ANTRIM
A police officer “acted appropriately” when he discharged a taser at a local man who was slashing himself with a knife.
The police ombudsman has concluded that the officer acted within the law when he fired the weapon at a man during an incident in Crumlin on April 22 this year.
The P.S.N.I. received a call from the ambulance service requesting assistance at a house in the village where a man had a knife and was “cutting himself.”
[Source: Antrim Guardian]
ARMAGH
Customs officials have closed down a fuel-laundering plant in Crossmaglen, which was capable of producing 1.3 million liters of diesel a year.
More than 14 tons of toxic waste were removed from farm buildings where the plant was operating along with pumps, tanks and other equipment.
The illegal operation had the potential to evade the U.K. Treasury of more than $4.6 million in tax and duty.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]
CARLOW
Vodafone Ireland announced improved coverage in counties Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow. Following the enhancement to voice coverage earlier this summer, the operator has now made mobile data services available to areas where previously only mobile calls could be made. In Carlow, around 54,000 people in the county will receive data coverage in areas such as Carlow Town, Tullow, Borris, Bagnalstown, Ballon and Goresbridge, while the improved service reaches 95,000 people around Kilkenny, in areas such as Ballyhale, Ballyragget, Callan, Castlecomer, Freshford, Inistioge, Kilkenny City and Mullinavat.
[Source: Telecompaper]
CAVAN
Gardaí (police) are appealing to locals in the Canningstown area about the illegal dumping of tires in a river – for the second time in recent weeks.
An estimated 120 tires were dumped in the river at Ardmone, Canningstown, between Tuesday, June 18, and Saturday, June 22.
Previously around 30 tires had been cleared from the same spot by locals and used on farms.
[Source: The Anglo Celt]
CLARE
A north Clare man who strangled a woman before dumping her body into the sea was sentenced to life-imprisonment last Thursday.
Colm Deely (41), of School Road in Ballyvaughan, has been found guilty of murdering Deirdre McCarthy (43), between 11 p.m. on March 27, 2011, and noon the following day. He had pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
A jury of seven women and five men found Deely guilty by unanimous verdict after two hours and 58 minutes of deliberation at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, June 26.
[Source: Clare Champion]
CORK
A mother is fighting for her life after she and her daughter crashed into a pub on Shandon Street on Saturday evening, June 29.
Their car crashed at 5 p.m. on Saturday into the North Gate Tavern pub, which is on the corner of Shandon Street and North Mall, after the mother passed out due to a medical problem.
The young girl was able to get out of the car but the woman had to be cut out by emergency services.
[Source: Cork Independent]
DERRY
An administrative officer with the P.S.N.I. has admitted breaching the Data Protection Act by obtaining information about a homophobic assault.
Bridgene McCleave, whose address was given on court papers as c/o P.S.N.I. Strand Road, pleaded guilty to obtaining information from police files about the assault in July 2008.
Derry Magistrates Court heard the 57-year-old had been employed by the P.S.N.I. since 2006 as an administrative assistant working closely with analysts in the District Intelligence Unit.
[Source: Derry Journal]
DONEGAL
Declan Bonner, the former Donegal senior manager, is back in county management following his appointment as Donegal minor manager.
Bonner, the 1992 All-Ireland winner and senior manager for three seasons at the end of the 1990s, was appointed by the Donegal County Committee last Monday night at their monthly meeting.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge I have been working with the lads for the last few season and have managed them at U-16 and U-17 level and I know all the lads well,” Bonner told the Democrat last Tuesday morning.
“There is a good bunch of lads at that age group. We won the Buncrana Cup, last year. We beat Tyrone in the final and we have qualified for the McGuigan Cup final.”
[Source: Donegal Democrat]
DOWN
Fans of “Britain’s Got Talent” were in for a treat on Saturday, June 29, when finalist Jordan O’Keefe dropped in to Newry Credit Union to launch their Juvenile Members Concert – “CU on Hill Street.”
