Antrim

A Crumlin woman has made a heartfelt plea to thieves who stole a laptop containing some of the only photos of her late husband and son.


Theresa Lavery, from Landgarve Manor, spoke to the Antrim Guardian about the 'devastating loss' of the photos after her home was broken into on Monday, January 16.
Theresa said she was 'hysterical' when she came back from work around 9.35pm to find the back door of her house had been kicked in and that the laptop and other valuables had been taken.


“They must have been disturbed because they left behind things which were obviously valuable," she said. "My quilt was lying on the floor downstairs so they must have been using it to carry things before they were spooked."


This is not the first trauma Theresa and her 24-year-old daughter Danielle have had to deal with. Theresa's 31-year-old soon Martin died suddenly in December 2010 and her husband, also called Martin, was shot dead aged 40 by two UVF gunmen in his home on Belfast's Crumlin Road in December 1992.


He was lying on the floor playing with his five-year-old daughter when they burst in and shot him four times in the chest. They also held a gun to his teenage son's head before firing a shot at Theresa as she chased them from their home.


Speaking of the burglary, the local woman said: "I was hysterical when I saw the door kicked in.
That's the way they came in when they shot my husband in front of my children and it was like reliving the same nightmare all over again.


“Martin never really got over his father's death. That's why he got sick and to be honest, ultimately, it killed him too."


Despite the horrific memories the burglary has dredged up, not to mention the financial burden, Theresa and Danielle said that all they care about is the return of their precious photos and videos.


Danielle said: "That Apple Mac laptop contains some of the only memories we have of Martin and Daddy. All we want is to get those back.


“I was putting together a memorial DVD using the images and now that's lost. We don't care about the laptop or the TV or anything else - just our memories. All they have to do is make a copy or send us the hard drive.


“I don't remember my daddy's voice but I had a recording of him on the laptop, now I'm never going to hear his voice again. And it's the same with Martin."


Danielle added: "His wee nieces and nephews were his world and it breaks my heart that someday, they'll feel the same, gutted that they can't remember their uncle's voice or see pictures of happier times he spent with them.

(Source: Antrim Guardian)

Armagh

A Newry company has managed to beat off stiff international competition to win a five million euro refurbishment contract for a Scandinavian Ferry operator.  MJM Group, who won the contract despite bids from six other international companies, announced that it would lead to the creation of 16 new jobs, both at graduate and shop floor level.

The firm was founded in 1983 as a specialist joinery sub-contractor and has since developed into an international Project Management Contractor with divisions in Specialist Joinery, Marine refurbishment and Public Area Fit Out.   MJM Marine will begin work on the Swedish ferry, part of the Stena RoRo fleet which sails between Sweden and Denmark at the end of February.

MJM Managing Director Jonathan Guest said that the ship would go into dry dock in a shipyard in Sweden to be stripped right back to its steel work.

“And then, manufactured from our factory in Newry, we will be sending out all the furniture and equipment, fitting out the entire vessel, bringing it up to a very high standard.”

MJM, operating from 100,000 sq ft of factory space in Carnbane Business Park in Newry, has worked with a number of shipping companies in the past including Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard, Holland America and Royal Caribbean.  The global company boasts offices in London, France and Poland and services markets in UK, Europe, USA, the Far East and Australia.
(Source: Crossexmainer.co.uk)

Carlow

Over 20 homes across the county were burgled in the past seven days, a huge increase on recent weeks.



According to gardaí, there has been “a spate of burglaries recently and all parts of the county were hit”.



Houses in Clonegal, Leighlinbridge, Tullow, Rathvilly, Ardattin, Ballinabranna, Borris, Ballon and Carlow town were targeted by thieves in the past week.



Gardaí believe some of the incidents are connected.



In one instance on Saturday, culprits entered the grocery shop adjoining the Ardattin Inn and stole a quantity of cigarettes and spirits.



Subsequently, gardaí received information that a number of suspects who may have been involved in the Ardattin burglary were attempting to break into a home on the Old Leighlin Road area of Carlow.


Gardaí quickly arrived on the scene and arrested four people on suspicion of burglary.



One of the culprits was charged with theft and is due before Carlow District Court this week.
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

Cavan Credit Union has come out fighting and says it is not insolvent, following media reports that it could be next in line to be taken over by the Central Bank following the takeover of Newbridge earlier this month.

