News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Antrim

There have been appeals for calm after the horrific assault last week which left a 17-year-old fighting for his life in hospital.

Jordan Duffy, from Townparks South, was savagely beaten in the early hours of last Friday morning (August 5). He is currently in a 'stable condition' in the High Dependency Unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Police have confirmed that in the wake of the brutal attack, the families of the three men accused in relation to the attack have received threats of retaliation.

The threats, which were delivered by Facebook and text message were received by a sister of one of those charged with attempted murder. They warn that the 'whole family will get what is coming to them for the attack on Duffy' along with the families of the man's co-accused.

They also threatened to 'get every last one' of them - adding that was 'not a threat - it's a promise'.

PUP South Antrim Chair and Vice Chair of the Antrim Community Safety Partnership, Ken Wilkinson has criticized those making threats as well as local politicians who he claims are 'scoring cheap political points' off the back of the assault.

“This is not acceptable," he told the Guardian. "I know Jordan's family and I can guarantee you that they don't want this to happen. Regardless of what the courts decide, no family should not be held responsible for what their sons are accused of.

“People need to calm down and take a step back and let the law deal with this appropriately. I just want to call for calm heads. We don't need to see a situation where more families have to endure an agonizing sit beside a hospital bed." 

The Mayor of Antrim, Councilor Paul Michael has also appealed for calm after visiting Jordan's grandmother over the weekend.

“Jordan is fighting," said the UUP man. "He has a bleed on the brain and most of the bones in his face like his nose, eye socket and cheek bone have been smashed. 

“But the family don't want to see any more violence. They are obviously distraught but they know that violence isn't the answer. His grandmother told me she wouldn't wish this kind of thing on anyone."
(Source: Antrim Guardian)

Armagh

A man was charged with a series of terrorist-related offences.

The man, 47, was arrested in Craigavon, Co Armagh last Wednesday during a search operation by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's serious crime branch.

He will appear in court in Lisburn this week charged with possession of a firearm and explosives with intent to endanger life.

He will also face counts of possessing ammunition and items likely to be of use to terrorists.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Carlow

One little grandson proved luckier than most for his doting granny last week.  

Eileen Doyle’s first grandchild Conor was born on a Tuesday and she was pulled out of the draw for the Big Money Game Show four days later.

Appearing on the RTÉ show last Saturday, Eileen from Knocknacree, Castledermot brought along a picture of her new pride and joy for extra luck.

And it was more than luck she brought home as she managed to nab a fantastic €62,000 on the night.

“I’m over the moon, I still can’t believe it,” said Eileen, who’s sure to spoil her little grandson now with her winnings.

Eileen’s sister broke the great news to her when her name was called out on the previous week’s show.

“I was watching the football and my sister rang and said I was going to be on the show. I said ‘go away out of that’ – I thought it was a dream,” laughed Eileen.

Sitting in the crowd last Saturday week armed with banners were Eileen’s husband Pat and two daughters Michelle and Emma, while Michelle’s husband Seán Kane stayed at home to mind the little lucky charm.

“To say ‘I’ve been there, done that’, it still doesn’t register,” added a still-shocked Eileen, who works part-time in PJ Duffy’s, Tullow.

“The whole experience was brilliant. They couldn’t have been nicer, everyone was so supportive and Derek was absolutely brilliant and puts you at ease,” she added.
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

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Support for Martin Sheen as Irish president grows

Casey Anthony’s lawyers to fight court order for her to return to Florida\

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Cavan

Some unscrupulous individuals stooped to a new low when they decided to target graveyards in Cavan town as a dumping ground and for drinking parties. The dumping at Cullies and Tullacmongan has prompted the County Council to appeal for information as to the culprits so they can be prosecuted.

In recent weeks both the cemeteries at Cullies and Tullacmongan have been desecrated with indiscriminate dumping of waste, drinking parties, as well as fires being lit.

The incident at Cullies was highlighted to The Anglo-Celt by Maureen Crowe who was visiting her husband's grave last Saturday. She was shocked to see the rubbish that had been left there.

Ms Crowe felt so strongly about it she penned a letter to the editor of The Anglo-Celt (see page 41). She pointed out that the blessing of the graves took place recently in Cullies and the graveyard was looking splendid. "A lot of money was spent by the parish on doing it up and putting in new tarmac pathways," the letter stated.

