A round-up of today's other home news
Kenny in visit to Middle East for three days
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has arrived in Tel Aviv at the start of a three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories to study the aftermath of the Gaza conflict.
Mr Kenny is accompanied by the party’s foreign affairs spokesman Billy Timmins, children’s spokesman Alan Shatter and human rights spokesman Pat Breen.
The programme for the trip includes visits to Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank, including the village of Al-Attatra in the Gaza Strip which suffered large-scale civilian casualties, and the Israeli town of Sderot, which has been subject to rocket attacks from Palestinian militants since October 2000.
Elton John to play 02 in October
Elton John has announced a Dublin date as part of his Red Piano show which debuted in 2004. He will perform at the 02 on Friday October 30th. Tickets go on sale on April 30th at 9am.
Man held in Louth over Quinn killing
Gardaí have arrested a man in Co Louth in relation to the death of Paul Quinn in October 2007. Mr Quinn (21), from Cullyhanna, Co Armagh, was lured across the Border and beaten to death in farm buildings near Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
The man, in his mid-30s, is being held at Carrickmacross Garda station under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Accused gave false name to gardaí
One of four men accused of INLA membership gave a false name to gardaí, the Special Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Gerard Kelleher (28), Dublin, Neil Myles (54), no fixed abode, Edward McGarrigle (43), Strabane, Co Tyrone, and John McCrossan (47), Strabane, have all pleaded not guilty to membership of the INLA.
Garda Liam McGraynor said that he spoke to a group of men sitting at a table in Dublin’s Mercantile hotel on February 11th last year. He said Mr McGarrigle gave the name Aiden Boyle.
The trial continues.
Suspended term for membership
A Waterford man has been given a four-year suspended prison sentence for INLA membership by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.
John O’Donoghue (28), a father of one, Clonard Park, Ballybeg, Co Waterford, was convicted after a trial in January and yesterday told the court that he no longer had anything to do with his former associates. “I have washed my hands of the lot of them,” he said.
Kidnap-robbery trial adjourned
The trial of five men accused of stealing €2.28 million in a kidnap-robbery three years ago has been adjourned until Monday after a juror said she could not serve on the jury for work reasons. A new juror will be sworn in on Monday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The five men are charged with holding a Securicor staff member and his family hostage and with stealing €2.28 million from a Securicor van at Strawberry Beds in March 2005.
David Byrne (36) Swords, Niall Byrne (27), Crumlin, Mark Farrelly (37), Priorswood, Christopher Corcoran (61) Sutton, and Jason Kavanagh (34), Ladyswell, have all pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Mark Richardson, his wife, Marie, and their two children.