The Board of Directors of Cavan Credit Union issued a statement to The Anglo-Celt  last Tuesday shooting down the reports and a spokesman laughed off unfounded rumors that there was a run on the credit union last week.
(Source: The Anglo Celt)

Clare

A West Clare mother who looks after an adult son with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has claimed her life has been “turned upside down” following the erection of a 19.6m agricultural wind turbine in a neighboring property.



Mary Coffey claims this turbine has had a devastating impact on her son, Brian (23). The turbine, which is in full view of his bedroom, has affected his sleep and he will no longer use a sunroom, which was built to allow him some space and cost €12,000, because he is afraid of the turbine and is very distressed by the noise.
She says their life has been “turned upside down” because Brian has been very badly affected by the turbine and keeps asking his parents when will they take it away. Any time a person comes to the house, Brian presumes they are there to take away the turbine, which he is frightened of.


The young man, who also suffers from epilepsy, regularly runs from the car into the house once he sees the wind turbine is still in place.


Other residents in Carrowncalla South, Kilrush have also expressed concern about the construction of a 19.6m wind turbine on land owned by Michael Clair.
His wife, Eileen Clair declined to comment on any of the claims made by local residents when contacted by The Clare Champion.


On October 20 last, Clare County Council ruled that this structure was an exempted development and didn’t require planning permission after Michael and Eileen Clair, c/o Annette Stanford, Architects and Interior Architects, Sunnyside Heights, Kilkee requested a declaration on this structure.


Wind turbine specification submitted by Stanford Architects stated the turbine has to be located 30.4m from any party boundary, 87m from the north boundary, 45m from the south boundary, 45m from the east boundary and 74.5m from the west boundary.
Resident Senan Murphy estimates the turbine is located about 120m from the Coffey home.


Apart from one of the 10 conditions, which relates to signage on wind turbines on an agricultural holding, the council has stated the owners are complying with the regulations.


Clare County Council has confirmed the developer has indicated that they will remove the signage at the next servicing.


Mary says there are times they can’t open the windows because of the noise and queried are they supposed to leave blinds closed during the summer.
(Source: The Clare Champion)

Cork

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Terry Shannon, has apologized to the Spanish man who was brutally attacked with a golf club and a number of other weapons in Cork city last Monday night.

Valencia native Jordi Roca was with friends when he was attacked by a gang of around ten people near the car park on White Street at 10pm on Monday night.

He told the Cork Independent that he was very grateful for the support he received from the people of Cork and the apology from the Lord Mayor.

Cllr Terry Shannon described Mr Roca’s assailants as “cowards” and “mindless morons” and said he wanted “to apologize on behalf of the people of Cork that this misfortune came upon him in Cork”.

“These thugs do not represent the views of the people of Cork,” he said.

Cllr Shannon condemned the attack, saying, “it is cowardice to jump on someone because you are in a group”. He described the attackers as “thugs of the highest order”.

“The city centre is everybody’s, every citizen of Cork. Cork City Council want the city centre to be safe for everyone. The last thing we need are mindless morons ruining the good name of the city."

Mr Roca, who has lived in Cork for four years, suffered a serious head injury and was operated on successfully at Cork University Hospital last Tuesday night.
Source: (Cork Independent)

Derry

Derry Credit Union has told a pensioner with six months to live that he’s not entitled to a funeral costs payout due to a change in policy.

Harry McCafferty (75), of Cornshell Fields, was diagnosed with three types of cancer after being admitted to hospital following a heart attack last October.

After coming to terms with the traumatic news that he had just months to live, the long-time member of Derry Credit Union then enquired about death benefit insurance (DBI) provided by the body.

However, he was dismayed to be told that due to a policy change which was passed at the AGM of Derry Credit Union in November last, he was no longer eligible for the £1,000 DBI pay out.

He learned that the DBI had been previously provided for all Derry Credit Union members of two years or more, but on November 21 the body’s membership unanimously passed a motion that ‘the DBI for the year 2012 be paid for by members by way of a deduction from dividend and/or interest rate rebate’.

Mr McCafferty, who also holds an account in Pennyburn Credit Union, where death benefit insurance was not provided, did not have sufficient dividend in Derry Credit Union to pay the insurance premium.

But he says he didn’t realize that until it was too late. By the time he enquired about his DBI policy, the December cut-off date for premium payment had passed.

