Other home news in brief
Arrests over 2007 Limerick murder
Four people were still in custody in Limerick last night in connection with a murder there almost two years ago.
The two men and two women were arrested during a series of planned raids by gardaí investigating the death of Jeffrey Hannon in Southill in 2007, writes Kathryn Hayes.
The 19-year-old was found dead in an open area near his family’s home in Galtee Close on November 22nd, 2007.
Detectives investigating his murder conducted a series of raids at addresses on the south side of Limerick on Wednesday morning. Two male suspects aged 24 and 38 were arrested, while a 17-year-old girl and a 26-year-old woman were also arrested. All four had their initial periods of detention extended on Wednesday night.
They were still being held last night under provisions of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at separate Garda stations.
Dramatic Croagh Patrick rescue
An elderly couple from Colorado in the US had to be rescued by helicopter after one of them fell and sustained head injuries while climbing Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo, writes Tom Shiel.
The dramatic airlift from the 2,510ft mountain took place just after midnight on Wednesday.
A woman in her 70s was treated for her injuries at Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar.
According to a spokesman for Mayo Mountain Rescue, which helped in the operation, the couple tried to struggle to the base of the mountain at Murrisk after the woman was injured in the early afternoon.
However, with darkness falling, she raised the alarm by ringing gardaí.
Settlement over worker’s death
The family of an aircraft engineer who died two days after falling from a platform where he was engaged in maintenance work on a helicopter has secured €425,000 in settlement of a High Court action over his death.
Margaret Embleton (62), The Links, Donabate, Co Dublin, a mother of four, brought the action after her husband Colin (58) died on January 15th, 2003.
The action before Mr Justice Vivian Lavan was against CHC Ireland Limited, a limited liability company with registered offices at Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin, and at Cork Airport.
‘Tiger’ trial hears of phone traffic
A Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury has heard further technical evidence of traffic between phone numbers in a €2.28 million “tiger kidnapping” investigation.
Douglas Sheeran, an engineer with engineering consultancy firm Vilicom, outlined from his report the call activity of various mobile phone numbers at different Dublin locations between March 13th and 14th, 2005.
David Byrne (36), of Old Brazeel Way, Knocksedan, Swords; Niall Byrne (27), of Aughavanagh Road, Crumlin; Mark Farrelly (37), of Moatview Court, Priorswood; Christopher Corcoran (61), of Bayside Boulevard North, Sutton; and Jason Kavanagh (34), of Parslickstown Court, Ladyswell, have all pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning the Richardson family on these dates.
They also pleaded not guilty to robbing Paul Richardson and Securicor on the same dates.
The trial continues.
Ulster Special Olympics begin
THE Special Olympics Ulster Games begin in Letterkenny today.
More than 400 athletes from across Ulster will participate in the games, which run until Sunday and are expected to draw in the region of 5,000 people.
Athletes will compete in basketball, athletics, swimming and bowling. A major opening ceremony will take place in O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny at 7.30pm.
The Olympic torch is expected to arrive at about 8.30pm.