Antrim

A well-known local family has been 'plunged into a living nightmare' after a horrendous road accident last Thursday (June 23) robbed them of a beloved son and brother.

Leonard Wallace, who would have celebrated his 50th birthday next month, tragically lost his life when a lorry collided with his moped on the Ballymena Road near the Dunsilly Roundabout.

It was the second fatal accident on Antrim's roads in June and the second involving a motorcycle and a lorry in eight months after Randalstown teenager Shane Magill's tragic death on the Castle Road in October 2010.Mr Wallace was his way home after visiting his elderly mother Amy at a nearby care home at around 12.30pm when the accident happened.

He was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in a critical condition but was pronounced dead shortly before 6pm.A friend of the family who spoke to the Antrim Guardian described him as 'a man who never bothered anyone'.

He said: "Leonard was born and brought up in the Riverside area of Antrim and was a well-known face about the town, as is his brother Ronnie.

“He worked as a security guard in Dunnes for many years and was a likeable kind of a man. He also recently became a Christian which was a huge change in his life."

The friend added: "He drove that scooter about for years so he was well experienced but that's a bad bit of road. We still don't know quite what happened and the family are going over every little detail looking for answers."

He added: "We are all still in complete shock - nobody expects this kind of thing to land on their doorstep."
(Source: Antrim Guardian)

Armagh

Two men were arrested after Policeí uncovered what is believed to be a suspected dissident republican bomb-making factory at Hackballscross, Co. Louth.

The find was made around 1.00pm last Saturday when police swooped on the property, less than two miles from the border.

The men, both aged in their fifties, were detained at a farm house following searches of the property and outhouses.

Police officers found “a substantial quantity of fertilizer” being processed to make explosives, according to national news reports.

Officers attached to the Special Detective Unit, the Emergency Response Unit and Crime and Security were assisted by local units from the Louth-Meath division in the search and arrest operation, Policeí said.

The area was sealed off for a time while Army bomb disposal experts carried out a full examination of the scene.

Following the operation, there was a heightened security presence north of the border, believed to be linked to follow-up searches in the area.

The men arrested were taken for questioning at Drogheda and Balbriggan Police Stations.  At the time of going to press, they remain in custody.
(Source: Crossexmainer.co.uk)

Carlow

Shoppers in Lidl were left shocked last week after a supermarket employee lunged at a customer who had been racially abusing him.

Shoppers and staff of the Lidl supermarket, Tullow Road, Carlow were intimidated and frightened after witnessing a brawl between a customer and a staff member last Wednesday evening, 22 June.

“It was crazy,” said one shocked customer.

“I went in and there was a man who seemed to be drunk, screaming at a black man who worked there, saying that Lidl was a terrible supermarket who didn’t employ Irish people. I didn’t take much notice until I heard people shouting really loudly,” she said.

“I saw the staff member grab the customer to try to get him to leave after he kept on calling him cruel, horrible and vicious names,” she explained.

“The customer struggled to get away but was still shouting abuse at the staff member. The customer landed on the floor in the struggle to get him out, but the man who worked there couldn’t take anymore of his abuse. He lost the head and started to repeatedly kick the customer on the ground.”
The incident left shoppers shocked and children and babies crying.

“It was terrible. I only came in to get some garlic bread and I was so shaken. I’ve never seen anything like it at 7pm in the evening in a supermarket.”

Carlow policeí confirmed to The Nationalist that the incident is currently under investigation. Lidl issued a statement saying: “As the investigation into this incident is ongoing, Lidl shall make no further comment other than to apologize sincerely to customers present for their unpleasant experience.”
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

A 47-year-old Cavan man has been charged with the murder of an elderly Monaghan man in the psychiatric unit of Cavan General Hospital last Monday morning.

Ian Harman of Carrickallen, Mountain Lodge, Cootehill, appeared before a special sitting of Cavan District Court last Thursday. Police Sergeant James Green gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution.

Mr. Harman was taken to Cavan Police Station and charged with the murder of 82-year-old Mr. Michael Treanor at 10.45pm. Sgt. Green asked the accused if he wished to make a reply and he said: "Yes I did it. I have given statements that I done it."

Judge Sean MacBride remanded Mr. Harman in custody to Castlerea Prison to appear at Virginia District Court on Tuesday, July 5.

At the request of his solicitor, the judge agreed to transfer Harman from Castlerea to Cloverhill where there is better medical facilities.

