Man in court following stab death

Gardai investigating the death of a man following a stabbing incident in Limerick yesterday have charged another man in relation to the attack.

The 21 year old suspect has appeared this evening before a special sitting of the District Court charged in connection with the murder of another resident of the Sarsfield Bridge refugee center yesterday afternoon.

The 17 year old victim died of his injuries in hospital following the altercation in which he was stabbed a number of times around 2pm Saturday.

NEW DETAILS
21 year old Farah Redouane was charged at the court sitting with the murder of 17 year old Ali Ibraham Lal.

Mr Redouane was remanded in custody to appear again at Limerick District Court on January 30.

Teen dies after city center stabbing incident

A teenager has died following a stabbing incident in Limerick city earlier today.

The 17 year old African born male, died of multiple stab wounds following the incident which occurred at a Hostel for Asylum Seekers on Sarsfield Street around 2pm.

Gardai and three ambulances responded to the hostel, which houses foreign nationals seeking asylum, early this afternoon following reports of a fight between two residents of the center.

An 18 year old male, who is also African, has been arrested in relation to the death and is being held at Henry Street Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The scene was sealed off and a forensic examination due to take place.

Two injured in city center stabbing

Two men have been injured, one seriously, following a stabbing incident at the former Sarsfield Bridge Hotel in Limerick city.

Gardai and ambulances responded to the hotel which is now a hostel for foreign nationals seeking asylum early this afternoon following reports of a fight between residents.

One of the males, a foreign national living at the Inn was removed to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle where he is being treated for his injuries.

The Limerick Leader newspaper reported a Garda source as saying,

"The investigation is still at a very early stage and one of the first things we will be looking to do is speak with the two men involved once they have received medical treatment."

Reports say the victim is a 17 year old.

The hostel houses around 125 asylum seekers.

Gardai detain one in Limerick following Nenagh death

Gardai investigating the fatal stabbing of a man in Co. Tipperary last night have arrested three men, including one man in Limerick.

The 29-year-old Lithuanian national suffered multiple stab wounds during an altercation with a group of men at an apartment in Summerhill, Nenagh. He died at the scene.

Its believed Gardai have arrested a 28-year-old man in Limerick along with a 31-year-old and a 26-year-old in the Nenagh area in relation to the death.

Two injured in Limerick crash

Two people were injured in a road traffic accident in Limerick Tuesday night.

Emergency services were called to the two vehicle accident on the N24 Old Tipperary Road near O Shea’s pub around 10pm.

Two men, in their 40’s and 20’s were removed from the scene and taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital where they were treated for their injuries.

Dead body found in Limerick

Limerick Gardai have launched an investigation after a body of a man was found at a house in the Hyde Road area of Limerick City.

Reports say the body of the man, discovered today in a vacant house, may have been there for up to six months.

Foul play has been ruled out and a technical examination of the scene is being completed. Gardai have described the death as ‘tragic’. His body is expected to be removed to the Mid Western Regional Hospital later this evening.

Gardai have yet to establish his identity.

NEW DETAILS
The deceased man is from the North Cork area according to the Examiner

The man, who was in his late 50s, was in the process of moving out of his flat and transferring to a council house when he was last seen alive about six months ago.

Concern was raised when he fell into arrears with his rent. The deceased was living in Hyde Flats in Ballinacurra Weston, which are due to be demolished.

15,000 jobs at risk if Dell cuts back at Raheen plant- Report

As the mainstream media continues to report the fallout of a likely Dell cut in jobs, there are more reports today of how thousands more jobs will be lost in wake of the cutbacks.

Talk is beginning to emerge also about possible Government contingency plans for when D-day comes. The Examiner has comments from Limerick TD Willie O Dea on the matter

Opposition TDs last night urged the Taoiseach to intervene in the crisis.
However, even bleaker days could be ahead for the region as it is estimated that up to 15,000 people who are employed in subsidiary industries will be affected.

Mr O’Dea said: “Whatever outfall takes place, the Government will have a strategy ready to deal with it immediately it happens and all those things will become very clear shortly.

“We have been working very hard both on getting the best possible deal, in view of the fact that Dell are restructuring, and also in putting a number of things in place that will alleviate the economic impact in this region from any fallout.”

He said they have been working hard to put in place what he called “meliorating measures”.

This meliorating work, the minister said, would continue over Christmas. “There will be a big focus by the Government on filling any gaps left by Dell. We have been working very hard and very long and the work continues over Christmas,” he said.

