A round-up of today's regional news stories in brief
Huge rate of infection in Irish chickens
Ireland has one of the highest incidences of chicken contaminated with campylobacter in Europe, according to a new report by the European Food Safety Authority, writes Paul Cullen, Consumer Affairs Correspondent.
Virtually all chicken carcasses examined by food inspectors were found to have been colonised by the bug, which has replaced salmonella as the main source of food-borne illness in humans in Ireland.
The campylobacter bacterium is a major cause of gastroenteritis through the consumption of contaminated poultry which has been under-cooked. Symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.
Bacteria are killed by proper cooking, while strict kitchen hygiene also helps to reduce the risks involved.
The food safety authority’s report has found that 83 per cent of chickens entering Irish slaughterhouses are infected, the highest figure in Europe outside Malta and Spain. The EU average was 71 per cent.
When inspectors took swabs from chicken carcasses after slaughtering, they found that 98.3 per cent of Irish chickens were contaminated with campylobacter. Only Luxembourg, where all chickens were found to be infected, scored worse. The EU average was 76 per cent.
The report says it is alarming that on average, eight out of every 10 chicken carcasses sold in the EU market are contaminated with the bacterium.
Donors forget 'forgotten' Irish
A campaign aimed at raising €1 million by St Patrick’s Day yesterday towards the “forgotten” Irish in Britain has managed to collect just a couple of thousand euro.
Millions of people throughout the world may this week be celebrating their Irish heritage but it would appear they are reluctant to give a few euro to help those now in very poor circumstances having emigrated to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s.
The campaign was launched six months ago through the travel website www.lookaroundireland.com and set a deadline of St Patrick’s Day to raise €1 million for two charities which help the forgotten Irish.
The Safe-Home Project based in Co Mayo and the Irish Fund of Great Britain’s Forgotten Irish – help resettle in Ireland those most in need.
By yesterday, however, just over €2,000 was donated to the online charity despite the website receiving more than 3,000 hits each day.
Man killed in Laois car crash
A man was killed yesterday when his car crashed into a ditch.
The 27-year-old was taken to hospital following the incident, which occurred shortly after midnight near Ballybrittas, Co Laois.
He was later pronounced dead at the Midland Regional Hospital.
Gardaí in Portlaoise have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
Jedward signed up by Universal
X Factor twins Jedward have been signed up by Universal, just 24 hours after it was revealed they had been dumped by their former record label.
John and Edward Grimes (18), from Lucan, Co Dublin, were signed to Sony after surviving several weeks on the X Factor, despite being ridiculed for their performances, but they were dropped after their debut single failed to top the British charts.
Universal records has rushed to do a deal with manager Louis Walsh, although it is unclear to which Universal label the teenagers will be signed to.
Walsh confirmed: “I’m completely committed to Jedward and delighted we’ve secured them a new deal with Universal.”
Their first song, Under Pressure, a duet with Vanilla Ice, reached number two in Britain and dropped out of the top 10 a week later.– (PA)