Man seriously injured after 35ft fall

A 23 year old Polish man is fighting for his life in Limerick Regional Hospital tonight after he fell from a 2nd story window of a building on Upper Henry Street.

The incident happened around 7pm this evening. Gardai ,Ambulance and Fire services rushed to the scene and the young man was quickly taken to hospital suffering multiple injuries.

The area remains sealed off tonight and NewsTalk Radio reports that a technical examination is the scene is to be carried out.

UPDATE:The man is now in a stable condition and Gardai now say they are keeping an open mind as to how the man crashed through the 2nd floor window.

(The scene on Upper Henry Street this evening)

Job losses as Sky News Ireland is axed

Sky News Ireland is to be axed according to BSkyB in a statement released today.

The Irish wing of Sky News which employs 29 people including a cameraman and journalist in Limerick, will cease broadcasting its two nightly bulletins in late November with their last broadcast on the 30th of the month.

Since it’s inception almost two years ago , Sky News Ireland failed to grab any significant ratings even after moving there bulletins to Sky One.

John Ryley, Head of Sky News, said ,

"The talented and dedicated Sky News Ireland team has produced a high quality product, some outstanding journalism and attracted a loyal audience. I would like to thank them for their commitment and professionalism to date. The decision to change direction is a difficult one but our commitment to choice and innovation means that we will always take risks and try new ideas. Irish stories remain an integral part of the main channel as well as new media outlets as Sky News refocuses its resources in a way that continues to meet the needs of consumers in the broadband age."

Jobs will be lost as the company intends to axe their Limerick office and significantly reduce employee numbers in their Dublin and Belfast bureaus to just 5 employees in total.

Anthony Kelly denied bail at High court

The High court has today denied an application for bail for arrested Clare business man Anthony Kelly who is charged with the Murder of Limerick bouncer Brian Fitzgerald.

Objecting to the application, Detective Sergeant Seamus Nolan said that the lives of two key witnesses due to give evidence would be in serious danger and also said that Mr. Kelly would likely flee the country.

The Prosecution alleges that Mr. Kelly hired hitman James Cahill, supplied him with a gun and ordered him to shoot Brian Fitzgerald in the head.

Gardai find €100,000 worth of drugs in search

Gardai have seized more than €100,000 worth of drugs after a planned raid was carried out today.

Ecstasy, heroin and cocaine were found in the search of a house in O’Malley Park.Reports say no one has been arrested in relation to the discovery as of yet.

One injured in city centre crash

One person is being treated tonight Limerick Regional Hospital after a single car crash in the city earlier this evening.

The accident happened around 7.15pm on the Roxborough Road near the intersection of Sexton Street .Gardai, Fire and Ambulance services attended the scene where the two occupants were removed from the vehicle. It’s understood that one person had to be cut from the car.

It’s believed the car left the road and collided with a pole.

Pike Rovers soccer pitch suffers vandalism

The grounds of Pike Rovers football club were vandalised over the weekend according to the Limerick Leader newspaper today.

Officials from the club discovered late last week that parts of two pitches were dug up and a set of goalpost had been sawn in half.

The Gardai have confirmed they are investigating the incidents which come three weeks after another set of goalposts were stolen from the grounds. They were never recovered.

Chairman of the club Michael Noonan said that the club has never experienced anything like this in the past.

Moyross man in court on arson charges

A Moyross man has appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District court today charged in connection with an attempted arson attack on a house in College Avenue late Saturday night.

A woman and two of her children were forced to flee their house in the Moyross estate after there kitchen was set on fire around 2am.

The 26 year old was arrested last night and taken to Mayorstone where he was charged with three counts of criminal damage and one count of threatening to commit criminal damage.

At the hearing today Judge Tom O Donnell remanded the man in custody to appear again on Wednesday.

Senior official named for Moyross area

The senior official who will co-ordinate local voluntary and state initiates in Moyross has been named today as John Fitzgerald.

The native Limerick man who will have a direct line to cabinet ministers in his new post apparently has a wealth of experience in local government.

Willie O’Dea spoke today of the appointment saying Mr. Fitzgerald is a problem solver,

“Today the Moyross community has the chance of a new beginning. The Government knows the problems that are there. I vow to ensure that John Fitzgerald and the Task Force are given every resource available to do their job. They will, in consultation with the local community, decide what needs to be done and I know, they will get it done.

The problems of Moyross have been well-ventilated in the media in recent times.But my firm belief is that this Government initiative to address the issues of social exclusion, crime and disorder will allow the people of Moyross to partake in the unprecedented social and commercial success now enjoyed by the rest of Limerick.”

Euromillions horse running today

The family owned race horse of Limerick Euro millions winner Dolores McNamara is running today in Wexford.

The horse, Carraig na gCapall, is running in the 4.45pm race today. Her husband Adrian will be in attendance at the event in Wexford.

