News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

What's going on around Ireland

SLIGO

A motorist who overtook another vehicle on a continuous white line going into a bend with no view on the Sligo-Ballina road in what was described by Judge Kevin Kilrane as “extremely dangerous driving” was fined $370 and banned for two years at Sligo Court.

“This is exactly how people are killed on the roads,” Judge Kilrane told Darren O'Connor of The Hawthorns.

O'Connor was represented by solicitor Edmund Henry, who asked that a lesser charge of careless driving be considered. Judge Kilrane refused.

[Source: Sligo Champion]

TIPPERARY

Tipperary farmers could be left counting the cost of the atrocious weather conditions as silage-making, tillage and even stock have all been hit by the unseasonal conditions.

Farmer and county councilor Ger Darcy from Ardcroney told the Tipperary Star last week that the ground conditions were now so bad that it was being affected by heavy machinery used for silage-making.

“The machinery is ploughing up the land and is bringing mud into the silage pits,” he stated.

[Source: Tipperary Star]

TYRONE

One of the two men charged with murdering Michaela McAreavey has accused a hotel colleague of lying about what he saw on the day she died.

Avinash Treebhoowoon (32) was giving evidence in his own defense for the third day at the trial in Mauritius.

He was questioned about claims made by his colleague Raj Theekoy who said he saw both accused leaving the McAreaveys' room around the time of the murder.

Mrs. McAreavey was murdered on the island in January 2011. The 27-year-old teacher was found dead in her suite at the Legends Hotel during her honeymoon.

Treebhoowoon, a former cleaner at the hotel, and his co-accused, Sandip Moneea, deny her murder.

[Source: Tyrone Courier]

WATERFORD

Former Fine Gael councilor Fred Forsey has been sentenced to six years with two suspended for taking bribes from a property developer.

The former deputy mayor of Dungarvan was convicted by a jury last month of taking $99,000 in bribes in exchange for lobbying his colleagues to rezone agricultural land for residential and industrial use.

[Source: Waterford News & Star]

WESTMEATH

Labour's Clr. Jim Henson was elected Mayor of Athlone at last Monday evening's AGM of Athlone Town Council, taking over from Clr. Shaw, described as a diligent mayor who had been impartial in the council chamber.

Independent Clr. Sheila Buckley Byrne proposed Clr. Henson for the role of mayor, saying he had served ably in his year as deputy mayor and she thought he would follow on into office and serve the town of Athlone well.

[Source: Westmeath Independent]

WEXFORD

Forty-five jobs were announced last Monday for Danone, Cow Gate in Rocklands, at a conference on the Action Plan for Jobs in the Talbot Hotel.

The company’s $25m investment was announced by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton.

He said the investment is supported by the Government through Enterprise Ireland and will see an expansion at the plant which produces baby and infant formula under the Aptamil and Cow & Gate brands.

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Nster.com