Antrim

A local woman has made an emotional plea to the Housing Executive to get her 'out of Antrim before someone is hurt'.


The campaign of terror started last October when windows were broken at the house in Ballycraigy where she has lived for three years.
At first she put it down to Hallowe'en high jinks, but it soon became clear that dark forces were at work.


The vandals were to pay return visits, culminating in an incident in the early hours of last Thursday morning when large rocks were lobbed through her car windscreen and her living room window.


The local woman, who has asked not to be named, does not believe the orchestrated attacks are sectarian - though she admits that the intimidation has had the desired effect.


“I want out of this house - and out of Antrim," she said.


“I live alone with my daughter and she is refusing to stay here. She is starting her GCSEs this year, but she's afraid to come home. That can't go on.


“I'm also suffering from chronic illness, so this is taking its toll. It's also not fair on my mother. She's 80 and doing everything she can to help, but it's very stressful for her too.


“We just want to live in peace, but because someone wants us out they're making our lives hell. You read about these things happening to other people, but you never imagine it would happen to you."


Mayor Paul Michael met with the local woman last Monday and helped fight her corner at the Housing Executive.


They have agreed to offer her emergency status and move her on - but the UUP man said it was a hollow victory.


“This has been ongoing for several months and sadly it has escalated to a point where she has decided enough is enough. And with a child in the house, who can blame her?" he said.


“It goes without saying that I condemn this outright. Just who are these hard men who conspire to drive a woman out of her home?"
(Source: Antrim Guardian)

Armagh

Two women were injured during a burglary at a house in Newry on Friday evening.

Shortly before 5.30pm a number of people forced their way into the property in Altnaveigh Park.

One woman suffered cuts to her neck, a wound to her stomach and bruising on her head. The other suffered bumps to her head as well as cuts and bruises.  A third person was also attacked.
Two women, aged 23 and 28 and two men, 20 and 23, were arrested.
(Source: crossexmainer.co.uk)

Carlow

An arsonist accidentally set himself on fire as he attempted to burn several cars at a local garage when he dramatically got caught in a sudden backdraft.



The fire occurred at Brian Reynolds Car Sales at Green Acres, Carlow on Sunday 19 September at 2.40am.



The arsonist was dousing an accelerant on several cars parked at the car sales then maliciously set them alight. CCTV footage shows the man was then suddenly struck by a backdraft of flames, receiving significant burns to his face, hands and hair.

Several cars were damaged in the arson attack, causing thousands of euros of damage.



Sgt John Foley confirmed that the culprit has not been identified and managed to leave the scene, despite his injuries. He added that the gardaí are not aware of any motive for the attack.
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

The communities of Clones and Cavan were in shock last week after the body of a missing Clones man was found at the foot of the Cliffs of Moher. Clones native Lorcan Kelly had been reported missing from his Cavan house last week and his car was later located in County Clare.

He was reported missing last Wednesday by his girlfriend when she returned to their home in Drummany Fort in Butlersbridge to discover a letter left on the table. He was last seen driving out of the small estate that afternoon.
(Source: The Anglo Celt)

Clare

A genealogy visitor centre and a themed adventure park are among the possibilities for development at a 120-acre site next to Bunratty Castle.


Shannon Development own the site and are seeking proposals for a major new visitor attraction.
Last week, the regional development company announced it is seeking proposals for the site.
Shannon Development CEO Dr Vincent Cunnane said, “Shannon Heritage, our tourism subsidiary company, owns and manages Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, which is already a major international visitor attraction.


“It attracts 400,000 visitors annually and contributes an estimated €20 million in spin-off revenue for the area annually. We want to see a new generation of project ideas, which will continue to enhance Bunratty and the Shannon Region’s reputation as an international visitor destination.

The Bunratty land bank project forms part of our overall tourism product development strategy, which will this year see, among other projects, work start on a €5.7m re-development of King John’s Castle in Limerick.”


