News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Tipperary

Gardai in the Thurles District brought community policing in the area to a new level at the height of the artic spell in the past ten days when they embarked on a most commendable initiative that saw them deliver necessities to the homes of many elderly folk. Gardai, in liaison with agencies such as Muintir Na Tire, Civil Defence, St Vincent De Paul, Muintir Na Tire, and local branches of IFA, launched the initative that saw them call in on elderly and infirm people to ensure that they were safe during the artic grip.
(Source: Tipperary Star)

Tyrone

A man set his mother on fire in a rage over her refusal to take him to get food, the High Court heard last Wednesday. Francis Devine (19) is accused of lighting her petrol-soaked arm as she tried to stop an attempted arson attack on her partner's van. The woman suffered serious burns during the incident in Co Tyrone, a prosecuting lawyer said. Devine, of Coney Park, Coalisland, is also alleged to have carried out a separate attack on his mother during a row over money.
(Source: Belfast Telgraph)

Waterford

Taxi drivers have experienced their busiest and most difficult week according to the city’s largest taxi company. Ollie O’Brien, owner of Rapid Cabs, said the icy conditions meant his drivers had worked “flat out”.Due to hazardous conditions many motorists left their cars at home, which significantly increased the workload for taxi drivers across the county.
(Source: Waterford News $ Star)

Westmeath

Over 500 people applied for 12 temporary Christmas jobs in the Argos store in Athlone’s Golden Island shopping centre. A spokesperson for the store confirmed that they were “absolutely inundated” with job applications once the company advertised their temporary positions about two months ago. “We were absolutely inundated, literally. Normally we get in around 500 applications in a cardboard box and they were all taken up, usually we end up sending some back.
(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

Four men have each been sentenced to ten years in prison for disposing of and trying to destroy the body of Rebecca French in Co Wexford last year. At the Central Criminal Court, Judge Barry White described the killing of the 30-year-old as 'brutal' and 'savage'. He said the sentence was the maximum he could impose. Ms French's body was discovered by firefighters in the boot of her burning car at Cod's Lane on 9 October 2009.
(Source: RTE News)

Wicklow

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