A roundup of today's other regional news in brief
Garda station shut over suspect package
One of the west’s largest Garda stations was closed for four hours yesterday due to a security alert.
The Army’s ordnance disposal unit was called in to examine a suspect package which was delivered to Mill Street Garda station in Galway shortly after 9am.
Staff were evacuated and an adjoining car park was sealed off as a precaution. Local businesses were also informed. The package was declared a hoax after examination and the station was re-opened by lunchtime.
Galway hospital closes ward and merges IC units
Galway University Hospital has been forced to close a 22-bed specialist ward and merge two intensive care units due to a shortage of budgets and staff.
The hospital’s management team said there was “no alternative” but to close St Michael’s Ward, which is primarily for ear, nose, throat and ophthalmology cases. It was proposed to “redesignate these services within the surgical wards”.
The hospital also plans to merge the cardiothoracic intensive care unit with general intensive care.
Head shop closes in Monaghan town
The only head shop in Monaghan town has closed down, at least temporarily.
The owner of the outlet, Cosmic Closet, which has five shops in the Border region, placed a notice on the shop notifying customers of its closure “due to circumstances beyond our control”.
The notice says the shop will open for a “limited period” over the weekend but management has not said whether it intends to carry on trading. Cosmic Closet closed an outlet in Sligo last week.
Independent Monaghan town councillor Tommy Hagan last week called for protests to be held against having the shop in the town.
Castleblayney sets up farmers market
A farmers market is to be established from this weekend in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
Food stands are to be provided along West Street, close to the town centre.
The town council, in granting approval for the new trading exercise, has banned fancy goods or other products from being displayed which would pose competition for local shopkeepers.
Town mayor and councillor Joe Brennan said yesterday it was hoped that the new market would attract a huge amount of extra business to the Border town each Saturday.