The Bunratty Landbank Initiative has been launched in the US as part of an overall investment campaign for the project and other initiatives in the region
(Source: The Clare Champion)

Cork

An inquest into the death of a Co Cork GP who died after undergoing surgery for a brain haemorrhage has heard that one of the doctors who treated her accepts that they made a wrong decision during her treatment, the Examiner reports.

Mother-of-three Dr Niamh Long, 40, was brought to Cork University Hospital by ambulance on 6 January 2011 suffering a severe headache. After examining and observing her, Dr Gergely Halasz diagnosed migraine and prescribed medication for that before discharging her.

Halasz acknowledged that the original assessment diagnosing migraine was incorrect. The Independent reports that he told the inquest that Long’s symptoms did not warrant a CT scan.

Long returned to the emergency department the next day amid growing concerns about her condition.

 CT scan showed she had suffered a large brain haemorrhage and had a blood blister aneurysm, RTÉ reports. Operating on Long, consultant neurosurgeon Charlie Marks attempted to place a clip on the aneurysm, but the clip cut an artery. Marks attempted to repair the damage but was unsuccessful.

He told the inquest his decision to try the clip was “probably wrong” and was sorry not to have pursued an alternative course of action.

Long died on 12 January. The inquest jury returned a verdict of death by medical misadventure.
Source: (Cork Independent)

Derry

Derry singer turned politician, Dana Rosemary Scallon, formally began her campaign for the presidency last Wednesday after securing her place on the ballot paper the previous day.

The former MEP was nominated to stand by five councils, one more than the requirement for entry to the presidential race.

The councils who backed the Eurovision winner are; Offaly, Carlow, Rosscomman, Donegal, and Longford.

Mrs Scallon was given unanimous support by councillors who attended a special meeting of Donegal County Council held in Lifford last Tuesday to discuss the bid. Speaking after the meeting, Ms Scallon said she was moved by the generosity and words of encouragement of those who supported her.

She said the support was “not just for me but also for the role and for the democratic process.”

Donegal County Council was the third council to give its support to Mrs Scallon. The council had earlier indicated that it would support independent candidate Sean Gallagher but he withdrew his request for a nomination after gaining the support of four councils which allowed Mrs Scallon to seek the nomination.

Mrs Scallon and councillors praised the entrepreneur for withdrawing his request for a nomination.

Television cameras are normally not allowed to record in the chamber but an exception was made in this case and cameras were allowed to film after councilors suspended standing orders. The candidate was accompanied to the meeting by her brother, John.

Thanking the councillors for their support, the London-born singer said; “I am grateful that you made the effort to uphold democracy and very grateful that I am the recipient”
(Source: Derry Journal)

Donegal

The Mayor of Ballyshannon Cllr John Meehan has said the Traveller family who vacated their illegal site close to the town’s Mart, hours before a court order was to be implemented, had done themselves no favours by the appalling way they left the site.

He said he had requested Donegal County Council to come in and clean up the mess. Last week, Donegal County Council issued a one line statement on the matter following a request from this paper.

he statement read: “The Council are not in a position to issue any statement at the present time”.

Before retiring as County Manager last year, Michael McLoone admitted that up to €500,000 had been spent in trying to accommodate the family in various parts of the county over the past decade.

Cllr Meehan told the Democrat: “The residents and local businesses of the area where this family were illegally encamped have got to be applauded for their patience in letting the legal process take its course, especially the length of time required. On the other hand, I think that the mess left by the family in question is leaving its own unsavoury message to the local community loud and clear.

“This complete mess is totally unacceptable and doesn’t help the good work being carried out by agencies such as the Donegal Travellers Project and their work on social inclusion between Travellers and other members of the local community. There are many Traveler families out there doing their very best but sadly their cause is not helped by actions like this.”

Ballyshannon based county councillor Barry O’Neill said the mess left behind backs up everything that people have been saying about the group of people living at the site. He said the problem was not just a Ballyshannon problem but a county-wide problem.

