News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

Whats going on around Ireland

ANTRIM

A local businessman has been left badly shaken after his vehicle was hijacked in Templepatrick two weekends ago.

Frank Courtney, who runs Rathmore Boarding Kennels in Dunadry, was watching television on September 1 when he received a “hysterical” phone call from his daughter Sinead.

The 22-year-old, her friend Ciara and Frank's 16-year-old son Frankie had travelled a short journey to the Twelfth Milestone filling station in the village around 9:30 p.m. to fill Sinead's Vauxhall Astra with fuel.

But a routine trip to get petrol quickly turned into a nightmare when the vehicle was hijacked by a man who claimed he had a knife.
[Source: Antrim Guardian]

ARMAGH

Three illegal fuel-laundering plants capable of producing over five million gallons of illegal fuel a year, at a cost of $14 million to the public purse, have been dismantled in Crossmaglen.

Customs and PSNI officers uncovered the three separate laundering plants during raids on a number of agricultural and private premises in south Armagh August 29 and 30.

Nearly 4,500 gallons of laundered fuel were seized at two of the plants as well as a large quantity of chemicals used to launder diesel, and six large capacity fuel tanks at premises in Concession Road, Crossmaglen.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]

CARLOW

A Carlow Town school has been lambasted by parents after they were told their children cannot start the new term until all outstanding bills are paid.

A new policy implemented this year by Presentation College means that parents have been told to cough up for any outstanding bills or their children will not be let back to school. Letters sent to families told them that “monies due must be paid before your son/daughter may return to school for the next academic year.”
[Source: Carlow Nationalist]

CAVAN

Cavan County Council is in the process of drafting by-laws, which could lead to playgrounds and other such public areas becoming smoke-free zones.

While only at drafting stage at moment, the move follows several other local authorities around the country that have already put in place rules on lighting up in public places.

The areas to the forefront of the ban on smoking in public places include Donegal, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal in north Dublin, Carlow Town, neighbouring Meath, Clare and in Dublin City.
[Source: The Anglo Celt]

CLARE

A united demand across party political divides and the business community has been made for immediate action to be taken on the future of Shannon Airport.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar and the Government are being asked to “urgently” implement the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority for the benefit of the county and the region, in a move backed by both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil councilors and the president of Ennis Chamber.

Ennis Fine Gael Councilor Johnny Flynn has put forward a notice of motion before both Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council urging that the minister and Government finalize the separation in September and implement new structures by the end of this year.
[Source: Clare Champion]

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Nster.com