Antrim

A Former DUP MLA and councilor was left 'traumatized' after he and his wife were confronted by two males armed with a hatchet and a wooden pole in their Randalstown home.

Seventy-eight-year-old Wilson Clyde was one of Antrim's longest serving councilors, retaining his seat on the Council for more than 25 years. He also served nine years as an Assembly Member for South Antrim.

Both he and his wife were asleep at their home on the Groggan Road in the early hours of last Friday morning when the intruders broke in before fleeing in their victims' car. Police responding to the scene detained two teenagers, aged (17) and (19) a short distance away.
(Source: Antrim Guardian)

Armagh

Sinn Féin Slieve Gullion Councilor Packie McDonald has been contacted by a number of concerned residents from the Newtowncloughoge area regarding the issue of drug dealing, drug taking and alcohol abuse in the area.

Voicing the concerns of the community, Councillor McDonald said it was a developing trend which seemed to center around a public telephone box in the area where a lot of drug related activity is taking place on a regular basis.
(Source: Crossexmainer.co.uk)

Carlow

Well-known local jeweler Pat Bramley was hospitalized last week after a vicious armed raid on his shop in Carlow town.

Three men brandishing what appeared to be a gun, a large mallet and pepper spray entered Bramleys Jewelers on Dublin Street at around 10.35 am on Monday morning and subjected the staff to a terrifying attack.

The gang terrorized staff on the shop floor and in an office at the rear of the building before making off with thousands of euro worth of jewelery from the family-run business.
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

Judge Sean MacBride told Cavan District Court that he would put every one of the drug dealers in his district behind bars. Kevin Murphy of 46 Dromore, Cootehill, was handed an eight-month prison sentence for having cannabis for sale or supply at Dromore, Cootehill, on November 3. The judge is intent on putting more dealers in jail.
(Source: The Anglo Celt)

Clare

Growing concern about the increase in absenteeism among nursing staff at Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis Hospital has prompted calls for an official investigation into the causes of this long-running problem.

A Health Service Executive (HSE) report has found the level of sick leave is now running at 12 per cent amongst nurses in Ennis, almost four times the national target of 3.5 per cent and up from 9.43 per cent last September.
(Source: The Clare Champion)

Cork

A Cork man was arrested in connection with a robbery that took place in Limerick last Monday night. The man, who is believed to be in his forties and is from Knocknaheeney, was arrested along with another man who is from Clondalkin, Dublin.

The Garvey family, who live in Pallasgreen in Limerick, were terrorized in their home on Monday night by three masked men who smashed through a door to the house and then threatened the family with shot guns.
(Source: Cork Independent)

Derry

A woman claims she was assaulted in a laneway off Roemill Road area of Limavady last week.
A PSNI spokeswoman says shortly after 5 pm on Tuesday (April 17) it is alleged that two men pulled a female into a laneway and assaulted her.

“The female managed to get away. Two men aged 26 and 57 were later arrested, questioned and released on bail pending further enquiries,” she says.
(Source: Derry Journal)

Donegal

The driver of a rally car involved in an horrific crash that claimed the life of his co-driver in the Donegal International rally in 2010 said not only did he lose his navigator but also “a good friend”, his inquest heard last week.

The inquest into the death of the late Thomas Maguire from Moneymore, Enfield Co. Meath, ruled his death was accidental and he had died from head and neck injuries consistent with being involved in a road traffic accident.

He died at Knockalla on June 19, 2010, when the Citroen car he was a co-driver of left the road at high speed during the event and landed down a ravine, leaving him fatally injured.
(Source: Donegal Democrat)

Down

A Co Down woman has been hailed by one of the country’s most forboding businessmen, Theo Paphitis, from the popular reality TV show, Dragon’s Den, a reality show that allows Irish millionaires to invest in an up and coming business. Similar to Shark Tank in the U.S.

