News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Antrim

A new study has found that, when it comes to Belfast men, it may not be how much alcohol you drink that matters, but how you drink it. The research, published in the British Medical Journal compared the drinking habits of middle-aged men in Belfast with their peers in France. It found that although men in Belfast and France drink the same amount each week, Northern Irish drinkers suffer higher incidences of heart disease.
(Source: BBC News)

Armagh

An officer who fired a shot during a street disturbance in Portadown, Co.Armagh, is to be questioned by the Police Ombudsman's Office. Nobody was injured when police were called to deal with the trouble in the town's Obins Street area. Two men, aged 51 and 36 were arrested. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the incident was being investigated by the ombudsman in line with normal protocols.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Carlow

An 88-year-old man recovering from a stroke was confronted in his Carlow home by three masked men demanding cash. The plucky pensioner, who lives in Highfield, Carlow, held his own against the ruthless thieves, who took €100 cash from his wallet and his watch. However, despite the aggressive demands of the thieves, the elderly man refused to give the number of his laser card or the keys to his son’s car, which was parked outside.
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

The Quinn family are not going away... they are here to stay, according to Sean Quinn when he was speaking at the Ulster GAA Writers Awards (UGAAWA) annual awards banquet in the Slieve Russell Hotel last Friday week. “As regards the Quinn Group... we had a tough year,” said Mr. Quinn. “A lot of people had a tough year but at the end of the day, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going,” he said.
(Source: The Angle Celt)

Clare

A woman had a lucky escape last Friday when her car crashed through a level crossing just seconds before a commuter train was scheduled to pass. The incident occurred around 10.45am at the automated rail-crossing at Caherdaly, just 500 metres from the village of Ardrahan on the main Ennis to Galway N18 road. Her car ploughed through the red-and-white aluminium gates, ripping the barriers off either side of the crossing.
(Source: The Clare People)

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Nster.com