Legal aid was granted when the court heard that Mr. Harman was married with one children and worked as a general laborer.
(Source: The Anglo Celt)

Clare

Over 2,000 construction jobs could be created in Clare for five years if one of the two sites identified in the new County Development Plan for a €1 billion hydroelectricity generating plant are fully developed.
Atlantic Force chairman, Padraig Howard has predicted that between 2,000 and 2,500 construction jobs could be created in West or East Clare if planning approval for a major 400 to 600 megawatt pumped hydroelectricity storage plant is secured. The Barefield windfarm developer predicted between 50 and 75 permanent maintenance jobs could be created if his plans come to fruition.

In fact, Mr Howard believes there is a strong case why the two sites could be developed to transform Clare into the renewable energy leader in the country.

While up to 50 potential sites were identified for the generation of hydroelectricity by the Spirit of Ireland throughout the country, Mr Howard noted Clare has a distinct advantage because of its topography, the lack of EU Natura protected habitats in the two areas, the presence of a 400 kilowatt distribution line traversing the two sites and suitability of land for windfarms.

Having conducted pre-feasibility studies, Atlantic Force, a Clare-based renewable energy company, which is linked to the proposed development of a large windfarm in Mount Callan currently being assessed by An Bord Pleanála, has employed world leading consultancy firm, Knight Piesolt to conduct a feasibility study on the development of a hydroelectricity generating plant in Clare.
(Source: The Clare Champion)

Cork

Confirmation last week that orthopaedic services will move from St Mary’s Orthopaedic to the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital has been blasted in Cork as a “shameless u-turn”, amid calls for Fine Gael TD, Dara Murphy, to resign.

Around 300 people, some carrying signs saying "Betrayed by Dara and Kathleen", gathered outside the health facility in Gurranabraher on Tuesday. They protested against the move, which was confirmed last week following a review by the Department of Health, despite a promise by the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly earlier this year that the closure would not take place.

In an interview with the Cork Independent on Wednesday, 23 February 2011, Cllr Dara Murphy said that Dr James Reilly, then party health spokesperson, had given Cllr Murphy his commitment to maintain the services at St Mary’s while he was Lord Mayor.

“It makes no sense to move the service from a green open space to a congested and cramped facility at a cost of €4m. That would be wrong,” he said in February.

Sinn Féin TD, Jonathan O’Brien, criticized the decision last week to move and called on Fine Gael TD Dara Murphy to resign from the parliamentary party.
Source: (Cork Independent)

Derry

Two Moville based business owners were left shocked when they discovered their business had been broken into last Wednesday night.

Tony and Monica Kitson, owners of Bits and Bobs shop in Moville, arrived at the premises in James Street in the morning last week only to discover their business had been ransacked.

The owners believe the prowlers broke in through the back door as they broke a window and damaged a unit trying to gain entry to the Moville business.

The robbers made off with almost 400 euro in a float which Mr Kitson had kept on the premises, as well as some stock.

“I can understand stealing the stock and going for the money but to do what they did is totally uncalled for. They look like they’ve taken their hand and just wiped the shelves clear.
“It’s mindless vandalism. There is no call for it at all.”

As a result of the break in the Kitsons were forced to close their doors and cease trading for the day.
“Things are bad enough at the minute, we have been really quiet and for this to happen now on top of other things is awful. We have to close and it’s not good. We’re really struggling. We have bills to pay and I had to go to bank to let them know about the situation last week.”

Mr Kitson said himself and his wife, Monica, were due to go to a wedding last week, but had to cancel when they discovered the state of the premises.

When speaking to the ‘Journal’ last week, Tony said the Police forensic team were on route to the premises.

“There’ll be no wedding for us this week anyway but hopefully the police get to the bottom of things soon as this is so unfair. Everyone is struggling just to get by at the moment and a break in and damage to your property is the last thing any businessman would need.”
(Source: Derry Journal)

Donegal

A brave Donegal teenager is preparing for a bone marrow operation which she hopes will end a six and a half year battle with a rare form of cancer.

Sixteen-year-old Niamh McNulty from Convoy will have the transplant in Dublin this week. Since she was ten she has been battling a rare form of leukaemia which affects only four people in Ireland.

