Antrim

The woman at the centre of an explosive row about using ratepayers' cash to replenish her wardrobe has sensationally claimed that there's no such thing as over spending at Antrim Council.


‘Glam' Pam Lewis hit the headlines back in July after it emerged that she had spent an unprecedented £2,626.20 on clothes during her 12-month stint as Mayor.


Eyebrows were raised when it was revealed that the shock total was six times the combined total of all mayoral clothing since 2005.
The final haul included - among other items - nine jackets, five coats, nine tops, ten dresses and four pairs of shoes.


The embarrassing revelations followed hot on the heels of lurid headlines and candid photographs revealing Councillor Lewis' acrimonious split from childhood sweetheart Ian.
Her spending spree made headlines across the province, but four months on it seems that Councillor Lewis still refuses to accept that almost three thousand pounds was remotely out of hand.


Speaking during a debate on allowances in Antrim Civic Centre last week, jaws dropped when she told the chamber that the members deserved credit for their financial prudence.


“Antrim is a well-behaved Council," said the disgraced DUP rep.
“I think we all know that there is no excessive spending going on.


“We are very thrifty in the way we do business. That should be noted."
(Source: Antrim Guardian)

Armagh

A man has been arrested in Co Armagh following the discovery of thousands of illegal cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco.

Cigarettes and tobacco with an estimated £9,313 in unpaid excise duty and VAT were seized by HM Revenue & Customs in a shop in the Portadown area last week.

Some 4,500 cigarettes and 9.2 kilos of tobacco found in bags under the counter and in a store room attached to the shop were removed from the premises.

Further searches of two vehicles nearby uncovered over 30,200 cigarettes along with 1.5 kilos of hand rolling tobacco.

John Whiting, assistant director criminal investigation for HMRC, said: “Tobacco smuggling is organized criminality on a global scale and robs the taxpayer of millions each year in unpaid duty and VAT.”

The man is currently being questioned by HMRC and the investigation into the cigarettes, tobacco and two vehicles seized are continuing.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

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Carlow

In less than a week, the Fair Oak Foods factory in Bagenalstown will be no more.



Demolition work on the site began on Friday 4 November and is due for completion in the coming days. The plant, which traded as a meat factory for almost two decades, has been left idle for nearly ten years.



“This demolition is long overdue. I’ve always called it Bagenalstown’s Beirut. It’s an eyesore and there are health and safety issues. It’s great to see it finally going – it’s good news for the area,” said local cllr Denis Foley.



The site is now mooted for potential development, with Irish Sugar and Lidl among those reportedly showing interest in the 15-acre site.

“It’s a big site. People interested in the site wouldn’t go near it when it was a derelict site. Irish Sugar looked at it, Lidl looked at it, maybe they might look at it now that it’s not a derelict site,” added cllr Foley.
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

A Gowna man, who assaulted a man requiring him to have his jaw wired, was handed a six-month prison term at Cavan District Court last week.

Derek Hearns, The Dwellings, Aughavaines, Gowna, pleaded guilty to assaulting Aaron Hussey at Main Street, Longford, on August 8, 2009. He was given a concurrent four-month term for assaulting Keith Carberry at 43 Hampton Court, Cavan, on January 27.

Inspector Dermot Drea said in relation to the assault in Longford, Mr Hussey, who is a security man in a night club, flagged down gardaí. He claimed he had been assaulted by the defendant. They spoke to the defendant and he left the area.

However, he returned later and assaulted Mr Hussey again. As a result of the assault Mr Hussey required an operation and a metal wire had to be put into his jaw and he lost two teeth. He had since made a good recovery.

The defendant was also given a concurrent three-month sentence and disqualified from driving for 15 years when he pleaded guilty at Cavan District Court to driving with excess alcohol.

Hearns was stopped at Bridge Street, Cavan, on February 8, and his breath reading was 53mg/100ml.
He was given a concurrent three-month terms and 15-year disqualification for driving while disqualified on the same occasion. Charges of having no insurance and driving license were proven but taken into account.
(Source: The Anglo Celt)

Clare

Gardaí investigating the murder six years ago of North Clare woman Emer O’Loughlin have said that an appeal on RTÉ’s CrimeCall last Tuesday night has generated “some very interesting calls”.

