A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Man in custody over 2003 murder
A man extradited from the UK has been remanded in custody with 24-hour protection yesterday after he was charged with the murder of a Dublin man who was shot dead in 2003.
Father-of-two Paul Ryan (27) of Grangemore Lawns, Donaghmede, in north Dublin, was shot in the head and was found in the gateway of a field in Coolderry, Birr, Co Offaly, on April 12th, 2003.
A cold case team set up in 2007 reopened the investigation into his death and a man was extradited from the UK. He was detained by gardaí under a European arrest warrant. Darren Byrne (37), of no fixed abode, was before the Dublin District Court yesterday charged with the murder of Mr Ryan.
Judge Miriam Malone remanded Mr Byrne in custody to appear on April 5th.
Patients moved from unit of St Ita's hospital in Portrane
Patients were finally moved out of a unit at St Ita’s hospital in Co Dublin this week. Last year, the Mental Health Commission ordered the unit to cease admitting new patients due to “inhumane” conditions. The old red brick building at the heart of the St Ita’s complex in Portrane had been admitting patients since 1899.
Some 25 patients were transferred to St Vincent’s community nursing unit in Fairview, Dublin, accompanied by 46 of St Ita’s nursing and care staff. A further six patients were transferred to Bloomfield care centre in Rathfarnham, Dublin. The patients are due to return to a new facility in St Ita’s when a refurbishment programme is complete.
Post office front rammed in Galway
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the ramming of a post office exterior in Co Galway yesterday morning.
A car rammed into the front of a post office in Barnadearg near Tuam at about 7.20am.
There was severe damage to the exterior of the building. No money or valuables were taken in the raid, gardaí said.
Rail passengers faced long delays
Thousands of rail commuters travelling between Dublin and the south and west experienced long delays yesterday following a serious incident in Portarlington, Co Laois.
Services in and out of Heuston Station were severely disrupted after a person was struck by a train shortly after 3pm. Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene until after 7pm. Services between Heuston and Limerick, Cork, Killarney, Westport and Galway were disrupted all evening. Bus transfers arranged by Iarnród Éireann between Heuston and Athlone and between Kildare and Portlaoise to facilitate onward journeys had limited capacity.