In Short

A roundup of today's other regional stories in brief...

A roundup of today's other regional stories in brief...

Gardaí name two men killed on roads

Gardaí in Kilkenny have named the man killed in yesterday's road traffic collision in Mullinavat as Michael Quinn (71), Gortahile, Crettyard, Laois.

The man killed in a collision in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, has been named as Shaun Burgess (34), a father of three, Moneyglen, Broomfield, Castleblayney, Monaghan.

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He was driving a skip- lorry and had run across the road at Tonnyellida when he was struck by a milk tanker.

Missing French man sought

Gardaí have issued an appeal for information about a French man who is missing from his home in Paris and is now believed to be in Co Mayo.

Paediatrician Michel Aziparte (58) has not been seen since he took a ferry here from Cherbourg earlier this month.

His son, Olivier, said yesterday he believed his father may be in the Foxford, Ballina or Lough Mask area as he travelled there regularly to fish.

A Garda spokesman in Castlebar said any information on Dr Aziparte could be given at (094) 902222 or any Garda station.

Apartment fires lead to evacuation

Two hundred Kilkenny city residents were evacuated from two apartment blocks following an arson attack at about 3am yesterday. Two rubbish bins at the entrance of Ferran Court were set alight, rupturing a gas main and endangering lives, according to the emergency services.

The residents from Ferran Court, Abbey Street and Priory Court on Dean Street were evacuated and brought to the Kilkenny Inn hotel.

Gardaí are asking anyone who was in the area at the time to contact them at (056) 772 5000.

Two held over Killarney death

Two men, believed to be brothers, have been arrested at Killarney Garda station in relation to the investigation into the death of James Brazier on April 15th.

The men are aged 26 and 17 and are believed to be from the area. They presented themselves yesterday morning at the station, accompanied by their solicitor.

James Brazier (30), from Birmingham, died at Kerry General Hospital on Sunday morning after being taken from a house in the Pinewood estate in Killarney with serious injuries.

Money pledged to build church spire

Generous benefactors in Castlebar, Co Mayo, have pledged €700,000 of the €1 million needed to erect a spire on the local church of the Holy Rosary.

The church was built in 1901 but the £3,000 (€3,810) needed then to complete it was not available because of the tough economic conditions which prevailed.

Some €300,000 of the money pledged is already in the bank, according to Canon Paddy Curran.