He told the Democrat: “What they have left is a message to Ballyshannon that “we don’t really care what you think, we don’t care about your streets and we don’t care about your businesses. There is no one in Ballyshannon who will miss the group of individuals who were living there. The antisocial aspect was intolerable.”
(Source: Donegal Democrat)

Down

An Omagh dairy is under investigation over claims that 'needles' were found in its milk.

Martin Gibson claims his wife discovered two sharp objects, shaped like pins, in a Strathroy Dairy milk container which she bought in the Lidl store in Strabane.

Strathroy Dairy said it uses technology to ensure that no objects get into milk containers. It will be audited by environmental health officers.

Lidl said it is investigating.

Mr Gibson said the objects were discovered when his wife returned to their home in Artigarvan and opened the container.

"They reminded me of the point for a dart, that's about the size of them, they might have been a bit longer than the points for a set of darts," he said.

"There were two indentations on the backside of them where they must clip into a machine or something.

"There's two flattened areas on them.

"It's a very dangerous object for by the time you had swallowed the milk it would be in your throat."

Strathroy Dairy said it had bought milk from the farmer in question for 11 years and there had never been any quality issues during that time.

Lidl said it was confident that it was an isolated incident, which would be fully investigated.
(Source: BBC News)

Dublin

A Dublin teacher was caught drug dealing from a Land Rover.

The young woman was found by gardai with hundreds of euro worth of cannabis in the vehicle.

Catherine Smith (32) said she was going through a chaotic phase in her life at the time of the arrest.
Smith has pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis herb and possession of cannabis herb for sale or supply on October 13, 2010.

At a previous court sitting, Sergeant Bernard Jones told Judge William Hamill that at 8pm on the date in question, gardai stopped a Land Rover driven by Smith.

The Land Rover had been loaned to Smith, the court was told.

He said the gardai got a smell of cannabis from the car and carried out a drugs search. Sgt Jones said the gardai found 50g of herbal cannabis with a total value of €500.

Sgt Jones said Smith has five previous convictions.

At District Court 52 on July 15, 2010, she had been banned from driving for 12 months for drunken driving.

Judge Hamill commented that Smith would have been banned from driving at the time of the offence. He asked if Smith was facing any charges for that. Sgt Jones said she wasn't.

Smith's counsel said his client was going through "a chaotic stage in her life" at the time of the offence. He added: "She doesn't have 100pc recall of the incident. She was on heavy medication."
He said that a friend of Smith had lent her the Land Rover.

Judge Hamill expressed his surprise that a friend would lend Smith a car when she was banned from driving.
(Source: The Evening Herald)

Fermanagh

A man from County Fermanagh has been arrested in connection with a suspected £500,000 VAT fraud.
Revenue and Customs officers and police carried out the searches at a farm house and outbuildings in Kesh.

Business records were seized as part of the operation.

Revenue and Customs said that they were not just targeting organised crime, but also individuals and businesses who attempted to evade paying tax or make fraudulent claims.

Across the UK 200 new customs officers have been recruited to bring in £7bn in unpaid tax per year by 2014.

John Whiting, assistant director of HMRC criminal investigation, said: "Our action sends a clear message to those tempted to become involved in crimes against our tax system.

"We take fraud extremely seriously and are committed to targeting criminals attempting to line their pockets at the expense of the taxpayer."
 (Source: BBC News)

Galway

Police were this past weekend continuing to question a man about withholding information on the murder of schoolteacher and publican John Kenny.

The man, a foreign national, was arrested by gardai investigating Mr Kenny's death at an address in Galway city last Wednesday evening and taken to Mill Street Garda Station.

He was being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, which allows officers to hold him for 72 hours without charge.

Gardai believe Mr Kenny's killers had been on his Oughterard licensed premises earlier last Saturday night. He was beaten to death after being surprised by two men as he was locking up the pub in the early hours of Sunday.