Ms O’Loughlin’s charred remains were found in a burned-out mobile home at Ballybornagh, Tubber on April 8, 2005. The 23-year-old’s death was immediately treated as suspicious but a post mortem examination at the time did not indicate how she had died. Last year, Emer’s body was exhumed and a new post mortem revealed she had died violently. For operational reasons, however, gardaí did not release the specific details.

Last week, gardaí in Gort launched a fresh appeal for information in the case. They also announced Crimestoppers has offered a “substantial” cash reward for information on the present whereabouts of John Griffin, the owner of the mobile home in which Emer’s body was found. Mr Griffin, formerly of Cardinal Cushing Road, Mervue, Galway, was last seen on the Aran Islands on April 20, 2005 where, it is believed, he attempted to fake his own death.

“At that time, he left a pile of his clothes neatly folded on a cliff edge to give the impression that he had died. I believe, however, he is alive and living somewhere in mainland Europe under an assumed name,” said Superintendent Pat Murray.

“As a result of the investigations that have been carried out both in 2005 and since the exhumation of Emer’s body, I believe that John Griffin, who is originally from the Mervue area of Galway City and owned the mobile home where Emer’s remains were found, may have information that will assist in the investigation of Emer’s death and I am most anxious to speak to him.”

“I am appealing to anyone who knows of John Griffin’s whereabouts or has any other information which may be helpful, to contact us in complete confidence. I can also assure anyone who has information that their anonymity will be guaranteed if they so wish,” he continued.

Superintendent Murray explained why gardaí are particularly appealing to friends and family of Mr Griffin to come forward with any information they have.

“John Griffin was a family-orientated person. He has a large family. He is close to some of them. I believe he may still be in contact with them and they know where he is. I am now asking people to consider the substantial reward that is on offer. For friends, acquaintances and family members of John Griffin, it is almost seven years now since the crime was committed and things may have changed from their perspective in relation to John and the length of time that has developed.
(Source: The Clare Champion)

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Cork

The jury in a sexual assault trial was sent home last Wednesday evening after failing to reach a verdict at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The eight men and four women of the jury deliberated for over two and a half hours after lunch last week, yet could not reach a decision. They were sent home by Judge Rory McCabe to appear again last Thursday at 10.30am.

Dr John Tait (60), of Glen House, Upper Rochestown, pleaded not guilty last week to a charge of sexual assault on a twenty year old dental nurse in a surgery at 6 St Patrick’s Terrace, Douglas.

On the opening day of the trial, the woman said that during an examination by Dr Tait, “he had his hands on my jaw. He came down with his fingers on my sternum between my breasts”.

Following this, the nurse claimed that Dr Tait had asked her to remove her bra. She was wearing a vest and tunic. “He asked me could he zip it down a bit and I said ‘yes’.” She said that during this time Dr Tait was taking notes.

“He lifted my vest up to here (around her neck). My whole breasts were exposed. I think it was like that for a minute,” she told the court. The examination took place without the presence of a chaperone or assistant in the room, something that Dr Tait acknowledged in court as an oversight on his part.

However, he also said: "I reject these allegations. Under no circumstances did I engage in (any) impropriety. It is not true. It didn't happen."

Dr Tait had originally been charged with two counts of sexual assault in relation to the examination but the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew one count during the trial.

He said the accusation of sexual assault had been “very hard to live with...the trauma has been phenomenal”, describing it as “a devastating experience”.

The court heard the summations of defense senior counsel, Tim O’Leary, before the jury was asked by Judge McCabe to consider its verdict.
Source: (Cork Independent)

Derry

A body set up in Derry to combat alcohol misuse has said it is concerned about the emergence of a late night booze delivery service on the internet.

A spokeswoman for the Civic Alcohol Forum says it has also passed on details of the Dial-a-Drink service, currently being promoted on a social network site, to the PSNI.

“The Civic Alcohol Forum (CAF) is very concerned that such a service is being advertised to the public in Derry,” the spokeswoman says.

“The licensing and sale of alcohol is matter for the police and the CAF has passed on the information we have received to the PSNI to investigate any potential breaches of licensing legislation.”

The Dial-a-Drink facebook page says its service launched in Derry last Monday. It says it will deliver alcohol to people in Derry between the hours of 10pm and 5am seven days a week. An initial post encouraged potential customers to be “the ‘VERY’ first 2 place your D.A.D order and get 10% discount on first order.”