Mr McCafferty told the ‘Journal’: “I received no notification that the decision had been taken, I received no letter, I simply knew nothing of it. I had enough money in the account to pay the premium, which was around £6, but did not know that I had to do it.”
(Source: Derry Journal)

Donegal

The family of a man murdered by dissident republicans in Donegal four years ago say they are confident that more people will be brought to justice.

Andrew Burns’ family were speaking after a 37-year-old Strabane man was sentenced to life for the murder of the 27-year-old at Doneyloop in February 2008.

Martin Kelly of Barrack St, Strabane, Co Tyrone was handed the sentence at the Special Criminal Court last Tuesday after being convicted last month.

Speaking to the Donegal Democrat, Andrew’s sister Michelle Coyle said: “Really at the end of the day there is going to be no sentence that is going to bring anybody back. We have a great deal of sympathy for Mr. Kelly’s family who are victims in this as well. We would also like to thank everyone who helped - all the people involved in getting as far as we have got, the gardaí and the PSNI. This brings a little bit of closure. We are confident that there will be more convictions and it is just a matter of having to go through that again.”

Mr Burns was shot twice in the back by a gunman linked to the dissident republican group, Oglaigh na hEireann. Kelly (37 was also found guilty of the unlawful possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life on the same date.

Kelly’s trial began in early October last year but after two days of evidence the court started a “trial within a trial” to decide on the admissibility of statements made by Kelly while in garda custody in Letterkenny and a statement made by Kelly to two senior garda at a hotel in Northern Ireland.

Gardaí believe that at least two others were involved in the murder and details of the involvement of unnamed men were heard during the trial. Letterkenny superintendent Vincent O’Brien said that both Kelly and Mr Burns were associated with the dissident group, Oglaigh na hEireann. The superintendent said that Kelly had named his accomplices during an interview with gardaí.

In court he agreed with defense counsel Mr Giollaoisa O’ Lideadha that because of this there was “ a very real, exceptional, dangerous threat to his life” and that he would probably have to be exiled from his family and home when eventually released from prison.
(Source: Donegal Democrat)

Down

A humble Irish potato has been bestowed with special status after being singled out for protection by European law makers.

The safeguards won by the Comber Early does not mean it is off the menu, just that its name cannot be pilfered by any impostor crops.

The spud, known for being harvested early in the season, has been granted Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status under EU law.

That means only those lifted from the fields round the Co Down village can be called New Season Comber Potatoes or Comber Earlies.

The potato now joins an elite selection of brands synonymous with a particular region that have been granted the protection. Its illustrious company includes Champagne, Parma ham and feta cheese.

Comber Earlies are only the second product from Northern Ireland ever afforded PGI recognition, following the Lough Neagh Eels.

Stormont's agriculture and rural development minister Michelle O'Neill welcomed the move.

"New Season Combers/Comber Earlies are famed throughout the north of Ireland for being the earliest local potato to be harvested and for their unique characteristics," she said.

"We are justifiably proud of the quality of our locally produced food and it is encouraging to have our products recognized internationally.

"PGI registration is good news for the local economy and will help local growers to market New Season Combers domestically and further afield and protect against imitation.

"It will also build consumer confidence in this product by providing reassurance of its provenance."
(Source: Mirror.co.uk)

Dublin

The Dublin gang boss who survived being riddled with six bullets had a bitter falling out with members of his own gang.

Mobster David Goulding (32) was gunned down as he sat in a car in Hartstown.

Gardai believe the notorious gangster -- who has strong links to slain crimelords Eamon 'The Don' Dunne and Michael 'Micka' Kelly -- was shot because of a bitter row with former close associates.

He was lucky to escape with his life in the attack at Cherryfield View -- a settled family estate in Dublin 15. The driver of the car was uninjured.

It is understood the lone gunman made his getaway on foot in the direction of Portersgate.

Sources told the Herald that there has been a "bitter falling out" among the west Dublin crew that Goulding is now linked to which also led to at least two shooting incidents last year.

"This is very serious -- it started when slagging got out of hand but it could now develop into a full blown feud," said a source.

Goulding is under armed guard while being treated at Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown for injuries to his arm and back.

Sources say that he is expected to survive.