Mikaela Pinder has received a special endorsement from Paphitis for her wine glass charm business which has been making waves throughout the UK and further afield.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Dublin

A security worker was walking to an ATM when an unarmed man in a balaclava approached the employee and simply grabbed the cash box from him before fleeing on foot last week.

It is understood that the raider then jumped into a getaway car that was waiting nearby but quickly got out of that vehicle.

Gardai (police) had been alerted to the situation at this stage and the suspect was observed jumping through a number of gardens in the Virginia Drive estate.

However when he entered one garden, he was attacked by a pitbull terrier.

Pursuing gardai were alerted to the situation by the criminal's screams and quickly arrived in the garden where the dog continued to maul the man. He was arrested on the spot.
(Source: The Evening Herald)

Fermanagh

Fermanagh Councilor, Sheamus Greene, who is a part-time farmer, living near Brookeborough, is a laid back character most times but last week he admitted to having the fright of his life when he accompanied the Herald staff photographer to a hay shed at Carrickaheenan, near Brookeborough, where three abandoned pot bellied, mature pigs had been ‘rescued’ by a neighbor.

Afterwards, he contacted the paper by email and said: “As your photographer can tell you, I'm lucky to still have all my limbs intact after the photo session this morning.

“There's been headline after headline about mad cow disease, but I'd say today was ‘a close encounter with the mad pigs’ kind.

“The sooner some government officials act on this matter and remove them from freely roaming the countryside, the better before they attack someone or something.”
(Source: Fermanagh Herald)

Galway

A Kilchreest man who died in a car crash in South Galway last weekend had lost a brother in a fatal road accident almost 20 years ago, just about a mile away from last Sunday’s tragedy.

Patrick Joyce of Cloghaun, Kilchreest died following a single-vehicle incident on the N66 at Gortaloman, Peterswell, near Gort.

Around 18 or 19 years ago, Patrick’s older brother, John Joyce, was killed and another brother, Francis, was paralyzed in a road traffic accident that occurred about a mile away from last weekend’s crash.
(Source: GalwayBay Fm)

Kerry

One of the country’s main tourist towns was plunged into commercial chaos and cut off from the rest of the world for several hours last week as a result of a major communications network failure.

Businesses and private homes in Dingle, Co Kerry, were without a telephone service, internet access and other essential communications tools for much of the day due to serious technical difficulties.

The communications crash prevented credit card and ATM transactions in stores, brought internet and ISDN systems to a standstill and disrupted landline and mobile phone networks. Local bank branches had to close until basic computer services were restored.
 (Source: Irish Examiner)

Kildare

An off duty garda (police)  was attacked and struck with a rock after he came across a robbery in action. The incident occurred at Gallows Hill, Athy, at approximately 4.55 am on the morning of Tuesday 10 April. The off duty garda observed the three men trying to break into a house in the area. One of the men threw a rock at the garda and it hit his head. The men escaped.
(Source: The Kildare Nationalist)

Kilkenny

Kilkenny’s proposed GAA facility at Dunmore has taken another step forward following a unanimous show of support from members at last week’s meeting of Kilkenny County Council.

Representatives from Kilkenny County Board gave a presentation to the council on Monday, outlining the details and projections for the area.

It is hoped that the ten-acre site will facilitate the development of two full-size GAA pitches, one of which is to have full floodlight facilities. The plans also include a carpark and dressing room facilities.
(Source: Kilkenny People)

Laois

The old bog road in Mountmellick’s Lower Forrest has again been cleared of tonnes of household refuse but concerns for a repeat of the problem were high among town councillors.

The hard work of local volunteers was praised at a recent town council meeting, especially that of Dick Fitzpatrick, one of the leaders of the clean-up at the bog off the Bay road, traditionally a spot for illegal dumping.
(Source: Leinster Express)

Leitrim

The south Leitrim area of Cloone and Aughavas is preparing to launch a text alert community scheme.. A large number of residents have already signed up to the scheme but organizers are keen for as many households to get involved to make the alerts as effective as possible. The idea behind the text alert scheme is a very simple one. If you see something or someone suspicious in the local area, phone the gardai (police).
(Source: Leitrim Observer)

Limerick

A Limerick man fired a number of shotgun blasts outside his neighbor’s home after she failed to salute him while out walking on the road, a court has heard.