What horrified and upset her was the amount of rubbish dumped, which included two sofa chairs, old furniture, wall tiles, and a duvet to name just a few of the items she observed. "Whoever did this has obviously no respect for the poor people buried there or their grieving families," she added.
(Source: The Anglo Celt)

Clare

Dublin City Council has passed a motion supporting calls to terminate the use of Shannon Airport by US troops.

The move has been welcomed by peace group Shannonwatch.

“This motion reflects the fact that there is widespread public and political opposition to the use of Shannon to facilitate US wars. There are still over 90 troop and other military flights landing at the airport every month and this is without the permission of the Irish people. A decade of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in untold human suffering, political instability and widespread profiteering and corruption. It is high time Irish involvement in this was ended,” a spokesman said.

Roger Cole of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance said the resolution passed by Dublin City Council reflects the continuing opposition of the people to the destruction of Irish neutrality and this state’s support for war. “What the Irish people want is jobs at home and the end to war. We are convinced that this is a view widely shared by people throughout the rest of Europe and the USA.
(Source: The Clare Champion)

Cork

Cork city has been listed by Yahoo China as one of the top ten tourist cities to visit globally in 2010.

Cork has achieved ranking in the Yahoo China top 10 listing following Istanbul and Kyoto and ahead of Vancouver and Singapore. The China accolade comes on foot of the Lonely Planet tourist guide listing earlier this year which awarded Cork the number 3 position in their league of World Cities to visit in 2010.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dara Murphy welcomed the news, “this positioning of Cork in the Chinese market is very significant and particularly useful in light of the work undertaken to secure a Cork programme of activities in the Irish Pavilion at World EXPO 2010 in Shanghai”.
Source: (Cork City.ie)

Derry

All League and Championship matches in Derry were called off this past weekend as a mark of respect following the death of referee Martin Mulholland.

Mulholland was refereeing a hurling quarter-final between Kevin Lynch's, Dungiven and St. Colm's, Ballinascreen when he collapsed and had to receive medical treatment.

The paramedics brought him to the dressing rooms where a defibrillator was used in attempts to revive him. He was then brought to Coleraine Hospital where he later died.

Mulholland, who leaves a wife and four sons, was a highly-regarded referee and rated as one of the fittest in the county. A former player, he hailed from Slaughtneil and was in his 50s.

A statement from the Derry County Board expressed the county's widespread 'shock and sadness' at the sudden and untimely passing of Martin.

"Martin was a highly respected and popular official and his death has stunned the GAA community across our county and beyond," it read.

"First and foremost our thoughts and prayers are with Martin's family and friends at this terrible time. Our condolences are also extended to Robert Emmets GAC Slaughtneil on the loss of an exemplary Gael."

Hurling Secretary Damien McEldowney from the Robert Emmets club spoke to BBC Northern Ireland about the incident in Swatragh.

"Five minutes in to the second half he got accidentally struck on the leg with the ball. A minute after that he blew the whistle and went down," he explained.

"At the start nobody in the ground knew what was wrong. When we saw everyone rushing, that's when everyone realised it was something serious.

"They (paramedics) thought they had brought him around, but he took a turn in the ambulance."
(Source: Breaking News)

Donegal

Around 100 bottlenose dolphins have taken up residence in waters off the coast of Co Donegal over the past few days, delighting boaters and wildlife enthusiasts.

The group of dolphins -- known collectively as a pod -- have been seen in the inner Donegal Bay, between Rossnowlagh Beach and Doorin Head, above.

Although common dolphins in Ireland are just that -- with thousands of sightings every year -- the bottlenose species usually tends to swim in smaller pods of about 30.

Patrick Lane of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said the bottlenose -- which featured in the hit TV series 'Flipper' -- often swims closer to shore than its counterparts, giving anglers and anyone on shore with a pair of binoculars a good view.

And for dolphin watchers it is peak season, as they follow the fish population which is also at its peak, Mr Lane added.

"Two or three weeks ago it was hard to spot a pod," he told the Irish Independent. "But any time from the end of July to November is the best time to see them. It's really a hidden jewel in our crown," he said.
(Source: Irish Independent)

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Support for Martin Sheen as Irish president grows

Casey Anthony’s lawyers to fight court order for her to return to Florida\

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Down

The Housing Executive has closed two sub-offices in County Down after a member of staff was threatened.