Limerick Chamber of Commerce chief executive Maria Kelly has said in a news report, she has resigned herself to hoping that when the job cuts are announced, they are “spread out over a number of years”

"This is not a regional issue, this is devastating nationally, Dell paid EUR140 million in wages last year. That amount of people going out of work in one fell swoop, not to mention the 10,000 to 15,000 others that rely on Dell, will have a devastating impact on the national economy. All we are hoping for, if this news is true, is that it is spread out over a number of years."

2,000 jobs to be lost at Dell Raheen - Reports

Decision for thousands of Dell workers expected in January

2,000 jobs are to be cut at the Dell plant in Limerick when the company announces its intention to cut its manufacturing in Ireland in 2009, various media reports suggest.

The Sunday Business Post newspaper published an article today on how Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and Limerick TD and Minister for Defence, Willie O’Dea, flew to the headquarters of Dell in Texas last week in a desperate bid to convince CEO Michael Dell to spare the Raheen plant in its upcoming restructuring.

The paper reports the futile bid failed and its now reported up to 2,000 jobs will go at the plant in early 2009.

The computer giant will transfer the bulk of its manufacturing to Eastern Europe, in particular Lodz in Poland and parts of Asia.

Willie O Dea spoke to Local radio Sunday and stressed that the matter of job losses is ‘still under negotiation’.

“There’s nothing specific about that yet, although it will become clear very shortly id imagine. Sufficed to say my concern is to keep as many jobs as possible here.”

Limericks Labour TD Jan O'Sullivan called on the Mary Coughlan to immediately clarify the future of Dells Irish operations and in particular their facility in Limerick saying,

“The potential loss in job numbers locally will have a devastating effect on the entire economy of the Mid West Region and will result in thousands of workers and their families facing a very uncertain future”

Sinn Féins Limerick Representative Maurice Quinlivan says that job losses in Raheen will clearly be "catastrophic" news for the Mid-West region accusing the Government of being negligent to people here in Limerick for not having a contingency plan to deal with any such closure,

“The closure of manufacturing at Dell will be a major economic disaster for Limerick and having seen the warning signs it is simply not good enough that the government failed to act and are still waiting for this dreadful news to materialise before taking any action”

Limerick Fine Gael TD Kieran O'Donnell says the job loses at Dell would be a "devastating blow" as Dell touches every part of the economy in the Limerick region. He also accused Taoiseach Brian Cowen of incompetence in his refusal to take any personal action to stop the job cuts,

"The Fianna Fáil Government left it too late to get involved. Mary Coughlan and Willie O'Dea's visit would appear to have been pure window-dressing. If the FF Government had been serious about saving Dell jobs, action would have been taken far sooner. That Brian Cowen did not take any personal direct action shows both incompetence and a complete lack of understanding of the magnitude of the situation. As we have seen with the economy and the banks, there is no leadership coming from the Taoiseach's Office and instead all we get is procrastination."

However government and company sources are reported as saying that a 'transfer announcement' will be made in early January, despite everyones pleas.

When taking into account the number of distribution companies besed in Raheen and in the Mid West that work in conjunction with Dell and rely on Dell, the number of job losses would be significantly and catastrophically higher.

Residents evacuated after apartment block fire

Panicked residents of a city apartment block were evacuated last night after smoke filled the building from a fire in the basement.

Emergency services responded to reports of a fire at the Parkview House apartments adjacent to the Peoples Park on Edward Street around 12.15am last night where they discovered a car on fire in the parking basement of the apartment block. Residents were evacuated as smoke filled the building.

Ambulances were called to the scene although it’s believed no one was injured and the blaze was brought quickly under control by the fire service.

Missing Lisnagry man found in Ahane

An elderly Limerick man who has been missing from his home in Lisnagry has been found and rescued, semi submerged in water in Ahane.

Rescue services were called to 63 year old Seamus Ryans location after he was spotted in his car, upside down in a ditch by a man walking his dog around 10am.

Local radio reports he was rescued by Ambulance personnel and taken to the Mid western regional hospital where its believed he is suffering from hypothermia.

Mr. Ryan from Knockbrack, Lisnagry was last seen leaving his home yesterday afternoon driving his red Nissan Micra and Gardai feared for his saftey due to possible poor health.

Parents to speak at Rome hit and run trial

The parents of a Limerick woman and a Kildare woman who were knocked down and killed in Rome last March, will tell an Italian court of how the deaths of their daughters has devastated their lives.

