News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

Monaghan

A couple with five children who had an order for possession granted against them last week were offered €225,000 for their home, which was valued at almost €700,000 in 2007.

The Co Monaghan couple had remortgaged their home with Stepstone Mortgage Funding Ltd four years ago when difficulties with the husband’s business meant they needed extra funds.

They borrowed €675,000, cleared the business debts and met their mortgage payments until July 2008 when the husband’s work “dried up completely”, according to the couple’s affidavit to the court.

An income and expenditure form for the couple, also filed in court, showed they had a joint income of €3,127 a month, to support themselves and their five school-going children and to meet the €3,882 monthly mortgage payments.

The income included unemployment benefit and disability allowance for the wife, who was unable to work after suffering from cancer.

“We have very little disposable income to live on,” the couple said.

They had attempted to sell the property, which was on two acres of land, but had only one genuine offer of €225,000. They had also offered to make payments of €400 a month to the lender, but this was rejected.

Counsel for the lender said they had arrears of almost €165,000 on their mortgage and the debt now owed was €840,000.
(Source: Irish Times)

Offaly

A man in his 20s has died in hospital following an accident on the N52 on the Birr side of Kilcormac on Friday morning.

The accident occurred approximately two kilometres outside the town at 5.35am and conditions were reportedly slippery at the time.

A second man was brought to Tullamore Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

The road remained closed throughout the day as Gardai carried out an examination of the scene with traffic diverted via Rath.
(Source: Offaly Express)

Sligo

A 20-year old man who stole items from ladies' handbags in a nightclub had his case adjourned at Sligo District Court by Judge Kevin Kilrane who said he wanted more information on the defendant in order to "know what I'm dealing with."

Before the court was Shane Farrell, 8 Rockwood Court, Sligo who admitted four counts of theft at Pure Nightclub, Teeling Street on September 27th last.

Inspector Donal Sweeney said Gardai received a call from the nightclub at 1.50 a.m. stating that the defendant was going through the ladies handbags in the smoking area. He had taken three items from three different bags.

The defendant told the court he hadn't been drinking for several months before that night. His parents were aware of the matter but were not in court.
(Source: The Sligo Champion)

Tipperary

North Tipperary County Councillor John Hogan has called for action to be taken on the vacant and derelict Munster Hotel in Thurles which, he says, is dragging down the tone of the Cathedral Town.

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Nster.com