News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

Whats going on around Ireland

LOUTH

The Louth and Fine Gael TD Peter Fitzpatrick says that he will not vacate his seat in the Dail (Irish Parliament) if there is further cuts at the Louth County Hospital, the Dundalk Democrat can reveal.

An angry citizen placed a number of posters highlighting the cuts at the hospital in a number of locations around Dundalk, including the Dundalk Democrat’s office.

A point on the posters states “Fitzer, seek to reverse this trend of decision making or vacate your seat in the Dail. Remember, ill health will not simply go away because of political decision making.”
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]

MAYO

Cutbacks in home help hours will lead to premature deaths for those with chronic illnesses, according to Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald, North Mayo coroner.

Fitzgerald’s comments came following an inquest into the death of an elderly man in Ballina who suffered with Parkinson’s disease and depression.

Although the man was receiving home help at the time of his death, Fitzgerald said if proposed cuts were to be brought in more deaths of this kind would happen.

“The importance of home help cannot be stressed enough. If there were to be reductions in the number of home help hours there would be an increase in the number of deaths among people with chronic illness.

“That’s not to say they would all take their own lives but there would be an increase in depression and certainly other mental health issues and quality of life would be diminished. It would end up with early demise [for those with chronic illness],” she said.
[Source: The Mayo News]

MEATH

Ireland's first electricity link with Great Britain has been officially opened at Batterstown by Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny, TD, Irish and British energy ministers and EU Energy Commissioner Oettinger.

The EirGrid East West Interconnector runs between Deeside in north Wales and Woodland, County Meath in Ireland. Approximately 160 miles in length, the underground and undersea link has the capacity to transport 500 megawatts – enough energy to power 300,000 homes.

The EirGrid Interconnector will carry electricity both ways, helping to improve security of supply, increase competitiveness and to encourage the growth of renewable energy generation.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

MONAGHAN

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains has announced that it has resumed the search for the remains of Columba McVeigh at Bragan Bog.

The 19-year-old from Donaghmore in Co. Tyrone was abducted and murdered by the IRA in 1975.

The Commission conducted an earlier search of the bog this year, which ended without success in May.

Head of the Commission's Investigation Team Geoff Knupfer said the resumption of the search is based on a "refinement of information received.”
[Source: RTÉ News]

OFFALY

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