Bruff Restaurant Fined

A restaurant owner in County Limerick has been fined €18,000 for multiple breaches of the European Community Hygiene of Foodstuffs Regulations.

Live 95FM today reports that Liu Yu Gang, of the `Oriental Chinese Restaurant` on Millstreet in Bruff was convicted on 12 counts following inspections by HSE officers in December 2006.

A HSE Envionment health officer outlined the findings of her inspection of the premises owned by Liu Yu Gang at Bruff District Court .She said food was stored in dirty containers, frozen chicken fillets were thawing out in water in a sink, fridges and freezers were covered in dirt and their was no pest control.

Limerick 37 Pre-season Preps 'Behind' Says Kerley

Limerick 37 manager Mike Kerley admits his preparations for the start of the eircom League of Ireland First Division season have not gone smoothly.

The Blues make the journey to Kingspan Century Park to take on Monaghan United in Friday night’s first game of the season. And Kerley, who replaced sacked Paul McGee during the winter, believes his squad are not fully tuned up for the big kick-off. He told the Limerick Leader: “No one, including myself, knew where they stood and up to last week I only had 12 players signed. This past weekend was the first time I had all 23 players together.”

Monaghan United v Limerick 37, Kingspan Century Park, 8pm

Community Smoke Alarm Scheme To Be Extended Across County Limerick

A Community Smoke Alarm Scheme successfully piloted in Foynes last year is to be extended to the remainder of County Limerick.

Under the scheme, Limerick County Fire Service intends to oversee the installation of 1000 smoke alarms in homes across the county by the end of 2008. The initiative, which forms part of the national Fire Service Change Programme, is also aimed at making County Limerick householders more aware of fire safety routines and potential fire hazards.

“Through this scheme vulnerable households are identified to have alarms fitted at no cost to the household”, explained Niall McMahon, Assistant Fire Officer.

Commenting on the successful rollout of the scheme in Foynes, Officer McMahon stated, “Foynes fire fighters visited every home, with the exception of those known to have newly installed mains powered alarms, offering to check smoke alarms and replace and install any alarms which may have been faulty or missing.”

He continued, “During each visit the fire fighters offered advice on fire safety for those who required it and aided vulnerable members of the community in accessing services to improve the standard of fire safety in their homes. The feedback from homes, which have been visited, has been very positive, with householders praising both the scheme and the fire fighters. Due to the success of the pilot scheme in Foynes it is currently being rolled out to other areas of Limerick County.”

To date there has been a positive response to the announced rollout from West Limerick areas, including Athea, Mountcollins, Tournafulla and Strand. In excess of 350 alarms have been distributed to local groups in these areas. Limerick County Fire Service is now hoping that other areas of the county will come forward and avail of the scheme.

According to Mr. McMahon, “Over the coming months we hope, with the assistance of the community sector, to identify vulnerable households with no working smoke alarm. It is intended that each home visited will be fitted with two self-contained 10 year smoke alarms, which are being provided free of charge by the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government.”

“All voluntary agencies and community groups in the county are invited to contact Limerick County Council to avail of free smoke alarms for members of their community who would benefit most from the installation of working smoke alarms within their homes. It is hoped that volunteers from each community group shall carry out the installation of alarms”, he concluded.
Limerick County Fire Service will provide training for community groups on how to correctly install and advise homeowners on the maintenance of the alarms. Members of the fire service will also oversee the installation of the alarms. For further information on the Community Smoke Alarm Scheme contact the Community and Enterprise Department of Limerick County Council on 061-496454 or Limerick County Fire & Rescue Service on 061-496270.

Above Image: Volunteers from West Limerick receiving their free smoke alarms

Limerick Set To Be Battered By Storm Force Winds

Forecasters are warning that the worst storm of the winter may be about to hit Limerick and that it could cause chaos around the county.

It is expected to hit on Sunday night, bringing severe gales and heavy rain. To blame is a band of exceptionally low pressure, which is expected to climax on Monday morning when it swings east across the city and county.

Winds of over 100kph are expected.

Former doctor to face trial on charges of defrauding cancer patients

A former doctor has been sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court in Ennis on charges that he defrauded terminally ill cancer patients.

The charges against 60-year-old Paschal Carmody of Ballycuggaran, Killaloe, County Clare include stealing cheques and obtaining monies under false pretences.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that all 44 offences are alleged to have occurred at a clinic in east Clare, and include that the former GP obtained money "by falsely pretending that cancer would be cured by photodynamic treatment". Paschal Carmody was struck off the medical register in 2004 after being found guilty of professional misconduct.