Wind damage reported on Riverpoint Building

A pane of glass came loose on the Riverpoint building at Bishops Quay around midday today where it dangled precariously in high winds.

The loose glass was reported to be on the 5th floor of the 15 floor building after Wind gusts of 100kmph battered the area.

Limerick Fire service units arrived on the scene and stabilised the situation. There was no access to Bishops Quay from The Shannon Bridge roundabout for a time.

In December panels of cladding became loose high up on the building. Gardai took the precautionary measure of closing streets in fear the cladding would fall in high wind.

Funerals of Garda and Fireman today

The funerals will take place today of the Garda and Fireman killed Sunday after they were struck by a car near Foynes.

Garda Brian Kelleher, of Upper Quartertown outside Mallow, Co Cork, will be buried at 12 noon at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Dromin.It is expected to be a full state funeral. The Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy will be in attendance.

Minister for State at the Department of the Environment Batt O'Keeffe, will be in attendance for the funeral of Firefighter Michael Liston. He will be buried in Foynes.
Both men were married with children.

Books of condolences have been opened at Croom Garda station and Foynes fire station.

Two released from custody after questioning

Two people arrested in connection with feuding incidents have been released from Garda custody today without charge.

A man arrested on Monday in relation to the murder of Limerick man Noel Crawford last year has been released from Garda custody. The man who was in his 30’s was arrested on the Southside of the city and was questioned under section 30 of the Criminal Justice Act.A file will be sent to the DPP.

Meanwhile, a man arrested in connection with a grenade attack on a house in Southill last Saturday has also been released without charge. The man who was in his 30’s was arrested the day following the attack.

Limerick drug courier jailed at Criminal Court

A Limerick man who was caught transporting drugs for a major regional criminal has been jailed today at the Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin.

26-year-old John Costello from Hennessy Avenue, Kileely, was sentenced today to 12 years in jail after the court was told how he was apprehended by Gardai in Co Laoise on September 1st as he and another man were transporting 3 kg of amphetamine tablets worth €45,000 for sale or supply.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier stage in the trial. Gardai say the drugs seized in their car were destined for the Limerick and Clare area

Double road death driver was ‘on way to house party’

The young man who mowed down two emergency workers Sunday morning on the N69 road near Foynes was on his way to a house party according to a report today.

The Examiner newspaper suggests the 18-year-old and two others, all from the Ballylongford area of North Kerry received a text message during the 5am hour telling them about a house party in Limerick.

They took off in the Limerick direction along the N69 when the 1994 Kerry-registered black Audi coupe in which the 18-year-old was driving ploughed straight into an accident scene between Foynes and Askeaton, a crash scene which was being attended to by Garda Brian Kelleher(46) and Foynes fire fighter Mike Liston (47) among others.They were both struck by the speeding car and died instantly.

(Left: Mike Liston and Right: Brian Kelleher)

The young driver was arrested at the scene but released nearly 10 hours later. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Bishop Donal Murray spoke yesterday on the double road death,

“It should remind us of the services that some people provide for the community and which we can take for granted. I offer both families my sympathy and prayers”

See More Artcials Today:
Heroes dedicated their lives to service of the State
Mike Liston: ‘He will never be replaced’
Brian Kelleher: ‘We are shocked by this tragedy’
Tragedy highlights never-ending danger
Killed in the line of Duty

Garda and Fireman killed this morning named

The Garda and Fireman killed this morning have been named locally.

Garda Brian Kelleher who was originally form Mallow but based at Croom Garda station and Fire-fighter Michael Liston who was based in Foynes were both first responders to the scene of the overturned car when a second car crashed into the scene.

Both men were married and had families.

An 18-year-old male motorist arrested in connection with the deaths has been released from custody.A file is being sent to the DPP.

UPDATE: A Chief Superintendent from Askeaton Garda station is leading the investigation into the tragedy.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell spoke today on the deaths,

"I have asked the Garda Commissioner to convey my condolences andthose of the Government to the bereaved family of the Garda who tragically lost his life this morning.

