News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

The man, named locally as Chris Courtney, was putting up the lights on Tuesday afternoon when he fell.

The 65-year-old was taken by ambulance to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar and was later transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. He was pronounced dead on Tuesday night.

Mr Courtney was a native of Co Longford but had been living in Scramogue for several years. The mayor of Roscommon, Cllr Eugene Murphy, who was a neighbor of Mr Courtney’s, said he was a very popular member of the community. “There is a terrible sense of grief in the area, especially that this should happen when he was getting ready for Christmas,” said Mr Murphy. Mr Courtney is survived by two sons, his mother and four brothers.
(Source: Irish Times)

Sligo

The ISPCA is urgently seeking homes for 36 collie-type dogs they took from the house of a "dog hoarder" in Sligo. The ISPCA came across the animals after Inspector Kevin Mcginley responded to a call and discovered the frightened animals living in "sub-standard conditions".

Although none were malnourished, many of the dogs had sarcoptic mange, while none were neutered.

"Essentially they had been allowed to breed freely," said Carmel Murray at the ISPCA Head Office in County Longford, where the dogs were taken.

The ISPCA say animal hoarding is a complex issue and that in most caes hoarders do not intend to cause animals harm. Hoarders find it almost impossible to refuse or release animals and seem incapable of seeing how the welfare of their animals is adversely affected when they have too many.

The dogs, of various ages, have undergone a rehabilitation program with the ISPCA'S care assistants after some showed signs of aggression while others were extremely timid and "emotionally shut down."

They have all received veterinary treatment and been micro-chipped and neutered/spayed.

"Many of the dogs were suffering from sarcoptic mange which is highly contagious so all of the dogs had to be treated but are doing well now. The dogs are just gorgeous and all of them are suitable for rehoming. It's amazing how trusting they have become," Carmel said.
(Source: The Sligo Champion)

Tipperary

Members of North Tipperary County Council from the Thurles area are to maintain pressure on the National Roads Authority and the Governmen t to move along the proposed Thurles by-pass project which has recently selected the preferred route for the roadway.

The by-pass has been shelved for the time being as part of the Governments capital projects cuts, but the feeling at local level is that there is still much to be gained by pressing ahead and arriving at a stage where it would be very easy to progress should money become available. Councillor Seamus Hanafin raised the issue at a recent meeting of the area committee in Thurles and said that a deputation should be arranged to the Minister to establish where exactly the Thurles by-pass project now stands.

“We were late with the route selection process by the bones of a year and the last thing we want now is for this plan to be left lying in a drawer and gathering dust,” Cllr Hanafin said.
(Source: Tipperary Star)

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