The trial will commence proper today of 32 year old Friedrich Vernarelli who is charged with knocking down two women, 29-year-old Mary Clare Collins from Athy Kildare and 27-year-old Elizabeth Gubbins from Lisnagroy, Limerick, at a pedestrian crossing near the Vatican on St Patrick’s night of this year.

Mr Vernarelli has been charged with culpable homicide, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, breach of Italian road traffic regulations and driving while drunk.

At his arraignment following the incident the defendant said he had gained some of his memory of that night and insisted he was not behind the wheel when the accident happened however investigating judges rejected his version of events.

The two friends were out celebrating St Patrick’s night when they were struck and killed by a Mercedes car as they crossed a road in downtown Rome

The defendants father Roberto Vernarelli, an Italian politician and former Police Chief said at the time his son was a "good boy" who didn’t take a drink. He did say later however that “In a world where everyone tried to run away, he (Friedrich) will pay for what he has done and serve his sentence".

Reports say if Vernarelli is convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in jail.

Gardai investigate early morning shooting incident

Gardai are investigating an early morning shooting incident in Limerick City.

At least 12 shots were fired in the attack on a house on St Munchin's Street, St. Mary’s Park at around 5am this morning. Local radio reports say a woman and her children were in the house at the time though no one is believed to have been injured.

Gardai say a shotgun is believed to have been used in the attack. The scene has been sealed off pending a technical examination to be carried out later today.

NEW DETAILS
The distraught mother has been speaking to local radio about the attack,

“I was in bed with my 3 year old daughter and I heard all noises and next noises stopped and next I heard them again. So when I looked out, there was all glass everywhere and my children were screaming inside in the room”

She also described looking out her front window to see numerous spent shotgun cartridges at the front of her house.

Gardai have made no arrests in relation to the attack and a technical examination of the scene has been completed.

Man pleads guilty to gun and drugs possession

A man has appeared at the District court in Limerick Thursday charged with the possession of three firearms and a quantity of drugs.

37 year old Noel Purcell was arrested on the 11th of July last after Gardai searched houses on the northside of the city.

In court today, the Ballynanty native pleaded guilty to all five charges laid against him including the possession of a Glock pistol, a .357 Magnum, an firing pistol and possession of cocaine and cannabis.

Local radio reports say the accused man will appear in court again for sentencing on January 23rd.

Keane has sentencing adjourned until January

"I wasn't going to kill anyone, I was going to see a bird."
The sentencing of a prominent Limerick gangland criminal who pleaded guilty to the possession of a loaded semi automatic pistol has been adjourned until January.

24 year old Liam Keane, of Singland, Ballysimon and 21-year-old Greg Crawford were arrested by Gardai assisted by the Emergency Response Unit in the Corbally area of the city last May after Gardai spotted the two men driving a stolen Mazda car. Following a very brief pursuit Gardai stopped the car and the pair were arrested and the pistol was discovered in the car, primed and loaded.

When charged Keane pleaded guilty to having a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol and 13 rounds of ammunition and being in possession of a stolen car. Mr Crawford also pleaded guilty to the possession of the firearm.

At their sentencing hearing yesterday Gardai told of how they believed the pistol found in the car which was stolen in Portmarnock, Dublin a month earlier, was used in an earlier shooting incident in April.

Keane however denied he was intent on using the gun on anybody insisting he was out that night to "see a bird".

Judge Carol Moran remanded both men in custody adjourned sentencing until January 20th.

Regeneration chief ‘flip flops’ on gang meetings issue

As reports circulated last week of fresh so called ‘peace talks’ between rival limerick gangs, the head of the Limerick regeneration agency Brendan Kenny has defended his efforts to chair similar meetings earlier this year, meetings he denied previously his agency had any involvement with.

Speaking to today’s Limerick leader Kenny confirmed he ‘facilitated the rival factions’ who had allegedly said they wanted to end their feuds. He confirmed he chaired three separate meetings earlier this year.

Mr Kenny also stressed that "meetings" took place, not "talks" or "negotiations", and added that it was understandable that some people would be outraged that such meetings took place at all.

However, he points out that it was unavoidable that staff at the Regeneration offices would have to interact with residents engaged in serious criminality during the course of the Regeneration programme because plans are in place to demolish houses in Southill, Ballinacurra Weston, St Mary's Park and Moyross, where a number of feuding families live.