Hundreds of swooning fans greeted the Derry singer as he appeared to sign autographs, t-shirts and other merchandise as part of the launch of the concert that takes place on Sunday, August 25, as part of Newry Credit Union’s 50-year anniversary celebrations.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]
DUBLIN
Charity shops won't be banned from operating on Dublin's premier shopping street, but no more fast food restaurants or bookies will be allowed.
Councilors voted not to put charity shops on a lengthy list of unwanted stores at a meeting of Dublin City Council last Monday night.
Following a vote, premises that "would detract from the character of the street" will no longer get planning permission to open.
[Source: Evening Herald]
FERMANAGH
Just over two weeks since the G8 leaders departed from Fermanagh turf, retailers in Enniskillen are happy to report they didn’t take the customers with them. Over the two days of the summit, Enniskillen was referred to as a “ghost town” with many choosing to avoid the town for fear of traffic disruption and delays.
A week on, though, and the retail landscape is “back to normal,” with the shops in the town hoping that two days of lost trade will be more than compensated by long term benefits the result of increased profile and exposure.
[Source: Fermanagh Herald]
GALWAY
Galway City was named as one of Ireland's “Best Kept Towns” at an award ceremony hosted by Minister Phil Hogan in Farmleigh House.
As part of the competition, the highest scoring towns in the national Tidy Towns Competition compete with the winners of Northern Ireland's Best Kept Towns for the title of Ireland's “Best Kept Town.”
Galway City was one of just 13 towns shortlisted out of over 700 towns adjudicated.
[Source: Galway Bay FM]
KERRY
It took the wildlife team three hours to walk and climb to the perch high above the scenic lakes in Killarney National Park, where they tagged the first eagle to be born in County Kerry in more than 100 years.
The lakes had been associated with eagles, particularly golden eagles, since ancient times, but the birds were shot and poisoned to extinction in the early-1900s.
The chick, “Paudie,” is a white-tailed sea eagle. Now eight-weeks old, he weighs 7.4 pounds and is still in the nest. The scientist in charge of the operation, Dr Allan Mee, said it would be some weeks before the chick is airborne. Evidence of fish and small mammals – but not lambs, he reassured farmers – was found in the nest.
[Source: Irish Times]
KILDARE
A Newbridge couple suffered serious injuries following a fire in one of the town’s oldest residential areas on Wednesday night, June 26.
Neighbors living in the Liffey View/Barracks area of the town center were horrified to see resident Kevin “Keggie”) Brennan outside his burning home at around 10:15 p.m. that night, clearly suffering injuries to his face and hands and crying out for help.
Both he and his wife, Catherine, managed to get out of the house, but both suffered extensive injuries and were subsequently taken for treatment to St. James’ Hospital in Dublin, where they are still being treated.
[Source: Kildare Nationalist]
KILKENNY
One of Kilkenny’s most well-known and respected figures was honored two weeks ago with a lifetime achievement award for his decades of hard work, honesty, and efforts to improve other people’s lives.
Seamus Pattison’s political career spanned decades, from his time as a local councilor and a three-time mayor of Kilkenny City (1967, 1976 and 1992), to his election as ceann comhairle (speaker) of the Dáil (Irish Assembly)in 1997 and leas cheann comhairle (deputy chairman) of the Dáil in 2002. He brought great honor to his native city and county, holding a Dáil seat for 22 years.
He also had the rare privilege of being awarded the Freedom of Kilkenny City.
[Source: Kilkenny People]
LAOIS
A Portarlington woman convicted of theft was two weeks ago denied legal aid at the district court, as Judge Catherine Staines remarked the woman had recently been able to afford a holiday to Spain.
Claire Kelly, 1 Avondale Estate, stole various items worth $30.51 from Dunnes Stores, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise, on May 11. Inspector Aidan Farrelly said that all items were recovered.
Kelly has no previous convictions, although she received an adult caution before for a similar offense.
[Source: Leinster Express]
LEITRIM
The Dowra Green Village Group is little over a year old, but the committee has proven its dedication to revitalizing Dowra village.