A mobile phone number is also listed while the site further advises a price list “will be up shortly.”
(Source: Derry Journal)

Donegal

Up on 400 people attended a meeting in Donegal Town last Monday night to discuss the impact of the impending taxes and charges that the Government intend to implement in the coming months with a particular focus on the septic tank, household and water taxes.

The meeting which was held in the Central Hotel in Donegal Town was organized by Cllr. John Campbell and addressed by Deputies Thomas Pringle and Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan.

The campaign known as ‘We can’t pay, We won’t pay’ was formed from a group of concerned individuals in the county and has grown from strength to strength as revelations of new taxes emerge almost on a daily basis.

It was agreed, after lively discussion, that groups throughout the county organize community support in every town and village throughout the county to oppose these taxes and others that may be coming down the road.

Deputy Thomas Pringle said: “All these taxes are interlinked and are simply revenue generation to allow Government to withdraw money from local authorities to pay off debts to the banks that we as individuals never incurred. These taxes will be dressed up as environmental measures to reduce water pollution but they are really no more than a preparation to privatize our services such as water - people should resist these charges.”

Pringle added: “The sheer size of the crowd here tonight leaves little doubt that there is widespread concern and anguish being felt by the people of this county in relation to these charges.”

One of the organizers, Michael Mac Giolla Easpaigh added: “ It is also very clear the anger that is out there that the Government would chose to impose these taxes in the guise of services when it is abundantly clear that the exercise is really to garner funds to pay off the debts of reckless bankers and bondholders.

“The actions of this small group of individuals have created massive unemployment, increased hardships and created a widening gap between rich and poor.”
(Source: Donegal Democrat)

Down

Schoolgirl Shannon Graham is to return to Turkey to give evidence against her former boyfriend who is accused of murdering her mother and another Ulster woman, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.

Fifteen-year-old Shannon has agreed to attend a preliminary court hearing in Izmir to recount to a judge her version of events leading up to and following the murders of her mother Marion (54) and Kathy Dinsmore (53).

Her concerned family had not wanted her to attend, but the brave teenager insisted she wanted to help get justice for her mother and for Ms Dinsmore.

Ms Graham and Ms Dinsmore, from Newry, Co Down, regular visitors to the Aegean resort of Kusadasi, were stabbed to death by Shannon’s Turkish waiter boyfriend Recep Cetin in August.
Their bodies were discovered in a remote forested area on the outskirts of Izmir.

Post-mortem results showed that both women had desperately tried to defend themselves from their attacker.

Cetin will appear before a court next month for the first stage of his trial and will tell in his own words how and why he attacked the women.

Shannon will also attend the hearing and give evidence on behalf of the prosecution.

Last night her father Raymond McGuinness told the Belfast Telegraph he had not wanted Shannon to attend the hearing as she is still traumatized over the murders, but she had insisted that she wanted to help the case.

“I did not want her to go as she is still very vulnerable, but she told me she wanted to. We had been told that if she didn’t go it could delay the case by several months and we don’t want that to happen,” he said.

“I am worried about her being in the same court as him (Cetin). I don’t want him near her or anywhere where he can have eye contact with her. Our lawyer is going to speak to the judge to see if she can give her evidence in another room.”

Shannon had been on a boat trip with friends on the day that Cetin coaxed her mother and Ms Dinsmore to take a trip with him from Kusadasi to Izmir.

He then brought the women to a small forest where he stabbed them to death and abandoned their bodies.

Baris Kaska, a lawyer representing the women’s families, told the Belfast Telegraph: “How he convinced those women to go to Izmir with him I don’t know. They only had €10 on them. If you thought you were going on a trip to the city you would have more money. They were also not dressed for a trip to the city, they were dressed in clothes to wear inside the house.

“Also, how did he get them to go to this area (where they were murdered)? This is not a nice place. This is not a picnic area. You do not want to go there. I don’t know what he told these women to make them go in there with him,” Mr Kaska added.

The next time Shannon saw her boyfriend was later that evening when he arrived home with cuts to his hands, claiming that her mother and Ms Dinsmore had been kidnapped and that he had been attacked trying to help them.

Cetin later confessed to police that he had killed the women.

The first stage of the double- murder trial will be held in a juvenile court as suspicion continues to remain over Cetin’s true age.

He is claiming to be 17. However, his victims’ families believe he is much older and want him tried and sentenced in an adult court. In the area of Turkey where Cetin was born many women have home births, and there is therefore no accurate record of date of birth.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

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Dublin

Wedding plans of a ‘Fat’ Freddie gangster were ruined – after he was caught with guns, cash and €2m of coke.

