Body of missing Louth man found

The body of a missing Dundalk man, Mr Kevin Maguire, was found by a member of his family searching for him, gardaí confirmed …

The body of a missing Dundalk man, Mr Kevin Maguire, was found by a member of his family searching for him, gardaí confirmed last night.

A post-mortem will be carried out this morning by the deputy State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy. The 23-year-old went missing last Monday week.

Dropped firearm into letter-box

Gardaí in Ennis, Co Clare, were last night examining security footage in an effort to identify a man who dropped a firearm into the letter-box of a radio station there, writes John Downes.

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The weapon, believed to be a pellet gun, was left in the letter-box of ClareFM's studios yesterday, after a man attempted to gain entry. Although the radio station's reception area was closed at the time, it is understood that a staff member notified colleagues, who in turn contacted gardaí.

Gardaí are appealing for anybody who might have information on the matter to contact Ennis Garda station.

Parlon denies prior knowledge

The junior Minister, Mr Tom Parlon, has denied a claim by the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, that he heard about the Government's decentral- isation plan in a pub.

Mr Parlon said on RTÉ radio yesterday that he did not know the Government's decision until Mr McCreevy read his Budget speech.

Mr Parlon, who is Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, has been criticised for circulating leaflets claiming credit for the decentralisation of civil servants to his constituency within hours of the Budget.

Mr McCreevy said in the Dáil that Mr Parlon was not involved in the decision or the preparations for it.

Arrested shortly after jail release

A Dublin youth was arrested for stealing a woman's mobile phone just three hours after he had finished a prison sentence, a court has heard.

The 17-year-old youth, with four others, aged 15 to 17, were arrested on December 12th in O'Connell Street in connection with the alleged theft. The youth had left St Patrick's Institution three hours earlier, having completed a sentence there, Judge Geoffrey Browne was told.

The group of youths was granted bail at the Dublin Children's Court. The case was adjourned until January 7th.

For trial on child porn charges

A man charged with possession of child pornography images on his home computer was yesterday sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court. Mr Robert Conway (30), Mountpleasant Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin, is accused of having the images on February 26th last year.