This tragic event, the loss of life of two emergency workers, is a stark reminder of the risks which people who work for An Garda Síochána and other emergency services take day in day out in seeking to promote public safety and to protect life."

Photo: RTE.ie
RTE News Video(Realplayer)

Garda and fireman killed in traffic accident.

A Garda and a member of the fire service have died after they were both struck by a car near Askeaton early this morning.

The two were responding to the scene of a single vehicle crash around 5.15am at Morgan South when another car crashed into an emergency vehicle on the on the N69 road.It’s understood they both died at the scene.

The Garda was in his 40's and based at Croom and the fireman was based in Foynes.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving.He is being held at Henry Street Garda Station for questioning. Gardai are advising that the N69 will remain closed between Askeaton and Foynes today.

Limerick TD Willie O'Dea has described the deaths a "terrible tragedy"

Rescue services in Limerick are to go ahead with a planned simulated search operation today despite the deaths this morning.

AA Roadwatch reports - Diversions are in place for Foynes traffic via the R521 Shanagolden and Newcastle West. Diversions for Askeaton bound are in place via R518 and Rathkeale. HGV's should use the N21.

Explosion and shots fired in Southill

Gardai are investigating a grenade explosion and a shooting incident in Southill last night.

Reports say an armed gang approached a house in the estate around 9.00pm and threw a grenade into the front garden before opening fire on the front of the house.

The grenade exploded leaving a creator. The house was occupied at the time however nobody was injured in the incident.

The scene has been sealed off for technical examination later today.

UPDATE: A man in his thirties has been arrested in relation to the attack.He is being questioned at Roxboro Garda station.

Election candidate opposes Shannon Tunnel tolling

Sinn Fein General Election candidate in Limerick Maurice Quinlivan has today reiterated his continuing opposition to the planned introduction of tolling for the new Shannon Tunnel development.

The Limerick Tunnel Scheme will incorporate a fourth crossing of the River Shannon in the environs of Limerick city and will involve an immersed tube tunnel, linking the townland of Coonagh, on the northern bank, with the townland of Bunlicky on the southern bank of the Shannon. It will be similar to the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Cork(above).

Mr. Quinlivan explained,

“Whilst I welcome the government's decision to buy out the tolls on the M50 to provide some relief to hard pressed Dublin commuters, it seems bizarre that Limerick motorists will soon be forced to pay tolls to use the Shannon tunnel.

The policy of tolling motorists has been a disaster in Dublin and the government should not repeat this mistake at the expense of Limerick and Clare motorists. Will we be in a similar situation in a number of years where a future government will have to similarly buy out the Shannon Tunnel at huge expense?"

He goes on,

"The fact that Limerick will have to pay for a tunnel lies in stark contrast to our Cork cousins and the Toll-free Jack Lynch Tunnel. Once again we are treated as poor relations despite the presence of a Limerick Minister at the Cabinet Table. It's simply not good enough"

It is alleged that the €372m project will remove unnecessary through traffic from the local road network, thereby reducing congestion and improving environmental standards and safety.

Traffic accident causing rush hour delays

A number of people are reported to have sustained minor injuries after a road traffic accident in Raheen this evening.

The three car collision happened near the South Court Hotel between the Raheen Roundabout and the Mungret Roundabout.

Fire ambulance and Gardai responded to the scene and large traffic delays are being experienced in the area.

AA RoadWatch reports:
There is a crash blocking the Raheen rd outside the Hotel, causing long delays for inbound traffic especially, and there is limited access to the Dock rd as a result.

Although the road is open, Gardai are asking motorists to avoid the area if possible.

UPDATE: AARoadwatch reports the crash has now been cleared.

Limerick Festivals website launches

A new website dedicated to festivals in Limerick has launched.

