The Echo Year In Review August 2016: Silver for Annalise, pyramid schemes in Lucan, and serious Pit Bull problems
By Brendan Grehan
IT WAS Olympics month and events in Rio took over the news bulletins during August for good and bad reasons, but the sun was shining for Rathfarnham sailor Annalise Murphy who won silver in the Laser Radial class.
The 26-year-old found herself third heading into the decisive contest in which her fifth place finish was good enough to get a silver overall. Poetic justice for the sailor who left London without a medal in 2012 after finishing fourth.
Down in the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street, a Lucan man who stole €178,000 from 12 people as part of a pyramid scheme was jailed for four years.
Eamon Shield aged 45, with an address at Weston Meadows, Weston Park, Lucan, was found guilty by a jury of 25 counts involving theft and deception, following a two-week trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
His trial heard that between June 2011 and February 2012 he set up a “pyramid scheme” in which he promised his investors he would sell on cars that had been repossessed by banks at a significant mark-up.
The trial heard that Shield placed advertisements seeking investors in national newspapers, promising a 100 per cent profit within 60 days.
On the last day of the Dáil, Deputy Brid Smith read out a bill introduced by People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny. The bill called for the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal uses and the establishment of a cannabis regulation authority.
Deputy Kenny said: “ Ireland is behind the times when it comes to matters like this. I hope we can have a real debate about the use of medical cannabis for medicinal purposes in Ireland.”
A warning was issued during the month over the importance of restraining dogs while in public, after a pensioner and his pet collie were set upon by a Pit Bull terrier while walking through their estate in Tallaght.
The 71-year-old man, who wished to remain unnamed, was walking through Kilnamanagh with his eight-year-old Collie when they were attacked from behind by a Pit Bull – which, according to the family, went straight for their dog’s throat. The Pit Bull was later put down.
After a 52-year stint as one of Ireland’s most unique pitch-and-putt clubs, The Creek, located at Rockbrook in Rathfarnham closed its doors during the summer.
Opened by Billy Walsh in 1964, the Creek closed following a tough decision by Jean, Billy’s widow.
Jean has run the club since his death 20 years ago, but due to the cost of insurance and dwindling numbers attending the course, she was forced to close.