The Examiner reports that the horse is a daughter of Carroll House which won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

UPDATE: Carraig na gCapall finished 4th.

U.L students doing what they do best.

I decided to take a trip over to Youtube this evening and I came across one Limerick item that I thought I’d post here.

Possibly the funniest, strangest, weirdest crappiest video, however it’s made by students of the Laughing society over in the University of Limerick and depicts a really bad parody of a soap.

A description of the clip form Youtube,

It’s a university based soap that parodies many and has no new ideas whatsoever. It also makes no sense. just a couple of thousand students having a laugh.

Take a look here.

So that’s where all those student grants go to then.Caution however, it is student humor after all.

Limerick writer wins top award

A native Limerick man has won a New York literary prize worth €32,000 according to today’s Irish Times.

42 year old Patrick O'Keeffe(right) who is originally from Kilteely here in Limerick won a Whiting Writers' Award for emerging authors at an event in New York.

His work ,The Hill Road, is a collection of four novellas about “life in a fictional Limerick village”.

The Following is from an interview with the author,

The Hill Road is set in and around Co. Limerick. What brought you to write about it?

"I have not been there in ten years but when I began writing fiction in the US, in my late twenties, that’s what happened. The physical landscape is particularly vivid to me, and it became even more so in the writing because I began to recall specific details and images I thought I had forgotten, and also the way people talked and told things. I think in the stories it’s very much an invented place, though many of the physical descriptions of landscape and farm life are from memory."

Do you ever go back to Ireland, and specifically to County Limerick?

"I was in Ireland last Christmas, and that was the first time in ten years. I spent most of my time in Limerick, but I did visit old friends in Dublin. It was great to be back on the trains and the buses again."

Mother seeks help for “Drug addict” son

Apparently a Limerick mother has had to resort to pressing charges against her own 17 year old son

From Live 95FM,

A Limerick mother has made an emotional appeal to a District Court judge to get medical assistance for her drug addict son

The woman has been forced to persue charges against her 17 year old son, who broke a window at the family home on Wednesday night.

Wonderful state of affairs.

Bock the Robber

Just a quick note to let everyone know of a Limerick Blog I discovered through LimerickBlogs.com recently called Bock the Robber. The writer blogs from “war-torn Limerick” and has been around for a while now.

Cheeky, funny and different. Well worth the read.
Bock the Robber

Another private hospital in the works

Limerick looks set to have yet another private hospital in the coming years with the announcement that talks are in an advanced stage for the erection of a hospital on the grounds of the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle.

It comes days after planning permission for a private run hospital on the grounds of Adare manor was given to the manor owner Tom Kane.

Speaking on today’s news, local TD Tim O' Malley said,

"Contracts are on track for completion early next year for a new 118-bed hospital at Limerick Regional Hospital. The plan is to increase the number of beds available in public hospitals by co-locating private hospitals alongside public hospitals.

The HSE is now in the process of evaluating proposal and short-listing bidders. When the new hospital is completed through the government’s co-location initiative it will result in at least 118 private beds being freed-up for public patients in Limerick’s Mid-Western Regional Hospital. The capital costs will be met by the private sector, which will also pay full commercial value for the lease of public land”

‘Swift’ rescue for Dog in Shannon River

Gardai are investigating an incident yesterday evening in which a dog was thrown into the Shannon River.

The pure bred white boxer named "Casper" managed to find a shallow area and was spotted by a passer by who immediately phone the emergency services. The Fire brigade’s swift water rescue team was successful in hoisting the shaken dog to safety.

The LSPCA told tonight’s Limerick Leader that this is only one in a string of barbaric acts carried out on dogs and cats leading up to Halloween.It’s reported that youth’s snatched the dog from his home on the Island Road and tried to drown him.

Gardai are of course appealing for anyone who may have seen this broad daylight event to contact them on 212400.

Earlier this month a Pit bull terrier choked to death after being hanged from a marina lock gate near Sarsfield bridge.

Photo: Limerick Leader

Flooding experienced throughout the city

Extremely bad weather is causing some major flooding around the city this evening.

A a large area of Hyde road is closed due to flooding. Traffic is being diverted up Lenihan Avenue.Garryowen road; Corbally Road, Ennis road(left) and the Ballysimon road are also suffering severe flooding.

Check out Floodmap.ie for the latest flood advice for where you live

Clare man to contest murder charge

The man arrested in connection with the murder of Brian Fitzgerald last week has appeared in court again today.

Anthony Kelly’s solicitor told the Limerick District Court that his client wishes to contest the charge of murder saying there is no basis to the allegations. He insisted his client would be pleading not guilty to the charge.

At the hearing today an application was made for a one month adjournment to allow the book of evidence to be built up for the case and the man was remanded to appear again in late November.

The 49 years old businessman was arrested in the village of Barefield last Sunday.

Government package for Moyross to be unveiled soon

The Government has confirmed tonight that the details of a major economic social package drafted for the Moyross area will be announced very soon.

