ROSCOMMON
SENTENCED MAN LEADS HIGH-SPEED CHASE
Garda Caitríona O'Malley, who graduated from Templemore Garda College just last month, had a baptism by fire in her police career when she bravely tried to stop a man escaping from custody in Roscommon Town.
Fortunately, the Clare Island native and GAA star was not injured after she was thrown off the hood of the car driven by 20-year-old Romanian-born Ovidiu Rostas, who'd been sentenced earlier to 20 months for a number of offences, the Mayo News reports.
Rostos led gardaí on a dramatic chase out of Roscommon Town along the Athlone Road, through closed railway barriers at Ballymurray - forcing the Dublin to Westport train to come to screeching halt -- and then through a Garda checkpoint at Knockcroghery. Next, the escapee sped in the wrong direction along the M6 motorway for several kilometers before ending up in an industrial estate, where he crashed the car and was arrested.
Afterwards, gardaí brought Rostas back to Roscommon Garda Station and he was charged with a number of traffic offences and with escaping from custody.
A spokesman for Roscommon Gardaí said that it was a miracle that nobody was injured during the hair-raising episode.
The Mayo News reported that there was "justifiable pride" in the Clare Island community when news filtered through of the heroics of native daughter O'Malley.
DUBLIN
ADVOCATES SLAM FUEL CUTS
Elderly Northsiders have expressed anger and outrage over cuts to the State fuel allowance scheme announced last week.
The news came during a week of warm July sunshine but it couldn't disguise the chill of fear among local older people who are facing a fresh assault on the dwindling fund that helps them cover their home heating costs, the Nouthside People reports.
Groups representing seniors have warned that thousands now have an increased risk of cold-related illnesses and death this winter because they will not be able to afford to heat their homes.
From Sept. 6, the electricity allowance cash payment of €43.80 a month for anyone aged over 70 will be reduced to €35.80 a month. Gas allowance will also be cut from €489 to €393 per year.
On top of this, the number of free units of gas and electricity provided to the elderly will be brought back to 2007 levels while the fuel allowance will be standardized at €20 per week, with no extra allowance for living in a smoke free zone like the capital.
Minister for Social Protection and Dublin West TD Joan Burton defended the cuts saying there was a need to achieve savings due to commitments with the IMF/EU/ECB Troika. The move is expected to bring annual savings of €65 million.
TIPPERARY
NORTH,SOUTH TO MERGE
County Councils are to merge from the 2014 local elections onwards.
The new body, to replace the existing North and South Tipperary councils, will serve a population of 159,000 people "
A unified local authority, following 173 years of separation, will serve an increased population, should have greater scale, strength, assets and capacity to help meet challenges arising and to promote the economic and social development of the county as a whole," said Environment Minister Phil Hogan. (The terms "North Riding" and "South Riding" were dropped from official usage in 2002.)
"All we have heard is that the amalgamation will happen. We have no other detail whatsoever and I suppose until such time as we can actually see the nuts and bolts of the arrangement it would be unwise to comment," North Tipperary Mayor Michael Lowry told the Nenagh Guardian.
Local TD Noel Coonan has meanwhile given a "guarded welcome" to the news but insisted to the Tipperary Star that the new County Council must be headquartered in Nenagh.
MAYO
COUNCIL AREN'T JOB CREATORS, DEVELOPER SAYS
Mayo County Council has been accused of turning its back on the creation of up to 150 jobs. The claim was made by a developer whose planned site for a 100-bed nursing home outside Castlebar was turned down by the council at the pre-planning stage for reasons including zoning and lack of services.
Local auctioneer and councilor Frank Durcan owns the site in question, which is located at Aughaluskey, Castlebar on the Windsor road, just off the N5 road to Ballyvary. He has accused the council of frustrating the development and the jobs that would go with it.
"We talk about the need to create jobs and here is someone like me willing to take a risk and create jobs and I am being frustrated by the council. There's plenty of talk about creating jobs but when the council have to come up with actions, yet again they fall badly short," Durcan told The Mayo News.
He added that the development would create up to 50 jobs in construction and a further 100 full-time jobs at the nursing home on completion.
However, the County Council said the eight acre site is zoned as of "rural character" under the Castlebar and Environs Development Plan 2008-2014 and that no public services - water and sewer - are available at the location.
"The irony of the zoning matrix here is that I would be allowed to develop an agricultural machinery outlet on the site, which would be much more invasive in terms of noise and traffic but I cannot develop a tranquil nursing home. It beggars belief," he said.
"If I was a Japanese industrialist building a factory and creating 100 jobs, the council would bring the sewerage service over to me and would improve the road," Durkan said.
—Compiled byPeter McDermott