Jack Kelly, 59, of Ballyneale, Ballingarry pleaded guilty at Newcastle West Court to reckless discharge of a firearm at Lee’s Cross, Ballynoe, Ballingarry on August 11 last year.

The court heard that Kelly fired a number of rounds from his shotgun outside the home of a neighbor and long time family friend who he felt was snubbing him, despite him having lent her money.
(Source: Limerick Leader)

Longford

A County Longford businessman is facing financial heartache this week after vandals ransacked his neatly furnished bungalow, stripping the property of its copper fittings and causing several thousand euros worth of damage.

Edgeworthstown businessman Alec Kane could hardly believe his eyes when he turned the key in the front door of the two bedroom dwelling that lies just yards from his long established business, Kanes Motors Ltd in the busy mid Longford town last week.

Inside, the plain talking entrepreneur, who this year is celebrating his 58th year in business, found debris strewn across the floor, brought about by attempts to rip a copper cylinder from the wall.
(Source: Longford Leader)

Louth

A Dundalk man has been told that he can never again look after an animal after he was convicted of several charges of animal cruelty which were described by the presiding judge as the worst he had seen in 13 years as a District Court judge.

Marc Finnegan (27), Readypenny, Dundalk was convicted of five counts of cruelly mistreating an animal to the extent that the animal had to be euthanized. When shown picture of the animals involved in the case, Judge Sean MacBride said “My God” and told the court that he had never seen such cruelty in all his years as a District Court Judge.
(Source: Dundalk Democrat)

Mayo

A sub-contractor claims he removed gravel and stone from the site of a proposed new care center in Achill because he is owed over €200,000.

On Good Friday, the HSE, St Colman’s Day Care Centre Limited and Comharcummann Forbatha Acla Teoranta obtained an urgent interim injunction against Eugene Doran of Dooniver Plant Hire ordering him to cease the removal of materials from the site in Bunnacurry on Achill Island.

The previous day Doran and a number of personnel  entered the site and started removing gravel and stone which he had laid as part of the groundworks for the development.
(Source: The Mayo News)

Meath

One of Ireland's best-known traditional musicians, Kieron King, died last Thursday evening in a tragic shooting accident near his home at Pottlereagh, Carnaross.

The community in Carnaross and across north Meath has been shocked at the news of the death of 35 year-old father of two, who was known the length and breath of the country as a talented musician, as were the rest of his family.

He died in a shooting accident while walking on land at Pottlereagh last Thursday night/Friday morning and was pronounced dead at the scene.
(Source: The Meath Chronicle)

Monaghan

A Fine Gael Deputy has arranged 11th-hour talks involving Enterprise Ireland and the management of the subsidiary of a British meat processing plant in Co Monaghan in a bid to prevent the loss of 70 jobs.
Cargill Meats in Castleblayney announced last week it was to shut the plant down before the end of this month with the pay-off of all its workers.

Deputy Seán Conlan of Cavan-Monaghan said on Tuesday that they were pursuing “every avenue” in an effort to save the plant.
(Source: Irish Times)

Offaly

A body found in the Grand Canal between Tullamore and Rahan on Sunday night, April 15, was identified as missing woman Marian Naughton. The 57-year-old AIB bank official who lived in Tullamore was last seen on Wednesday, April 10 at approximately 2 pm at the Grand Canal in Tullamore. Gardaí (police) say they are treating her death as a tragedy and not suspicious.
(Source: Offaly Express)

Roscommon

On paper the latest census figures for Co Roscommon look as if the county is robust and thriving with a population up to 64,065 from 58,768 in 2006.

Yet the stories of recent emigration that people relate suggest quite a different reality. It’s a year since the data was collected and many people spoke of recently departed friends, relatives, customers and colleagues. It would appear things have changed significantly in the last year.