Now her wait for bone marrow transplant has come to an end after a suitable donor was found in Germany. Niamh was diagnosed with the illness in March 2005 and has battled through pain, weekly trips to hospital in Letterkenny and Dublin and chemotherapy. In January this year Niamh became seriously ill and her family were called to Dublin fearing the worst but the brave teenager rallied and is now set for her transplant operation.

Niamh has lost her hair four times due to chemotherapy but her wit and spirt makes light of what would be traumatic for others. “God only made a few perfect heads but the rest he covered with hair,” she said.

Niamh’s mother Bernie praised her daughter for the courage and spirit with which she has faced such adversity. “Through her battle for life she has smiled and joked and loved live,” she said. “She’s a fighter, a survivor and a pleasure to have in our lives. I love her to bits and we hope this transplant works and then maybe we can have some kind of normal life.”
(Source: Donegal Democrat)

Down

Eminem’s forthcoming Irish date at Tennent’s Live in Bangor, Co Down has run into trouble after a resident made a complaint to the local council.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, the objection is to the Detroit rapper’s explicit lyrics, which will disrupt a Missionary Convention taking place in a nearby church. A decision on the open-air August 24th gig will be made by North Down County Council in the coming weeks.
(Source: Irish Times)

Dublin

Police have arrested a boxer in his late 20s after a savage assault on Grafton Street which left the victim with horrific head injuries.

The victim, business student Tomas Carter (21), from Monkstown, south Dublin, told the Herald last week: "I am so relieved that police have made an arrest. This has been the most difficult period of my life."

Detectives from Pearse Street Police Station arrested the suspect in Clondalkin last week and he is being questioned last week about the assault.

It is understood he has admitted the offence and is "deeply sorry".

"He has come clean -- he feels very bad about what happened. In fairness, the incident was out of character for the man," said a source.

The suspect, who has convictions for minor offences, is an accomplished boxer, according to sources.
Keen rugby player Mr Carter was left fighting for his life after the attack, which occurred at Grafton Street, near the junction with Harry Street, at 3am on Sunday, May 29.

He needed 41 staples in his head during life-saving brain surgery when a six-inch skull fracture was discovered.

Mr Carter said he was "just 48 hours from death" when neurosurgeons at Beaumont Hospital performed a three-and a-half-hour surgical procedure on his head. Mr Carter explained: "The surgeons had to open my skull up. While doing this a part of my skull crumbled and had to be removed, they stopped the blood clot and drained the blood from my brain successfully.

"They had to put two titanium plates and screws in my head to hold my skull together, from where they had to cut open my skull and also where the skull bone crumbled."
(Source: The Evening Herald)

Fermanagh

An Orange hall destroyed in an overnight fire was targeted by arsonists who may have used diversionary tactics to keep the emergency services from the area, Orangemen have claimed.

The isolated building in Inver Road, near Rosslea in Co Fermanagh, was gutted in the blaze, which was only discovered at around 6am after it had burnt itself out.

Orange Order secretary Drew Nelson said he understood a phoney 999 call was made around the same time of the fire, reporting an incident in nearby Lisnaskea.

"This looks like a very well-organized attack on the hall," he said. "We understand that the people responsible may even have used diversionary tactics to keep the emergency services from the area at the time."

Mr Nelson, who will visit the hall to inspect the damage, said the hall played an important role in the small Fermanagh community.

"This is a hall which was at the cutting edge of work we're doing in the community in many different areas," he said. "Its facilities were used by different organizations and it played an important part in local life. This is an attack on Protestant and Orange culture in the area and is a very worrying development."

It later emerged that a genuine fire was reported in Lisnaskea during the night. But a spokeswoman for the Fire and Rescue Service revealed that it had been started deliberately.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Galway

A devastating fire in one of the county’s most renowned bakeries destroyed part of the plant which employs ten people.

Luckily, nobody was injured in the blaze at the Foods of Athenry bakery at Oldcastle, Kilconieron, five miles outside the town of Athenry.

It is thought to have begun at about 10am last Wednesday after the morning’s produce had left for deliveries.

Four units of the fire brigade fought the blaze, which took over part of the converted agricultural buildings.

At one stage the fire crews were unable to enter the buildings because of the heat inside.

Speaking to the Connacht Tribune as two extra units of the fire brigade had just arrived, owner Paul Lawless was distraught. “It’s devastating,” he said.?He said he did not know w?hat had caused the fire. It was “way too early” to speculate when the bakery might be back operating.?“The wheat side of it is destroyed, the gluten-free side isn’t. The dispatch area is gone but that’s cosmetic. We’re salvaging what we can,” he said.

