News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Derry

Dissident republicans who left a pipe-bomb outside a house could have killed people, it has been claimed. The device, which police described as viable, was found in the Sandy Braes area of Magherafelt last week. Nearby homes were evacuated while the device was dealt with by Army bomb experts. It is believed the Real IRA was behind the attack.  Mid-Ulster DUP MLA Ian McCrea, who is a Policing Board member, attended the scene and voiced his disgust at those responsible. “This device could have resulted in the loss of innocent life if detonated by a child or a passer-by and I am utterly disgusted by this mindless action,” he said.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Donegal

Thirteen young people booked their tickets to leave Donegal within the space of fourteen hours this week, according to Killybegs travel agent Mona Vial.The unprecedented numbers of young people who are leaving the country has shocked the Killybegs travel agent who has been exceptionally vocal on such issues in the past. To date it is estimated that 43 young local people have booked their ticket to leave Ireland since the beginning of January.
(Source: Donegal Democrat)

Down

A church badly damaged in a dissident republican bombing in Northern Ireland a year ago will officially reopened last Sunday. Downshire Road Presbyterian in Newry, Co Down, suffered structural damage and had most of its windows blown out in the blast outside the border city's nearby courthouse on February 22 last year. A car bomb weighing up to 250lb exploded. No-one was killed or injured in the attack, which was heard two miles away. Part of an annex to the church was demolished and rebuilt while stained glass windows were painstakingly reconstructed, minister the Rev Brian Colvin said.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Dublin
Detectives across Dublin are reporting a major rise in home burglaries and mobile phone muggings. The first six weeks of the year have seen a surge of break-ins in homes in the city suburbs. In the city centre, officers have also seen an increase in the street theft of mobile phones – particularly iPhones. The smartphones – worth up to €600 – are being fenced for just €40, the price of a deal of heroin. Worryingly, the number of assaults on householders in the course of burglaries has also risen. Gardai (police) have noticed an increase in daytime break-ins particularly in the afternoons and school pick-up time.
(Source: The Evening Hearld)

Fermanagh

Colin Howell was accused of being a “monster” who murdered his wife simply for money. Howell is said to have benefited from his wife’s death to the tune of several hundred thousand pounds.  Defense lawyer Paul Ramsey pushed the idea that Mr Howell committed the murders for financial gain. “You’re wrong about that, my motive was not the money,” Howell said in response. He told Coleraine Crown Court the realization he had been duped at the end of 2008 was the trigger which led to him confessing. “I made a decision in that moment that I wanted to confess to those murders,” he said.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

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Nster.com