Mr Kenny confirmed that a request to facilitate meetings was initially refused, "but after a period of relative calm in gangland activity we agreed to meet both sides separately and then one meeting was held where both sides attended in our meeting room in the Agency Offices at Roxboro".
Via Limerick Leader

But wait a minute, flashback to a September Irish Examiner Article,

“A person linked to the Limerick Regeneration Agency has been meeting with individuals involved in the feud and last night’s planned meeting followed on these discussions.

Its chief Brendan Kenny denied last night that his organisation was involved in any discussions with feud gangs.”

These meeting were criticised by Mayor of Limerick John Gilligan at the time.

Last Sunday it was reported in a national paper that two Limerick families were involved in talks for Christmas. The paper claims that rivals Jack Collopy and Jimmy Collins exchanged Xmas good will through their paper. Read that here. grano salis required though.

It was just this past May that a provisional truce was supposedly agreed between the rival factions.

Rival families fight for a second night in Rathkeale

Gardai from across Limerick were scrambled to Rathkeale twice over the weekend to restore order following ‘unrest’ between traveller families in the town.

A number of males were injured early Sunday morning, though none seriously, when members of two families collided on Roches Road forcing local Gardai and Ambulance personnel to pull back and call for backup from neighbouring towns.

Gardai from Askeaton, Adare as along with an armed regional support unit from Limerick City, came to the assistance of local Rathkeale Gardai and order was restored.

More troubled erupted again last night when two different families at the Firhill halting site began fighting. No arrests were made on either night.

Rathkeale community has a high number of the travelling population in the town particularly around Christmas time when many return from the UK.

Man injured in city center stabbing

A teenager has been injured after a stabbing in Limerick City Center Saturday evening.

The victim is believed to have been stabbed after an altercation at the Arthur’s Quay shopping centre complex around 4.30pm.

He managed to make his way to the Cruises Street junction where Firefighters taking part in a fund raising event treated him with first aid before he was transferred to hospital by ambulance. The victim is reported to be a 17 year old male.

Gardai at Henry Street are investigating and can be contacted by anyone with information in relation to the event at 212400. Gardai have made no arrests.

Match Day at Thomond Park

Munster vs Clermont Auvergne
Kick off: 3.30pm

Its Match day again at Thomond Park and Gardai are advising anyone going to the Munster Vs Clermont Heineken cup pool one clash this evening to allow time for their journey and arrive at the stadium early.

A special shuttle bus service is operating to Thomond Park from Henry Street in the city center, beside Dunnes Stores. We’re not sure of the exact times of this service however.

Gardai are advising people to not park on any public green area around the stadium.

Match traffic combined with increased traffic levels due to it being a Christmas shopping Saturday makes for a busy and hectic day in the city.

The Teams for the match are as follows,
Munster: 15 Keith Earls, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Barry Murphy, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 David Wallace, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Alan Quinlan, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Frankie Sheahan, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 James Coughlan, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Paul Warwick, 22 tbc.

Clermont: 15 Anthony Floch, 14 Julien Malzieu, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Benoit Baby, 11 Napoliani Nalaga, 10 Brock James, 9 Pierre Mignoni, 8 Elvis Vermeulen (c), 7 Alexandre Audebert, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Thibault Privat, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Jacobus Roux, 2 Benoit Cabello, 1 Laurent Emmanuelli.
Replacements: 16 Mario Ledesma, 17 Davit Zirakashvili, 18 Christophe Samson, 19 Emmanuel Etien, 20 John Senio, 21 Seremaia Baï, 22 Grant Esterhuizen.

Listen to live Coverage on Local Live95fm Radio

Firefighters begin 24 hour marathon climb

Firefighters attempting to break a world record for ladder climbing have begun the task outside Debenhams in O’Connell Street, in the most horrendous weather conditions.

The rain poured down as the 10 man crew set off to climb for 24 hours continuously this evening just after 4pm.

The feat is being carried out to raise funds for Red Hill School a school for children with autistic spectrum disorder between the ages of 3 and 18 years.

As mentioned before, the crew will have to scale the ladder a minimum of 46 times per hour in the 24 period.

Were keeping an eye on them.

County Gardai look into reported abduction

Gardai are investigating a reported incident in which a man was abducted from his house and forced to set his own car on fire.

The incident happened Wednesday night as the victim was at his home. The victim claimed he was forced at gunpoint by another man from his home in Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, shortly after 2am on Wednesday.