The package will consist of and policing plans, social development initiatives along with other economic proposals.

A Government spokesperson has said tonight that Bertie Ahern may visit the Moyross area to personally unveil the Major Government package for the area at the weekend or early next week

Hopes fade again for Castlemahon Jobs

Hopes of saving the almost 300 jobs at the West Limerick Castlemahon plant look as if they’ve faded today after it was announced that consortiums have abandoned a takeover bid for the company.

A consultant’s report on the potential viability of the plant was published at a meeting over the weekend between Shannon Development, Limerick County Enterprise Board and the consortiums. It was as a result of this that the consortiums decided not to proceed.

Meanwhile it has emerged that the owners of Castlemahon food, the O’ Kane group have offered the Castlemahon workers two weeks’ statutory redundancy.

Senator Michael Finucane reacted to the offer saying,

“Last year when they had the redundancy programme they gave workers fiveweeks. I think they are being mean-minded in now walking away from their workforce with just the two weeks on offer.”

Man stabbed in Castletroy

Gardai are investigating a stabbing incident which occurred last night in the Castletroy area.

RTE reports that a man in his twenties did not suffer and life threatening injuries in the confrontation however he was taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital.

No one as of yet has been arrested.


More from The Irish Times:

The victim was injured after a row broke out between two men in a house in Castletroy View at around 9pm on Sunday.He was taken by ambulance to the Mid Western Regional Hospital, where his injuries were described as not life threatening. Gardaí are believed to have interviewed both men yesterday and an investigation is underway.

Bid made to kill James Martin Cahill : Report

Just days after 49-year-old Clare Businessman Anthony Kelly was charged in relation to the murder of Doc’s Doorman Brian Fitzgerald, it is being reported today in a Sunday tabloid that a bid was made to kill James Martin Cahill(right), the man convicted of the murder.

The Sunday World reports today that a price tag of €30,000 has been put on the head of Mr. Cahill in a bid to silence him in his behind bars role as a Supergrass. The report tells of how, two weeks ago, rat poison was found in a meal which was being prepared for the convicted killer at Portlaoise prison.

There are extremely tight security measures in place around Cahill. He is the only prisoner on his landing in the jail and his food is cooked separately from the others.

As he was being led from court after his sentencing hearing back in November 2005 he said he feared he would be murdered in his cell.

RTE Video showing Mr. Cahill saying would be murdered in his cell(at the end of the clip)
November 2005.

Private Adare Manor hospital will create 380 jobs

Permission has been granted for the construction of a 100 bed private hospital on the grounds of Adare Manor in Co. Limerick(left).

Tom Kane, owner of the manor is leading a consortium behind the 31,000 square meter hospital which will be run by British health group BMI Healthcare. Permission for the hospital was granted by An Bord Pleanala this week.

Mr. Kane expects the first work on the project to begin “within several weeks’’.

He explains more to the Sunday Business Post,

Kane hopes to open the private hospital in the second half of 2008. The hospital will range in height from two to three storey and will have eight operating theatres and two radiology suites.There will be 30 consultant suites, as well as diagnostic and treatment facilities.

Each of the 100 beds will be in a self-contained room with air-conditioning, en suite bathroom, flat screen television, broadband-enabled computer and refrigerator.Facilities will include a day surgery centre and an urgent care centre for non-critical patients. Planning permission for the development, which is expected to cost €100 million, was secured subject to a
number of conditions.

These include the provision of ancillary car parking, improvements to the existing road junction with the N21, upgrading the existing waste water treatment plant, the construction of a pumping station, the development of a storm water attenuationsystem and the provision of detailed landscaping.

The hospital is expected to create up to 380 jobs.

Crime czar for Moyross area

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has announced that the Government is to appoint a crime czar for the Moyross area.

Speaking while on a vist to the area yesterday Mc Dowell said,

“Next week the Taoiseach and I will bring to Cabinet a proposal for the appointment of a figure of national stature whose function it will be to ensure that the elaborate set of initiatives which are at play in Moyross are coordinated and that obstacles are removed in relation to making progress in relation to all of the programmes ongoing there.

Our feeling is this: that very considerable resources from within the community and from within the Government are available there. What is needed is that we ensure that obstacles which sometimes appear when a number of different agencies are working on the ground are swept aside and that we get the maximum impact from the resource that the community is putting in to help themselves and which the Government is putting in to help them have the maximum impact.”

He also announced that the CCTV cameras in Moyross will have a €200,000 upgrade.

Raheen area covered in blanket of cement sediment after incident

The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating an incident at the Irish cement factory late last night which left a large area of Raheen and Mungret covered in a very light layer of cement sediment.

Apparently overnight, a hole developed in one of the coolers at the plant which resulted in the discharge of a cloud of cement which landed on everywhere around the Raheen and Mungret Areas.