The gangster – who had links to slain crimelords Eamon ‘The Don' Dunne and Michael ‘Micka' Kelly – has been a major target for gardai for years.
(Source: The Evening Herald)

Fermanagh

Police cars will no longer be used to escort ambulances to hospital, the PSNI has said.
The decision follows a crash in County Fermanagh in 2011.

An ambulance, following a police car, collided with a lorry and overturned near Brookeborough. The lorry pulled out onto the road after a gap between the police car and the ambulance developed.

Police have said trained motorcycle teams will now be used.

It is understood that when used, one of the motorcycles could stay with the ambulance, while the other could travel ahead stopping traffic and closing junctions.

However, the Ambulance Service said they have been told that those teams may not always be available.

In the January 2011 accident, a doctor was seriously injured and two nurses and two ambulance crew were also hurt.

The ambulance had been transferring a patient with swine flu from hospital in Enniskillen to Belfast.
(Source: BBC.co.uk)

Galway

The final moments of a plane crash in County Galway that killed two men are relived in a report released last week.

The final report of the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) into the fatal crash at Crumlin East, Cornamona, Connemara on October 12, 2009 has found that the pilot may have become disorientated due to deteriorating weather conditions.

The ill-fated plane was destroyed on impact when crashing into mountain ridges in Crumlin East, known locally as Maum Dearg, killing pilots Captain Derek Furniss (32) and Cadet David Jevens (22).
The duo were on a military training exercise and Cadet Jevens was one of a class of cadets coming to the end of their Pilot Wings course.

The preliminary report published last year noted that the Pilatus PC-9 aircraft was conducting a Visual Flight Rules navigational cross-country training exercise from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel via Carrigallen in Cavan and Maum to Galway Airport.

The aircraft departed Baldonnel at 4.20pm on October 12 and was followed by two other aircraft on the same training exercise at 15 minutes intervals. It was last recorded by Shannon radar over Lower Lough Mask at 4.55pm at an altitude of 1,300ft on course to Maum.
Last week’s final report the aircraft flew initially northwest and later southwest towards Maum, County Galway.
(Source: GalwayBay Fm)

Kerry

Google, which offers views of nearly every street in Ireland, was forced down to earth last week after being summonsed to appear at a sitting of Castleisland District Court.

The company was in court after a vehicle, confirmed as a streetview car with a roof-mounted camera, had parked illegally on Main Street, Castleisland, Co Kerry, last September.

Last week’s appearance in the court, which now sits in Tralee, was to confirm a €450 contribution pledged before Christmas to the court poor box to avoid a conviction under the Road Traffic Act.

The case of Kerry County Council v Google Ireland had first come before Castleisland court on December 22nd last.

Google Ireland Ltd, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to illegal parking on September 23rd, 2011.

The case had been adjourned to Friday to allow Google’s contribution to the poor box to be paid to avoid a conviction. The court was told that the €450 had now been paid.

Representing Google Ireland, Tralee solicitor Patrick Mann, for A L Goodbody Solicitors of Dublin, reminded Judge James O’Connor of his appeal so that Google, “which so well serves the world and the community”, could make the contribution and thus avoid a conviction.

The previous court hearing also heard how Google Ireland drivers were not employed directly by Google but were provided by a subcontractor.
(Source: Irish Times)

Kildare

Skeletal remains uncovered during excavation work on the Monasterevin Road are believed to have been the remains of a human male who is over 100 years old.

The remains were discovered at the site of the Barrow Abstraction Scheme works at Shanraheen in Athy on Tuesday, 17 January. An archaeologist working at the site identified the remains as being those of a human male.

Garda scene of crime investigators travelled to the scene and permission to exhume the remains was given by acting county coroner Dr Ravi Kambamettu. Preliminary investigations suggest that the remains are those of someone over born over 100 years ago. However, Sergeant James Bergin told the Kildare Nationalist that the person could have been born 150 years ago or even possibly 200 years ago.

He went on to say that at this stage gardaí do not think there is anything sinister about the find, but investigations are ongoing.
(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

Kilkenny

A man who threatened a garda and his fiancée had his case adjourned for the preparation of a probation report at Kilkenny Court.

Ronan Houlihan, 27 Westfield, Callan is charged with disorderly conduct, failure to comply with the direction of a garda and engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behavior.