It said an employee at an office in Ballynahinch was subjected to verbal and threatening behaviour by a member of the public.

The executive said another office in Newcastle was also closed as part of the risk assessment procedure into the incident, because it was manned by a single member of staff.

It said it hoped it would be able to re-open the offices, but it must be satisfied that staff will be safe.

It is believed the person responsible for the attack was known to the staff member.
"For the female worker who was working there in isolation, it was extremely traumatic," said Liam Gunn of the Housing Executive.

"The perception of the staff member was that there was the potential for violence."
(Source: BBC News)

Dublin

Gangland thug Shane Lyons poses with his girlfriend -- months before he subjected her to an attack so savage she was left fearing for her life.

Lyons (41) locked his then girlfriend Fiona Kelly into his bedroom and brutally assaulted her and a close pal, Kerry Lee Ball, in a shocking incident at his southside home on August 31, 2009.

The Herald can reveal that Lyons is a notorious gangster who has links with 'Fat' Freddie Thompson's gang.

He was also involved in a major dispute with gangland boss Eamon 'The Don' Dunne over a stolen car, before 'The Don' was shot dead in a Cabra pub last year.

Lyons is also a convicted drugs trafficker who was jailed for four years in March 2001 after he admitting importing IR£160,000 worth of cannabis from South Africa.
The violent crook has also links to veteran gangster Martin 'The Viper' Foley.

Last week, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Lyons (41) choked Ms Kelly before locking the door and telling her to "sleep on the floor like the animal she was".

A friend who tried to protect her was then beaten so badly by Lyons that she had to be taken away in an ambulance.

Lyons, Ms Kelly and her pal Kerry Lee Ball, who had given birth to a baby six weeks earlier, had all been on a night out together before he attacked them at his Rathfarnham, Dublin, home.

Ms Kelly described Lyons during the attack as "the face of pure evil".
Lyons had separated from his wife after she had a miscarriage and had been seeing Ms Kelly for six months at the time of the attack on August 31, 2009.
(Source: The Evening Herald)

Fermanagh

The sister of a GAA player who was seriously injured during a match in the US has described him as an inspiration after he woke from a coma and started to communicate with his family.

Fermanagh footballer Mark McGovern sustained serious head injuries during an off-the-ball incident for the Ulster GAA San Francisco club in June.

His parents and three sisters traveled to the United States and have been by his bedside during the last five weeks.

They were present when Mark regained consciousness after waking from a coma, and have been able to communicate with him.

His sister Grace said his progress has been remarkable.

"From being told Mark may not make it through the first night to beating a liver condition, pneumonia and MRSA alongside his brain injury, he has fought everything that has been put in front of him," she said.

"Mark has now regained consciousness and is fully aware of his surroundings and everyone around him. Mark is yet to talk but has been trying to lip words in order to communicate with us, and has attempted a few steps with assistance."
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Galway

Number of merchant ships docking has more than halved since the ‘boom’ years
The economic recession has resulted in a massive falloff in traffic through Galway Harbor – the number of merchant ships docking here has more than halved since the ‘building boom’ years and the tonnage the ships carry has also dropped significantly.

In 2005, 419 merchant ships brought 959,000 tons of goods to Galway Harbor but in 2010 only 187 merchant ships arrived carrying just 630,000 tons, 232 fewer ships and 329,000 tons less.

Despite the reduction in traffic and tonnage, the Central Statistics Office’s latest release, Statistics on Port Traffic, showed that Galway Harbor remains Ireland’s seventh busiest port in terms of tonnage traffic.
(Source: GalwayBay Fm)

Kerry

The first sod has been turned on a new €97.03 million Tralee bypass in Co Kerry.
The project will divert an estimated 25 per cent of all traffic away from the town centre, reduce travel times for many people and bring benefits for regional tourism and road safety, it was said during the sod-turning ceremony.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar officially broke ground last week on the construction of the N22-N69 Tralee bypass road improvement scheme.

“Additionally, the Tralee bypass will upgrade access to Co Kerry and allow Tralee to benefit from the removal of unnecessary through traffic whilst improving the travel experience for tourists and businesses alike,” Mr Varadkar said.

The project had been listed as one of the demands of former Independent Kerry TD Jackie Healy- Rae, along with Kenmare Community Hospital, as a condition of supporting the last coalition government in its final months.