He said he was then made drive his car across the Co Kerry border to a remote location near Lyracrompane and set fire to his car.Despite suffering burn injuries in the incident, the man managed to walk to a nearby house and raise the alarm.
Via Irish Times

The victim, publican Stephen Geoghegan, runs the 'Cellar bar' in Abbeyfeale. Gardai are trying to establish a motive for the attack and why he was forced to set fire to his 08 registered Audi A5 Coupe.

He is being treated at Cork University Hospital however his injuries are not believed to be life threatening. The car was reported to be worth €60,000.

Limerick Fire Service to make record breaking attempt

As we mentioned on Wednesday, members of the Limerick City Fire service will be attempting to break a world record this weekend by climbing ladders for 24 hours straight

In order to beat the record, held by the Fire service in New Zealand, the 10 man crew will have to scale ladders a minimum of 46 times per hour in the 24 period.

Limerick Firefighter Paul Knapp said it’s all being done to raise funds for a good cause,

“We’re having the 10metre scaffold put up outside Debenhams for the climb and OMC Engineering are kindly lending us three stainless steel poles that we can slide down once we’re finished our climbs, We’ve even waxed our legs which should make it a little bit easier! It will be a real test of our endurance but the important thing is that we will be raising valuable funds for Red Hill School and we hope lots of people will cheer us on and donate to what is a very worthy cause.”

With it being a 24 hour ordeal, fundraising to support the feat will take place around the city and with the attempt due to end during half time at the Munster v Clermont match on Saturday afternoon in Thomand Park, its hoped the successful record break can be announced to the stadium crowd.

The climb will take place from 4pm tomorrow (Friday) outside Debenhams in O’Connell Street and the lads are asking the public to come along and support them the attempt. From what we gather, Local radio station will be broadcasting live from O Connell Street all day. It’s also reported Pat Shortt will kick off the proceedings

The New Zealand crew climbed a total of 109.5km or around 65 miles to capture the record.

Woman dies in Charleville accident

A woman has died after she was struck by a car on the main Limerick to Cork Road in Charleville this afternoon.

The woman who is reported to be in her 60’s was knocked down on the main N20 just before 3pm. Emergency services remain at the scene.

The road is closed at Main Street in Charleville following the collision. Diversions are in place and motorists should avoid the town or expect major delays.

EU to investigate Dells €52m subsidy from Poland

As rumour and suspicion surrounds Dells future in Limerick, the EU has said it will investigate Poland's 52.7 million Euro subsidy to the computer maker saying they doubt the company's new Polish plant in Lodz needed a state subsidy.

"EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said the EU executive needed to make sure the aid "will not reinforce Dell's position or create significant capacity in a market on the decline."

When Dell announced plans to build the plant in Poland, it was hailed as a landmark project for bringing high-skilled work to the country where hundreds of thousands of young, educated people were leaving for higher-paid jobs. "
Via Ap

Labour Senator Alan Kelly said in the last hour,

“The EU competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes has suggested that large aid amounts present a high risk of distorting competition, and that large-scale projects like this need less aid. It is important that when Ireland is seeking to attract and retain major employers, that we are operating on an even playing field.

If other countries can flout the rules and regulations and get away with it, we will find it increasingly difficult to provide good quality jobs for our well-educated workforce.”

Dell employs around 3,000 workers at its manufacturing plant in Raheen which is seen as a very important part of the economic fabric of Limerick and the mid west region. Its closure would be catastrophic for the area.

Adare boil water alert lifted

A water boil notice issued to residents in Adare and its surrounding areas has been lifted, the Limerick County Council has said tonight.

The notice had been in place since last Friday after concerns the efficiency at the towns water treatment plant had been reduced allowing for “an increased possibility of bacteria getting through the system”.

Testing by the local authority has concluded that the water being produced is now meeting the drinking water standards.

Over 2,000 people were affected by the water alert in the following areas,
Adare, Tuogh, Kilknockan, Curraghbeg, Copay, Blackabbey, Gortaganniff, Graigue, Drehidtarsna, Boulabally, Beabus, Baurnalicka, Derryvinnane, Castleroberts, Lissaleen, Cloonaduff, Kilgobbin, Mondellihy, Rineroe, Knockanes and Caherass.

Limerick Quick Hits

This and that from here and there

::Thomand park to host Premier League soccer teams?
That’s the possibility that’s being reported in the Limerick Independent Newspaper this week. The report states that Thomand park officials are in talks with “the best of the best” from the Barclays Premier League in England. The paper also reports the revamped stadium has been approved by the UEFA as an ‘International soccer stadium’.

