News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

Antrim

Antrim PSNI top brass are in the dock this week following a controversial decision not to go public about the discovery of a handgun in the grounds of a local primary school.


The potentially deadly weapon had been recklessly dumped in a leafy corner of Parkhall Primary's grounds and there it lay until it was spotted by a 13-year-old boy who, convinced it was a toy, carried it home.


The boy's parents felt that it was more than a frighteningly convincing replica, however, and called the police.


Officers later confirmed that it was not a toy. The weapon concealed yards from where children played had been adapted to fire 9mm rounds.


That was on Saturday but it would be days before the shocking discovery came to light - and even then it had nothing to do with the PSNI.


The wall of silence came crashing down on Tuesday when the school sent home a note to shocked parents. It confirmed that a pistol had been found three days previously and urged parents to remind children to report any 'suspicious objects' they might find.
The school has been widely praised for breaking the media blackout, but amid the political outrage the police have also come under fire for remaining tight-lipped.


Riled reps said the PSNI response was at odds with the very public security alert that followed the discovery of a pipebomb in the grounds of St Comgall's Primary School last year. 

(Source: Antrim Guardian)

Armagh

The family of the Newry pensioner brutally murdered by her next door neighbor has welcomed the 20-year jail term imposed on the woman convicted of the crime.

On Friday Karen Walsh, a 45-year-old pharmacist who was found guilty earlier this month of murdering Maire Rankin (81), was told she must serve a minimum of twenty years before being considered for parole.

Mrs Rankin was found in her Dublin Road home on Christmas Day in 2008.  She had been beaten with a crucifix and sexually assaulted.  The frail pensioner also suffered 15 broken ribs in the attack.

Sentencing Walsh, Mr Justice Hart said she had inflicted a brutal and sustained assault on a frail and vulnerable pensioner.

“The exceptional vulnerability of Mrs Rankin and the deliberately degrading way in which she was treated after her death mean that the minimum term must be a severe one to reflect the gravity of this truly heinous crime,” he told the court.

He said Walsh had offered no explanation, that her account of her visit to Mrs Rankin had been ‘bizarre’ and one which the jury had clearly not accepted.  He also revealed that in psychiatric reports, one consultant described her as “guarded, suspicious and defensive”.
(Source: Crossexmainer.co.uk)

Carlow

Traffic around the Askea area has been described as highly dangerous by parents who have repeatedly called for more safety measures. 



A Gaelcholaiste student was hit by a car last Thursday as he made his way to school. 

He was later brought to hospital but his injuries were described as minor.



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Nster.com