CLG na Gaeltachta set to be profiled in upcoming TG4 series
Teen lucky to escape after freak accident at Caragh Lake
A MAN charged with having heroin worth €10,000 in his possession when he was allegedly ‘caught in the act’ by gardaí following what they said was a surveillance operation in Ballyseedy Wood on Thursday was remanded in custody at Dingle District Court on Friday.
Rokas Venkus, 77 Killeen Woods, Tralee, appeared before Judge David Waters alongside Irmantas Kazlauskas, Apartment 3, 3 South Terrace, Basin View, Tralee, each charged in relation to a seizure of heroin at the woods on Thursday. Both men were arrested at 1.40pm on Thursday in the woods, gardaí told the Court.
They were each charged with possession of ‘diamorphine’ (heroin) for the purposes of sale or supply and with the unlawful possession of heroin.
Irmantas Kazlauskas made no reply to the charges; Rokas Venkus replied ‘no comment’ to each of the charges when they were put to him at Tralee Garda Station, Gda Niall O’Sullivan told Judge Waters. Gda O’Sullivan objected to bail in the case of Mr Venkus. Gardaí did not object to bail for Mr Kazlauskas, who was released subject to a number of conditions.
In opposing bail for Venkus, Gda O’Sullivan cited the ‘nature of the seizure’, saying that the evidence in the case was ‘extremely strong’.
Questioned by solicitor Pádraig O’Connell on the gda’s statement that Mr Venkus was ‘caught in the act’, Gda O’Sullivan said: “He was under surveillance at the time. He had a glass jar containing heroin in his hand, which he had recovered from where it was stashed in Ballyseedy.” The Gda told the court he believed Mr Venkus would commit offences if bailed. Mr O’Connell said he believed his client had denied the section 15 charge.
Judge Waters said: “Garda opinion is that, if he is released, he is quite likely to commit serious offences while on bail. There is no condition under section two that I can apply to adequately address these fears,” refusing bail and putting the case back to today, January 30, at Tralee. TG4 VIEWERS can look forward to seeing some of the many characters involved with CLG na Gaeltachta on their screens over the coming weeks, as an ANIAR production makes its bow tomorrow week, Thursday, February 7.
‘Ár gClub’ will profile four GAA clubs over the coming seven weeks, and Kerry will be represented by Ireland’s most westerly GAA club, An Ghaeltacht.
The show was launched last night by journalist Evanne Ní Chuilinn at Kilmacud Crokes GAA Club in Dublin – Kilmacud are also one of the four clubs profiled – and Production Manager Fiona Griffin, who lives and grew up in Dingle, said there is much for viewers to look forward to.
“It starts out on the bus with An Ghaeltacht supporters on the way up to Thurles for the All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final against Moy Tír na nÓg from Tyrone last year,” she told The Kerryman ahead of the first episode.
“From there, it dips in and out of the seniors’ season in 2018, but it has a particular focus on the supporters’ perspectives and the club as a whole.
“There are a lot of great characters there: Muiris Ó Fiannachta, former captain Micí Ó Conchúir, Diarmuid Ó Beaglaoich, and Micheál ‘ Toose’ Mac Gearailt would all be very well-known figures in the club.
“Executive Producer was IFTA-winner Seán Ó Cualáin, and our Director/Producer Risteard Ó Domhnaill is a creative genius, so I think people have a lot to look foward to,” Fiona added.
Other events from the club’s 2018 to appear in the show are last year’s Comórtas Pháidí Uí Shé and a crucial Senior Championship relegation match against Kenmare Shamrocks – a match which An Ghaeltacht lost.
The first episode airs at 8pm, with six further shows to follow thereafter. A 13-year-old boy was lucky to escape without serious injury after a freak accident at Caragh Lake on Saturday afternoon.
The boy – who is understood to be from the area – was sitting in a small boat that was tethered to pier on the lake’s west shore when the boat slipped from its moorings and began drifting out onto the lake.
While in typical conditions the matter may not have been as serious, unusually strong westerly winds quickly blew the small craft far out onto the lake.
The boy’s companion ran to a nearby house, where he raised the alarm, and the Coast Guard was alerted. A major search operation was mounted involving Gar daí, the Iveragh coastguard and a Coast Guard rescue helicopter.
The winds were actually so strong that the boat was eventually blown all the way to the east shore of the lake, where the 13 -year-old, who was said to be “slightly shaken” but otherwise unhurt, was able to make it onto land and make his way to a nearby property, where he received assistance and was subsequently collected by rescuers.
A Coast Guard spokesperson said that due to the high winds the young boy was lucky to have escaped serious harm as the boat could easily have capsized in the blustery conditions.
The spokesperson emphasised that people should exercise extreme care while on or near lakes.