The 13.5km project is expected to take 21 months to complete and will connect four of the five national routes (N21, N22, N69 and N70) that terminate in Tralee.
(Source: Irish Times)

Kildare

A Newbridge youth was in a critical condition at Naas Hospital last weekend, following a stabbing in the town in the early hours of last Saturday morning.

The incident, which occurred at around 5.20am in the College Farm area, resulted in the 18-year-old local youth being taken to hospital with two major stab wounds, apparently inflicted by a kitchen carving knife.

Gardaí are investigating the assault which left the victim in a very serious condition, although he has now been declared off the danger list.

It’s understood the incident arose after four people, all believed to be local, went to the home of a fifth man (a Polish national). One of the four was apparently carrying a snooker or pool cue, which someone inside the house mistakenly took to be a firearm of some sort.

In the fracas that followed, one of the local youths was stabbed twice. The four then ran from the area but the youth who had been stabbed fell in the roadway and an ambulance was then called.

The injured youth currently lives in the Newbridge area and it’s believed there may have been some history involved in respect of the Polish man whose home he and his associates visited last Friday night.
(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

Kilkenny

Kilkenny College is planning on embarking on a e1.5 million expansion complete with an auditorium and purpose built classrooms for both art and music.

The development of an arts and music centre will mark the final stages of the schools on-going development plan. The school has been expanding constantly since it moved into a green field site on Castlecomer road in 1985 and is now the largest boarding school in Ireland.

The new centre will cater for the needs of the 14 staff and 300 pupils studying music and art. The new building, which will cost between €1.2m and €1.5m, will contain an auditorium, purpose built classrooms, arts and crafts rooms and 13 individual studios for music practice. Kilkenny College, which has its own orchestra, has a long tradition of promoting music and places to practice are particularly important.
(Source: Kilkenny People)

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Support for Martin Sheen as Irish president grows

Casey Anthony’s lawyers to fight court order for her to return to Florida\

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Laois

Prephistoric human remains, believed to be the result of a human sacrifice, have been found in the Cul ma Mona bog between Abbeyleix and Portlaoise. It was discovered on the Bord na Mona land by an employee operating a milling maching last Wednesday evening.

The find has been described as “very exciting” by the National Museum of Ireland. The museum said it was one of very few bog bodies discovered in situ, which meant not only the remains, but its intact environment, could be studied.

Museum staff on site said at this stage they did not know the precise age or gender of the individual, but the body could be that of a young woman and may have been the result of a human sacrifice.

The body is estimated to be over 2,000 years old. It appears the torso and head, which were in a leather bag, did not survive. The legs, however, were not enclosed by the bag and were preserved by chemicals in the peat.
(Source: Leinster Express)

Leitrim

Gardai are investigating the circumstances around the sudden death of a man living in Ballianmore town last Monday afternoon.

The body of the man was discovered in his apartment in Ballinamore town at around 5pm on Monday afternoon. Gardai quickly cordoned off the scene and Scenes of Crime investigators were called in to try and establish how the man had died.

A spokesperson for the gardai said that they were keeping a open mind in relation to the man’s death.

The deceased’s name had not been released at the time of going to press but he is believed to be a man in his 50s who is origginally from the Dublin area and who has been living in Ballinamore for a number of years.
(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Limerick

The owners of a West Limerick aluminium company “caused havoc” to the local environment when they illegally changed the course of a river in order to gain access to a piece of land, a court has heard.

The owners of Costello Aluminium, of Kilfergus, Glin, were ordered to restore the course of the River Corbry, which they diverted without permission in late 2008/early 2009 at a special sitting of Limerick Circuit Court last Friday.

The actions of the company and its owner, John Costello, caused serious ecological damage and have led to frequent flooding along the river and at their own premises, the court was told.

Peter Clein, BL, prosecuting on behalf of Limerick County Council told Judge Carroll Moran that Costello Aluminium sought to alter the course of the Corbry in order to bring a piece of land on the opposite bank “into the larger industrial site” of their premises.

Mr Clein said that physically changing the river “caused havoc” with local fish life and led to a “significant problem” with flooding on nearby banks and at Costello Aluminium itself.

The court heard that Judge James O’Donoghue made an order directing the company to restore the river to its original path on May 27 2009.

On October 19 2009 John Costello gave an undertaking in court that he would commit to hiring an environmental scientist as part of the project, and would liaise with Limerick County Council and the Inland Fisheries Board.

