News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

“Irene children are attending school now, I want them to be able to hold their heads up high, knowing what a wonderful mother they had and that she loved them dearly. Nothing she did would warrant what happened to her.”

Irene’s mother found her body, and Anne believes that lead to her death just six months later. “For a mother to see that is truly shocking, and it was planned that way.

“I would say to people, what if that was your wife, your mother or your daughter? How would you feel?”
(Source: Dundalk Democrat)

Mayo

As high seas lashed the west coast over the weekend, leaving offshore island communities stranded, Co Mayo islanders woke up to the news that their cars parked at a mainland pier had been vandalized.

Nineteen cars, over half those parked at remote Roonagh Pier, near Louisburgh, were broken into and wrecked during the early hours of Tuesday morning. The cars of three sisters, who all work in Dublin, and were home on the island to visit their very ill father were vandalized, while one was stolen and later burnt out.

It has emerged the burnt-out car was stolen after the car used by the vandals got stuck in a ditch. It was discovered some miles away, on the other side of Louisburgh.

Another family who had left all their Christmas presents in the boot of their car had a lucky escape with their vehicle untouched.

Ironically, the islanders had just weeks ago contributed towards a fund – which will be matched by government monies – for the installation of a CCTV footage system at the pier.

One mother of four young children, Gráinne Kelly said this is the third time her car has been broken into at Roonagh pier this year.
(Source: The Mayo News)

Meath

Gardaí in Navan are refusing to rule out the return of a mysterious knife raider who targeted shopowners in March and May after an abortive robbery on a shop in Navan last week.

The same threatening manner of attack, a lone, tall male, wearing a balaclava, brandishing a knife, was employed at a newsagents in the town but with one notable difference - this time the shopowner fought back.

On Monday morning 12th December, at around 11am, a man, around six feet tall, carrying a kitchen knife and wearing a balaclava, entered Lynch's at Flower Hill and demanded money.

The shopowner, Michael Lynch, was alone in the shop at the time but refused to give him anything.
During an ensuing scuffle, Mr Lynch overpowered his attacker and took the knife and removed the balaclava.

The would-be raider, however, escaped on foot.

Gardaí say that one of their suspects for the attempted armed robbery has is not the same one who terrorised five shopowners around the county in March - however, they are also reluctant to rule out the serial offender.

Mr Lynch's courage only saw him sustain "just cuts and bruises" while his attacker came off worse and is also thought to have cut his hand.

The would-be raider later burned his jacket nearby in an effort to conceal his identity.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

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Nster.com