMMA's rules force him to stand down, now that he's seeking public office.The Tánaiste's refused to say whether Labour will support Fine Gael's candidate in next month's Seanad by-election.
Meanwhile Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin wants the environment minister, Labour's Alan Kelly, to abandon the election altogether. Fianna Fails Timmy Dooley and Fine Gaels Martin Conway gave their view to John on the issue.
President of Ireland, Michael D.Higgins, will attend the Irish Kidney Association’s 29th Annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving, along with more than a thousand members of the organ donation community at Galway Cathedral, Galway city on Saturday 27th September at 12.30pm to honour organ donors and their families. Melissa Purcell’s father Michael (fondly known as Buddy Purcell) from Barefield, Ennis passed away in January 2012 at the age of 67 of an aneurysm. He was on life support when the family were approached about organ donation as test confirmed he was brain stem dead. Melissa now has anonymous contact with the recipient of her father’s organs. This will be the second year for the family to attend the Annual Service. Melisa told her fathers inspirational stroy to John
In support of their new Moving on Together Project, Mid-West Simon Community is organising a fundraising Sleep out Challenge to raise awareness and funds to support the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary. Events in Kilrush and Ennis tonight are being lead by many high profile participants including local TD’s and Councillors who are giving up their beds for the night. Jackie Bonfield General Manager of the Mid-West Simon Community outlined the project to John.
Our Friday panel cast their eye over the weeks events, this weeks panel was Paul Madden of the Templegate Hotel Ennis and Promote Ennis Chairman, Sharon Cahir of Cahir and Co. Solicitors Ennis & The Free Legal Advice Centre in Clare and Patricia McCarthy Former member of Clare County and Shannon Town Councils and Election Analyst – Clare FM. Among the main stories the panel looked at included notorious sex offender Larry Murphy being spotted in Enni, Is Taoiseach’s Seanad Nomination a political Stroke for an old Crony? Water Meters installation in Clare, Will the Property Tax be lowered here and Gratuities or Parachute Payments for retired Councillors, the panel certainly got listeners talking.
Finally as always on a Friday we went on a whistle-stop tour of Clare to find out what’s happening in your area over the weekend