Mr Kenny (56) was about to retire to his home over the pub when he was attacked. The killers stole cash from the premises.

Over the past few days gardai have been slowly building up a picture of the final minutes of Mr Kenny's life and have been analysing the forensic evidence gathered from the scene of the murder in a back room at the pub. Gardai have also been tracking down customers who were in the pub last Saturday night and interviewing them individually.

The premises was not ransacked and there was no sign of a break-in, leading gardai to believe the raiders were concealed at the rear of the pub as Mr Kenny was closing it.

He was given what was described as "a bad beating" and this was confirmed by the post-mortem exam by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy.

Mr Kenny's body was not found until last Sunday afternoon and remained at the scene for examination until Monday, when he was removed to hospital. Gardai have appealed to anyone who was in the pub, and who has had not yet come forward, to contact them at Oughterard station.
(Source: Evening Hearld)

Kerry

An Irish  dad who was volunteering in Belarus has died tragically following a fall in the Eastern European country.

Jonathan Kennedy was working with charity Chernobyl Children's Project International near the Belarusian capital of Minsk when the accident occurred.

The father-of-one was due to travel home last Sunday but he passed away in Saltanovka the previous day.

Chief executive of Chernobyl Children International, Adi Roche, paid tribute to the altruistic plumber, who is originally from Maharees near Castlegregory in Co. Kerry.

"We are deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic and sudden passing of one of our volunteers Jonathan Kennedy," Ms Roche said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with Jonathan's wife Patricia and their young son Cathal.

"The loss of a loved one is always great but it is simply indescribable when it involves a person as special as Jonathan.

"He was truly one of life's unsung heroes, a young man who had an incredible sense of giving.
"Our sadness at his passing, while unspeakable, bears no resemblance to the loss currently being felt by his wife and family."

Chernobyl Children's Project International confirmed that it was currently providing consular assistance to the family.

"We are making every effort possible to support Jonathan's family at this most tragic of times.

"We are working with both the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Belarusian authorities to facilitate the repatriation of Jonathan's remains as soon as possible," Ms Roche added.
(Source: Evening Herald)

Kildare

Co Kildare’s primary schools are among the most overcrowded in the country, according to figures released last week.

The revelation has been slammed by INTO general secretary and Newbridge native Sheila Nunan, who described the figures as “a wake-up call to the parents of Kildare’s 27,000 primary pupils”.

In a statement, Ms Nunan noted that according to the figures, more than 95% of primary pupils in the county are in classes greater than the EU average.

This means that virtually all of the county’s primary schoolgoing children are in classes of 20 or more pupils, while almost a quarter of them are in classes of more than 30 children.

Describing the figures as “shocking”, the INTO general secretary claimed that the government was not tackling the problem of overcrowded classes. She said that the problem was actually “getting worse” especially in urban areas and commuter counties, of which Kildare is one.

According to the teachers’ union, the latest pupil figures are “a wake-up call for the parents of Kildare’s 27,000 primary school pupils” in advance of the next budget. Fears are widespread that budgetary cutbacks could result in an even further increase in the pupil-teacher ratio.

Coupled with the loss of SNAs and other resources in many schools, the INTO is claiming that the consequences of this could be extremely serious. Nationally, Ireland’s classes are the second most overcrowded in Europe and are 20% higher than the EU average.

From a teaching perspective, Ms Nunan said there is widespread agreement that younger children do not do as well in overcrowded classes. “When class numbers are reasonable, modern teaching methods are possible and there is more teacher time for children. If we want to improve educational outcomes for children, the last thing that should be done is increase class sizes.”
(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

Kilkenny

Despite the best efforts of the dog Warden service and a local vet, a little dog died from malnutrition and obvious abuse last Thursday night having been either abandoned or stolen.

The traumatised female Staffordshire Terrier suffered a massive chest cavity haemorrhage and this combined with severe malnutrition and neglect most certainly caused her death, according to Michael Morrissey of the Dog Shelter in Paulstown.