The artisan food business was set up by Paul and his wife Siobhan in a converted bicycle shed in 2000. The family looked to diversify from dairy farming after struggling to raise a family of five on a small milk quota.
(Source: GalwayBay Fm)

Kerry

A small group of protesters have met the Taoiseach in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, last week where he opened the constituency office of Patrick O'Donovan, Fine Gael TD for Limerick.

Parents from schools in Tarbert, Ardfert and Lauragh in Co Kerry, complained to him they have no school buses to service the schools in their area.

The Taoiseach engaged with them and explained that all of CIÉ's costs, including those of school buses, are to be examined to see where savings could be made.
 (Source: Irish Times)

Kildare

During the Derby Festival a number of cars had their windows smashed in the Newbridge area.

Sergeant Seamus Rothwell told the Kildare Nationalist that five vehicles had their windows broken overnight in the Ballymany public car park in the early hours of Sunday 27 June. In all of the cases the passenger windows were targeted and in one case two windows in the car were broken.

Property is believed to have been taken from one car. Policeí are now appealing to anyone who passed between Ballymany and Curragh Racecourse between 10pm on Saturday 26 June and 6am on Sunday 27 June and who saw anything suspicious to contact them.

Also on the same night, cars parked on the Green Road area of Newbridge were targeted by culprits who checked to see if the vehicles were unlocked. All of the cars in the Beechmount area were checked. One car had a Blaupunkt car stereo taken from it. They also tried several other cars in the Rathcurragh Estate. The owners found the cars with their doors open and evidence that they had been searched and rifled through.

Sgt Rothwell said that some people may not be aware their cars were searched. “Our advice is to lock up your cars at night. We believe quite a number of cars were tried this way and searched and not all the owners would know,” he said.
(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

Kilkenny

A bridge in the south of the county is having to be altered because people’s lives are at risk.
Safety measures are due to be added to the Milltown Bridge at the N25 near Glenmore because rocks, eggs and other objects are being thrown onto vehicles passing below.

Extensive damage has been caused in some cases, and some motorists are fearful when driving under the bridge, for fear of being hit with an object and not being able to avoid it while traveling at the 100kph speed limit.

Information supplied to Kilkenny County Council by An Police Síochána highlighted five such instances in recent months. Cars were struck by rocks on the N25 on September 22 and 23 of last year, the latter causing “extensive damage”, and eggs were thrown at vehicles November 1 and 20.

Extensive damage was also caused when a rock struck a car on January 17 of this year.

Police surveillance of the bridge and CCTV equipment have not been successful in solving the problem, despite the removal of objects likely to be thrown from the bridge.

It is now planned to provide new parapets to the bridge, at an estimated cost of “in the order of e175,000”, director of services John Mulholland told members at last Monday’s meeting of Kilkenny County Council.

“It is an absolute disgrace to have to spend that kind of money to prevent criminal behavior,” said Cllr Tom Maher (FG). “It is an isolated area. It should be easy enough to fingerpoint the offender. It is a reflection of society last week that we have to spend e175,000 on one bridge to prevent people from what they should not be doing anyway.”

“Kilkenny County Council won’t be spending it – it’s the National Roads Authority – but somebody is spending this money,” Mr Mulholland pointed out.
(Source: Kilkenny People)

Laois

Laois is the fastest growing county in Ireland with its population surging past the 80,000 mark for the first time.

The first results from Census 2011 show that 80,458 people live in Laois, an increase of nearly 13,400 on 2006.

Laois grew by 20 per cent which was more than double the national average. The county has also passed neighbouring Offaly, and surpassed the growth projected by Laois County Council.

Most of the growth took place in the north and east of Laois. Portlaoise grew by more than 40 per cent and is now almost 18,000. Portarlington also grew fast as did Graiguecullen.

The county also recorded that highest rate of inward migration. Apart from Offaly, Laois is growing faster than its neighbouring counties of Kildare, Kilkenny, Carlow and Tipperary.
(Source: Leinster Express)

Leitrim

Superintendent Noel Carolan, Carrick-on-Shannon, said the Police are taking “exceedingly seriously” a spate of vandalism, criminality and anti-social behavior in the county town last weekend. Among a number of incidents to take place, Police seized a large amount of cocaine, four cars were damaged, one of which had a traffic cone thrown through its back window, and two large flower pots were damaged by vandals. In a separate incident, a man was treated for a broken finger after being bitten in an altercation on Main St last Saturday night.

