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

A look at news from around Ireland

“Let’s see how she gets on,” he said.
- Limerick Leader

Seeking Pregnant Teen

Sums of money, reported to be as much as ***10,000 were being offered to locals in the Borrisoleigh and Thurles areas by members of the national media in return for the disclosure of the identity of the teenager at the center of a storm with St. Joseph’s College in Borrisoleigh after she was refused entry to the school in 2009 because she was pregnant.

St Joseph’s was at the center of a media storm recently, and although it was made clear by the office of the Ombudsman for Children that the pregnant teenager’s identity was being kept under wraps, the media engaged in the relentless pursuit of the girl, with locals being offered vast sums of money in return for solid information.

However, those who had been asked to reveal all remained tight-lipped, with many of those questioned by the tabloid papers unaware of who the girl is.

There has been much sympathy locally for the teenager, who was advised by St. Joseph’s College that she would not be taken in once it was discovered that she was pregnant.

Furthermore, she was refused entry to the co-ed Catholic school after her baby had been born, with the school telling the Ombudsman, on foot of a complaint from the girl’s mother, that it should not be blamed for “having a moral code.”

Padraig O’Shea, a well known and highly respected educationalist who founded the school back in 1978, and is now patron, manager and owner of the co-ed Catholic school, came under intense media scrutiny with the identity of the school in question having been revealed. He was the principal back in 2009 when the teen was denied admittance.

The Department of Education and Science and Education Minister Ruairi Quinn are to conduct an inspection of the facility renowned for high achievement, which caters for almost 300 pupils drawn from the immediate locality and further afield.
- Tipperary Star

Flasher Jailed

A Ballymoney man with an "extensive criminal record" for indecent exposure spanning over 25 years has been jailed for a further offense.

At Antrim Crown Court last week Samuel Matthew Shannon, 48, was sentenced to nine months in prison and nine months on probation for intentionally exposing his genitals to a woman.
The court heard that Shannon began offending in 1985 and would often frequent local beaches.

On July 2 of last year a woman saw Shannon standing outside the front of her property. She was made aware of his presence by her 11-year-old son who had been playing in the garden.

The injured party spoke to the defendant who made various comments to her which became suggestive such as, "What are you doing tonight?"

The prosecution said Shannon "moved matters to another level" when he removed his genitals from his trousers and carried out a sexual act.

The court heard that the injured party did not know the man and pointed out in her statement that she was "frightened and wanted the matter to be dealt with by police."

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Nster.com