Weekly news from around the 32 counties of Ireland

(Source: The Sligo Champion)

 

TIPPERARY

South Tipperary Fianna Fail T.D., Mr. Mattie McGrath has called for further clarification and discussion on the establishment of the State's new "bad bank" before indicating whether he will support its enactment. The Newcastle man last week stated that the last thing he wanted was that developers would get their hands on property taken over by the National Management Asset Agency for knock down prices. Mr. McGrath stated that he was not happy to support the NAMA and wanted public clarification.

(Source: The Tipperary Star)

 

TYRONE

A family have been held hostage overnight by a gang plotting an armed robbery, it was disclosed last Friday. They were held for more than 12 hours by the gang before it failed in a bid to rob a cash in transit van on the Annagher Road in Coalisland, on Thursday afternoon last. The previous night the gang members who forced their way into their home held the family of three living near the scene. They were kept hostage until just before 12.30 on Thursday afternoon when the armed and masked gang approached the cash van but failed to gain access. The gang made off empty handed in the family's black Mazda 6 - with a GHZ registration - which has not yet been located.

(Source: The Belfast Telegraph)

 

WATERFORD

Fears are mounting that a peace brokered between travelers in the city may be hanging in the balance following the shooting of a young man and the burning out of caravans in recent days. Twenty-three-year-old Martin Burke, originally from the city, suffered facial injuries during a shooting in Shandon Halting site in Dungarvan two weeks ago. He underwent surgery at Waterford Regional Hospital and has since been discharged. Unconfirmed reports claim that his eyesight will be affected by his injuries. No arrests have yet been made and the investigation is ongoing according to a Garda (police) spokesperson.

(Source: Waterford News & Star)

 

WESTMEATH

Talented musicians in Westmeath and surrounding Midland counties are being sought to play key roles in a proposed new concert orchestra for the region, it emerged last week. Kinnegad-based conductor and cellist Vincent Hunt, who is the chairperson of the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras and director of the Midlands Youth Orchestra, is leading the charge to create an amateur/professional symphony orchestra to represent the region. Mr. Hunt maintains that the Irish Midlands Concert Orchestra - the working title for the project - would produce such a musical ensemble for an area of the country "largely deprived of instrumental music tuition, and symphonic orchestra playing".

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Nster.com