With Carrick-on-Shannon often left looking well below its best last Sunday mornings as a result of the previous night’s behavior, Supt Carolan added, “It is a major issue when we find public order and criminal damage and we will be looking over the coming weeks to put a response in place. It causes such difficulty for so many people who are working in a voluntary capacity. It is undoubtedly a small number of people who are responsible but it cannot go unchecked and we will be monitoring the situation.”

Police in Carrick-on-Shannon confirmed a large amount of cocaine was recovered in Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday last, June 24, by police from the western and northern regions. In a connected incident, a small amount of cannabis was recovered in Leitrim Village on the same date. The drugs are believed to have a street value of €9,000.
(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Limerick

A home built for property developer Robert Butler in Adare is back on the market, but this time its price has been slashed by €8.2m as it has failed to attract a buyer in three years.

When it first came on the market in 2008 with a price of €12m it was one of the most expensive properties ever to be put up for sale locally.

Now the eight-bedroom, eight-bathroom house on the grounds of Adare Manor estate is back on the market for a more modest €3.8m.

Several lavish properties in the picturesque village of Adare are now for sale with seven-figure price-tags, which have been greatly reduced from the boom years.

Another palatial home in the Adare Manor estate is also available for €2.5m.

But despite numerous viewings, the lure of their ornate decor, marble floors and expansive grounds has yet to pay dividends.

The two properties are among 19 houses in the 840-acre Adare Manor estate, which borders the famous golf club.

Des O’Malley, agent with Sherry FitzGerald O’Malley, said the drop in price is a symptom of the property market at present.

“Both represent extraordinarily good value and have held their value a lot more than other properties at the moment,” he told this newspaper.

The residence built by Sisk for Mr Butler is ‘Winterwood, The Demense’ -  an eight-bedroom, eight-bathroom house on 2.8 acres of land.

It once attracted a bid of €10 million, however the sale did not go through, and it is now for sale through joint agents Sherry FitzGerald O’Malley and Knight Frank.

While Mr Butler lives in another residence in Adare, it is understood he has never moved into this house.

It is one of the largest houses to have been built on the estate with a staggering 1,579sq m (17,000sq ft) of living space.
(Source: Limerick Leader)

Longford

Police are monitoring “several dozen” suspected criminals who are living in the north Longford area as part of a thorough investigation into organized crime, the Leader can reveal.

The operation is one which is being led by local police in Granard following months of painstaking surveillance work and intellegence gathering.

Part of the enquiry centers on a decision taken by Police chiefs to halt growing backlogs associated with individuals who have not shown up in court and for whom bench warrants have been issued.

And while the Leader has learned of the approximate number of suspects currently under surveillance, police have for the moment remained tight-lipped.

“We would have identified several dozen people we believe are involved in drugs and our focus has been on them,” said a police source last week. “It is intellegence-led and we have managed to clear out about 70 per cent of outstanding warrants through this.”

The change in tactics employed by police has also caused officers to carry out routine checks and searches of those believed to be involved in drugs and organized crime.
(Source: Longford Leader)

Louth

A new legal battle could be set to develop over a 10.85-acre piece of land on the Lower Point Road.

Last month the land, located next to the Sewerage Treatment Plant, was the subject of a High Court action with Mr Justice Hedigan deciding that McCaughey Developments Ltd – who bought the land from Dundalk Port Company in 2006 for e1.7 million – had been deprived of fair procedures when Dundalk Town Council voted to change the zoning from residential to recreation, amenity and open space.

The land had been bought by McCaughey Developments Ltd as residential but Mr Justice Hedigan found an injustice had been done to the company arising from the circumstances that led to the change of zoning on November 17 2009.

When a High Court judgement was made last month that the matter should be reconsidered, Dundalk Town Council opted not to contest the decision.

However, last week the Louth Environmental Group (LEG) lodged an appeal to the Supreme Court seeking to reinstate the council’s original decision to zone the land, which includes the old Quay Celtic soccer pitch, as an open space recreational amenity area.

Their appeal comes as McCaughey Developments have submitted a planning application to build 44 houses on the site with the LEG claiming that the council will be liable to make a e4.4 million payout in planning compensation unless they grant it.
(Source: Dundalk Democrat)

Mayo

The mystery of the Westport bumper National Lottery winners has been resolved. Well, kind of. The couple, from the west, turned up to claim their €2 million prize jackpot at lottery headquarters in Dublin on Tuesday, June 28. As is their entitlement, they have opted to keep their identities private.