Michael Fitzgerald (30), from Tallaght, was due to hold a glitzy wedding bash for around 200 guests on the holiday island of Tenerife.

But the lavish reception was cancelled after Fitzgerald was busted in his new marital home during a major garda operation targeting the ‘Fat' Freddie Thompson mob.

Gardai caught Fitzgerald with €2m worth of cocaine, two handguns, mixing agents and €53,000 worth of drugs cash.

Last week Michael Fitzgerald was jailed for eight years after he admitted possession of the huge haul at his home in Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, and his father's home at Corrib Road, Terenure, in June last year.
Our exclusive photo shows Fitzgerald in happier times with his innocent bride Ashling Gallagher (24) who he married in a civil ceremony in Dublin in July last year - eight days before he was busted.

While this was understood to have been a low-key ceremony, sources say that the couple had planned a huge bash in Tenerife just a few weeks later.

Fitzgerald -- who worked for the Thompson gang because he was in debt and unable to repay the mortgage on his house -- was told by Judge Martin Nolan last Monday that he was a good candidate for rehabilitation.

Detective Brendan Smith said a tip-off led to them getting a search warrant for the home Fitzgerald shared with his new wife in Tallaght.

Fitzgerald let them in and a search revealed the mixing agents and compression plates and metal moulds used for packaging cocaine.

They also found 6kg of the drug, €53,000 in cash, weighing scales, packaging and a diary containing details of several drugs transactions. Further information led gardai to do a follow-up search at Fitzgerald's father's house two days later. This uncovered the two 9mm handguns hidden in a DVD box, five bullets and 4kg of cocaine and amphetamines.

Fitzgerald was interviewed 20 times and took responsibility for everything seized.
(Source: The Evening Herald)

Fermanagh

A man charged with the murder of a former Fermanagh GAA player has pleaded guilty to his manslaughter.

Gary Philip Moane,36, from Lisolvan Park in Brookeborough, was charged with the murder of Ciaran Woods in July 2010.

However, the guilty plea entered before Belfast Crown Court was not accepted by the prosecution.
Mr Moane also pleaded guilty to attacking a woman in the same incident but that too was not accepted.
Defence QC Elis McDermott told Mr Justice Hart that Moane's guilty plea "clearly narrows the issues in the case considerably".

The court heard Moane would in the forseeable future be examined by doctors, as there "are medical issues in this case".

It was also reported that, if necessary, Moane is prepared to be examined by experts on behalf of the prosecution.

The Fermanagh man also pleaded guilty to attacking Kathleen McQuade, who was also injured in the stabbing at her Tempo home.

However, this guilty plea was also not accepted by the Crown, and Moane still faces the more serious charges of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Ms McQuade, a mother-of-two.

Although no details of the fatal stabbing were given, at the time it was reported that the former 36-year-old GAA player from Lisnaskea was stabbed to death following a late-night party in the County Fermanagh village.

Moane was detained after being stopped by police on the Tattymoyle Road near Fintona a short time later.(Source: BBC News)

Galway

The discovery of a skull pierced by an iron arrowhead as part of skeleton remains found in a shallow grave has sparked a murder mystery in a Galway village – 1,000 years after the gruesome assault!
Recent quarrying in an esker in the townland of Tisaxon, close to Newcastle, Athenry, revealed human remains exposed in the quarry face.

The archaeological work has just been completed by local archaeologist Martin Fitzpatrick of Arch Consultancy Ltd, who was funded by the National Monuments Service, which comes under the remit of Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan.

Excavation indicated that the burial was in a shallow grave and the body, which was that of an adult male aged between 17 and 25. The body was lying on its side and crouched rather than having been laid out.

A small hole in the skull was the only noticeable blemish in the skeleton that was otherwise in good condition.

Further examination by osteoarchaeologist Caoimhe Tobin revealed that the wound was inflicted by a small, socketed, iron arrowhead which had pierced the skull.

The arrowhead measured 4cm in length and was recovered from the interior of the skull. Preliminary analysis suggests it dates to the 9th or 10th century.

Also exposed were traces of an underground passage in another face of the same quarry.
(Source: GalwayBay Fm)

Kerry

Kerry jockey Bryan Cooper is leading the charge by being nominated at the upcoming Horse Racing Ireland Awards 2011. The Tralee native has been nominated for the National Hunt Award.

