News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

What's going on around Ireland

Westmeath

The international trade hub planned for Athlone is "in the middle of nowhere" and will be blown "out of the water" by a competing development in Liverpool, according to a backer of the Liverpool project.

In a bullish interview which was published by the Liverpool Echo last week, Lindsey Ashworth indicated that he was not concerned about the prospect of competing with Athlone for business from China. Mr Ashworth is a representative of The Peel Group which was granted permission last September for an international trade centre in Wirral.

He claimed this project "will be first and will be better" than the one in Athlone.
(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

A 20-year-old who went on a crime spree around the Castletown area last month, has been told to stay out of Co. Wexford until his case is next before the court.

Colin Larkin, with an address given as Springfield, Coolraney, Castletown, but who is not from the area, faced 19 separate charges of burglary and criminal damage at properties in the Castletown area.

Sergeant Victor Isdell told Judge William Early that the defendant entered a house at Clonranny, on February 29, by smashing a rear window, and stole two televisions, a power drill, and a satellite box. The total value of goods stolen was €1,090, and only the power drill was recovered. The rooms in the house were rifled through, and he switched the electricity off at the mains.
(Source: The Irish Times)

Wicklow

There were 734 traffic collisions involving material damage on Wicklow roads during 2009 representing an overall reduction in the number and expense of motor insurance claims cost.

New figures released by the Central Bank show that in 2009 the average cost, measured on a per claim basis, decreased by 25 per cent, to €4,218, for comprehensive cover and by 32 per cent, to €5,391, for third party fire and theft cover between 2002 and 2009.

According to motor insurance experts www.getcover.ie infrastructure improvements and more cautious road users has resulted in a reduction in the level of accidents taking place.
(Source: The Wicklow People)

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Nster.com