The Factory as seen on Google Earth

When people got into there cars this morning they found what looked like a layer of frost on their windscreens, or so they thought. Over a hundred cars were said to be effected according to Live95FM.

As a result the factory offered to pay for a wash of any car that had been effected by the cloud at a petrol station on the dock road today. Local radio reported that a large Queue had gathered at the petrol station throughout the day.

The Health Service Executive is also investigating the incident.

Finding a gun in Moyross is like finding a priest in the Vatican

Reacting to the media coverage of the Pat Kenny/Gun fiasco, Pat Kenny has told listeners of his radio programme show that a media fuss over a gun he saw a youth handling Moyross on Monday night was about as newsworthy as a “priest found in the Vatican”.

Speaking on the incident he said,

“I was not surprised to know they [Guns] are there, but surprised at the manner in which I was confronted with a gun.”

The mayor of Limerick, Joe Leddin has hit out at the comments saying he is disappointed that Pat Kenny would say such a thing.

He stated,

"Particularly so since he took the time and effort to come and broadcast his show from Moyross, which we widely welcome. He could see at first hand all the wonderful and positive initiatives ongoing in Moyross. The fact that a person had a gun illegally is a matter of concern and a matter for the Gardaí. Unfortunately that incident highlights another issue, namely the amount of illegal guns not just in Limerick but in the country.”

Councilor John Gilligan said,

“Pat Kenny’s comments that guns are more or less common place in Moyross are untrue and not helpful to the image of the city. It adds to all that nonsense and I believe Pat Kenny should be wise enough when somebody is taking him for a ride and was unwise to broadcast these fellows.I don’t believe what he saw was a real handgun. He was set up and these young lads were winding him up to get cheap publicity. I’m sure they were falling around the place laughing when they heard it on the radio: this fellow coming down from Dublin and winding him up.Pat Kenny should know people don’t walk around Moyross with guns. They are not used as a fashion accessory. They are used to shoot at people and the Gardaí have recovered up to 15 guns in the area in the past few weeks.”

Pat Kenny may still have to be interviewed by Gardai in relation to the incident.

UL receives it’s €4.34m grant

The University of Limerick has received their €4.34m grant for their mathematics research program.

Apparently it’s the largest single award for mathematics research in this country.

Speaking on the award, Professor Stephen O’Brien who is head of the research program at the UL said,

“This will also lead to the employment of more than 12 research fellows and graduate students in applied mathematics dedicated to the resolving of problems, a new cross-institutional fourth level postgraduate program and outreach summer schools aimed at demystifying mathematics in the eyes of second level students and the general public.”

The announcement of the grant was first made at the start of the month.

Cyclist killed in Castletroy collision

Gardai are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Castletroy yesterday which left a woman dead.

The 35-year-old French woman was cycling near the University Of Limerick when she collided with a truck which was turning into a construction site near the Castletroy Park Hotel.

The dead woman was named this evening as Nadia Lisqure and had been working and living in Limerick for quite some time.

LRIS website down

The Limerick Republican Information Service Website seems to be down.

The "voice of Republicanism in the Mid West of Ireland" has been down for a while now.

A good or a bad thing i wonder?

Teen pulls out gun in front of Pat Kenny

“Put it away before somebody gets hurt.”

They are the words Pat Kenny uttered when confronted with a teen holding a gun in Moyross last night. He started off his show this morning live from Moyross with the story of what happened last night.

“I took a walk last night I started in the Pineview gardens area and within moments I came across three lads dressed in very bulky, hoody type tops. It turns out the bulk was caused by their underware...They were wearing bullet-proof vests.”

It was at this point Pat began chatting to the group asking them about their bullet proof vests when one of the three pulled out a semi automatic pistol. The teen’s friends ask him to put it away and Pat Kenny immediately agrees saying,

“Put it away before somebody gets hurt”

He goes on explaining the story,

“The surprising, even shocking thing for me was that none of the children surrounding me seemed to be remotely phased by the presence of a semi automatic mauser pistol in the hands of what looked like a 16 year old boy.”

Meanwhile the Limerick Leader is reporting tonight that the Government is set to announce a multi-million Euro package for the area in the coming weeks and there is even talk of a Garda station being built there by the Department of Justice.

The paper also reports that The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese was to hold a private meeting with Sheila Murray, the mother of the two children injured in an arson attack last month. That took place this evening.

The Limerick Blogger has posted a litany of Tabloid coverage on the incident with scans from quite a lot of papers

Listen to the full Pat Kenny Show from Moyross HERE
(Realplayer required)

Man arrested in relation to Brian Fitzgerald murder.

A man arrested in connection with the murder of Doc’s doorman Brian Fitzgerald four years ago has appeared in court today

49-year-old Anthony Kelly (seen here on the right) was nabbed just outside Ennis in Co. Clare late last night. He appeared before a sitting of Limerick District court this morning where he was formally charged in connection with the murder of the doorman.