Son of trainer Tom Cooper, nineteen year old Bryan only rode his first winner in December 2009, but has risen sharply through the ranks and won the Claiming Professionals Jockeys' Title with a grand total of 36 winners last season.

The Galway Festival provided him with a notable success when Sarteano scored in the Latin Quarter Chase while he enjoyed a memorable evening at Kilbeggan in early August when booting home a fine treble for the Dessie Hughes yard, where he is now fully established. In recent weeks, Bryan won his first graded race aboard his father's Lucky William who took the Grade 3 Buck House Novice Chase at Punchestown.

This is the ninth year of the Horse Racing Ireland Awards, and the winners will as always be decided by the votes of the Irish Racing Media. The Awards recognize the human and equine excellence in the sport of horse racing where Ireland continues to achieve great success in the elite international arena. Simon Coveney, TD, Minister for Agriculture will be the Guest of Honor at this year's awards on Monday, December 12.
(Source: The Kerryman)

Kildare

An elderly Newbridge resident was terrorized by two men banging on his front door so loudly that they set off the house alarm, while a woman living elsewhere in the town was traumatized by having a man barge into her home and steal her purse after she answered the door.

Gardaí in Newbridge are warning householders - especially the elderly - to take care and exercise caution following what Sergeant Seamus Rothwell described as “these disturbing incidents”which occurred at around 7.30pm last Sunday evening.

The woman, a resident of Moore Avenue, opened her door to a man described as “heavy and scruffy” who then pushed past her and grabbed her purse before running from the house. Sgt Rothwell noted that there may have been a second man waiting at the gate of the house. The white leather purse contained a small amount of cash and some personal documents, including a medical card and if any of the items were subsequently disposed of by the culprits and are found lying around in the locality, they can be brought to Newbridge garda station.

The second incident occurred at Rowan Terrace on the same evening, when the elderly man was terrifed by persistent loud banging on his front door. He did not answer the door and, when the alarm went off, the two men involved made away in a cream-coloured saloon car.

“These are disturbing incidents and we would like to warn people to take care, and also ask residents generally to watch out for their elderly neighbors,”Sgt Rothwell said.
(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

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Kilkenny

Eason’s Ireland’s biggest book retailers has opened at MacDonagh Junction creating six new full time jobs for the city.

Centre Manager, Donie Butler said “This is yet another major coup for MacDonagh Junction following quickly on the heels of the arrival of international brand H & M to the Centre last month. This further galvanises the centre’s position at the top of the retail tree in the South East of Ireland”.

David Power of Eason’s stated “Eason’s were delighted to be joining such top brand stores as TK Maxx, H&M, HMV, Next, River Island, Champion Sports, Fields Jewellers, Carraig Donn, Pamela Scott and A/wear at MacDonagh Junction.

A number of part time positions are expected to be created over the festive season.
(Source: Kilkenny People)

Laois

Gardaí in Abbeyleix have described as an “epidemic” the number of burglaries which have taken place in the district over the last number of weeks.

Four houses were burgaled in the area on Friday. Windows and doors were damaged in the houses in Rathdowney, Durrow and Ballinakill (2), as intruders tried to make their way inside the vacant houses.

A spokesperson for Abbeyleix Gardai said the majority of the burglaries happened between 6pm and 9pm and mainly jewellery and cash was stolen. He said they was a definite link between one or two of the burglaries, and they were investigating the possibility that they were all linked.

The spokesperson appealed for anyone in the four areas who might have seen a suspicious car, or any suspicious activity in the area, last Friday.
(Source: Leinster Express)

Leitrim

Gardai are investigating a major burglary of jewellery worth over €10,000 in Mohill last week.

Last Wednesday night, November 9 a dwelling house in Mohill town was broken into. The home was unoccupied at the time and jewellery were the only items targeted.

On the same night a business in Drishogue, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Roscommon was broken into. A large number of “valuable documents” were taken from the premises.

Gardai do not think there is a connection between the two burglaries.
(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Limerick

Over 115 new jobs are expected to be created through new start-up companies in the University of Limerick over the next five years.

The Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, officially opened the Tierney building at UL last Monday, which is hoped to kickstart the country’s economic growth.

UL already has a strong record in enterprise, as eight campus companies have been set up over the past five years, attracting in excess of €40 million in investment funding.