Its first project was the landscaping and walling of the Jim McPadden Memorial. The committee formed in late 2011and is made up of a small number of motivated Dowra inhabitants. They felt that “Sweet Dowra Town” was just not so sweet anymore.
The village, which borders counties Cavan and Leitrim, has been somewhat neglected in recent years.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]
LIMERICK
Rachel Moran who is originally from Dublin was based herself as a call girl in the city center in the 1990s, during which time she says she earned “tens of thousands” of pounds. The 37-year-old said she worked in brothels in six apartments at city locations – including Cruises Street, the Dock Road and the Ennis Road – where she performed sex and sexual acts for clients from both the city and the county.
“I would have spent more time in Limerick than anywhere else, other than Dublin of course,” Ms. Moran explained.
“You would rent an apartment and run it as a brothel for whatever length of time until you got rumbled by the guards or the landlord or things turned violent. If the wives of Limerick knew what is going on – it’s an eye opener,” she said.
[Source: Limerick Leader]
LONGFORD
Fine Gael’s Clr. Larry Bannon was elected mayor of County Longford at local authority headquarters in the county town on Friday night, June 28.
The local area representative in the Legan area has been part of the local political arena for the last 10 years, and his victory became an historic occasion on the night.
Mayor Bannon is the brother of Deputy James Bannon, who also served as Longford County mayor prior to his election to Dáil Eireann (Irish Assembly). As a result, the newly elected mayor is one of two brothers who are the first in the county to both hold the prestigious office of county mayor.
[Source: Longford Leader]
LOUTH
Drug-dealers in Dundalk are going to houses and demanding payments from parents as more and more teenagers get involved with illegal drugs.
Sinn Fein Dundalk Town Councilor Kevin Meenan has said the drug dealers are getting younger and so are their victims.
In a recent incident at Muirhevnamor, people as young as 15 threatened to smash up a house if money allegedly owed was not paid to them.
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]
MAYO
Eccentric Mayor of London Boris Johnson will not be attending this year’s novel Connacht Senior Football Final between London and Mayo in Castlebar.
Despite an online campaign and moves by Mayor of Castlebar Clr. Noreen Heston, Mr. Johnson last Monday announced he will be unable to attend the historic game.
Clr. Heston made contact with the Connacht Council Monday to see if they would consider inviting Boris Johnson to the game and Connacht Council Secretary John Prenty told The Mayo News they would consider it and discuss it at a Connacht Council meeting and with London G.A.A. chiefs.
[Source: The Mayo News]
MEATH
The First Hay Festival was held in Ireland last weekend, and it was a resounding success. The town came alive as 10,000 people visited to attend events that covered books, theatre, film, food, environment, art and travel.
“We are absolutely delighted with our first Hay Festival,” said Ger Gaughran, Hay Festival Kells director and member of the Kells Chamber Committee. “It has been magical to see the streets of Kells filled with visitors to our town enjoying themselves, and we are thrilled to have surpassed all our expectations.”
[Source: Meath Chronicle]
MONAGHAN
White crosses, splashed with red paint, have been erected close to the home of an Irish politician after she publicly supported new abortion legislation.
They were erected near the County Monaghan home of Heather Humphreys.
Ms. Humphreys said that while she understood protests at her office, she viewed crosses nailed to poles outside her family home as "quite invasive."
She is a member of the Irish Parliament (T.D.), which is taking a series of votes on allowing limited abortion.
[Source: BBC News]
OFFALY
Former Irish soccer star Paul McGrath is to appear in court later this month in connection with an alleged public order offense two weekends ago.
Gardaí (police) arrested Mr. McGrath outside the Tullamore Court Hotel in the County Offaly town on Saturday evening. He was taken to the local Garda station where he was charged with minor breaches of the Public Order Act.
Mr. McGrath (53) has fought a long-running and very public battle with alcoholism over the last decade.
[Source: Irish Independent]
ROSCOMMON
A man was due to appear in court in Roscommon on Friday, in connection with the false imprisonment of a man in Strokestown three days prior.