An application was made for bail but this was rejected as it is a High Court matter.He will appear again next week.

James Martin Cahill, an Englishman, was jailed for life for the murder of Brian Fitzgerald last November.

Pat Kenny: Live from Moyross tomorrow and Late Late Show coming to UL.

PAT KENNY'S SUDDEN FASCINATION WITH LIMERICK

It was confirmed today that RTE’s flagship Late Late Show will take place on November 10th at Limericks University Concert Hall.

Up to 700 people will be expected to fill the UCH audience when the RTE band-wagon rolls into town.

But speaking on the move to Limerick, Pat Kenny insisted that although the show will not necessarily focus on the city's reputation for crime, “If crime is hot we'll be dealing with it”.

Meanwhile Pat is also bringing his daily radio show down to Moyross tomorrow (Tuesday) where he says crime will be “very much on the agenda”.

Oh Great..

The show is live from the Moyross Community Centre Tuesday Morning from 10am to 12pm.

Man kicked and beaten for his phone

The Irish Independent is reporting today that a man in his twenties is recovering in the Limerick Regional Hospital tonight after he was the victim of a vicious assault over the weekend.

The young man was apparently walking near Raheen FoodStores on the Mulcair Road in Raheen around 3am Sunday morning when he was set upon by a number of males who kicked and beat him around the head before making off with his mobile phone.

Anyone with information on the attack are asked to contact Roxboro Gardai on (061) 212430.

Operation Anvil nets €30,000 worth of drugs

Operation Anvil continued today in Limerick with the seizure of 30,000 euro worth of drugs in a planned Garda search in an area just below Southill

In an early morning raid , Gardai searched premises in Carew Park where they found large amounts of Heroin and cocaine.

The operation which got underway at 7am consisted of 20 uniformed Gardai, the Dog unit and the Garda regional search team.

Limerick Siege man won’t face any charges

The Limerick man who barricaded himself into his Roscrea home in August will not face any charges it became known today.

Gardaí evacuated a section of the town after Jim Hourigan(right) refused to leave the house on Rosemary Street. The man in his fifties allegedly doused himself in petrol and was threatening to ignite himself and gas canisters in the two story building.

He wanted to draw attention to the fact he suffered sexual abuse while training as a Christian Brother. He had become frustrated with the protracted nature of the ongoing legal proceedings and felt compelled to take drastic action.

After he saw his story on the evening news, he knew he had accomplished his goal and left the house without incident.

There has been mixed reactions to the news,

"For God's sake, he caused chaos, made a complete nuisance of himself and he's getting away with it,"

said one Roscrea local , while another said,

"Ah sure, he was a grand chap when he wasn't drinking. He helped a few of his neighbours with odd jobs and the like. He obviously had issues but I'm glad the matter's not going any further"

Consortiums battle to save Castlemahon plant

The 300 jobs hanging by a thread at Castlemahon foods could be saved very soon after it emerged there is two consortiums vying it out to save the company.

Today’s Sunday Business Post reports today that the two groups who are made up of suppliers to the plant have met with potential backers and a bid to buy the company could be made by both in the next 10 days.

The two groups had met as one last week to put together a package to save the plant but they have split and are now competing against each other for the €80m poultry processing plant.

More from the SBP,

The two consortiums have already held meetings with banks about securing capital, while contact has also been made with Shannon Development, the regional development authority, in an effort to secure grants and funding.

It is not known how much they intend to offer for the company. It is understood that no other trade buyers have come forward and the company’s chances of survival now hinge upon a deal with the poultry suppliers.The producers have a significant stake in the company’s survival. Most of them depend on Castlemahon and have no other customers.

The company went into provisional liquidation three weeks ago after amassing debts of more than €20 million. Castlemahon is owned by the O’Kane Group, an Antrim-based food group that has interests on both sides of the border.T

he O’Kane Group is owed about €16 million by Castlemahon, but has agreed to write off those loans to help secure a buyer.

And then there's this

After hearing about this story yesterday I immediately thought of a segment on the American News Channel, Fox news entitled “Most ridiculous item of the day”

A near 5 hour bus strike hit Limerick yesterday after 180 drivers walked off the job around 6am.And the reason for the chaos…their handwritten roster list was replaced with a printed one…..Yes you are reading it right.

A spokesman for the striking bus drivers said yesterday,

“We were led to believe that it was just a question of replacing the old, handwritten roster with a printout. But that did not prove to be the case. The printout roster set out the names of the drivers in alphabetical order and this caused problems for the spare drivers.”

It’s the spare drivers who are worried about it the most. Apparently their work schedule is based on filling in for drivers on holidays or on leave

One company sources told the Examiner today,
"The handwritten roster enabled some drivers to cherry-pick their working schedule".So it looks like this can’t be done no more and thats why the spares are angry.