Inspector Liam Connolly told the court that on the date in question the defendant was intoxicated and was shouting at passers-by. Gardaí asked the defendant to leave the scene and when they returned to the scene a short time later the defendant was there. He threatened a garda that he knew where he lived and threatened the garda that he knew where his fiancée lived. The defendant then ran off and hid under a car. He was arrested a short time later.

He is also charged with having drugs in his possession for his own use at Westfield on December 8, 2010; at Outrath Road, Loughboy on November 27, 2010; and at John Street on January 20.

Judge David Anderson adjourned the case to February 14 for the preparation of a probation report.
(Source: Kilkenny People)

Laois

The county council depot in Mountrath is set to close, with workers being moved to Abbeyleix and Borris in Ossory. It is believed that the yard at the depot will be used for sewerage works and treatments for the area.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly told the Leinster Express that he is very worried that the area of Mountrath will suffer as a result.

“We may lose services in the area to make way for these treatment plants. I want to make sure that Mountrath will be well maintained as it has been,” said the councilor who promised to raise the issue with the county manager this week.

“There are five or six people working there and I understand they only received letters notifying them of this on Monday evening. As a councilor for the area I am not happy to see the depot going and I know others won’t be either,” he said. “We can still have people based in Mountrath, there is a big yard there. We should maintain the yard and the workers should be able to work out of part of it”. At the time of going to print, Laois County Council were unavailable for comment.
(Source: Leinster Express)

Leitrim

Aughawillan referee Francis Flynn found himself at the centre of an ugly brawl that broke out during the first half of the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship semi-final between Kerry’s Dromid Pearses and Tryone’s Derrytresk in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.

The GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee is awaiting the report from Mr Flynn before deciding if any further investigation should be undertaken.

The game, which Derrytresk won by six points, was overshadowed by the brawl which involved players from both sides as well as club officials while supporters were also said to have leaped over the pitch side hoarding to become involved in the altercation.

The ugly scenes left Dromid Pearses Diarmuid O’Sé with a broken cheekbone, four time all-star winner, Declan O’Sullivan was reportedly struck with a handbag and Dromid Pearses midfielder Thomas Curran was left concussed after being reportedly struck by a fan.
(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Limerick

A gang of “aggressive” prostitutes have been driven from the streets of Limerick in recent days following another garda crackdown.

Following the recent impact of Operation Freewheel, which saw a number of men from County Limerick charged with soliciting prostitutes, the vice trade had taken a hammering in the city.

But in the last week a new and more overt group of prostitutes have returned to the city’s streets, and were more aggressive, “bolder and more forward” than ever before, according to business owners in the area.

Shop owner Shane Gleeson confirmed to the Limerick Leader: “There is definitely a group of them back.

“They reappeared in the last week, that is when they have been most visible. They seem to be a completely different gang and if anything, they are more aggressive than the previous crowd. They are hassling people”.

He added that the group of prostitutes - including one who was brazenly parading in illuminous orange boots - were “a completely different gang than before, bolder, noisier, more forward - they are exceptionally forward”.
(Source: Limerick Leader)

Longford

A Co Longford father of one has cheated death after being shot by an armed gang while on holiday in South America.

Michael Gibson (38) was recovering at his home in Perth, Australia last week alongside his wife Danielle and 16-month-old son, Lucas.

The businessman, who originally hails from Abbeycatron in Longford town, was singled out by a gunman, who along with two other raiders burst into the ‘All Dublin’ restaurant bar in the Brazilian city of Aguas Claras.

Mr Gibson sustained a bullet wound to his lower stomach, which passed through his midriff before exiting through his back.

Last week, Mr Gibson attempted to recall the shocking moments that led up to the attack as he spoke exclusively to the Leader from his home in Western Australia.

“It was about midnight I suppose and we were about to get the bill when these guys came running in with bandanas over their faces.

“One of them pointed the gun right at my face and told us to lie down on the ground,” he said.

As two of the gang members attempted to make their getaway having pocketed money, jewellery and other valuables from shocked diners, what Mr Gibson hadn’t bargained on was the presence of a third gunman who was lurking menacingly in the background.

As a former member of An Garda Siochana (based in Blanchardstown, Dublin), and the Australian Police Force, Mr Gibson struggled to his feet in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the raiders as they left.

