News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

What's going on around Ireland

ANTRIM

Shocking new details have emerged of the grisly killing of former Antrim woman Lyn Coburn at her Connor home by her son on Mother's Day last year.

John Coburn (35), a paranoid schizophrenic, cut off his mother's head and stabbed his brother, Andrew, in a frenzied attack at her home at Rossburn Manor.

Coburn has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm through diminished responsibility, and was sentenced last week.
[Source: Antrim Guardian]

ARMAGH

The armed robbery of Slieve Gullion Credit Union Friday evening, December 7, has sent shockwaves throughout the local community, with the latest incident coming just two weeks after staff there were confronted by a three-man gang wielding axes and a handgun.

Despite increased security measures being implemented at the Credit Union since the robbery on November 23, two men brandishing a firearm and a hatchet managed to enter the Forkhill premises around 7 p.m. on Friday and force disbelieving staff into handing over a sum of cash. The pair, who hid their faces with scarves, made their getaway in a blue Toyota Avensis.

The robbery has been widely condemned, with S.D.L.P. M.L.A. Dominic Bradley slamming the perpetrators as “totally reprehensible.” Mr. Bradley, who also referred to the separate armed robbery of a Killeen filling station on Thursday evening, Dec. 6, said those responsible for both thefts “need to take a hard look at the consequences their actions have on the lives of staff members and business owners.”
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]

CARLOW

Forestry officials are stepping up efforts to combat the deadly ash dieback disease after further positive samples were found in new areas.

Survey results have now confirmed 22 cases of ash dieback, or chalara. The majority of these are in young plantations, six are in horticultural nurseries and one was found in an ornamental ash tree.

Incidents of ash dieback have now been found in counties Leitrim, Meath, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Waterford, Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Longford and Galway.
[Source: Irish Independent]

CAVAN

The Strypes have signed a five-album record deal with major record company Mercury. The contract was signed in the Clarence Hotel in Dublin on Friday, December 7, bringing an end to the race among a clutch of major labels to have Ross Farrelly, Josh McClorey, Peter O'Hanlon and Evan Walsh on their books.

Audiences at The Strypes' recent London gigs had been dominated by leading music industry figures, lured by the band's reputation for breathing new life into old school rhythm and blues. Due to their strong bargaining position, The Strypes were able to secure a commitment of at least "two firm albums" with Mercury Records U.K., and whose portfolio include the likes of Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Chuck Berry and Justin Bieber. There is then an option of a further three albums.

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Nster.com