Bus Eireann management were as shocked as the rest of us when they heard the news,

“This is just moving with the times, but drivers seem to have some difficulty with it. There is no difference. The data is the same, their duties are the same, their pay is the same, their work conditions are the same and their work pattern is the same. We are just moving on. This action is ludicrous”.

Ludicrous is just one of the words..

Shootings go on despite Armed Garda presence

A senior Limerick Garda has spoken this week of how the feuding gangs of Limerick are trying to kill each other in broad daylight and seem to completely ignore the presence of up to70 armed Gardaí.

From Garda horses to dogs and planes to helicopters,70 armed Gardai and the National Buraeu of investigation , Gardai just can’t seem to put a lid on all this violence.

Detective Sergeant Seamus Nolan spoke Wednesday about recent developments saying,

“Thirteen firearms and a large quantity of ammunition have been recovered since the murder of Frank Ryan”

He also spoke of how tensions in the area of Moyross have increased dramatically since the murder of Mr. Ryan last month. He claims that two groups have separated since the killing and are now shooting at each other in “planned and systematic” attacks.

The Limerick Leader reports tonight that a total of nine people have been arrested this week as part of Operation Anvils investigation into shootings in Moyross.

Grenade type device found in search

OPERATION ANVIL CONTINUES TO NET

Gardai had to call in the Bomb disposal Army unit last night after a grenade was found in a house in Delmage Park.

The device was found along with a handgun in a derelict house during a second day of searches in the area.

Two men were arrested in Ballynanty during the same operation. A handgun and a quantity of ammo were seized there.

It brings the total arrested this week in relation to shooting incidents in the Moyross area to eight people.

Garda horses on the beat in Moyross

Last week I received an e-mail form a reader informing me about the new “additional Gardai” for Moyross in the form of 4 mounted Gardai patrolling the Pineview and Delmege estates.

An article however has appeared in Wednesdays Limerick Independent on the deployment which Garda chiefs are dubbing, “Operation Assist”.

The operation has been set up to tackle anti-social behaviour and “out of control teenagers” according to the paper. The article goes on to give a eight paragraph history of the unit since its inception back in 1998 but fails to mention how effective it has been in Moyross the last month.

The e-mailer who contacted us informed us that locals seem to be “pissed off” at the deployment saying that the size of the Garda horses are intimidating for the local horses and raised the question ...”is it that locals will be impressed by the horses and give the Gardaí "respect"?

So was it the right decision to deploy Garda horses in Delmege / Pineview and will they have any effect of anti-social behavior?

Guns seized after Six people arrested by Gardai

Six people have been arrested by Limerick Gardai after a number of guns were seized this evening.The arrests were made around tea time today as part of the Garda Operation Anvil.

Gardai carried out a number of raids in Delmege Park where two handguns and an amount of ammunition was recovered. It’s part of an “ongoing operation” into shootings in the Delmege park area recently.

Four teenage males and two women in their twenties were arrested and taken to different city centre Garda stations. They are being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

Second west Limerick Company goes into liquidation

It was announced today that 50 jobs would be lost at Microtherm Limited which is based in Bruff.

The company made the announcement today saying they have gone into liquidation and have begun a wind down process. They are blaming current market conditions and the rise in operation costs.

Earlier this month Castlemahon Foods announced they were to cease operations with a loss of 300 jobs.

Man shot in the face in Moyross

A 20 year old is recovering in the Limerick Regional tonight after he was involved in a shooting incident in the Moyross area.

The man sustained gunshot wounds to his face and upper body in the attack in Delmege Park around 10.30pm.A shotgun was believed to have been discharged at the man at a house in the troubled estate.

The man is not thought to have suffered any life threatening injuries. Gardai at Mayorstone are investigating the incident.

Ireland.com reports this incident was a drive by shooting.The car used in the attack was found minutes later burnt out in a different part of the estate.

Man arrested in relation to 2003 murder

A man appeared before Limerick District court Sunday charged with withholding information about a murder which took place in 2003.

Andrew Nolan who is 26-year-old and from Ash Avenue was arrested by Limerick Gardaí early Sunday Morning after he came back to the country. He is being held in relation to the murder of Michael Campbell McNamara.

Mr McNamara's body was discovered in a field in the Southill area in October of 2003
A burnt out car belonging to him was found in the Fedamore area outside Limerick the next day. The McCarthy-Dundon gang is suspected of carrying out the murder according to the Examiner.

House of Sheila Murray attacked in Moyross

The House of Sheila Murray, mother of the two Limerick children burned in an arson attack last month has come under attack overnight.

The mother along with six of her kids were forced to flee their Pineview Gardens house around 1am when the windows of the house were smashed in by rocks and bricks.Their car was also smashed in the attack by a group of men.

Councilor John Ryan spoke on local radio earlier this morning saying how he received a phone call from the terrified mother.,

“ Last night I got a phone call from Sheila Murray to say that she couldn’t stay in her house, it was under siege.There was rocks being thrown at it and the window of the car was broken. They tried to push in the door”

He also condemned the attack and said it was appalling. Gardai at Mayorstone are investigating the incident.

