Singer and reality TV star, Ozzy Osbourne, has been advised by doctors to postpone his upcoming European tour which was set to begin in Dublin on October 22nd.
Obsourne said yesterday he suffered from "a tremor which has become markedly worse over the last two years. I was at the point where it felt as if this problem was practically destroying my life along with my self-esteem."
Dr Allan H. Ropper, the Chief of Neurology at Caritas, St Elizabeth's Medical Centre in Boston, where Osbourne is being treated said: "Ozzy Osbourne does not have Parkinson's Disease. However, he does have a tremor which is coming under control with medication.
Osbourne said he would complete his Euopean tour in the New Year.
More job losses in Donegal
The west Donegal Gaeltacht was dealt another jobs blow yesterday with the confirmation that a liquidator had been appointed to MDR, a printed circuit board manufacturing plant on the Gweedore Industrial Estate which employs 40 people. The company, which was set up in 1988, employed 200 at its peak.
Mr Dinny McGinley (FG), Donegal South-West called on the Minister for the Gaeltacht and the relevant agencies to declare the region "an unemployment disaster area".
One-day strikes plan at Aer Lingus
A pay and productivity dispute involving more than 1,000 Aer Lingus cabin crew has been referred to the Labour Court for a third time, writes Chris Dooley.
The crew, members of IMPACT, plan to hold one-day strikes on October 23rd and October 27th. The airline said it was committed to maintaining a normal schedule.
Court told man was IRA member
A Dublin man arrested at a Meath hotel by special branch detectives was there as a member of the IRA, a detective garda told the Special Criminal Court yesterday.
In evidence, Det Garda Mark McMahon, Special Detective Unit, said he conducted seven interviews with Mr Declan Carroll after his arrest at the Neptune Beach Hotel, Bettystown in July 2001. The court heard three men had been arrested before the accused entered the hotel room. Gardaí found a stun gun in a navy hold all bag in the room.
Cross-examined by Mr Ciarán O'Loughlin SC, Det Garda McMahon said "I believe he was there as a member of the IRA" along with the three other men. The detective garda added that he "firmly believed" the reason the stun gun was there was for IRA activities.
He agreed with counsel that the accused was not in possession of the gun.
Mr Carroll (27), Edenmore Crescent, Dublin, denies membership of an illegal organisation styling itself Óglaigh na hÉireann on July 29th 2001.
The trial continues.
Man gets six years on drugs charge
An Englishman who acted as the link in a €1.4 million heroin deal between two criminal organisations on both sides of the Irish Sea has been jailed for six years by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Stephen Ryan got involved in the operation after the court heard he owed a stg £100,000 debt in England and his role was to make the introduction between two men in the car park of the Dead Man's Inn pub on the Old Lucan Road.
Ryan (40), from Skelnersdale, England, pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of heroin with a street value in excess of €13,000 for sale or supply on February 11th, 2003.
Judge Hogan suspended the last two years of the sentence because he said a prison sentence in Ireland would be tough for Ryan.