News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

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Galway

Two Galway city suburbs ,each with a population equivalent to that of some of the major towns around the county , are to lose their community Gardaí (police).

The community Gardaí based in Mervue and in Ballinfoile are to be withdrawn at the end of this month, with their areas of responsibility to be covered by community Gardaí in adjoining areas.

The decision has led to local uproar, and an impassioned plea has been made to Garda chiefs in Galway to have it reversed.

The withdrawal of the local Garda from Mervue,  who also covered areas like Wellpark and Ballybane, and Ballinfoile (which includes the huge estates like Tirellan Heights and Castlelawn Heights) leaves both of these areas in a vulnerable position, according to Independent Galway City East Councillor Declan McDonnell.
(Source: GalwayBay Fm)

Kerry

A rundown presbytery in the tiny village of Kilgarvan, Co Kerry and about 15 acres of grazing has been sold by the church for more than the asking price to a person other than the GAA.

The announcement was made at the 6.30 pm Mass in Kilgarvan on Saturday last by parish priest Fr Donal O’Neill who acknowledged that some people would be disappointed.

The local GAA had asked the Catholic Church to allow them to buy enough of the land to allow them redevelop its adjoining pitch and create a second one. Failing that it offered €205,000 – but this was below the asking price of €230,000. The property has been sold for €258,000, it has been announced.
(Source: Irish Times)

Kildare

A fraudster who dressed up as a priest and proceeded to prey on local residents, telling them that he was collecting funds for the parish, was finally picked up by the garda (police) after visiting hundreds of homes in the Newbridge area.

The man, who obtained cash from a large number of people in various housing areas, was in the locality Tuesday and Thursday last  but may also have been around on earlier dates.  According to local garda sergeant Seamus Rothwell, it appears the man also visited some homes in the Kilcullen area.

Dressed as a priest, Rothwell noted that the man was carrying “some kind of headed paper” which bore the name of St Conleth's parish and also produced what he claimed was “some type of Papal certificate” when trying to persuade people to hand over their cash.
(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

Kilkenny

A Kilkenny father of four has been sentenced to five years in prison for bringing a stolen shotgun to Waterford, as part of an ongoing Traveller feud in the city.

Mark O’ Grady (38), from Hebron Park in Kilkenny City, had pleaded not guilty to possession of the stolen Bereta sawn-off shotgun in Waterford on August 16, 2008. He was found guilty of the offence after a trial and was given a five-year prison sentence with the final two years suspended.
(Source: Kilkenny People)

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Nster.com