News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

What's going on around Ireland

WATERFORD

As part of the ongoing operation Diversity, Customs Officers and Waterford Divisional Drugs unit have seized a further 9.5 kilograms of synthetic drugs that had been destined for Waterford City.

The drugs had originated in China and were intercepted prior to arrival in Waterford City.

The value of the drugs seized today has a street value of $427,365 bringing the total value of the seizures in this operation to $1.5 million, with $1 million seized last week.
[Source: Waterford News & Star]

WESTMEATH

Westmeath T.D. Willie Penrose has described Róisín Shortall's resignation as "a warning shot" to the government and to Fine Gael, in particular.

Ms. Shortall last Wednesday resigned as Minister of State at the Department of Health, saying she could no longer continue in the role because of a "lack of support for the reforms in the program for government and the values that underpin it."

Deputy Penrose, who himself resigned as a Labour Party Minister of State last year, over the closure of Columb Barracks in Mullingar, discussed Ms. Shortall's decision on Midlands 103 last Thursday morning.

"This is a warning shot across the bows of Government, and especially to the Fine Gael element therein, that we are not there to be walked upon or to roll over," he said.
[Source: Westmeath Independent]

WEXFORD

A popular young man who drowned while diving near the Saltee Islands was laid to rest last Friday in Castledockerell, Enniscorthy.

Vincent O’Brien (25) late of Greenville Lane, Enniscorthy and 1, Maple Court, Mortarstown, Carlow, died on Saturday morning during a deep-sea dive near a wreck off the Saltee Islands, with Wexford Sub Aqua Club.
 [Source: Wexford Echo]

WICKLOW

“Black Widow” Catherine Nevin, who is embroiled in a legal battle for half her late husband's $1.3 million fortune, is set to walk free from prison after her application for parole was accepted.

The 62-year-old will first be let out for days and weekends before being granted permanent release. It is expected that she will be back on the streets within the next eight weeks.

She was convicted 12 years ago with the murder of her husband, Tom, in Jack White's Pub in 1997.
[Source: Wicklow People]
 

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