A round-up of the day's other regional news in brief
Taxi driver held on abuse charge
A taxi driver was remanded in custody yesterday at a special sitting of Galway District Court charged with the alleged sexual abuse of two children. The man, who may not be named for legal reasons, faces 28 sample charges of sexually assaulting two girls on various dates from January 2000 to December 2003 at a Co Galway location.
He was remanded in custody to Harristown District Court on Friday.
Waterford book of solidarity
Large numbers have been turning out in Waterford to sign a book of solidarity with the victims of child abuse in Ireland’s institutions.
The mayor of Waterford, Jack Walsh, said he had been approached by a number of people who asked him if he would provide them with a means of publicly registering their solidarity with the victims of abuse. Such a move would be similar to initiatives in Dublin and Cork following the publication of the Ryan commission report.
Staff 'have given as much as they can'
Workers at an east Clare-based chipboard manufacturer, Finsa Forest Products Ltd, “have given as much as they can” in terms of job redundancies and short time. That is the view of Siptu spokesman Oliver McDonagh, who said yesterday that workers at Finsa “are at the end of their tether” as the company looks for a further 11 staff cuts.
The Spanish-owned company has already reduced its workforce by between 25 to 30 since the start of the year as it feels the impact of the downturn in the construction industry.
Hearing into gas terminal begins
An oral hearing by the Commission for Energy Regulation into the pipeline aspect of the proposed Liquefied Natural Gas regasification terminal in north Kerry started in Tralee.
Under close questioning by a group opposed to the project, representatives said the company was committed to the project and did have the money to pursue it.
Raid at Kilkenny post office
Gardaí are investigating a post office robbery at Gowran, Co Kilkenny shortly after 11am yesterday.
A man, wearing a red and white sports-style motorcycle helmet, jeans and runners, held up staff and made away with an undisclosed sum of cash.
The post office remained sealed off yesterday afternoon.