However, the restoration of the river has not taken place to date as Costello Aluminium had submitted an application for planning retention.
(Source: Limerick Leader)

Longford

Gardaí are investigating incidents of a female photographer taking pictures of children playing outside their houses in the past week without the permission of parents.

The woman, described as a foreign national, was observed in a housing estate in Kenagh on Wednesday week last (August 3) taking photographs of young children playing. A similar incident is also believed to have taken place in Ballymahon.

Speaking to the Leader, concerned parent Helen Kennedy said when she approached the woman in the blue Ford Fiesta, the woman drove off claiming to have no English.

“On Wednesday (Aug 3) at about quarter to two, the kids were out playing as they normally are,” Ms Kennedy told the Leader. “I was out watching them and I came in to make a cup of tea. When I came out, three of the kids came running across to say that a lady had taken pictures of them.

“They pointed to a car which had come down past me to turn; so I stopped her and asked her why she was taking pictures of the kids. She said, ‘I don’t speak very good English’. I told her that she wasn’t allowed to take pictures of anyone or any of the kids. She just drove off then,” said Ms Kennedy.

She added that later that evening they went back over their own CCTV footage which had captured the incident.

“She (the photographer) was watching the kids for a good three or four minutes. She parked the car up at the top of the estate where it wouldn’t be seen and then got out and walked down to the kids and took pictures. She had one of the long-lens cameras.”

Ms Kennedy added, “You can see on the camera (CCTV) when she comes down past our house to turn, she was hiding the camera in the passenger seat; she actually pushed it down on to the floor so that it couldn’t be seen.”

As soon as the car drove off, Ms Kennedy contacted the gardai, who have since been out to Kenagh to view the CCTV footage.
(Source: Longford Leader)

Louth

A documentary about bare-knuckle boxing between rival families in Dundalk was released in Ireland and in UK cinemas on Friday, August 5.

Directed by Ian Palmer, Knuckle chronicles a history of violent feuding between rival clans such as the Quinn McDonaghs and the Joyces.

However, it mainly focuses on two brothers, James Quinn McDonagh and his younger brother, Michael. The documentary was given a four star rating on the film review website Movies.ie.

Movies.ie critic Paul Byrne described Knuckle as “brutal, yet captivating and ultimately moving”.

eanwhile, Rottentomatoes.com gave Knuckle 100% on the infamous tomatometer with an average rating of 6/10 by reviewers.

Featured in this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Knuckle was shortlisted to compete in the World Cinema Documentary Competition where it received its premiere alongside most of the other 12 features in the group.

The documentary begins in 1997 and chronicles a 12-year journey into the world of travellers and bare-knuckle fighting.

Knuckle opens with the wedding of Michael Quinn McDonagh and ends with him fighting against Paul Joyce. The two men had fought before, and Michael had lost because he was disqualified for biting.

Ten years later, in 2007, he sought a rematch in a bid to restore his honor. In another scene, two men are driven to a quiet country lane near Dundalk. Cars are used to block off access to the lane before the bare-knuckle fight begins.

A small group of less than ten people watch silently, as two men, walk to a clear area, strip to the waist and prepare to fight. The two men are James Quinn McDonagh (Michael’s older brother), and Paddy “The Lurcher” Joyce.

The Quinn McDonaghs and the Joyces are cousins, however, the two families have been engaged in one of the longest and most violent bare-knuckle boxing feuds in Ireland and England.
(Source: Dundalk Democrat)

Mayo

Imagine the surprise when Margaret Jennings from Rookfield, Knock answered a knock on her door last week and found Susan Boyle standing outside! The Scottish lady who sang her way into the hearts of millions through her stirring performances on the Britain‘s Got Talent series two years ago was on a private visit to one of her favourite Marian Shrines.

Taxi driver Michael Jennings, son of Margaret, had earlier in the day brought Susan and a friend to Galway for a few hours shopping. He was bringing them back from Galway to Knock House Hotel when he suggested that his mother would love to meet Susan.

“She was absolutely lovely and chatted about many things on the way to and from Galway. She said she would be delighted to drop in and surprise my mother,” said Michael.

For Margaret, it was the chance of a lifetime to meet and chat with Susan. “Since the first time I heard her sing and saw her on television, there was something different about her. She is so down to earth. We had a great chat and she was asking me all about the turf which we had put into the shed earlier in the day.

