More news in brief
A €5 million extension to the main terminal building at Knock airport has got the final go-ahead.
The new terminal area in the townland of Kilgarriff west, comprises a departure lounge, retail, security screening, baggage handling area, check-in hall, office accommodation and associated works.
Work on the new terminal is expected to begin in April and be completed by the end of the year.
Environmentalist Peter Sweetman had complained that excessive aircraft noise would be created in the area. He had appealed to An Bord Pleanála a decision by Mayo County Council to grant permission for the 1,500 metre extension which would include a doubling in size of the check-in area as well as new security screening and additional seating at departures.
However, airport chief executive Robert Grealis yesterday welcomed the ruling, saying the increased space was "desperately wanted". "The building's current capacity is 500,000 passengers per annum. We are projecting 700,000 passengers this year so it's a tight squeeze, especially in the summer season."
Man charged with intimidation
A Tralee man has been sent forward for trial charged with intimidating a witness in a murder investigation.
Terence McCormack (37), Mitchel's Road, Tralee, has been charged that at the Abbey Inn, Bridge Street, Tralee, on August 16th, 17th and 18th, 2006, he threatened or intimidated Robert Quigley "who was assisting gardaí in an investigation of an offence of murder".
The charges relate to the murder investigation of homeless man Eddie Joe Clancy (50), who died at Kerry General Hospital after being found with injuries in Tralee town centre.
Judge James O'Connor remanded Mr McCormack with consent to bail on a cash bond of €1,000. He imposed a number of conditions, including that he surrender his passport, make no application for a new passport, that he sign on at Tralee Garda station each Wednesday and "not interfere or have any communication whatsoever with any witnesses".
First World War dead honoured
For the first time a local authority from the Republic has formally honoured its first World War dead at Flanders. A delegation from Roscommon County Council was accompanied by four senior officers of the Irish Defence Forces, writes Patsy McGarry.
The delegation returned to Ireland yesterday following a visit to Belgium where they paid their respects at the graves of the many thousands of young men from this island who died in the first World War, including an estimated 330 from the county itself.
Mayor of Roscommon John Kelly and county manager John Tiernan laid a wreath of poppies at the round tower in the Ireland Peace Park at Messines.
A card attached read: "Thank you for your efforts and sacrifice. You have helped to shape the Ireland, the Europe and the freedom that we enjoy today. From the people of County Roscommon."