A round-up of other home news in brief
Ratepayers' arrears in North hit €124m
Arrears by local authority ratepayers in Northern Ireland hit a new high of £124 million (€141 million) last year, a rise of £36 million in one year, the Audit Office has found.
Comptroller and Auditor General John Dowdall reports today that the need for a timely resolution of such debts is pressing. In his annual report, he says the need for a solution is placing an increased burden on ratepayers to repay multiple years’ rates bills and could impact on recoverability.
Increasing arrears and delays in recovery of such debts increases the risk of significant loss to public funds, he reports.
The comptroller’s office said: “There remained certain aspects of his annual statement over which he is still unable to obtain sufficient assurance. And if he were to give an audit opinion on the 2007-8 statement it would be qualified on the basis of inadequate audit evidence in verifying vacancies of £32 million, concerns over the completeness of the property listing upon which rates assessments are raised and continuing significant system-control problems.”
Addict who stole car sentenced
A “scandalously drunk” drug addict who stole a car at a Lucan petrol station without realising there was a woman in the passenger seat has been given a two-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Keith Kelly (34) asked the woman “What are you doing here?” as he drove off, then put a scarf over her eyes and threatened that he would kill or rape her before apologising and releasing her.
Kelly, of St Mark’s Gardens, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car at the Texaco station, Lucan, on December 28th, 2003, and to assault and making a threat to kill on the same occasion. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car and criminal damage at Bridgewater Quay, Islandbridge, on January 2nd, 2004.
Judge Frank O’Donnell imposed a two-year sentence but suspended the final year on strict conditions.
Five years for dealing heroin
A 24-year-old man “active” on the drug scene in Tralee and with a variety of previous convictions received a five-year sentence yesterday for dealing heroin and cocaine with a street value of almost €9,000 and for burglary at the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee.
Jamie Norman, of Lois Rua, Cahermoneen, Tralee, had pleaded guilty to being involved in burglary, in which €20,000 was taken from a public house, the Huddle Bar, Strand Street, Tralee, on February 11th, 2008. He also pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and a smaller quantity of cocaine for sale or supply in Tralee on August 29th, 2008, and to possession of heroin for sale or supply also in Tralee on October 8th, 2008.
Judge Carroll Moran suspended the final year of the five-year sentence but gave liberty to the State to reapply to have it imposed should the accused commit any further offences.
Asylum seeker ‘threatened to kill’
An asylum seeker, who is charged with threatening to kill the manager of his immigration hostel, has been warned to treat people with dignity and respect.
Ify Onuoha (21) is charged with assault and with threatening to kill Samantha McCormick, thereby causing a breach of the peace.
He denies he assaulted Ms McCormick on May 13th at the hostel, which is run on behalf of the Reception and Integration Agency, where it is alleged he asked a man who intervened in the dispute if he wanted to die.
Insp Joe McLoughlin said Mr Onuoha could be transferred to a centre at Foynes in Limerick if he gave a written undertaking about his behaviour.
Longford District Court set strict bail conditions with his next court appearance set for July 21st.