Limerickcityfestivals.com which was set up by the Limerick City Festival Office gives details of upcoming events in the city such as the St Patrick's Springfest, Band compotition, seachtain na gaeilge, Fresh Film Festival along with information on the Pery Square Fair on March 17th.

The Post reports that the St Patrick's Springfest 2007 festival will be officially launched by Mayor Cllr Joe Leddin next week.

Creative director for the Limerick City Festival Office Sarah Lynch told the Examiner,

“It is providing the people of Limerick and beyond with a one-stop shop for all information on upcoming festivals in the city. We are also delighted to be able to initiate the Springfest volunteer programme and would like to invite any local people who wish to get involved to contact us as soon as possible as these positions are limited"

Visit the site Here
Check the Calendar Here

ATM fraud alert in at Dooradoyle Bank

ATM users in the Dooradoyle area should be checking their bank balances for any discrepancies after it emerged that two men were seen removing a card-skimming device from the front of the Bank of Ireland ATM in Dooradoyle.

The two non-nationals were seen by other ATM users approaching the machine and removing the suspected skimming device and waling away late Sunday evening.

A quick guide to how Card Skimming works,

At its heart the scam is quite easy, even if the technique is complex. The thieves attach a false front to the card reader of the automatic teller (i.e. where you insert your card) that captures your card number and transmits it wirelessly to a criminal waiting in a car nearby. They also strategically place another object - possibly a leaflet holder or something else innocuous - on the machine. Inside is a camera that captures your PIN as you type it in. That's either recorded or also transmitted to the waiting person. You withdraw your money, but the next time you use the machine, there have been a number of transactions, which have left your account empty, because the crooks have had a card made with your number on it, used to take cash and buy goods.

A Garda spokesman said,

“A number of vigilant bank users reported having difficulty retrieving their bank cards after attempting to withdraw cash”

As part of the investigation Gardai at Roxboro are also examining CCTV footage of the area in a bid to identify the two.

TD’s concerns over bin scheme

A local TD has described as discriminatory; a new bin wavier scheme that only applies to state pensioners who are living on their own.

Peter Power told the Post this week that the scheme, newly implemented in the county, “discriminates unfairly against married pensioners".

“While I very much welcome the introduction of a limited bin waiver system by the County Council I believe that it should be extended to include married pensioners. Married pensioners face the same financial difficulties that single pensioners do.

The fact that their married partner is still alive does not lessen the impact of expensive service charges on them. Notwithstanding the fact that there are two pensions coming into the household budget each weeks the outgoings are double what they would normally be.

Married pensioners should be entitled to avail of this scheme in the same way as single or widowed pensioners. And it is unfair to discriminate against them simply because one partner has not passed away"

The TD says he has written to the county council asking them to apply the wavier to married pensioners too.

Limerick woman killed in Cork crash

A Limerick woman has been killed in a car accident in Cork overnight according to Live95Fm radio.

25-year-old Cathleen Barrett from the Moyross area of Limerick was travelling with a male passenger when the car they were in left the road around 3.25am near Rathduff on the Cork to Mallow road.

The passenger, also in his twenties was taken to Cork University Hospital where his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Cork Gardai are investigating and are appealing for witnesses.

'Thousands' of homes without water

Thousands of homes in Limerick are without water today as Limerick City Council continue to try and repair a ‘major break’ in the water distribution system according to local radio.

Parts of north side of the city, Corbally and parts of Clare have been affected by the break.

Council officials say water should be back by late afternoon.

Man sentenced for spitting at Garda

A man who spat a Garda while she was sitting in a patrol car was jailed yesterday.

Shane Kelly, from Oliver Plunkett Street, pleaded guilty to the assault as the court was told how the 20-year-old spat at a female Garda who was sitting in the front passenger seat of a Garda car which was on routine patrol around St Mary’s Park last July.

The court was told that the brother of the accused, Kenneth Kelly, had died in ‘strange circumstances’ in Limerick prison last May and that Shane was so distraught he developed an alcohol addiction.

