Ireland's Eye: What's going on in the old sod this week

A look at news from around Ireland

Detective Inspector Frank Keeneghan explained that negotiators were called in to try to diffuse the situation. However, it became apparent that he was intent on hurting himself and threatening to harm others.

“The decision was made to bring in the regional support unit to employ the use of a taser,” said Keeneghan, adding that only those personnel would be trained in and authorized to use such equipment. He agreed that it would be rare for them to be used in this area.

The young man was arrested and brought in to custody and charged with robbery. The matter will be before the courts in due course. Meanwhile, Gardai are ensuring that the youth is under medical supervision and getting the help he needs.
 
Bray People

Down But Stabilizing

A THREE bedroom house in Co. Louth now costs in the region of €180,000, down just over two percent for the last quarter of the year.

The latest Myhome.ie property barometer for 2011 reveals that while house prices continue to drop, the rate of decrease has slowed.

The median is the middle price which can be thought of as the price of the house which is more expensive than exactly half of the other houses. The Myhome.ie survey uses this calculation because it is believed to be a more accurate way of pinpointing a typical house price.

The median price for a four bedroom house in Louth is €220,000, down just under one percent for the fourth quarter and down almost 17 percent on this time last year.

In Meath, the median price is slightly higher at €235,000, down 7.8 percent on the previous year and just over one percent on the previous quarter.

Drogheda Independent

Titanic Jobs Popular

MORE than 4,000 people are vying to land a job in the world's largest Titanic visitor attraction.
The huge response to the recruitment drive to hire 70 front of house staff for the soon-to-open center in Belfast has amazed its operators.

Saturday witnessed a novel selection event in the city to whittle down the contenders, when would-be employees were asked to show their “T factor” during an audition day.

The applicants, some of whom flew in to Belfast specially, were invited to give a three-minute performance on one part of the Titanic story.

The owners hoped the exercise would demonstrate who had the passion and communication skills to become a guide in the new center, which is located in the east Belfast shipyard where the Titanic was built.

One of those attending the event at the Grafton recruitment agency in Belfast turned up in period dress.
Candidates were asked to interpret one of five scripts related to Titanic facts, ranging from the number of pianos onboard to the absence of laundry services for the 73,000 linen cloths, bed sheets and napkins which were carried on the maiden voyage. Successful participants will be asked back for a formal interview.

The £90 million Titanic Belfast signature project will open later this spring ahead of the 100th anniversary of the doomed liner's sinking. One audition day had been scheduled, but such was the phenomenal interest in the advert an extra day will now be put on next Saturday.

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Nster.com