On Tuesday's Morning Focus with Gavin Grace
Serial home burglars will face longer jail terms and may be refused bail under new laws aimed at curbing home burglaries. The planned laws aimed at "prolific" offenders will result in District Court judges applying mandatory consecutive sentences for multiple offences committed within a 12-month window.
Judges will also be allowed to refuse bail to offenders who have a previous conviction for burglary coupled with two or more pending charges amid Government concerns that the criminal justice system is not taking full account of the seriousness of home burglaries. The dedicated home burglary law, which Ms Fitzgerald says is designed to "keep repeat burglars off the streets" has been approved by Government and is expected to be passed later this year. Senan Keane Chairman of Killimer Knockcerra Community Alert and Sen Martin Conway FG, Ennistymon – Seanad Spokesperson on Justice, Disability and Equality both gave their thoughts on this Gavin.
The Kilquane Graveyard Committee has made a number of submissions to the Burial Ground Bye-Laws.
The most notable of these submissions is one that would allow vehicle access to graveyards at certain times. As you will see below, land surrounding the east Clare graveyard changed ownership in 2013 and since then there has been a lock on the gate preventing vehicle access, except under certain circumstances – such as picking up a key for the lock from a local business during offices hours.
In practice, elderly people and those with disabilities have been unable to visit graves at the weekend and in the evenings causing a lot of upset locally. The group maintain that this proposal to the Bye-Laws would resolve the issue and prevent it from happening elsewhere. On this we heard from Tom O Connor Chairman of Kilquane Graveyard Committee – Westbury and Meelick FF Cllr Cathal Crowe.
Paraic Podge Collins Clare Footballer Clare Hurling and Football Star spoke to us ahead of JACQUI HURLEY’S eagarly anticipated documentary examining the potential for professionalism in the GAA that airs this week. The show gathered opinion from players, managers and administrators for a fascinating look at the GAA’s changing landscape. Pay-for-play and player welfare are the big themes in ‘Páirc Life – Podge Collins features in the documentary and shares his thoughts on the theme with Gavin.
Over the next 25 years the number of people living with dementia in Ireland will treble to 140,000.
Currently an estimated 1,282 people in Co. Clare are affected by the condition.* Based on the national projections, this figure will rise to 3,846 by 2041. A leading dementia care professional claims Ireland is not properly equipped to care for the rising number of people with dementia. Jackie O’Toole, who heads up the national dementia training programme at Person Centred Healthcare Training (PCHT), says the shortage of specialist nurses is compromising the standard of care provided. Jackie O Toole Creative Director at Personal Health Care Training (PCHT) had more on this.
Financial Matters next with John Lowe the Money Doctor – Answering all your Financial Needs including the Increase in health insurance for finance report – Aviva increased rates by 5.5% on average for those renewing or taking out a new plan from the start of the month.Half of laya’s plan went up in price of an average of 4% last week.
Niall Breslin – Bressie Author of Me and My Mate Jeffrey. Bressie is from Mullingar, Westmeath. Former front man of The Blizzards and current coach on The Voice of Ireland. Today he spoke with Gavin about his struggles with a generalised anxiety disorder, that is documented in his book.
Cora Hehessy McNulty of St Michael's Villas is Co-Organising a 40 year Meet-up reunion for the pupils who started Colaiste in 1970 (LC Year of 1975 although many students would have left school prior to LC) together with fellow student Margaret Neylon Heaslip of Neylon's Shop on O Connell Street. Both ladies joined us looking to get past pupils to come along to the reunion on Saturday October 17th at 7 pm in the Temple Gate Hotel.
Frankie Coote Clare ISPCA Officer and County Dog warden spoke to us today with a round up of animal welfare cases from around the county including a bulldog found in very bad condition in Ballyea and a pet dog killed by another dog in Mountshannon
“Motivate a New You” next with Sean Powers (65) from Killaloe who has taken on the programme with 2 weeks and says it's going great. John Whyte from Motivation Weight Management and Shane O Donohoe from The West County Gym also joined us with advice for our listeners.
The CROSS Atlantic 1000, the charity cycle led by former Ireland International and Lions player Paul Wallace, accompanied by a host of international rugby legends, will be staged from 5th – 11th September 2015, supported by Lifes2good, to raise funds for CROSS Charity supporting cancer research at Trinity College Dublin. Now in its 4th year, the event takes a twist in 2015 as the route embraces 1,000kms of beautiful scenery on the Wild Atlantic Way from Skibbereen to Donegal. Over 7 stages, it stops off along the way to visit schools and attend events to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Paul Wallace Leader and Patron of CROSS Charity spoke to Gavin.
If you wish to contact the show please email focus@clare.fm