Fire Service’s Swift Water Rescue unit saves man from Shannon

Limerick Fire brigade’s Swift Water rescue unit has to praised again following another rescue form the Shannon River.

Around 3.30am Saturday Morning a man entered the river near howleys quay. Immediately members of the Marine Search and rescue, Limerick Fire brigade, Gardai and Ambulance personnel attended the scene.

They pulled him from the water at the Westfield bank across from the Clarion Hotel. The man in his twenties was taken to the Mid western regional Hospital suffering form hypothermia. He was in the water for up to 15 minutes.

UL to get €4.34m grant for Science Foundation Ireland

More good news for the The University of Limerick ,

From ElectricNews.net

The University of Limerick has been awarded a EUR4.34 million grant from Science Foundation Ireland. The monies will be invested in SFI's Mathematics Applications Consortium for Science and Industry (MACSI) initiative and will help fund more than a dozen new postgraduate research fellowships. MACSI will develop a strategy for the solution of mathematical problems encountered in the Irish science, engineering and industry sectors and will involve collaboration with companies such as Analog Devices (NYSE: ADI - news) , Dell Computers, Diageo
(LSE: DGE.L - news) , Waterford Crystal,
Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX - news) , Kostal and
Transitions Optical.

An Taoiseach to visit Moyross Friday

An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to visit Limerick City Friday.

It comes as a new community action plan has been drawn up for the area after a number of meetings between Gardai , residents and local councilors in the last few weeks. It follows a violent last few months in the area.

The scandal hit TD’s first port of call is apparently going to be Moyross where he is expected to see the situation for himself and get a first hand impression of the troubles Limerick is facing.

Local TD and minister for Defence Willie O’Dea said today that the Taoiseach wants to be personally involved. Willie spoke to Live95FM saying,

"The Taoiseach is coming tomorrow to Moyross to get a "first hand idea of the situation". He will be speaking to senior people up there who are involved in providing community services in Moyross so that they can give him their ideas. He has an interest in Moyross. He goes to a lot of areas like Moyross in Dublin so you can be sure that what ever is being done in Moyross by the Government, it will be kept under observation at the highest level of government."

Moyross holds its breath.


Bertie Visit Timeline

:: Arrive in Shannon at (9.30am)
:: Visit Moyross Enterprise Centre (10am)
:: Visit Castleconnell Community Centre and national school (11am)
:: Visits Scoil Carmel (1.20pm)
:: Visit Presentation and the Model School(I.35pm)
:: Officially open Limerick's newest school, the Gaelcholaiste at Harry's Mall.

In the afternoon he will concentrate on Clare.

Pit Bull found hanged form marina gate

This is the appalling picture that greeted readers of the Limerick Leader Wednesday. A picture of a Pit bull terrier choked to death after being hanged from a marina lock gate on Tuesday Morning.



The discovery of the body hanging from the gate was made by a passer-by around 10am who immediately phoned the Fire service.

It’s believed the perpetrators of the horrendous act wanted to drown the dog so they tied a weighted bag around its neck and threw it from the riverbank at Arthur’s Quay however the dog landed on the gate and was left to die an agonising death.

The Fire service removed the body of the dog and brought it to a veterinary clinic in Castletroy.

Gardai have revealed that this may have been a feud-related attack but no complaints have been received by them in relation to the murder. The Leader article states that it is well known that ownership of Pit Bull Terriers in suburbs such as Balinacurra Weston is high.

Gardai are of course appealing for any information in relation to the killing and are asking people who know anything to phone them on 061-212400.

Possible solution ahead for River Deel saga

In an uncharacteristic move today, Limerick County Council has dropped high court injunctions against two Palaskenry protestors.

The project they are protesting about, the river Deel project is designed to re-source the town’s water supply which is currently coming from a local lake. The council wants the towns supply coming from the river Deel. The residents of Palaskenry are having none of it. They say the river is polluted.

One of them, Orla Kaiser who escaped a jail sentence in June, is relieved but feels there’s still work left to do. Work on the project has been stopped numerous times by protesters.

Story Background
Council to seek injunction against Palaskenry protesters - May 31
River Deel project on hold again - June 07
River deel project stopped again today - June 13
River Deel protesters due before high court - June 12
River Deel protestor escapes jail sentence - June 22
Meeting held in River Deel dispute - June 26

€20m greyhound stadium could impact otters

A €20m greyhound stadium proposed by the Irish Greyhound board to be built just outside Limerick is raising concerns over the impact it could have on otters.

An Taisce has raised the concerns over the impact the development which would employ 100 people could have on otters in the River Shannon near by. Apparently Otters are protected under the EU Habitats Directive.

The five-storey stadium and a three-storey office building for Meelick would have “betting facilities, two restaurants and four bars with a dance floor”.