::Around 250 jobs will be created next year when construction gets underway at the city’s new Greyhound stadium. The Irish Greyhound Board said the new stadium will be located at Greenpark, on the Dock Road. Construction will hopefully get underway next march.

::Gardai are on the lookout for a gang of men who hijacked a car from its owner on the N20 Cork to Limerick road last Saturday. The victim, a 59 year old man was rammed off the road by the gang who then forced the driver out of his car where made off with it. The victim was driving a 07 Golf GTi.

::Franz Ferdinand are to play a one off event in Dolan's Warehouse on Saturday February 28th. More from the Indie Limerick Blog.

::The Limerick Co-Ordination Office has launched a website with the main goal of promoting the city’s “key attributes, raise its profile and enhance and inform perceptions”. Check out the Gallery section of the site. Some good stuff there.
http://limerickcoordination.ie/

::Some new blogs appearing recently in our Blog links on the right. The Limerick Leader has two new related blogs. 'On The Beat ' is an entertainment focused blog while the Irreverent Chalkboard blog will focus on News and Opinion from Limerick.

::We’re giving Twitter a go, get the latest alerts, notification of new blog posts along with other bits and bobs from us by following us on Twitter.

::Members of the Limerick City Fire service will be attempting to break a world record this weekend by climbing ladders for 24 hours straight. In order to beat the record, held by the Fire service in New Zealand, the 10 man crew will have to scale ladders a minimum of 46 times per hour in the 24 period. The event starts at 4pm on Friday outside Debenhams on O Connell Street. In 2005 The New Zealand crew climbed a total of 109.5km., yikes.

Some YouTube stuff
::Watch former goalkeeper Mick O'Donnell take to the stage at the Celebrity Sporting X Factor last week at Smyth's Bar. Video

::“The lunacy involved in building camera positions in Thomond Park for televised events”Video

Man jailed for 1991 fatal assault

A Co. Louth man who was on the run for 17 years has been jailed this evening for an assault which caused the death of a Limerick man in 1991.

40 year old Greg Conway from Dundalk in Co Louth had pleaded guilty earlier today to unlawfully wounding Denis Quinlivan Keyes Park in Southill, on the 3rd of September 1991.

Mr Conway was eventually arrested in 2006 on foot of a bench warrant which was issued on 15 June 1992. The court was told how he had kicked and beaten Quinlivan and also hit him with a rock during the brutal assault. The victim died from his injuries in hospital a few months later.

Conway was due to stand trial for the assault in June 1992 but he failed to turn up in court and had fled to England.

Limerick brothers arraigned in shooting case

Two brothers have appeared in court charged in connection with a shooting incident which left a six year old girl injured earlier this year.

At their arraignment today 27 year old Paul Curtin and 38 year old Christopher Curtin both pleaded guilty to charges of suspicious possession of a twelve gauge shotgun and possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life at Lilac Court on the 31st of May.

Their uncle, 44 year old Eric Curtin also pleaded guilty to the possession of the shotgun on the same date.

The young girl was injured and two cars were damaged when 2 shots were discharged in the shooting incident. A pellet had ricocheted from one of the cars striking the 6 year old girl in the leg while she played in a front garden nearby.

All three will appear before Limerick Circuit Court again for sentencing on the 23rd of January.

‘Fat’ Frankie murder trial to begin this week

The trial of a man who has been charged with the same murder twice will finally get underway after months of delays.

A Jury was sworn in today at the Central Criminal Court at Cloverhill Courthouse for the trial of 25 year old Gary Campion of Pineview Gardens, Moyross who is charged with the gangland murder of 21 year old `Fat` Frankie Ryan in Moyross on the 17th of September 2006.

Mr. Ryan was ambushed and shot in the back of the head as he sat in his car at the Pineview Gardens estate.

In 2007 Campion had the charge of murder against him dropped after the book of evidence was not presented by the Gardai on time however the murder charge was renewed later in the year.

The trial is due to begin on this Wednesday. Mr Justice Paul Carney will preside.

All Irish pork being recalled from sale

All Irish pork products are to be removed from shop shelves tonight over fears it may be contaminated.

The Food Safety Authority in a late evening press conference ordered the “withdrawal and recall of all Irish pork products” dating as far back as the 1st of September.