Co Roscommon hasn’t experienced a high-profile multinational company suddenly closing or drastically reducing its workforce by several hundred, as has happened elsewhere in the state in recent years. But nonetheless, the steady loss of employment over recent years has been brutal for morale.
(Source: Irish Times)

Sligo

A group of influential Italian journalists flew into Ireland West Airport Knock last week on the brand new Ryanair flight from Milan (Bergamo), en route to Sligo as part of a fact-finding trip to the west and north-west. The journalists' visit was organized by Tourism Ireland, in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland and Ryanair.

Given that the journalists all represented media outlets from northern Italy, within easy reach of Milan (Bergamo) Airport, the aim of the visit was to highlight the new Ryanair route and the connectivity between Italy and this part of Ireland.
(Source: The Sligo Champion)

Tipperary

A delegation from the Community Hospital of the Assumption Action Group traveled to Leinster House last Wednesday to meet with Health Minister James O’Reilly.

The Action group sought answers from the Minister as to why his promise to restore the 22 respite beds at the Community Hospital has not yet become a reality and asked the Minister to uphold his word and stand by the firm commitment given by him on this matter last November.
(Source: Tipperary Star)

Tyrone

Whoever started a deliberate fire which killed an elderly widow and her daughter may not have meant to hurt them, police said.

Betty McGirr, (71) and Deirdre McGirr (38) died last Saturday night week when the blaze ripped through their top-floor flat in Dunlea Vale, Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

Betty McGirr was visiting her daughter when the blaze started at the back of the house at about 10 pm.
A third person, Portuguese and understood to be Deirdre’s partner, escaped unhurt. He was in a long-term relationship with her and is not suspected of involvement with the fire, police said.
(Source: Irish Examiner)

Waterford

Plastic sheets covered the bloody scene of a serious stabbing incident in the city last week, as three people were taken to Waterford Regional Hospital after a few drinks amongst partygoers led to a fracas.

Some of the injured were considered “lucky to be alive” following a severe loss of blood in the stabbing incident at apartment in Canada Square.
(Source: Waterford News & Star)

Westmeath

The 4th Western Brigade is expecting in excess of 2,000 applications for 100 places within the brigade, it emerged last week as the closing date nears for the latest recruitment drive.

The Defence Forces had received 8,000 applications for 600 places throughout the brigade. Based on the fact that the recruitment drive is for personnel for the three army brigades and the Navy, a Western Brigade spokesman said that the brigade would expect 25% of the applications to be for the 4th Western Brigade.
(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

Philip Doyle, 34, of Tinakilly, Aughrim, Co Wicklow, is pleading not guilty to murdering Ross Murphy in Gorey.

The court heard that Ross, who was three-and-a-half months, died following head trauma.

The court heard that in April 2005, Philip Doyle was living at 3 Creagh Demesne in Gorey with his partner Leona Murphy and her son Ross, who was not Philip Doyle's son.

Opening the trial, the prosecution said Ross was a healthy, thriving baby. On March 31 2005 his mother and Doyle took him to Wexford General Hospital.

Murphy and Doyle later gave differing accounts. However, doctors noticed nothing unusual at the time, apart from a rash and a slight bruise.

Ross was kept in and discharged three days later on April 3.

It was between 6 pm and 6.30 pm that evening, the prosecution said, that Ross sustained the injuries that led directly to his death.
(Source: RTE news)

Wicklow

A route through county Wicklow, linking Cork and Kildare, has been identified as the optimum solution for a massive €500 million high-voltage power line linking Leinster and Munster.

Great Island in neighboring Wexford has been highlighted as the possible link-up location for the pylon route which Eirgrid claims will provide for increased future demand for electricity in Wicklow as well as counties Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Waterford, Tipperary and east Cork.

Under initial proposals the 400kv Grid Link corridor would be overhead, at least 250km long and with four pylons every kilometer and big enough to bring wind energy to 750,000 homes.
(Source: The Wicklow People)