“I wanted to get some sort of a description of them to give to the police, but what I didn’t realize was that there was another fella (raider) behind me. I just saw him all of a sudden take aim out of the corner of my, so I dived into some tables beside me,” he said.
(Source: Longford Leader)

Louth

A 45-year-old Dundalk man has been sentenced to nine years in prison at the circuit court in Castlebar for an attack on a couple in Achill, Co Mayo.

Michael McMahon of Ashlawn, The Loakers, Blackrock pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Sean Lavelle and to the imprisonment of him and his wife Emer, at their home in Tower Road, Dooagh, Achill on February 14, 2010.

The court heard how the couple arrived home to find two masked men with nail bars in their home on Valentine’s Day 2010, at around 8.30pm.

They were tied up and Mr Lavelle was beaten on the back, shins and hands. The men were later arrested and identified as brothers, Michael and Seamus McMahon.

Seamus McMahon was shot dead in Dundalk a month after the incident in Achill.
(Source: Dundalk Democrat)

Mayo

A middle-aged Mayo Abbey man who opened fire with a full-length firearm and shot his cousin in a shop in Balla will be sentenced one year on from the shocking incident.

Vincent O’Donnell (47), of Knocknabrone, Mayo Abbey, Claremorris admitted causing serious harm to Dympna Walshe when he shot her twice in the legs as she worked as a shop assistant in the Costcutter Shop in Balla on May 31 last.

Mr O’Donnell will be sentenced in Castlebar Circuit Court on May 9 next.

The court also heard last Tuesday that Mr O’Donnell was pleading guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The accused was again remanded in custody by Judge Thomas E O’Donnell, who directed that a Probation Report, as well as a Psychiatric Report, be prepared on Mr O’Donnell for sentencing. A Victim Impact Statement is also to be prepared by the injured party, Dympna Walshe.

The shooting shocked the quiet village of Balla last May. Mr O’Donnell and Dympna Walshe are cousins and both grew up in close proximity to each other in Mayo Abbey. Ms Walshe, who is in her early 50s, required extensive surgery for injuries sustained in the attack.
(Source: The Mayo News)

Meath

The distraught family of a missing Navan resident have issued a desperate appealing for information on his whereabouts.

Tony McLoughlin, a 57-year-old married man and father-of-two, was last seen on Monday 16th January at 1.15pm near Johnstown Shopping Centre.

His daughter, Lisa, said that his disappearance is "totally out of character" and that Tony, who works in catering in the Dublin area and lives at Athlumney Abbey, had been on antibiotics for a respiratory condition at the time he went missing and had been due to visit a specialist about it.

Mr McLoughlin had recently collapsed on holiday and had pneumonia and his daughter said the medication he was on made him groggy and sometimes disorientated.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

Monaghan

Thousands of liters of toxic diesel sludge has been discovered in Co Monaghan.

Three thousand liters of the poisonous waste was discovered at Knocknaneen Orange Hall, Mullyash, near Castleblayney.

The substance is a by-product of illegal oil laundering and is extremely harmful to the environment.
Monaghan County Council has dealt with the discovery.
(Source: Irish Examiner)

Offaly

Three men appeared in Portlaoise District Court on Friday charged in relation to the massive seizure of drugs near Tullamore last Tuesday.

The trio were arrested and brought to Tullamore Garda station after Gardai discovered 5,000 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €1.5 million in Durrow.

The drug cultivating operation is one of the biggest discovered in the history of the state.

The three men arrested are non-nationals. Two of the men are believed to be in their 20s with the third in his 30s
(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon

A man killed in an accident last week had survived a separate serious car crash that left him in a coma.

Dara Gately (23) from Castlecoote, Co Roscommon, died in a single-vehicle accident in the early hours of Tuesday morning last.

He was pronounced dead at the scene in Ballybride on the Roscommon to Castlecoote road at around 3.15am.

The stunned community of Castlecoote was Wednesday trying to come to terms with the death of the popular young man.

Mr Gately was involved in another serious accident just over two years ago at Donamon, Roscommon, in which he was left in a coma.

"He had a slip on the road that night because it was icy, it was like glass," explained local councilor Domnick Connolly.

"He was badly injured and in a coma for about three weeks. He was in Galway hospital for a long time but he had since been back to full health."

Mr Connolly said Mr Gately, who worked in his father's electrical business, was known in the area as a lovely young man.