Gardaí (police) in Roscommon arrested four people following a planned operation, during which they searched two houses in the Roscommon area.
A woman and two men, all in their late teens, were taken to Roscommon Garda Station and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
[Source: Roscommon Herald]
SLIGO
The chamber of Sligo County Council suffered an exodus of Fine Gael councilors and one Independent last Monday. The incident occurred when a Fine Gael representative tabled a motion calling on colleagues to ensure Sligo-based Oireachtas members vote “No” on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.
Clr. Matt Lyons, the leas chathaoirleach (deputy chairman), watched as most of his party colleagues disappeared from their seats moments before he made his address. Only three of the 12-strong Fine Gael contingent remained, although they abstained from voting.
[Source: Irish Times]
TIPPERARY
South Tipperary County Museum was last Monday recognized for high standards in the management of the museum, care of collections and visitor services by the Heritage Council under the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland.
The museum was recommended for full accreditation by assessors because it is an exceptionally innovative, active and outgoing institution with excellent modern permanent display galleries and an ambitious and high-achieving educational program. The museum also operates an excellent conservation program. The museum is well-regarded in its county and region, and is noteworthy for its cooperative strategy with other arts and heritage groups or local authority officers
[Source: Tipperary Star]
TYRONE
The third road accident in eight days in Dungannon to result in a fatality occurred last Wednesday morning near Castlecaulfield.
The latest road victim has been named as 32-year-old George Pinto from Dungannon. Mr. Pinto was driving a motorcycle when he crashed on the Old Caulfield Road at around 3:30 a.m. His was the only vehicle involved.
The road was closed between the village side of the Lisnamonaghan Road and St. Bernard O'Loughran Primary School for several hours.
Mr. Pinto was the 25th person to die on Northern Ireland's roads this year.
[Source: Tyrone Courier]
WATERFORD
Motorsport Ireland has said it "deeply regrets" that a competitor passed away following injuries received in a tragic accident during the Carrick-on-Suir stages rally that took place on Sunday, June 30.
Paul Mulcahy, from Dungarvan, County Waterford, was the driver of one of the cars involved in the race.
He died following injuries he received during stage four of the event.
[Source: Waterford News & Star]
WESTMEATH
She immigrated to America more than 60 years ago, but Westmeath’s latest centenarian, Sr. Olivia Murray, still keeps up with goings-on in her native county.
The Emper native celebrated her landmark birthday with a mass and party on June 1 at the Sisters of St. Joseph Convent in Hartford, Connecticut, where she is the most senior resident.
More than 100 guests attended the event, including Ballynacargy native John Deane, who traveled from Ireland, and took a number of cards from local well-wishers, including her cousin John Seery from Milltown.
[Source: Westmeath Examiner]
WEXFORD
Clr. Kathleen Codd-Nolan, outgoing cathaoirlech (chairman) of Wexford County Council, has handed over the chains of office to Clr. Ted Howlin, brother of the minister for Reform and Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin, T.D.
Clr. Howlin becomes the first Labour Party member since Enniscorthy’s Clr. Andy Doyle took the chair in 1974.
Clr. Howlin was elected without a contest at the annual general meeting of the county council held at Carricklawn, Wexford on Friday, June 28.
[Source: Wexford Echo]
WICKLOW
When Michelle Obama and her daughters visited Glendalough in County Wicklow three weeks ago their convoy whizzed past the smart entrance to Derrybawn House outside the nearby village of Laragh. Behind an electric gate, and up a graveled avenue bordering a deer park, is one of the Garden County’s most stunning houses – a wisteria-clad Georgian mansion built in the Italian style that could have been transplanted from a rolling Tuscan hillside.
The splendid pile may not be as well-known as St. Kevin’s monastic settlement, but Derrybawn House, on 93 acres and for sale by private treaty through Lisney for $2.6 million, is just as emblematic a historical monument – albeit illustrating a more recent chapter in Irish history. The house epitomizes the folly and excesses of the first decade of the 21st century in Ireland.
[Source: Irish Times]
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