News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

What's going on around Ireland

CORK

"It's a very worrying situation."

That's how campaigns and communications manager of Cork Simon Community Paul Sheehan has described the significant increase in numbers sleeping rough in Cork. A new report released by the Simon Community shows that by the end of May 2012, numbers had exceeded the number of people recorded as sleeping rough in all of 2010 with a peak of 54 people in August 2012.

"One of the last effects of the recession is homelessness," said Mr. Sheehan. "The worst position a person can find themselves in is to be homeless which is why we are only experiencing this increase now rather than one the recession first hit. It's coming to a head now and people are finding it more difficult to afford housing."
[Source: Cork Independent]

DERRY

A court has heard claims that Marian Price “cannot effectively participate in any legal proceedings” as a result of her illness.

The claim was made by defence solicitor Peter Corrigan at Derry Magistrates Court in her absence.

Price, who appeared on court papers as Marian McGlinchey, of no fixed abode, had been due to appear in court last Thursday for a preliminary inquiry. She had been accused of aiding and abetting addressing a meeting in support of the I.R.A.

However, a letter was provided to the court to state she was unable to attend.
[Source: Derry Journal]

DONEGAL

Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Justice, Pádraig MacLochlainn, has described as “outrageous” a directive from the Garda (Police) Commissioner, Martin Callinan to Gardaí that they should not attempt to use influence concerning closures or perceived closures of stations.

The circular forbade Gardaí from communicating (directly or through someone else) with any public representative in order to lobby or influence the decision of the commissioner, Deputy MacLochlainn said.

He was speaking in support of a High Court challenge to the directive by the Garda Representative Association (G.R.A.).

The Donegal North East Deputy stated: “This directive is outrageous. It is an attempt to silence rank-and-file Gardaí from giving their testimonies on the impact of government cutbacks. In a democracy, it is the role of the opposition to hold the government to account and this attempt by the Garda Commissioner to deny us the ability to communicate with front-line Gardaí about cutbacks is an affront to democracy.”
[Source: Donegal Democrat]

DOWN

A Bangor man has spoken of his shock after a staff member at North Down council asked him to effectively police dog foulers in Ward Park.

The resident, who regularly visits the local park, contacted the council to complain about the quantity of dog dirt found across the park grass, which is used daily by local dog-walkers, football and cricket teams and families.

He said he was shocked when he was told to confront the dog owners and to request their names and addresses. The local ratepayer said he was further surprised, when he said he would not be prepared to do that, he was told to surreptitiously photograph the drivers' cars in order to get their registration numbers.
[Source: Belfast Telegraph]

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