Gardaí are investigating an armed robbery of a bookmaker's premises on Main Street, Clonee, Co Meath at 10.45 a.m. yesterday morning.
A man entered the premises wearing a motorcycle helmet and armed with a sawn-off shotgun. He threatened staff and left with a quantity of cash. He escaped in a stolen maroon 03 KE registered Ford Focus car.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the gardaí at Ashbourne at 01 8010600
Minister warns on lifejacket rules
Pleasure craft users on inland waterways may be "flouting" the new rules on compulsory wearing of lifejackets, the Minister for Communications, Marine, and Natural Resources, Mr Dermot Ahern, has said.
He said his officials had reported good compliance along the coastline with the new regulations, which came into force in June. However "there are also indications that the level of compliance on our inland waterways could be improved," he said yesterday.
Increased checks would be made, he said, and "prosecutions may follow where the lifejacket rules are being flouted".
TD seeks report on ESB plant's future
The Independent TD, Dr Jerry Cowley, has called for an independent report to be prepared on the future of the Bellacorick peat-fired power station in Co Mayo.
The plant, which has produced electricity for the ESB for almost 50 years, is due to close at the end of this year with the loss of 300 jobs.
Dr Cowley said the ESB proposal to construct the country's largest wind farm at Bellacorick would not compensate for the jobs lost. He suggested that the wind farm would create a mere six jobs.
Greens criticise Harney's tax stance
The Green Party has said the opposition of the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, to seeking additional tax from the wealthy confirms her support for the tax status quo that has made Ireland one of the most economically unequal countries in the world.
The party's finance spokesman, Mr Dan Boyle, yesterday said the Revenue Commissioners had shown that the top 5 per cent of income earners pay proportionately less tax than low and middle income earners.
"This has happened because the Progressive Democrats have skewed the tax debate as a discussion on tax rates rather than on the broader issue of fair taxation," he said.
He criticised Ms Harney's view, stated on RTÉ Radio, that additional tax should not be sought from the very wealthy, because this could lead them to leave the country to live elsewhere as tax exiles.
Mr Boyle said the question of tax residency could be resolved "by ensuring that all money earned in this country is taxed in this country".
Bail for man on gun charges
A man accused of storing guns and detonators for a dissident republican organisation was released on bail in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
Mr Patrick Hutchinson (48), Hillman Street, New Lodge, Belfast, who had been refused bail twice previously, is charged with possessing an AKM assault rifle, a pistol, ammunition and four detonators with intent to endanger life.
The court was told the rifle was found in the boot of Hutchinson's car when it was stopped by police last January. In a follow-up search the pistol and detonators were found in the home of a co-accused who has been granted bail.
The court was told police were concerned that if Mr Hutchinson was released he could be used again to move weapons for either the Continuity IRA or the "Real IRA".