He is used to dealing with cases like these but even he was upset by the condition of the dog which he said had a lovely temperament and was micro chipped. He is currently trying to locate the owners to establish the chain of events leading up to the death of the young bitch.

The 13 month old was found in a distressed state on the Johnswell Road near the Archersrath Nursing home last Thursday afternoon following a tip-off from a concerned member of the public. Immediately the Dog Warden Service responded to the call, and found the dog in a very bad condition and unable to stand. Within an hour, the dog was brought to a vet and placed on a drip to replace essential minerals and fluids.

The hope was that she would survive and be sent to the ISPCA so that she could be placed in a caring home.
(Source: Kilkenny People)

Laois

Following the death of Rathdowney native Anastatia Kealy last week, Aras an Uachtarain has confirmed that Ireland’s oldest citizen is now Mary Kate Byrne from Maganey in Laois.

Mary Kate Byrne turned 107 in August and still lives in her own home.

She is surrounded by her family, including sons, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren and has friends who visit her every day. The Office of the President presents a centenarian bounty, a congratulatory letter and E2,540 to Irish citizens on their 100th birthday. The person also receives a commemorative coin in a presentation box, and a congratulatory letter each birthday thereafter.

There was some confusion last week when it was reported that a Donegal woman was the longest living citizen. However, President Mary McAleese’s office confirmed that the titled belonged to Mrs Byrne, her family and Laois.
(Source: Leinster Express)

Leitrim

Supreme Oil filling station in Carrick-on-Shannon was closed down by Revenue Customs on Monday, September 26.

The station was raided by the Revenue Officers for failure to hold a current mineral oil trader’s license.
Approximately 4,500 litres of fuel was detained by the officers who obtained a warrant to seize mineral oil from the station.
(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Limerick

Gardai are treating as suspicious the discovery of a body at a city centre flat.

The remains of a man were found shortly after 11am on Friday at the apartment on Wickham Street in Limerick.

The dead man was named locally as Martin Purcell, a separated father of two grown-up children. It is believed he was in his late 50s or early 60s.

Assistant state pathologist Khalid Jabbar is expected to carry out a full post-mortem examination after preliminary tests at the scene.

The scene was sealed off for forensic examination by technical experts.

Gardai said the man's body was discovered by the owner of the property.

It is believed he had suffered a number of stab wounds to the upper body.
(Source: Evening Herald)

Longford

A man in his 20s is being held at Longford Garda Station as part of a national investigation into alleged dissident republican activities. The suspect, who is believed to be from County Longford, is the ninth person to be arrested as part of this investigation.

Eight other men were arrested last week following searches in counties Longford, Clare, Waterford and Wexford. All nine men remain in custody.

The suspects are being held on suspicion of membership of an unlawful organisation and unlawful possession of explosives and firearms.
(Source: Longford Leader)

Louth

A Corner has warned that using a standard scissors-style jack to hold up a car is not safe after hearing that a man died when a car he was working underneath fell on top of him.

The inquest into the death of Zygimantas Grabys (31) heard that he usually put a tyre underneath the car as well as the jack but on this occasion he didn't.

The accident happened on the May bank holiday weekend when Mr Grabys, who is from Lithuania, went to work on the brakes on his wife Lina's Renault Megane car. His wife went to work and he rang her at 10.30am to say the garage was closed as it was a bank holiday and he would do the work himself.

The car was parked outside their home in Inniscrone Mews, Avenue Road, Dundalk. A short time later she was called home by neighbours who had found him lying under the car.

Dundalk Coroners Court heard from Valdas Kalausis who had called to the area to visit friends. He said that he could see the body and legs of Mr Grabys coming out from underneath the body of the car.

He said hello to him and then saw that his left ear was blue and he was lying in a pool of blood. The car was on top of his head, he said. The car jack and a tyre were on the ground.