Judge Tom O Donnell said the mans actions were "disgraceful” as he sentenced him to 4 months in jail.

Southill Man gets eight months for death threats

A man who threatened to kill a woman in Southill hours after his brother was shot dead has been jailed today for 8 months.

33-year-old Paul Crawford(right) with an address in O'Malley Park, pleaded guilty today to threatening to kill Elizabeth Spaarling on December 18th of last year and threatening to cause criminal damage that same night.

Gardai told how, pointing to three different houses Paul Crawford shouted,

"That will be done tonight, children and all. That one as well, that one too.My brother Noel is dead, ye are all dead too"

His defence lawyer responded to the charges today stating the accused man was ‘in a state of shock after the murder of his brother’.

40-year-old Noel Crawford was shot outside his house in Southill on Monday December 18th. He was approached by a lone gunman and shot at close range.Gardai were at the scene shortly after, investigating the murder when they heard the dead mans brother making the threats.

It has been raised that todays accused,Paul Crawford ,was the intended target of the masked gunman that faithful night.

Related Stories

Man seriously injured in city centre accident

A 21-year-old man is in serious but stable condition tonight after he was knocked down by a truck in the early hours.

Live95FM reports the young man walked out in front of the truck at the junction of Henry Street and Bedford Row around 3am.

Gardai and ambulance personnel responded to the scene and the man was taken to Limerick Mid Western Regional Hospital.

Gardai are investigating.

Elderly woman swindled out of €13,000

An elderly county Limerick woman has parted ways with €13,000 after she fell for a Lottery scam emanating from Spain.

The woman was sent a letter saying she had won close to a million euro.After responding to the letter she was asked for her bank account details along with payments to secure her prize.

Sgt. Liam Sheehan at Henry Street has more,

"These lotteries are a scam, your not going to win 615,000 which is the figure that is usually stated in the post, just out of the blue like that.All i can say is do not correspond with these people.Do not give bank account details and certainly do not send any money over to them to speed up the transaction.Throw the letter in the bin"

Henry Street Gardai have launched an investigation into the situation.

Arson teens plead guilty

Two youths charged in relation to the Arson attack in Moyross last year which left two children badly burned, have pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm.

The two 17-year-old were appearing at the Circuit Court in Ennis today.

RTE has more,

The charges to which the two have pleaded guilty have adjourned until 17 April for the preparation of probation and welfare reports and the two wereremanded in custody to that date.

The court was told a jury would be required in the case of a third person also facing a similar charge.

The third accused is reported to be contesting the charge against him.

The 4 year old girl and her younger brother were badly burned in the horrific arson attack in Pineview Gardens back in September.

Bloggers will have ‘Best’ Chance - Chronicle

The Limerick Chronicle has written a nice article on the Nominations Limerick Blogs have received for The upcoming Irish Blog Awards.

Loads of Limerick blogs mentioned here. Click the Photo to read the article.

Vomiting bug infects eight at Regional Hospital

Precautions are being taken at Limerick Regional Hospital to curb the spread of the Winter Vomiting bug.

Reports from the hospital today say there are now eight cases of the bug in six different wards.

Officials at the hospital in Dooradoyle have increased control measures and are now only allowing one visitor per patient saying people should only visit the hospital, including Accident and Emergency, if it is "absolutely necessary".

The virus is highly infectious and can be potentially dangerous in the very young or old.

Feud shooting leads to 5 year jail sentence

A Moyross man charged in relation to a shooting out the county last year has been sentenced to five years in jail.

20-year-old Paul Reddan was charged with recklessly discharging a firearm on September 19th last.He had pleaded guilty.

Limerick Circuit court heard that the young man was the driver of a car, which opened fire on another vehicle near the village of Ballyneety.