The state-of-the-art campus facility will house UL’s Innovation Centre and Lero – the Irish Software Engineering Research Centre. The UL Innovation Centre is the latest Enterprise Ireland campus incubation centre to be opened. It will support the formation and growth of 35 new high potential start-up companies between 2011 and 2016, generating over 115 new high-value jobs.
(Source: Limerick Leader)

Longford

Gardaí in Co Longford are investigating the circumstances surrounding an assault on a young woman last week.

The 18-year-old woman was found naked in a field on the outskirts of Edgeworthstown with serious injuries to her head and body last Wednesday morning.



She was taken to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar for treatment. Her injuries are not life threatening.



A man in his 30s was arrested in connection with the incident in the Edgeworthstown area last Wednesday.



He was questioned under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act before being released after 12 hours.
A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
(Source: Longford Leader)

Louth

Another Dundalk resident has joined the lucky club of recent winners on the National Lottery’s Winning Streak TV Gameshow.

Mary Lally Duffy from Belfry Gardens, Dundalk won e74,800 including a Nissan Qashqui on last Saturday’s (November 19) Winning Streak.

Pictured at the presentations of the winning cheques are from left: Marty Whelan, Gameshow host; Mary Lally Duffy, winning participant; Declan Harrington, Head of Finance at the National Lottery; and Geri Maye, Gameshow host.

Mary’s winning ticket was bought in Sloane’s, Avenue Road, Dundalk. The lucky woman is originally from Belmullet, Co Mayo but her family moved to Dundalk when she was six-years-old.

She is the middle of five children and has two brothers and two sisters. Mary has been married to Terry 14 years and has four stepchildren, three of whom were in the audience.

Mary works in the family business, Lally’s Electrical. They have three shops - one in Dundalk, one in Drogheda and one in Navan.

One of Mary’s brothers gave her Scratch Cards as a birthday present last April. She recently found them in a drawer when she was doing a spring clean and decided to send them in.

Mary was with her husband, Terry, and their friends when she learned she was going to appear on Winning Streak. The couple had invited friends over for dinner on the night her name was called out.
They had enjoyed their starter and Mary was just about to serve the main course when they heard the good news. Mary and the other players from Meath, Cork, Kildare and Mayo won prizes to the value of e242,000.
(Source: Dundalk Democrat)

Mayo

A 27-year-old Castlebar man was remanded in custody last Monday following an arson attack on Castlebar Garda Station which occurred over the weekend.

Mark Maughan, 14 Northbrook Avenue, Castlebar, appeared before Galway District Court last week. The incident occurred after the suspect entered the lobby of Castlebar Garda Station at 4.15am last Sunday morning and threw what is believed to be a petrol bomb towards two gardaí who were in the public office.

The gardaí who were in the public office at the time of the incident were described as being shocked when they witnessed the man running in to the station and throwing the object towards the glass hatch.
Immediately after the incident the gardaí gave chase and the suspect was arrested a short distance away and brought to Westport Garda Station where he was detained last Sunday night.
(Source: The Mayo News)

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Meath

Councillors in Navan are expected to vote to provide free parking in the town on Saturday 10th December and during all of Christmas week from 17th to 24th December, in a bid to boost the retail trade in the town this Christmas.

Cllr Francis Deane has put forward a notice of motion to Navan Town Council calling for the provision of free parking, which he said he expects will receive unanimous support from his fellow councillors.

He said this would be the third year in which free parking is introduced to boost the local Christmas trade.

He urged the people of Navan and surrounding areas to shop local, buy Irish-made goods and keep jobs at home. His proposal is to provide free parking between 11am and 6pm on Saturday 10th December, as well as during the week before Christmas.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

Monaghan

The people of Drummully in Co Monaghan say they have been left beyond the reach of the law – because Garda cutbacks mean officers simply can’t get to them.

The border village lies a mere 1500 meters from Fermanagh – and is served by officers working from the Garda station in the county town of Clones, only a few miles down the road.

But the road linking the village with its Garda station, the N54, runs across the border with Northern Ireland – meaning that uniformed Gardaí in decorated squad cars cannot use it without prior consent from the PSNI.
(Source: Journal.ie)

Offaly

An Edenderry man was chosen to be one of the five leaders in the forthcoming RTE’s Operation Transformation when it returns to television screens in the New Year.

Adrian Brereton from Edenderry was delighted when he was chosen for the weight loss program.