He said that Mr Grabys "was always working on cars and every time he put the tyre underneath except this time".

The court heard how neighbors had lifted up the car and pulled him from underneath it.

One neighbor spotted a garda car and the gardai used first aid equipment and performed CPR on him until an ambulance arrived.

Garda Hugh McNulty said the car jack was a scissors style model and was "not the one for the Renault".
Pathologist Dr John Ryan said death was due to skull fractures and injuries to the brain.

He told Mrs Grabys that he would have been instantly unconscious and would have died within minutes.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Ronan Maguire said it was a tragic accident and while the deceased was "used to working on cars he normally put a wheel under the hub and for some reason this time he didn't".

He said a jack "on its own is never sufficient" to hold up a car.
(Source: Evening Herald)

Mayo

A 90-year-old man has died after he was struck by a lorry near Castlebar in Co Mayo.
The accident took place at Islandeady at 10.30pm last Thursday night.

The main road between Castlebar and Westport remains closed as a result of the accident.
(Source: Irish Independent)

Meath

The largest cinema screen outside of Dublin could be on its way to Navan if planning permission is granted for a new multiplex complex on the Athboy Road.

Flix Cinema & Leisure is planning a €6m investment at the Navan Retail Park, which would result in the creation of at least 60 jobs with up to 100 jobs at peak times.

The proposal is for a 10-screen, 1,900-seat capacity facility with state-of-the-art 3D technology for all screens.

Darren Corcoran, managing direction of Flix Cinema and Leisure, said his company was looking forward to locating in Navan and would be lodging a planning application on Monday. He said the cinema, which could be open as early as next summer, would create 13 full-time and 60 part-time jobs across the year with seasonal peak staff rising to 20 full-time and 90 part-time staff at periods such as the summer and Christmas.

He said the site at the retail park at Athboy Road, Navan, was ideal with its easy access to the M3 and it was envisaged it would become a cinema complex for a much larger area than Navan, with customers expected to travel from Dunshaughlin, Oldcastle, Delvin and many other centres to view movies.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

Monaghan

A Consultant gynaecologist at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, has been charged with 38 counts of professional misconduct following the death of a woman from a cancerous tumor.

A fitness to practise inquiry at the Medical Council was told allegations against Dr Etop Sampson Akpan were made after the death of Sharon McEneaney from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, in April 2009.
Ms McEneaney first attended Our Lady of Lourdes in October 2007, then aged 29, but she was not treated for cancer until July 2008.

It was only after the intervention of former TD Dr Rory O’Hanlon, in late June 2008, that a biopsy was carried out which diagnosed the condition.

JP McDowell, for the Medical Council, said the council sought to bring 41 allegations against Dr Akpan, who qualified in Nigeria in 1985, but three were withdrawn.

In his opening statement, he said Ms McEneaney attended the emergency department at the hospital on October 2007 complaining of severe pain on her left side. She had an ultrasound scan and was referred to outpatients for follow up.

Late in October, she returned to her GP, Dr Shane Corr, still complaining of pain and was sent again to the emergency department. Again she had a pelvic scan and was referred to outpatients.
On November 7th, a third referral to the emergency department resulted in her admittance to the hospital.

She had a scan that showed up a mass and her case was reviewed by Dr Akpan. He suggested she should be discharged and then readmitted for explorative surgery within two weeks.

Mr McDowell said Ms McEneaney wasn’t admitted until December 19th. When the laparoscopy was performed, a large mass was found. A specialist from the surgical team recommended a biopsy should not be carried out then due to the risk of bleeding, but a CT scan should be carried out and there should be a “radiologically guided” biopsy.

It was also noted Ms McEneaney had been diagnosed at the hospital in 2004 as having neurofibromatosis, a condition that could lead to malignant tumour growth. A CT scan was carried out on January 24th, 2008, and Ms McEneaney returned to Dr Akpan on February 13th.