Officials said that the dioxin PCB was found in pig feed at dioxinat levels between 80 and 200 times the safe limit.

It is understood that contaminated feed was used at a total of 37 farms, 29 of which were pork farms and the other eight were beef farms.

But the FSA has advised that it is not necessary at this time to have a similar withdrawal of beef products.

The public are now being advised to destroy all pork products purchased since September 1st.

The FSAI has set up a helpline - 1890336677 and has added further information about the recall and the potential consequences to its website at www.fsai.ie.

More Details
Food Safety Authority Press Release

Woman rescued from river Shannon

A woman was rescued from the river Shannon by Gardai this morning.

A guest staying at the Clarion Hotel on Steamboat Quay is believed to have spotted the woman entering the river shortly before 10am and alerted emergency services.

Fire service units, Gardai and the Marine search and Rescue boat were sent to the scene and the woman, thought to be in her 20’s was pulled from the river.

The woman suffered no serious injuries and is said to be in a comfortable condition at the Mid Western Regional Hospital.

Boil water notice issued for Adare area

Limerick County Council have issued a boil water notice to 2,000 customers served by the Public Water Supply in Adare Town.

The council issued the alert after consultation with the Health service.

The boil notice has been issued for the following areas:
Adare, Tuogh, Kilknockan, Curraghbeg, Copay, Blackabbey, Gortaganniff, Graigue, Drehidtarsna, Boulabally, Beabus, Baurnalicka, Derryvinnane, Castleroberts, Lissaleen, Cloonaduff, Kilgobbin, Mondellihy, Rineroe, Knockanes and Caherass.

A senior engineer with the council said in a statement tonight that treatment efficiency at the Adare plant had been reduced saying there is “an increased possibility of bacteria getting through the system”

Boil notice conditions:

- Water for drinking purposes, brushing teeth and food preparation should be boiled.

- Boil the water to ensure a rolling vigorous boil and then allow it to cool. Cover it and store it in a fridge or cold place. (Tea or coffee made with water which has boiled is safe to drink)

- Water from the hot tap is not safe to drink. Domestic filters will not guarantee that water is safe to drink. Discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers.

- Use water that has been prepared for drinking (i.e. that is boiled) for preparing foods that will not be cooked, e.g. for washing salads.

- It is safe to drink commercial bottled mineral water.

Prepare baby feeds with water that has been brought to the boil once and cooled. Do not use water that has been reboiled several times. If tap water is unavailable, use bottled water that has been brought to the boil and cooled. Avoid using water that is fizzy, unless boiling has removed all the fizziness. Check the label: water in bottles labelled "natural mineral water" is not required to meet all the standards of tap waters.

Don't use natural mineral water with concentrations greater than the following for infant feeding: sodium -200mg/l; Nitrate -50mg/l; Nitrite -0.5mg/l; Sulphate -250mg/l. Water maybe used for flushing of toilets, internal house plumbing and for personal hygiene and bathing. Vulnerable users, those persons with poor kidney function, renal failure and particularly those on renal dialysis are advised to source alternative drinking water until further advised.

A Water tanker supplying drinking water is located behind the Heritage center in Adare.Its thought the boil notice wont be lifted before Monday.

Further information is available from: 061 496326 (9.30am-4.30pm Monday-Friday) or 087-629516 after hours up to 11pm or 061 419226 .

Justice Minister and Garda head visit Limerick today

The head of the Gardai and the Minister for Justice are due back in Limerick again today for updates on a number of issues.

Its expected Minister Dermot Ahern and Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy will be briefed in relation to ongoing gangland crime investigations including the murder of Shane Geoghegan last month.

Since their last visit, Gardai have carried out over 55 raids on the Southside of the city seizing pistols, rifles, shotguns, ammunition and thousands of euro worth of drugs including cannabis and cocaine.

Mr. Ahern will also receive an update on the Regeneration activities by CEO Brendan Kenny.

The Garda commissioner last visited Limerick in the days following the murder of 28 year old Shane Geoghegan in Kilteragh on November 8th.

Mr. Geoghegan was visiting friends in the Clonmore estate to watch the Ireland vs Canada rugby match and was gunned down during his short walk home.

Limerick Quick Hits

This and that from here and there

Muggers are picking on the elderly more in Limerick say Gardai. In one incident an 83-year-old woman had a purse stolen while she was lighting a candle at St John's Church! More here

Cocaine worth around €160,000 was found by custom officials concealed in an overhead unit of a plane at Shannon Airport last night. Gardai investigating. More Here

Some late night Bus Eireann services from the city centre to Castletroy have been reportedly stopped due to Vandalism. Bus Eireann says €5,000 worth of damage has been caused in recent weeks by a "small number of students".