Giving evidence today, Det Garda David Burke told the court how Mr Reddan along with two other members of the McCarthy Dundon gang pulled up behind a hiace van outside Ballyneety and opened fire. The attackers made off but Mr. Reddan was arrested later that day driving in Weston.

The detective told the court Mr. Reddan was not a leading member of the gang but was not on the periphery either.

Defence for the accused said as a result of the incident Mr. Reddans family have been forced to move out of their Moyross home after it was shot at a few days later.

“It was a lucky miracle nobody was killed”, said Judge Carroll as he sentenced the accused to five years behind bars.

House fire victim named

The elderly woman killed after a fire at her Co. Limerick home has been named today as Mary Condon.

The blaze broke out in the woman’s upstairs bedroom at her home in Kilfinane Saturday night.The 96-year-old has only just celebrated her birthday the day before.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

'Gussie' missing seven years today

"The ground doesn’t open up and swallow somebody”

A priest who’s nephew went missing seven years ago today has once again made an appeal for anyone information to come forward.

20-year-old Limerick man Aengus Shanahan(seen left) disappeared on February 11, 2000 after a night out with friends in the city.

The missing mans cousin, Fr.Aquinas Duffy said this week,

“It’s hard to believe that he has been missing for so long. His poor family are still none the wiser as to what happened that night. The ground doesn’t open up and swallow somebody”.

He left this message on the Missing Persons website www.missing.ws he set up shortly after his nephews disappearance.

“Aengus (Gussie) Shanahan will be missing seven years on Sunday 11th February 2007. He is the reason why I set up this website. It is hard to believe that he is seven years missing. We again plead with people who may have information on his disappearance to please come forward and so end the nightmare that his family continues to endure.”

Gussie is described as 5' 11" tall, with short fair hair and blue eyes.

Pleas are being made for any Information to be passed along to the Gardaí at Henry St. on 061-212400 or Garda Free Phone Confidential line at 1800 666 111.

Other Missing Limerick People

Sheila Murray speaks on ‘hate campaign’

The mother of the two Limerick children burned in an arson attack last year has once again defended herself against allegations that she smuggled drugs into Limerick prison saying she is the evicted of a “hate campaign”

Speaking to the Sunday World today Mrs Murray said

“They can believe what they want to believe. I never had anything to do with drugs. I didn’t do anything in the jail. That’s what’s driving me mad. I was tried [by the media] and put on the front page of the papers.”

The whohaa is believed to have stemmed from this article in the Irish Independent.

Sheila has said however that the person she went to see in prison was found with hash afterwards but insists that he had the drugs on him before she met him.

“They could not have me on security cameras passing drugs because there were no drugs. I am being tried by the media and being found guilty.”

A lot more on this in today’s Sunday World.

Four-year-old Gavin Murray and his sister, Millie, six, suffered severe burns when a car they were sitting in was set on fire. The teenagers charged in connection with the attack are due to appear before Ennis Circuit Court this week.

They are charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the two kids at Pineview Gardens on September 10th.

96-year-old killed in house fire

A 96 year old woman has died after a house fire in the county last night

Reports say the fire started in an upstairs bedroom of the house in the village of Kilfinane around 7pm.The body of the woman was found by her son.

A Garda forensics team attended the scene last night however the house was not badly damaged in the incident. Gardai have described it as a tragic accident.

RTE reports there was an open fire in the upstairs bedroom at the time.

NewsWire nominated for blog awards

The nominations have been released for the Irish Blog awards. Newswire has been nominated for Best News/Current Affairs Blog and also Best Newcomer. Fantastic news for us.

If you would like to vote for us to win in these categories then you can do so by voting here.Voting will close on February 16th at 5pm.

Well done also to Limerick Blogger, Alive in Limerick, Bock The Robber and Style Treaty; all nominated in some shape or form.

Surely one of these awards is coming home to Limerick!

Brother sentenced over fatal crash

A county Limerick man has been handed down a three-year jail sentence today after a fatal crash in the county two years ago.