The 40 year old is a popular figure in the local community. The pet shop owner explained that he came from a famliy of eight brothers all of which were made into fitness particularly boxing. He outlined, however, how his life style and eating habits began to change as he got older.
(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon

A woman died following a single vehicle crash in Co Roscommon at the weekend.

The 65-year-old woman was a passenger in the car which struck a ditch at Frenchpark on the Westport to Longford Road at around 4.15pm.

Both she and the driver, a 53-year-old man, were taken to Castlebar General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The man remains in hospital.
(Source: The Roscommon Champion)

Sligo

Counsillors have chosen a location to site the city's first public loo but they have been told it would be a loss making venture. At a meeting of the Borough Council last Monday night, Councillor Matt Lyons proposed that the County Manager proceed with the purchase of a toilet and to locate it at Stephen Street Car Park.

Meetings Administrator, Mary Blowick told councillors however that such 'super loos' would have to be leased at between €25,000 and €30,000 a year while in order to install it at the car park sewer, water and power supply works would have to be undertaken costing between €15,000 and €20,000.

nformation from other local authorities point to revenue being generated ranging from €1,500 per annum for a small town to €5,000 for a busier location, she said.
(Source: The Sligo Champion)

Tipperary

A Thurles woman has died following a tragic accident last week in Thurles. Bridie Corbett, from Kennedy Park, died as a result of injuries she sustained in a road traffic accident on Friar Street, between 2.30pm and 3pm on Thursday last week (November 17th).

Diversions were put in place for several hours following the accident. Ms Corbett (81) was taken to South Tipperary General Hospital with injuries which were described as “serious”. Ms Corbett died in the early hours of Friday (November 18th).
 (Source: Tipperary Star)

Tyrone

Clothing thought to belong to missing Co Donegal man David Colhoun has been found on a riverbank.

Mr Colhoun (21) went missing on May 22nd last after escaping from police custody in Co Tyrone and trying to swim across the river Foyle to his home in Lifford.

Despite a massive search involving the Garda, PSNI and search- and-rescue-teams, there has been no sign of him.

His family always believed he drowned while trying to cross the river. However, they now believe clothing found close to Lifford Bridge belongs to the missing man.

The clothing was found by his brother Mark during a search of the banks of the river Foyle.

David’s father Joseph said a tracksuit bottom and boxer shorts were unquestionably his son’s clothing. “I have no doubt about it. We went back to David’s room and the tracksuit is missing.
(Source: Irish Times)

Waterford

It was confirmed as we went to press, last Monday night that a US company is actively looking at Waterford city as a base for a call centre, which would have the potential to employ a workforce of up to 1,000. The company, which is yet to be named, is currently looking for a substantial office building and has been engaging with premises owners in the city. The company is looking for 100,000 sq ft of space and has concentrated its search, so far, in Waterford and a number of other areas including the Limerick/Shannon region as well as in Dundalk.
(Source: Waterford News & Star)

Westmeath

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the assault of a teenage girl in the Monksland area last week by up to four youths.

The assault took place between the community centre in Monksland and Ceathru na gCloch housing estate on Tuesday of last week, November 15, between 7pm and 8pm.

Gardai say they cannot reveal the age of the girl due to operational reasons and they have not specified whether the youths were male or female.

The girl suffered only minor injuries and was not hospitalised after the assault.
Gardai say the assault was not of a sexual nature.
(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

Residents of Co Wexford's authority estates have been honored for their efforts to keep them looking their best.

More than 100 people from various residents associations around the county attended Wexford County Council's annual prize-giving ceremony in the Talbot Hotel recently.

Cllr Tony Dempsey, chairman of the council's housing strategic policy committee, officially opened the event.

He complimented the members of the many residents associations in attendance for their community and civic spirit. Cllr Dempsey said that the work they carry out all year round is invaluable for the upkeep of their estate.
(Source: Enniscorthy Guardian)

Wicklow

A man who was more than one and a half times the legal limit was put off the road for two years and fined when he appeared before Judge Murrough Connellan.

Robert Gaffney (20), 29 Rossmore Avenue, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 was charged with drunken driving at Tuckmill Cross, Tuckmill, Baltinglass on August 14, 2011.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and the court heard he had a breath alcohol concentration of 58mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

Judge Murrough Connellan fined him €250 and put him off the road for two years and one day. He postponed the driving ban until March 1, 2010.
(Source: The Wicklow People)

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