Criminal grooming of children says ISPCC

The ISPCC says it is deeply concerned that children are being used to run drugs and guns in Limerick.

The comments come after a 15-year-old appeared in court in the city for handling a loaded handgun. According to breakingnews.ie, a senior Garda told the court that feuding gangs are grooming children in Limerick.

The ISPCC says the situation is very concerning from a child protection and welfare point of view.

Gunman tackled by customers at Limerick city pub

Gardai in Limerick are investigating an incident at a bar in the city Sunday night during which a gunman was tackled by a number of customers.

A man in his 30s is in garda custody at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, where he is being treated for injuries he received during the altercation. The Belfast Telegraph reports that the drama began at around 8.30pm, when a man entered Quilty's pub in Thomondgate brandishing a loaded sawn-off shotgun. He pointed the gun at customers as he moved through the bar in search of his intended target. However, he was overpowered by a number of customers in the bar, who managed to disarm him.

Gardai recovered the loaded shotgun at the scene and arrested a man before taking him to the Mid Western Regional Hospital for treatment.

Mayor Of Clare Calls For Reintroduction Of Direct Shannon-Chicago Service

The Mayor of Clare today said that the ending of Aer Lingus’s direct service between Shannon and Chicago had caused numerous problems for members of the Irish-American and business community in the US Midwest.

Making her comment following a series of meetings with political, community and business representatives in Chicago, Councillor Patricia McCarthy said that there was a clear demand for the direct service to be reinstated. Presently, all Aer Lingus passengers travelling between Chicago and Shannon must disembark at Dublin Airport.

Speaking from Chicago, the Mayor said, “I welcome the announcement by Aer Lingus that it intends to continue services between Shannon and the United States. Considering that it has secured support from local tourism groups, additional flexibility from staff and lower landing charges at Shannon Airport, I would urge the airline to now review its decision to axe the direct service between Shannon and Chicago.”

“Quite simply, if Shannon is to remain as the ‘gateway’ to the West of Ireland for North American traffic then it must be put in a position where it can benefit from direct services”, stated the Mayor. She continued, “Among the concerns raised with me by members of the Clareman’s Association in Chicago, for example, was that the elderly and those with young children are having to board at Shannon Airport and then disembark at Dublin to pass through US Immigration. While prolonging an already lengthy journey, this practice is extremely inconvenient and unnecessary considering Shannon also has a US immigration clearance facility.”
Mayor McCarthy said that Aer Lingus’s reintroduction of direct services between Shannon and O’Hare Airport would have positive consequences for the local economy in the West of Ireland. "Business interests in the US Midwest have for many years invested in the West of Ireland due to the provision of direct flights to the region. Likewise, US tourists have long travelled to the region because of available direct flights. If such services are not made available then I fear that the region's economy will suffer immensely with the potential loss of millions of euro and hundreds of jobs”, concluded Mayor McCarthy.

CAPTION - Pictured at a meeting of eleven Local Authority Mayors and Chairs at the Oakwood Arms, Shannon, County Clare: Alec Fleming, Clare County Manager and Patricia McCarthy, Mayor of Clare

US Link To Remain In Place At Shannon

It has been reported today that Aer Lingus will retain its winter services from Shannon to the US.

The development comes only months after airline controversially dropped its service from Shannon to Heathrow.

The airline today announced it was continuing the US routes after it secured support from local tourism groups and cost reductions. Aer Lingus's move to axe its Heathrow route led to difficult relations between the airline and the local tourism lobby. Last month the airline met tourism interests in the region.

RTE News reports today that Aer Lingus had said its routes to the US from Shannon in winter were in doubt in the absence of significant support from the industry. Today it announced it was continuing the routes to Boston, Chicago and New York from Shannon from October.

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.