She was given another ultrasound on April 3rd, but no guided biopsy took place, Mr McDowell said.
On May 23rd, Ms McEneaney returned to her GP and he wrote to seek an update of her case. His letter said he had no idea what, if any, follow-up had been arranged for her.

“We are both totally in the dark,” the GP’s letter said. His secretary also called Dr Akpan’s secretary, who told her Ms McEneaney’s chart was sitting on Dr Akpan’s desk with a note on it querying what to do next, Mr McDowell said.

He told the committee Dr O’Hanlon intervened in late June and Ms McEneaney got an appointment for July 2nd. A guided biopsy was carried out on July 14th and, on July 21st, her GP sought the results of the biopsy himself and was told the mass was malignant.

He personally contacted Dr Akpan, gave him the result and asked him to contact Ms McEneaney.
She was then referred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin for treatment “commencing straight away”, Mr McDowell said, but she died in April 2009.
(Source: Irish Times)

Offaly

EuroPharma Concepts Ltd of Clara are to produce a new own-brand range of toothpastes and mouthwashes that will be sold exclusively at Aldi’s 84 Irish stores.

The new range will be the only Irish produced own-brand range of toothpastes and mouthwashes in Ireland and will be available at significantly discounted prices compared to similar quality branded goods.

Commenting on the new partnership with Aldi, Declan Lenehan, CEO of Europharma Concepts Ltd said, “We are very excited about our new range of toothpastes and mouthwashes that we are producing for Aldi as it means our products will be on the shelves of one the largest retailers in the country. At EuroPharma Concepts we take great pride in the products we make and are dedicated to excellence.”

Set up in Clara in 2007, EuroPharma Concepts Ltd employs 40 people.

Aldi’s Group Buying Director Niall O’Connor said, “We are proud to support Irish suppliers and are delighted to welcome EuroPharma Concepts’ products onto our shelves. We are committed to providing our customers with the very best in Irish products and the quality of the toothpastes and mouthwashes that EuroPharma Concepts provide are second to none.”

Aldi now works with over 110 Irish suppliers, with over 48% of all Aldi grocery sales generated on products bought from Irish suppliers, producers and manufacturers. Since January Aldi has begun working with 11 new Irish companies.
(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon

It isn't every day you can buy 88ac of land, a farmyard and two excellent houses for €800,000. A property for sale by private treaty at Cloondaharra, near Castlerea in Co Roscommon, comes with a price tag that makes all that possible.

Paul Lafferty, of James Cleary & Sons Auctioneers, is selling a farm that includes a renovated house, along with a traditional farmyard and 88ac of land including a modern, fully furnished, four-bedroom bungalow. The property can be bought in lots or as an entire for €800,000.

According to Mr Lafferty, the 19th century farmhouse has been extended, reroofed and refurbished to a high standard.

It has four bedrooms, a bathroom, a sitting room and a kitchen/dining area with vinyl and carpet throughout.

The house is on well-maintained grounds, bounded by mature trees and shrubbery.
(Source: Irish Independent)

Sligo

South Sligo is at the centre of an international probe into the theft and sale of farm machinery, some of which was allegedly stolen in other parts of the country as well as in Northern Ireland and England before ending up in rural parts of the county near Gurteen, Tubbercurry, Ballymote and Keash.

Following an investigation that has lasted more than a year and a half, local gardai have recovered about half a million euro worth of farm machinery and equipment, including eight tractors, a baler and a slurry spreader.

About a half dozen files have been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration for possible court action while it's expected that one case from the Ballymote area may come before the next sitting of Sligo Circuit Court in a few weeks.

Among tractors recovered in counties Sligo and Mayo in an operation involving the gardai and British police were three New Hollands, a John Deere and a Massey Ferguson. At least one of the tractors was stolen from Bedfordshire in England before having been put up for sale in Ireland. In parts of England in particular, tractor thefts have become a major problem, with millions worth of the vehicles being stolen.
(Source: The Sligo Champion)

Tipperary

Cappagh Hospital ex-patient Michael Boland of Richmond, Nenagh, a champion supporter of the Cappagh Hospital Trust campaign for many years, has presented the hospital with donations received during his recent fundraising efforts where he canvassed local businesses in Nenagh, Ballinasloe and Portumna.

