News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Monaghan

The commercial court has heard how a Co Monaghan shopkeeper borrowed almost €32m from a major Swiss bank to fund a first-time development, but has yet to repay the loan after over three years. Jim McConnan, of Main Street in Castleblayney, borrowed €31.8m from Zurich Bank in June of 2007, in order to fund the construction of a shopping centre in the Monaghan town. McConnon’s counsel, Ross Maguire, said his client’s position was “hopeless” and that he had made it clear last year he would have no chance of paying off his debts.
(Source: Journal.ie)

Offaly

Extensive refurbishment work on Tullamore library is expected to commence in May and will include the long-awaited re-opening of the old bridge linking the rear of O’Connor Square and Church Street. County Librarian Ms Mary Stuart presented a comprehensive report on the Library Development Plan to the February meeting of Tullamore Town Council last week. The library serivce is also at present undertaking a review of opening hours and staff resources in an effort to find the optimum opening times to suit customers. Ms Stuart pointed out that although the library’s book fund had been cut by 50% the number of visits to libraries had increased by 16%,
(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon

The collapse of the property market has left a legacy of more than 1,000 ghost houses throughout County Roscommon, according to a survey carried out by the Department of Environment. The survey inspected around 179,000 units in 2,800 developments across the country between May-September last year and found that just 15 percent of these developments were active.
(Source: The Roscommon Herald)

Sligo

Up to 150 students nurses and supporters took part in a lunchtime protest against pay cuts last Wednesday outside Sligo General Hospital last Tuesday. Last Wednesday, representatives from Sligo travelled to Dublin for a national rally and protest march. Last week’s demonstration in Sligo was one of 13 at hospitals around the country.
(Source: The Sligo Weekender)

Tipperary

A Tipperary teenager who was violently sexually assaulted has said in her victim impact statement that she has since tried to kill herself “many times and in many ways”.Her attacker, Noel Holland (37) of Clarke’s Flats, Main Street, Templemore, was sentenced to eight years by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court last week after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the then 18-year-old at his home on February 1st, 2009.
(Source: Irish Times)

Tyrone

A 21-year-old Co Tyrone man due to go on trial for the manslaughter of Cookstown man Leslie Parks in September 2009 has pleaded guilty to his unlawful killing. Anthony James Bey punched Mr Parks once near the Clubland nightclub in Molesworth Street, Cookstown. Mr Parks, felled by the single punch, fractured his skull and died at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast on September 28, 2009.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

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