News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

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Seamus McMahon was shot dead in Dundalk a month after the incident in Achill.
(Source: Dundalk Democrat)

Mayo

A middle-aged Mayo Abbey man who opened fire with a full-length firearm and shot his cousin in a shop in Balla will be sentenced one year on from the shocking incident.

Vincent O’Donnell (47), of Knocknabrone, Mayo Abbey, Claremorris admitted causing serious harm to Dympna Walshe when he shot her twice in the legs as she worked as a shop assistant in the Costcutter Shop in Balla on May 31 last.

Mr O’Donnell will be sentenced in Castlebar Circuit Court on May 9 next.

The court also heard last Tuesday that Mr O’Donnell was pleading guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The accused was again remanded in custody by Judge Thomas E O’Donnell, who directed that a Probation Report, as well as a Psychiatric Report, be prepared on Mr O’Donnell for sentencing. A Victim Impact Statement is also to be prepared by the injured party, Dympna Walshe.

The shooting shocked the quiet village of Balla last May. Mr O’Donnell and Dympna Walshe are cousins and both grew up in close proximity to each other in Mayo Abbey. Ms Walshe, who is in her early 50s, required extensive surgery for injuries sustained in the attack.
(Source: The Mayo News)

Meath

The distraught family of a missing Navan resident have issued a desperate appealing for information on his whereabouts.

Tony McLoughlin, a 57-year-old married man and father-of-two, was last seen on Monday 16th January at 1.15pm near Johnstown Shopping Centre.

His daughter, Lisa, said that his disappearance is "totally out of character" and that Tony, who works in catering in the Dublin area and lives at Athlumney Abbey, had been on antibiotics for a respiratory condition at the time he went missing and had been due to visit a specialist about it.

Mr McLoughlin had recently collapsed on holiday and had pneumonia and his daughter said the medication he was on made him groggy and sometimes disorientated.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

Monaghan

Thousands of liters of toxic diesel sludge has been discovered in Co Monaghan.

Three thousand liters of the poisonous waste was discovered at Knocknaneen Orange Hall, Mullyash, near Castleblayney.

The substance is a by-product of illegal oil laundering and is extremely harmful to the environment.
Monaghan County Council has dealt with the discovery.
(Source: Irish Examiner)

Offaly

Three men appeared in Portlaoise District Court on Friday charged in relation to the massive seizure of drugs near Tullamore last Tuesday.

The trio were arrested and brought to Tullamore Garda station after Gardai discovered 5,000 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €1.5 million in Durrow.

The drug cultivating operation is one of the biggest discovered in the history of the state.

The three men arrested are non-nationals. Two of the men are believed to be in their 20s with the third in his 30s
(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon

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Nster.com