News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

A round-up of news from around Ireland

The body of 45-year-old Irish engineer Robert Gray, who was killed in a shooting in Nigeria two weeks ago, was expected to be returned to Westport last Wednesday. While his funeral was held in Ireland last week, his devastated colleagues in Nigeria held a service for him Monday (August 27), after three days of official mourning for the popular employee of construction company PW Ltd.

Mr. Gray was ambushed and shot dead during an apparent robbery near the town of Takum, in Taraba State, close to the border with Cameroon, on August 23. He was traveling with a driver in an official Hilux van when the violent attack occurred around 5:30 p.m. His driver, who was also shot and seriously injured, is recovering in hospital. Reportedly, local police have been unable to speak to him due to the seriousness of his injuries.
[Source: The Mayo News]

MEATH

Navan Town Council has hosted a reception to welcome the Canadian high school team, Villanova, to the town as part of the Global Ireland Football Tournament 2012.

Deputy Mayor of Navan Francis Deane welcomed the team, coaches and parents to the town at the civic reception, at which the attendance included the Canadian Ambassador, Loyola Hearn.

Mr. Hearn thanked the Villanova team, which has been staying in Navan since the start of last week, for bringing their great game to Navan and Ireland.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

MONAGHAN

Two containers containing toxic sludge were dumped last Wednesday night near the village of Annyalla and two in the townland of Drumleek in the Castleblayney area.

Both finds were in areas close to local watercourses.

Damien Treanor, acting Director of Environment with Monaghan Co. Council, told RTÉ these latest dumping incidents bring to 54 the number of times the council has had to pick up and dispose of toxic diesel sludge this year.

To date in 2012 they have dealt with 290 tons of the sludge, which is a by-product of the illegal removal of dye from agricultural diesel.
[Source: RTÉ News]

OFFALY

Gardaí (police) in Tullamore are investigating an incident of shots fired at a house in Heather Grove, Clara on Saturday, August 25.

At approximately 2:15 a.m. shots were fired through the front door. There were a number of persons in the house at the time but no injuries were sustained during the attack.

The scene was preserved pending a full technical examination
[Source: Offaly Express]

ROSCOMMON

After more than three months in place, the boil water notice on the Castlerea urban supply has been lifted. It is now hoped that the notice still in place on the regional supply will be lifted in the coming weeks.

More than 2,000 homes have been affected by the notice on the urban supply, which was lifted on August 24.
[Source: Roscommon Herald]

SLIGO

Some distressed Sligo children returned to school last week without schoolbooks as a result of a debacle caused by an online book seller, Schoolbooks.ie

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Nster.com