In addition, Michael has also taken responsibility for the collection and distribution of charity boxes in shops and pubs in Nenagh and surrounding areas, affording the hospital a much needed opportunity to take its campaign to the people of Tipperary.
(Source: Tipperary Star)

Tyrone

A mature law student accused of stealing oil from a neighbour's tank claims she was set up, the High Court has heard.

Joan Kernan (52) faces charges of theft, criminal damage and burglary with intent to steal over the alleged raid in Omagh, Co Tyrone.

Prosecutors said a tank owned by an elderly man who lives near her Winters Gardens home was found cut open and the grass saturated in oil.

A garden shed and greenhouse were both forced open and items strewn about during the incident on August 24.

The court heard that a funnel was discovered in Kernan's oil tank, with a watering can and chair located nearby.

She was allegedly drunk when police spoke to her about the suspected theft.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Waterford

Waterford Gardaí made two significant drug seizures in the last week, with €20,000 of cannabis seized from two different houses.

On Tuesday last the local Drugs Unit executed a warrant on a property in Dominic’s Place as a result of intelligence gathered.

As a result of the search €14,000 of cannabis resin and approx €250 of cocaine was found. A thirty-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs for sale or supply. He was detained under section 4 of the criminal justice act and later released without charge.
A file will now be forwarded to DPP.
(Source: Waterford News $ Star)

Westmeath

The bill to the taxpayer for an aborted HSE plan to build an Athlone Primary Care facility amounts to more than €1 million, the Westmeath Independent can reveal.

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request show the sums spent on consultants, designers and other costs before the plug was finally pulled on the project last year.

The plan to develop the healthcare facility in Clonbrusk was initially mooted in 1999 but it then faltered through a litany of delays and false starts over an 11-year period.

The HSE said a shortage of funds was the reason why it scrapped its plan to build the primary care facility in 2010, but by that stage a whopping €982,373 had been spent on design and consultants fees for the project.
(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

Up to 82 jobs are to be lost at a spectacle manufacturing plant in Wexford after Carl Zeiss Vision announced plans to close its production line.

Another 18 workers are to be kept on at the site to run a sales and technical support team for the company's European operations.

Ian Rawcliffe, senior vice-president at Carl Zeiss Vision International, said the company was left with no choice.

"Given the extremely challenging environment in which we operate today, we have no choice but to adapt our organisation given the cost pressures we face," he said.

"Over recent months our company has reviewed our various businesses and we must consider difficult decisions to manage the challenging economic environment dominated by a need for lower manufacturing costs."

The company said the decision to close was taken after an exhaustive review of global operations in recent months.

Job losses are likely to happen on a phased basis, with the end of 2011 the likely date for the closure.
Mr Rawcliffe and Derek Mernagh, general manager of Carl Zeiss Vision in Ireland, have spoken personally with employees and a 30-day consultation period has been lined up.
(Source: Evening Herald)

Wicklow

The former landlord of the Woodpecker in Ashford was fined €632 for trading without a license at Wicklow District Court on Tuesday, September 20.

David Beale, trading as The Woodpecker, Ballinalea, Ashford, Co. Wicklow, was charged with trading without a licence at The Woodpecker, Ballinalea, Ashford, on September 30, 2010.

The court heard that an inspector for the revenue commissioners visited the premises on that date, ordered and received a measure of whiskey and then asked to speak to the owner.

He said that, under legal caution, Beale had confirmed that he was trading without a licence. The pub-owner explained that he did not have a tax clearance certificate, although his accountant was working on it. The Woodpecker's licence had expired on 30 September, 2009.
(Source: Wicklow People)