News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

What's going on around Ireland

The Judge in the case has postponed doling out a verdict until May 22nd.

Meath

A Meath aviation broker known as “The Boxer” who was jailed for conspiring to import $9 million in drugs has been ordered to hand over precious stones and over €200,000 to the State.

John Kinsella (42), a former Irish super heavyweight boxing champion, was sentenced to 12 years in 2009 after pleading guilty to conspiring with others to import cocaine and heroin from Belgium between September 22 and 26, 2006.

Judge Tony Hunt ordered that Kinsella, of Carnewood, Johnstown, Navan Co. Meath forfeit precious stones being held by police to the State.

He also ordered that 75% of the value of funds and assets contained in a schedule of Kinsella’s assets be forfeited.
(Source: Meath Chronicle)

Monaghan

Retailers and businesses in Clones have become the first town in Ireland to accept three currencies as payment - euros, old Irish punts and Sterling.

The idea came from Tony Morgan, who saw reports on the Spanish fishing village of Mugardos where 60 local stores had reintroduced the peseta.

Clones Chamber of Commerce confirmed that, as of last Saturday, some 42 businesses in the town are now accepting old Irish notes and coins - in addition to euros and sterling.

Morgan is grateful for the solidarity of other businesses getting involved because "if I had suggested in the town to bring back the punt on my own they would have sent some boys out with a straitjacket for me.”
(Source: Irish Independent)

Offaly

The lack of funding for footpaths in Edenderry was lamented at the May meeting of the Town Council earlier this month.

“It’s a sad day for Edenderry,” said Cllr Fergus McDonnell. Area Engineer Damien Grennan had said there was no money for new footpaths.

“We will continue to repair and maintain existing footpaths, but there is no money for anything else. There are no grants to apply for either,” he added.

“The only works that will be done will be repairs where there is a safety issue,” clarified Mr Grennan.
(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon

A new start-up company, fronted by three young entrepreneurs from the Ballyfarnon and Arigna area, will be hoping to secure investment this week for an innovative device that promises to improve and encourage safer driving among younger drivers.

Brothers James (27) and Chris (22) McNamara from Ballyfarnon, and Chloe McGuckin (22) from Arigna are behind the new startup, CleverMiles, which is hoping to bring its innovative safe driving device to market by the year end.

The company has developed a 'black box' which plugs into the cars of young drivers to monitor if they are driving safely.
(Source: Roscommon Herald)

Sligo

A man who broke a rear window in a hostel for homeless men in Ballytivnan was found by Gardai asleep on a couch in the premises, Judge Kevin Kilrane heard at Sligo Court.

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Nster.com