“It was hard to believe that here was Susan Boyle in Rookfield standing beside me and the rick of turf. If she had been around earlier in the summer I would have brought her over to the bog!” said Margaret.

Susan has visited Knock on a number of occasions and was in the village on organised pilgrimages from Scotland long before she became an international celebrity. Both her parents were from Donegal.

Last year, Susan also visited Knock and, accompanied by local church organist John Aldridge, rendered two well known hymns, Amazing Grace and Ave Maria to sustained applause from the appreciative congregation in the Basilica.

“Susan has a great fondness for Knock and told me she loved coming over here. No doubt, she will be back again next year. Fame has not gone to her head anyway, you’d swear you knew her all your life. She is one of the best,” said Margaret.
(Source: The Mayo News)

Meath

Gardaí in Navan and Trim are investigating three claims that children were almost abducted. On Wednesday afternoon of last week it was reported to gardaí that a 10 year-old girl from Canterbrook estate, Navan, was approached by a man in a car on the estate and offered sweets to get her into the car.

However, the girl refused and told her mother.

Navan gardaí carried out door-to-door inquiries in the area and took statements of up to 20 people but there was little information available. The description from that incident is of a white male with blonde, spiked hair and he was driving a navy car. As yet there is little more on either the vehicle or the man.

A similar description was given for a man who attempted to get a 15-year-old girl into his car the following day (Thursday 4th August) at a similar location and time.

The description of the man at the centre of that incident was given as being late 30s or early 40s and with either blond or reddish spiky hair. Again, a dark blue saloon car was seen in the area between Canterbrook and Balreask Manor on the Trim road between 8pm and 9pm on the night.

Navan gardaí carried out door-to-door inquiries in the area for both incidents and took statements off residents but, again, there was little more information available.

However, it has emerged that Trim gardaí are investigating a similar incident that occurred on Saturday 23rd July in Kilmessan, two weeks previous, where a 10-year-old girl was approached by a man, exposed below the waist, driving a navy blue Nissan Primera or possibly Almera. The car followed the girl to near her home just off the Trim Road.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

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Support for Martin Sheen as Irish president grows

Casey Anthony’s lawyers to fight court order for her to return to Florida\

---------------

Monaghan

Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has approved the construction of a €35m educational campus in Co Monaghan.

The project, which will be managed by the Monaghan Vocational Education Committee, is the largest building project funded by the Department of Education this year.
The completed campus will include a 16 classroom primary school, a 400 pupil post-primary school and a 700 student Institute of Further Education.

The site being used for the campus is a former army barracks in Monaghan Town.
A state of the art theatre will also be built as part of the project and will act as the new home for The Garage Theatre.

The theatre facility will be grant-aided by the Department of Education and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to the tune of €3.3m.
(Source: Irish Times)

Roscommon

An investigation by the Health Service Executive is under way into the discovery of the medical files of about 100 patients in a bin outside Roscommon County Hospital.

The files contained names, addresses, details of medical tests and, in some cases, doctors’ comments in relation to patients attending Mullingar General Hospital. The majority of files involve patients from counties Longford and Westmeath.

The files were found early last week by a woman walking her dog. She immediately alerted members of the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee who had been protesting in the vicinity over the recent closure of the hospital’s emergency unit.

John McDermott, chairman of the action committee, last week called on Minister for Health James Reilly to investigate what he described as a serious breach of patient confidentiality. After a press conference in Roscommon last week, Mr McDermott delivered the files to the office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Portarlington, Co Laois.
(Source: Irish Times)

Sligo

A woman who was giving a lift to friends "the morning after" was arrested for drunk driving and was found to be over the limit, Sligo District Court was told.

Charged with drunk driving at Mail Coach Road was Ceolin Devanney, Carrowkeel, Ballisodare. A sample showed a reading of 48 mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of breath. Mr. Fergal Kelly, solicitor (defending), pleaded that the defendant (21) did not have any previous convictions. She was giving a lift to her friends "on the morning after."

"Is there any difficulty in treating it as a 44?", Judge Kilrane asked Inspector Sean McGinty (prosecuting). "No," replied the Inspector. Judge Kilrane fined the defendant €200 and banned her from driving for one year.
(Source: The Sligo Champion)

Tipperary

Two men were taken to hospital after a small plane crashed in Co Tipperary.

