News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

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A county Limerick man who has been locked up on the continent for two months while he awaits trial for allegedly smuggling drugs is completely innocent, say his family.

Sean Ryan “Thadger” from the Doon Road, Cappamore was arrested in Bulgaria at the end of March and has been extradited to Lille in France in the past two weeks.

Mr. Ryan’s wife, Joan, says it has been a “nightmare” for her family and friends.

“They have no proof or evidence. I can’t visit him, can’t phone him and have only been allowed to see him once.
[Source: Limerick Leader]

LONGFORD

The National Roads Authority (NRA) and Longford County Council have come under fire for not doing enough to address traffic congestion problems at one of Longford town’s busiest junctions.

Cllr. Paul Connell questioned a recent decision taken by local authority bosses to close off the entrance to St Mel’s Cathedral car park from the Ballinalee Road.

He said the build-up in traffic flow had deteriorated to such an extent that the situation now presented a serious risk to both motorists and pedestrians.
[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH

In a bid to cut spending costs it has emerged that four of RTE’s regional offices could face closure including their television and radio suite in Dundalk

The extent of the broadcasters’ financial crisis was revealed last month at a Dáil (Irish parliament) debate about the closure of RTÉ’s London office. RTÉ director General Noel Curran is under immense pressure as he has to make $31 million cuts in the next year. This led to his announcement that there would be cuts in regional spending and decisions about the matter would be made in the next quarter.
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]

MAYO

The town of Swinford was last Wednesday night coming to terms with the shocking news that popular local sports star Gary Price had drowned in a tragic accident in South East Asia.

Gary’s body was found on May 21 after a two-day search. He reportedly was swept away by a strong current when part of a group crossing the Nam Song River near the town of Vang Vieng in Laos at the weekend.

The 23-year-old was in South-East Asia for a number of weeks on holiday. He had lived in Australia for almost a year and was due to be home in Swinford this week, before flying to Boston for the summer with friends. Poignantly his 24th birthday would have taken place Tuesday, May 29.

MEATH

As the number of burglaries in Meath rockets, garda (police) analysis has shown that 92% of homes targeted had no alarms, while 31& of burglaries involved the theft of cash and 20% the theft of jewelry.

Crime statistics released last month revealed a 40% increase in incidents of burglary in Meath between 2010 and 2011, with a total of 1,176 burglaries in the county last year.

Now a further analysis of burglaries in Meath from January 2011 to March 2012 has shown that the top items stolen were jewelry, cash, electronics, motor accessories, televisions and tools.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

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Nster.com