20 year old Jason Aherne and his brother 26 year old Dennis Aherne from Askeaton were both driving motorbikes side by side at speeds of 100Kmph while drunk back in May of 2005, when Dennis crashed head on with an on-coming car. He died from his injuries.

The accident happened near Ballybrown around 10pm.The two brothers were seen overtaking each other at Ferrybridge and near Clarina shortly before the accident.

The surviving brother, Jason Aherne, pleaded guilty to endangerment and at a hearing today Judge Carroll Moran sentenced the man to 3 years in prison saying ‘Mr Aherne has to cope with the bereavement and has to live with the awful memory of the tragedy’

200 jobs for Plassey Technological Park

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was in Limerick today where he officially opened Inigolf at the National Technological Park in Plassey.

He welcomed the possible 200 new jobs for the area ,

More than 150 new jobs will be created in the areas of Medical, Leisure, and IT Software in other businesses due to open there in the next two years.

43 jobs are currently in place at the complex’s indoor golf facility and teaching academy.The Taoiseach believes Golf tourism is a sound investment for the future.
Live 95Fm

Gardai raid Southside drug factory

The Irish independent reports today that Limerick Gardai have discovered a cocaine mixing factory used by a notorious Southside crime gang.

Gardai raided the disused garage on the Southside of the city where they believe The McCarthy-Dundon gang were storing ,cutting and packaging cocaine.

After an intense surveillance operation, officers from Roxboro Road Garda Station uncovered the factory - used to store, cut and package the drug - last week.

Cocaine in an uncut form with an estimated street value of €10,000 and a cocaine pressing machine was also recovered during the raid last week.

When processed and packaged, it is believed the narcotics recovered would have been worth an estimated €20,000. Senior members of the gang are currently in prison but are still believed to be directing the gang's operations from behind bars.

The Dundon-McCarthy and Keane-Collopy gangs are involved in a bloody feud against each other in a bid to gain the upper hand in city's drugs trade.

Limerick is often used as a distribution point by drug gangs for the west and south of the country. Limerick's criminal gangs have in recent years forged links with their Dublin counterparts.

Via Independent

Local councillor outraged over Garda deployment

A local councillor has described as outrageous the posting of just five new Gardai to the Limerick division.

254 new Gardai passed out of Templemore last Friday with Limerick City receiving just 5 of the new recruits and none being stationed in the county.

Cllr Jim Long spoke of his outrage,

“We had the Minister for Justice Mr McDowell boasting in Templemore last Friday that these 254 gardaí were the first of the extra numbers he had approved to build the force to 15,000. Now we find that just 2% of the entire number has been sent to stations in Limerick city. And not a single new garda was sent to a station in the county. What’s going on here?”

Full Story in today’s Examiner

McCabe killers must pay own legal costs

Two of the killers of Limerick Detective Garda Jerry McCabe have been ordered by the High Court in Dublin to pay their own legal costs from their failed legal action in getting early release from prison.

RTE reports on the case involving Pearse McCauley from Tyrone and Jeremiah Sheehy from Limerick,

The normal rule on costs was that they go to the winning side, Mr Justice Daniel Herbert indicated. It was only in 'exceptional' circumstances that rule would not apply and this case was 'not sufficiently wide enough' to be considered exceptional.

Rejecting the men's challenge last December, Mr Justice Herbert said it was 'wholly legitimate' for the Minister for Justice and the Government to require that the prisoners convicted of the killing should, as punishment for 'the unique and shocking nature of the crime', serve the sentences imposed on them.

He rejected arguments by McCauley and Sheehy that they should be released because they were qualifying prisoners under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement and ruled there was 'no unjustifiable discrimination' between the two men and the 57 other prisoners who have been freed under the Agreement.

