More regional news in brief.
Charged with theft from woman (86)
A father of five appeared at Clones District Court yesterday on burglary and theft charges including stealing €64 from the home of a 86-year-widow at Latlurgan on Sunday night and Monday morning.
Simon McGinley (34) Latlurgan Court, Monaghan, was remanded to Cloverhill prison where Judge Patrick Clyne ordered that he be held in an isolation unit for his own safety as he is facing more serious charges.
Outside the court as television cameras and press photographers took pictures of Mr McGinley, his wife and mother attacked them claiming that he had been victimised by the press.
Insp Pat McMorrow objected to bail on a number of grounds which Judge Clyne ordered should not be reported. Mr McGinley will appear at the internal court in Cloverhill prison on June 25th when he is expected to face the more serious charges.
Councillors allow one-off building
Clare county councillors have forced through planning permission for Ennis businessman Gerry Danagher to build a home, a one-off house, at Ballycullinan, Corofin in the Burren, against the advice of planners.
It is the first time since 1983 that councillors have invoked special powers in the planning area by tabling a contentious section 140 motion directing county manager Alec Fleming to grant permission.
It is also the first time that they have overturned the council's own "locals only" rule, introduced in 1999, to control urban-generated housing in rural areas.
Church's artistic detail on view
Artistic detail in the Redemptorist Church, Mount St Alphonsus, Limerick, will be viewed for the first time tomorrow at this year's annual solemn novena. The work was painted over and hidden from public view more than 60 years ago.
Ecclesiastical decorators Hodkinson's have been uncovering work dating back to 1882.
Interview on rape up for award
An interview with rape victim Mary Shannon on Clare FM radio has been short-listed for an international media award. The interview is under consideration for the Ongoing News Coverage Award at the the New York Festival Radio Broadcasting Awards, which are being held today. Ms Shannon was interviewed on the local radio station in March 2007 when Adam Keane was given a three-year suspended sentence in the Central Criminal Court after being found guilty of her rape.
Last December, the Court of Criminal Appeal upheld the DPP'S argument that the sentence was unduly lenient, and it was increased to a 10-year sentence with the last three years suspended.