"He was a lovely, quiet fellow and very obliging. Everyone loved him."
(Source: Irish Independent)

Sligo

A driver with previous convictions who left the scene after crashing into barriers at Maugherboy and said to have narrowly missed two young children walking on a footpath was sentenced to four months imprisonment and banned for seven years by Judge Kevin Kilrane at Sligo Court.

Michael Duignam, Carrowkeel, Ballisodare, told an investigating Garda that he had been drinking prior to the incident and had "panicked".

The court heard that Duignam, who did not appear and was not represented, had a previous conviction and fines for dangerous driving and failing to stop in 2003 and another for failing to stop for which he was disqualified for a year in February, 2004.

At the outset, Inspector Sean Mcginty said the matter had been put back on several occasions as Garda Michael O'shea endeavored to make contact with Duignam.

Duignam had telephoned the Garda on the morning of the court to state that he had only found out about the case being the night before and said he would not be present.
(Source: The Sligo Champion)

Tipperary

Templemore town lake is now off-limits to people in cars because of drivers doing figure eights on the grass, the local town council was told last Monday night.

Cllr Maura Byrne had asked why fencing had been put around parts of the lake that used to be open for people to drive down to. She said a few people were not happy about the fencing.

She was told by Cllr Mick Connell that the fencing had not been put in place to keep people out but because the facility was being abused by those who had no respect for it.

“Figures eights were being left on the ground. The park is not appreciated by their generation, but by the older generation. The fencing had to come,” he said.
(Source: Tipperary Star)

Tyrone

A GAA game between Dromid Pearses and Drrytresk that spilled over into an ugly brawl was marred by dirty tricks from the very start, club officials said last week.

A furious Dromid Pearses manager claimed his players had their testicles tugged when they approached opponents from Derrytresk to shake hands.

The match between the Kerry team and Tyrone champions Derrytresk spilled over into a full-on brawl just before half time.

There was chaos at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, Co Laois, last Sunday week when subs and supporters from Derrytresk jumped a barrier and invaded the pitch.

The ensuing violence left one player concussed and another with a broken cheekbone.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Waterford

Gardai in Waterford are seeking witnesses to a number of incidents over the last week, including robbery, burglaries and criminal damage.

On Friday last a man walking on the Dunmore Road was robbed after two youths approached him and assaulted him. The incident occurred around 5pm and a silver iPod touch was taken from the injured party.

On the same day a house in Glenville was ransacked and cash and jewellery taken. The injured party returned home to find a window had been broken in the kitchen and the house ransacked at a time between 8pm and 9.15pm.

Last Saturday week a burglary occurred at Monteverde Green, Farmleigh. A window at the back of the property was broken and the patio door was opened. The house was ransacked and a Nikon D90 black digital camera and Toshiba black laptop taken.
(Source: Waterford News & Star)

Westmeath

The HSE and the agents for the developers of the proposed Primary Care centre in Clonbrusk have both maintained that the project is going ahead this year, amid growing uncertainty whether work would ever start on the health infrastructure.

The confirmation came after fears were raised that the project could be scrapped after it was not included in the HSE Service Plan 2012 as one of the primary care facilities to be under construction or completed during the year.

Last year, the HSE scrapped plans for its own primary care project and put the site up for sale on the condition that a developer would build a primary care centre and lease it back to the health authorities.

A spokesperson for the Roscommon-based Collins Boyd Engineering, the agent and architects of the project on behalf of the company which bought the site, Ath Medical Partnership, stressed last week: "The job is going ahead. There is an agreement there with the HSE."
(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

The number of new buildings in Co Wexford dropped by almost 50 per cent in 2011.

Figures released last week show that 457 new residential and commercial buildings were identified in Wexford last year. This represents a year- on- year decrease of 46 per cent compared to 2010, when 853 new buildings were recorded in the county.

This drop in new buildings in Wexford is far larger than the national average of 30 per cent.

The data was compiled by Geodirectory, which was jointly established by An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland ( OSI) to create and manage Ireland's only complete database of commercial and residential buildings.
(Source: Enniscorthy Guaridan)

Wicklow

An estimated 80 new jobs are to be created by Avoca by the end of this year with the opening of a new store in Malahide.

The company which originated in Avoca village, Co. Wicklow where its traditional woollen mills and café are still situated has expanded extensively over the years and currently has ten outlets throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland as well as online sales.
(Source: The Wicklow People)