The report also states that if granted remission Pearse McCauley would be free in August 2009 with Jeremiah Sheehy walking in February ‘08

Drug courier awaits sentence

Sentencing in the case of a Limerick drug courier has been adjourned at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

26-year-old John Costello from Hennessy Avenue, Kileely, was apprehended by Gardai in Co Laoise on September 1st as he and another man were transporting 3 kg of amphetamine tablets worth €45,000.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier stage in the trial. Gardai say the drugs seized in their car were destined for the Limerick and Clare area.

Terry Wogan honoured in Limerick

"What Limerick man would not be honoured to receive such an award from a proud and historic city. I spent the first 15 years of my life here. Limerick made me."

Limerick born broadcaster Terry Wogan has been given a lifetime achievement award at the "Limerick Person of the Year Awards” last night at the Clarion Hotel.

Speaking while presenting the award, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said,

"I know the people of Limerick, as well as people all over Ireland, will want to thank you for the hours of entertainment you have provided over the years to millions on both sides of the Irish Sea.

While there have been many highlights in your lifetime, I am sure, some of the more memorable ones will include your honorary OBE award in 1997 in the New Year's Honours List along with your honorary knighthood in June 2005”

He was presented with a special souvenir book of photographs of Limerick featuring personal pictures and other famous people who have visited the city.

Lack of Postings recently

You may have noticed that posts have been sparse this past week. The reason is my Laptop has decided to go tits up. Sony Vaio it is (or was, in the bin now).

Anyone any recommendations on a good make of Laptop to buy, Advent? , Toshiba? Dell? A Sony again?

Newswire is still active only just a bit sparse on the postings until a new laptop can be found.

Bare with me.

Boy found dead in his bedroom

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating after an 11 year old Limerick boy was found hanging in his room.

The body of Mark O'Neill was found by a family member at their house in Greenfields, Rosbrien on Tuesday night.

A Garda spokesman described the incident as a "tragedy" and said the investigation was still under way.

The Health Service Executive said yesterday that it was involved in providing counseling and support for members of his family and for children at the boy's school.An only child, the boy is survived by his mother, Lisa, and his grandfather, Frank.

One local, who declined to be named, said the local community was still trying to come to terms with the tragedy.

"There is complete devastation. Neighbours are distraught at what's happened. They can't believe it. It seems he might have tried to do something to scare a family member and it went horribly wrong, but nobody knows for sure," the local said.
Via Irish Times

The boy was a student at CBS primary school on Sexton street. An inquest will most likely be held into the death.

Limericks Lesbian wedding celebration

An article on the front of this weeks Post newspaper tells us how Limerick will be the host this summer to Irelands first openly gay marriage celebration..

A lesbian couple aged in their 30's and 40's, with one of the women originally from the Northside of Limerick, will hold their wedding reception in a city centre hotel.

A spokesperson for The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network told the paper,

“As it is at present, gay couples in the Republic have to travel to Belfast or other areas of the North of Ireland to secure a Civil Partnership licence in a registry office. This is not recognized in the Republic, but there are lots of gay couples going north for these marriages”

The couple decided to go public with the celebration in the hope it would offer encouragement to other gay couples to pressure the Government into moving forward with the legalisation of Gay marriage in the Republic.

Bord Pleanála examining Thomand objection

Work on the €40m redevelopment of Thomand park may be delayed for up to 4 months after a resident living near the stadium instructed his solicitor to appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

The examiner reports that solicitor for the resident Mr Eamonn Dillon says the objection is now being processed.

Mr Kiely’s solicitor, Mr Eamonn Dillon, said he had been instructed by Mr Kiely to proceed with an objection and this was being processed. This objection could hold up work for up to four months and, if upheld, could stop the entire project from going ahead.

Mr Kiely claimed the new stand would block light at his residence and, as he works by night, construction would interfere with his sleep. He also claimed increased traffic would increase car parking problems on match days.

The local resident named as Taxi man Gerard Kiely had previously had his objection that the new stadium stand would block light at his home and that construction work would interfere with his sleep, thrown out by Limerick City Council.