Popping the champagne in Dublin, the jubilant woman told lottery staff: “We are delighted. It’s a dream come true.”

The couple became millionaires after they bought an €8 Quick Pick ticket in McLoughlin’s Spar on Shop Street, Westport. A decade ago, the family-run shop also turned up trumps for Westport native, John Moran, who won £2.1 million.
(Source: The Mayo News)

Meath

The long-standing bad blood between the McDonagh and Nevin families reared its head again last week when, on Wednesday night, a grenade exploded at a house in Reask Drive in revenge for an earlier beating of a man who had to be hospitalized.

At around 2pm on Wednesday, a member of one family in his 20s was dragged from his van near Commons Road in the town and beaten so badly he had to be hospitalized. He is thought to have a broken leg among other injuries.

A group of people congregated and several weapons were produced. Three further men were hospitalized in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, with various injuries and range in age from 17 to early 40s. Two members of each family were hospitalized.

Police calmed things until 12.05am when a the grenade exploded at the home of a member of one of the families, blowing in the windows and causing minor damage. Police say that no-one was at home at the time. The fact that no-one was home means the pipe bomb was most likely intended as a message rather than an attempt on the residents' lives.

The following day, Thursday, a petrol bomb exploded at the same address after a similar flare up at Reask Green at around 10pm. The bomb was thrown through the front windows and fire units were called to the scene.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

Monaghan

A distraught man made a grim discovery last week when he came upon the body of his nephew lying on a deserted road after a hit-and-run accident early last week.

Enda Traynor, from Lemgare, Co Monaghan, was walking on the rural road near Clontibret, Co Monaghan, at around 7am last week when he made the grim discovery.

The body of the young man -- named locally as Fintan Traynor (20) from Lemgare -- was so badly injured his uncle did not initially recognize him, devastated family members told the Irish Independent last week.

Mr Traynor was dropped off near to where his body was found by a taxi at around 3am last week following a night out.

It is believed he was walking to his family home a short distance away when he was struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at the scene of the accident.

The accident took place on a quiet road that links the villages of Clontibret and Annyalla with Derrynoose and Keady in Co Armagh.

Police on both sides of the Border are now looking for the driver and have appealed to anyone with information to come forward.
(Source: Irish Independent)

Offaly

Local Fine Gael TD’s Charlie Flanagan & Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy (both Laois/Offaly) and Nicky McFadden (Longford/Westmeath) met with Gabriel D’Arcy, CEO and Pat Downes, Director or Bord na Móna last Thursday in the Dáil to discuss the company’s current projects in the region.

Deputy Flanagan, who arranged the meeting, stated, “Bord na Móna is a huge employer and a very significant player in the Midlands region and I work closely with the company on local issues.

owever, I believed it was appropriate for senior Bord na Móna officials to visit the Dáil to give my local colleagues and I a formal briefing on the company’s current projects and future plans.

“I am pleased that future Bord na Móna projects are set to deliver significant employment opportunities in the Midlands in keeping with the company’s record and Marcella, Nicky and I look forward to playing our part in ensuring that the right climate is created by Government to allow Bord na Móna to continue to flourish.”
(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon

The Roscommon Hospital Action Committee has announced plans to protest at Leinster House this Wednesday and stage a demonstration on seven bridges crossing the River Shannon two days later.

RHAC Chairman John McDermott said a decision is also being made to send up to 50 people to the perimeter of the A&E Unit at University College Galway Hospital on Monday.

They will demonstrate their concerns over the hospital's inability to provide care for additional patients if Roscommon is downgraded.

In a linked move, volunteers from community groups and the farming sector have started to erect protest signage on the N5 and N6 national primary routes in Co Roscommon.
(Source: The Roscommon Champion)

Sligo

Women from throughout the region are to stage a public protest at Sligo General Hospital on Wednesday in a bid to save the job of 'a charismatic' consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist.

Dr. Raouf Sallam, who has worked at the hospital as a locum for the past four years, did not have his contract renewed when it expired at the end of last week, and it's believed the post has already been filled by another appointment.

