News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

DNA obtained from the accused following a recent incident of domestic assault linked him to the unsolved attacks, police said.

Heaton, from John Martin Street, was arrested after swabs taken from him following a domestic row at his home on May 13th were checked against a database and linked him to three serious sexual assaults.

The first incident occurred at 3.30am on January 13th 2002 in an alleyway close to Heaton’s home.  An 18-year-old was attacked from behind, dragged into the alleyway and subjected to a prolonged sexual assault and raped.

On April 11th 2004 a 21-year-old was attacked nearby and dragged into the same alleyway.  Following a struggle where the victim pleaded with her attacker to let her go, the attack ended.

Heaton denies any involvement in the crimes. Bail was refused amid fears of interference with witnesses and the personal safety of the accused.  He is due to appear in court again via video link on July 6th.

A High Court bail application is expected to be heard on Wednesday.
(Source: Crossexmainer.co.uk)

Carlow

A local family have been left reeling after their beloved father suffered a heart attack and died during a night out. Eamonn Geoghegan of 28 Doonane Road, Crettyard passed away in the Dinn Rí complex in the early hours last Saturday week after suddenly suffering a fatal heart attack as he left the venue.

Eamonn had been attending his niece’s 21st birthday celebrations with his devastated wife Elizabeth when the tragedy occurred.

Despite the best efforts of a nurse who was nearby, he passed away in t he venue.Aged in his early 50s, Eamonn married his childhood sweetheart Elizabeth almost 35 years ago and the couple have three grown children: Eamon, Stephen and daughter Marie.

A heartbroken Marie, who lives in New York, had to watch her father’s funeral through videolink as she was unable to make the journey home to be with her devastated family.

A staunch Kilkenny m an, originally from Moneenroe, Eamon was described as ‘sports mad’ by those who knew him.

“He went to a lot of the Crettyard matches and he was very fond of the fishing and hunting. He was big into sports – anything with sports he’d go to it,” said Paddy Purcell, Crettyard GAA.
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

Thirty thousand euro isn't easily come by, the way things are, but if it meant your beloved five-year-old daughter could cast off her splints and skip through life despite Cerebral Palsy, no doubt you'd do everything possible to raise that money.

Tracey Fitzgerald from Mullagh has a big file which she goes through every day and from it she pulls out everything from lists of donors and sponsors to technical information about a costly medical procedure that she's hoping to book for her daughter, Casey. Trying to raise the funds is a huge undertaking that involves Tracey swallowing her pride and appealing to people's kindness. It's a labor of love, she admits, but while it's hard work, five-year-old Casey keeps her going.

​
Nster.com