Limerick FC have said today that they are currently in the process of "reviewing their financial model with a view to securing additional investment". The club owner said they are "looking for investment partners that will inject the funds" into the club. RTE News

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland has announced that it will seek applications for 6 new community and community of interest radio services during the course of 2009, with two of them for the Mid West; East Limerick and Shannon.

A candlelight vigil to be held tonight at 8pm at St. Joseph’s church in the city center for murder victim Shane Geoghegan.

Fr Joe Young is asking people of Limerick to march on the homes of known criminals and drug dealers and let them know that "enough is enough”. Brave man.

Interesting stuff here. http://www.riverchance.com/ ."A showcase for projects which investigate Limerick City and its identity. It seeks to add to the ongoing debate about our city and its future."

Some time lapse video of the Limerick Tunnel being floated out into the Shannon Basin. Video

Oh those charity collectors on Cruises Street. Video

“Hammer blow” for Midwest after job cuts

There has been worrying reaction all around the Midwest at the news today that the long established Element Six Ltd, which manufactures and distributes industrial diamonds and super-hard materials will shed 150 jobs.

The company based in Shannon, Co Clare, made the announcement to its staff this morning saying it needed to reduce its workforce by the end of the year.

General Manager Ken Sullivan explained in a statement today,
“Our major customers include those in construction, automotive, general engineering and the drilling for oil and gas. All of these are caught up in the down turn in global business. In some sectors, sales are running as low as 50 per cent of what we would have expected a few weeks ago.”

Political Reaction
Local TDs and councillors have been weighing in on the news discussing the effect it will have not only on Shannon but on the entire Mid West region as a whole.

Labours Jan O Sullivan said a short time ago,

"I am extremely concerned by the gradual reduction in job numbers throughout the Mid West and I am calling on the Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment to immediately focus on this area with the IDA with a view to attracting new investment into this area. Limerick and the greater Mid West Region has witnessed no significant jobs investment since this Government came into office nearly 12 years ago despite both Shannon and Limerick being designated 'Gateways Regions' in the Governments national Spatial Strategy”

Mayor Of Clare Madeleine Taylor Quinn was equally gloomy on hearing the news,

"While I recognise that the company has confirmed the redundancies are part of a group-wide cost-saving programme in the organisation, it must be pointed out that the company's General Manager last year indicated its operations were under 'active review'. The fact that the company turned pre-tax profits of just over USD2m last year, well ahead of 2005's USD9m loss, shows that rising operating costs coupled with the global economic downturn is having a real impact on major multinationals.

The loss of the service has also seriously undermined the effectiveness of major infrastructure projects such as the Southern Ring Road in Limerick City, the Ennis Bypass, Shannon Tunnel and N-7 Nenagh to Limerick high-quality dual carriageway."

Element Six has been manufacturing at the Mid West base since 1963 and currently employs 620 people.

Families still without homes after Limerick floods

"Abandoned by the inept bunglers calling themselves a government"
With only 3 weeks left until Christmas it’s being reported that at least 10 families are still waiting to return to their homes following the Newcastle West flooding which occurred 4 months ago.

The families all living in the Newcastle West area have been living in temporary accommodation since the devastating flooding events of the summer.

A public meeting will be held this evening at the Ballintemple Inn to allow the affected local residents voice their concerns on aspects including the lack of Government support financially, in the wake of the flooding.

Last week it was reported that no state aid has been paid out to relieve the victims of the floods, 4 months on.

Its expected management from Limerick County Council along with local councillors will be in attendance tonight.

A month's worth of rain fell in just five hour on July 31st causing the River Arra to burst its banks for the first time in living memory. Millions of euro worth of damage was caused in the Newcastle West region and homes, cars and businesses were destroyed.

The meeting begins at 8pm tonight.

Rod Stewart concert for Thomond Park next summer

Rock icon Rod Stewart is to play a concert at Thomond Park next summer according to the Limerick Leader.

The paper reports the concert will take place on Saturday July 4th 2009 and tickets will go on sale this Friday morning at 9am.

Last month it was announced Elton John would play in June next year and its said that a series of similar events are being planned for the newly revamped stadium.

Limerick Leader has more
Aiken Promotions Press Release