The two-seater Pegasus Quantum Microlite came down in a field at Ballyduggan, near the Tipperary-Kilkenny border at about 11.30am last Wednesday.

The craft, registered in the UK, departed from Kilkenny Airfield on a training flight last week.

Two men, aged in their 40s and 50s, a pilot and student, were on board the craft.

The man in his 40s sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Waterford Regional Hospital by an Irish Coast Guard helicopter.

The second man suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance. 
(Source: Irish Times)

Tyrone

The family of a missing Co Tyrone teenager say they are afraid to build up their hopes that a new police search will find her body.

The PSNI said it will launch fresh searches for the body of Castlederg schoolgirl, Arlene Arkinson, who disappeared in 1994.

Arlene was 15 years old when she disappeared after a night out in Bundoran, Co Donegal.

It is widely believed she was abducted and murdered. This past Saturday, August 13, marked the 17th anniversary of her disappearance.

“Investigations into Arlene’s murder are continuing. We intend to mount further searches in the coming months,” a police spokesman said.

“Arlene’s family have been kept up to date with the plans for a new search,” he added.

Speaking to the News Letter, Arlene’s sister, Kathleen – who met with police last week to find out more details about the planned search operations – expressed her fear, that any fresh hope could again be dashed.

“We have to be hopeful, that maybe this time they will find Arlene after all these years,” she said.

“But we cannot get our hopes up too much, we have had so much disappointment over the years, the comedown is very hard on all of us.
(Source: Newsletter.co.uk)

Waterford

A man who clung onto the bow of his sinking boat in cold water for an hour was rescued and brought to safety after members of the public called for help.

The incident occurred near Garrarus last Tuesday evening at approximately 6pm.
A couple walking on the shore saw the overturned boat in the water and called for help.

The Tramore RNLI launched their lifeboat within three minutes of receiving a call from the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre and were at the scene within eight minutes, with assistance also from the Sea Rescue boat.

The well-known man from Boat-strand, who was dressed in short pants and a t-shirt, was pulled from the water and despite feeling the effects of being in the cold water for an hour, did not need medical attention.

He had been fishing for mackerel when disaster struck and his fishing boat started to go down. Only the bow of the boat was over the surface of the water by the time the man was plucked from the water and brought ashore. The boat was towed back to shore by Sea Rescue.
(Source: Waterford News & Star)

Westmeath

Gardai are investigating a possible arson attack on a house in Brawny last week.

The fire broke out during the early hours of Friday, August 5. Athlone Fire and Rescue Service was called out to the house shortly before 3am and two units attended the scene for about an hour and a half.

Nobody was injured in the blaze, but a shed attached to the house was destroyed and extensive damage was caused to the kitchen.
(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

A man involved in a face-off with a judge walked free from the High Court on Friday.

Oliver Sludds admitted he was wrong to argue the judge could not hear his case unless first producing his oath of office.

Mr Sludds, of Tineshin, Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford, caused a stir at Wexford District Court last Wednesday when he challenged Judge David Anderson to produce his oath of office.

The 29-year-old quoted from the Constitution on the issue of judges' appointments before disputing the validity of the summons for his arrest, saying it was in the wrong name. He was in court to face a number of motoring offences.

Judge Anderson said he would not grant Mr Sludds bail as he could not accept a bail bond from someone whose signature could not be verified. He ordered the defendant be remanded in Cloverhill Prison in Dublin.

On Friday at the High Court, counsel for Mr Sludds, Colman Fitzgerald, said Judge Anderson had been wrong not to grant his client bail. He added his client accepted his argument to Judge Anderson was "misconceived".
(Source: The Irish Independent)

Wicklow

A Rathdrum man was shocked to discover a dead python while walking home from Arklow last week.

'I was walking along the coast road about a mile and a half outside Arklow when I saw the box and the dead snake inside. I thought it was fairly strange to see it dumped on the side of the road and in that sort of box,' explained Mark Browne.

'I reckon somebody left it there to die. I was concerned when the box was taped up so I opened it. It was full to the brim with bark mulch so I thought something might jump out at me. I think it is very cruel to leave it there like that,' Mr. Browne added.

There was no indication of how the snake came to be at the roadside, however, The Wicklow People spoke to Ross Elliott, owner of Rocky's Pet Shop on Main Street who identified the species as a python.
(Source: The Wicklow People)