Furious patients of the Egyptian born doctor have now launched a campaign in an unprecedented move to save his job. A petition has already been signed by close to 200 patients and members of their families, and Health Minister, James Reilly, has been urged to intervene.
(Source: The Sligo Champion)

Tipperary

You “can’t give them a clip on the ear,” Insp Bernard Barry told Cllr Conor Delaney during a debate at Nenagh Joint Policing Committee on underage drinking. Cllr Delaney, who raised the issue, had asked what the Police response was to reports of underage drinking around the town.

“If you get a call about a group in a field with alcohol, how do you deal with it?” he asked. “Do they give thema clip on the ear and tell them to cop on and to get lost? Do they bring them to the station and call their parents?”

The FG councillor said that he had been told by parents that the Police just confiscate the alcohol, and he was concerned that the next time any group came together to drink they would have a friend that would text them the Police were on the way and would scatter.
(Source: Tipperary Star)

Tyrone

Police in Northern Ireland are keeping a wary eye for signs of trouble during the Orange marching season, which is in full swing and will reach its traditional climax on July 12.

Although tensions are generally lower than in previous parading seasons, recent rioting around the Short Strand area of east Belfast has served as a reminder that trouble can flare unexpectedly.

In Co Tyrone, police condemned dissident republicans who left a pipebomb near a play park in Strabane. The device, described as viable, was found last Thursday after police received a telephone warning that a device thrown at the town's police station last Wednesday had failed to explode.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Waterford

For the second time in his political career Labour’s Cllr Pat Hayes donned the mayoral robes as he became Waterford’s first citizen. He last had the honor in 1999/2000.

Speaking in City Hall last Monday Mayor Hayes, who was first elected to Waterford City Council in 1991, said it was an honor to find himself in the role for a second time after his nomination was accepted by all but two councilors, Cllr Davy Walsh and Cllr Dick Roche.

He credited Cllr Mary Roche with being an "outstanding mayor" who put all her energy into the role despite having a young family to care for at the same time.

"Cllr Roche has raised the bar, the problem is it’s so high I can’t see it. I want to acknowledge her ground breaking work in economic development and I hope she continues with that work," he said, adding that he hoped to progress the work she has started.

Mayor Hayes was proposed by Cllr Jack Walsh who said he had confidence in his colleagues ability to fulfil the role in a manner that will reflect well on the City and its people.
(Source: Waterford News $ Star)

Westmeath

The community of Moate is reeling from the shock of the news that Moate native Clive O'Dowd has died in Thailand.

Clive, who was in his 30s, passed away last Monday in Thailand. It is understood he was holidaying in Thailand and had been living in New Zealand.

He is survived by his parents Noel and Marie, who live on Station Road, Moate. Clive is also survived by his siblings Keith and Hazel.

His brother Keith paid tribute to his brother on his Facebook page, saying: "Goodnight Clive my lovely brother. RIP. We will never forget you, God is with you now."
(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

A seven-year-old boy has died after being hit by a jeep as he chased his dog across a road.
The child, who was named locally as Tom Connors, was struck on the Main Street in Clonroche, Co Wexford, last week, on the first day of his summer holidays.

His death was one of three on the roads last week.

The child was from Canon Murphy Park, Clonroche, Co Wexford, and a member of a settled Traveling family. The accident occurred on the road opposite the housing estate where the child lived with his family.

He was struck by a jeep at around 10.45am by a local man who remained at the scene until the emergency services arrived.

After being hit, the boy was rushed to Wexford General Hospital where he later died as a result of his injuries. Forensic investigators closed off the road and examined the scene. Police have appealed for witnesses.
(Source: The Irish Times)

Wicklow

The high Court has appointed provisional liquidators to a company operating the Brook Lodge Hotel in Aughrim, Co Wicklow, after being told it was insolvent and unable to pay a €1.2 million debt to a creditor.

Mr Justice Roderick Murphy was also told three directors of the hotel operating company, Durgman Entertainment Ltd, had carried out a threat to transfer the assets of the premises to a new company allegedly set up in an attempt to avoid a court order requiring them to pay the €1.2 million debt.

Eamonn Galavan, Clonroche, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, who is owed the €1.2 million, is to bring contempt proceedings in the Commercial Court on Monday against three Durgman directors: Bernard Doyle, Waterside, Dargle Vale, Bray; Evan Doyle, Macreddin Village, Aughrim; and Eoin Doyle, Levmoss Hall, The Gallops, Leopardstown, Dublin.
(Source: The Wicklow People)