With Up to 300 jobs going at Castlemahon in West Limerick and the never ending Dell crisis one might be forgiven if they siad, ”F*ck the otters, it’s 100 jobs”

Arson Attack – Teen back in court

One of the two teenagers charged in connection with the arson attck in Pineview Gardens last month has appeared in court again today.

The 17 year old is charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to two kids namely, Millie Murray(6), and her brother, Gavin(4), at Pineview Gardens on September 10th.

His solicitor, John Devane said today that his client’s father had “advised him” that he wished to reserve his position in relation to bail.

Judge Tom O’Donnell adjourned the case for another 2 weeks after direction form the teens father who was present at the sitting today.

The other 17 year old charged in this case is currently on bail.

Limerick business man coughs up over €26m

A billionaire Limerick businessman has agreed to pay €26m (18m Sterling) to the UK's Assets Recovery Agency and the Garda Criminal Assets Bureau in a settlement reached today.

The computer chip billionaire has been under investigation by both agencies for a number of years.

From BBC News:

Mr Creaven, 32, who lives in London but is from Ennis, County Clare, was acquitted of VAT fraud at Southwark Crown Court in 2005. In a subsequent investigation by the recovery agencies, his assets were frozen. About £12m will be handed over to the ARA and the remainder will go to the CAB in the Republic of Ireland, by 12 October. Acquittal In a statement, the ARA said the agreement was reached after a mediation process. Mr Creaven had agreed to hand over a total of £18m as well as his luxury villa in Marbella and four racehorses, one of which won the 2005 Galway Hurdle. In 2005, Mr Creaven stood trial for VAT fraud following an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs into allegations that he played a principal part in an international missing trader VAT fraud through his computer chip business in the Republic of Ireland.

He was acquitted but the ARA and CAB subsequently investigated him and obtained a freezing order on his assets. Jane Earl, ARA director said it
was the largest result so far. "It demonstrates the power of civil recovery
legislation in taking away the fruits of unlawful activity," she said. "This case means that a proportion of the money stolen from the taxpayer through VAT fraud will be returned to the public purse, and it represents a significant achievement in the fight against VAT fraud which is not a victimless crime." >

He has also agreed to hand over a villa in Marbella and four racehorses.

Limerick millionaire walks free after settlement - Irish Examiner
Businessman to pay £18.5 million to ASA and CAB - 4ni.co.uk
Limerick man agrees €26m settlement - U.Tv
Man to hand over £18m assets - BBC News

Castlemahon plant to be wound down

The liquidator brought in at the Castlemahon Foods plant has said today that the company is being “wound down”.

Kieran Wallace of KPMG said the process would take five to six weeks with the first step being the cessation of all production at the plant located in Newcastlewest.

Castlemahon Foods is owned by the O’ Kane Poultry group in Northern Ireland.They said in a statement that,following a "long period of unprofitable trading", recent attemptsto restructure or sell the business as a going concern had beenunsuccessful.

Fine Gael Limerick West TD Dan Neville said on the news,

“The news that Castlemahon Food Products' poultry processingplant is set to close is a major body blow to the local populationand compounds the situation which arose in January 2005 when 140poultry jobs were lost at Kantoher Poultry Products and 140 jobs atthat time in Castlemahon"

Up to 300 jobs are at risk.

Man in court after arms finds

A man has appeared at a special sitting of Limerick district court today charged with firearm offences.

The 20 year old from Delmege Park was formally charged last night at Mayorstone with having possession of a Remington Bolt action rifle along with 308 rounds of ammunition.

He was granted bail today on his own bond of €1,000 but under strict bail conditions. They are that he must not reside in Moyross and not associate with anybody involved in feuds in the city.

Local radio reports the two of the other three men arrested yesterday have been released and the third is still being held.

"He very kindly passed a lot of wisdom on to me."

The unveiling of a statue in memory of Limerick man Richard Harris has taken place in Kilkee yesterday.

Actor Russell Crowe did the honors at the ceremony in the town and spoke of his fondness for his late , great friend,

"Richard was a great guy and he was a very good friend. Imet Richard at a time in his life when he was probably reflective of what he had done over the time he had spent on the planet. He very kindly passed a lot of wisdom on to me. If all I could make something like this, I'd love to have been here and it just has worked out that way and I'm very pleased."

The statue of the Limerick man which costed €40,000 depicts Harris playing racquet ball - a game at which he excelled, winning a competition four years in a row at the town.

The statue is located on a cliff walk looking over the Pollock holes.

Four in custody after Garda searches

A total of four men were arrested in Limerick yesterday after Gardai part of operation Anvil carried out planned searches of houses in the Moyross area.

Two sawn-off shotguns and two rifles along with ammunition were found in the early morning searches. The men are aged, 18, 21, 21 and 41.The searches are believed to be in response to a spate of shooting incidents in Moyross.

The men are being held at Mayorstone and Henry Street Garda stations and can be detained for up to 48 hrs.