Other regional news in brief
Date for Fahy retrial set
The retrial of Galway county councillor Michael "Stroke" Fahy (57), who faces fraud and attempted theft charges, has been set for December 2nd and is expected to last two weeks at Galway Circuit Criminal Court.
Mr Fahy's barrister Conal McCarthy said he did not know why the matter had been listed at yesterday's sitting as the trial date had already been fixed.
Mr Fahy, Ardrahan, south Galway, was convicted by a jury in March last year of all seven charges under the Larceny, Theft and Fraud Offences Acts. Judge Raymond Groarke imposed a 12-month prison term and fined the councillor €75,000. The charges related to the erection of fencing on Mr Fahy's land by a contractor hired by Galway Co Council.
Mr Fahy began his prison sentence in April 2007, and appealed the conviction on the grounds that certain prosecution evidence should not have been put to the jury during his trial. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued that the conviction should stand.
Last year the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that the conviction should be set aside as the introduction of "inadmissible evidence" in the way it occurred created a real and substantial risk of an unfair trial.
River Lee search for missing driver
A major search of the river Lee in Cork was carried out yesterday to find the driver of a submerged car. The navy blue Volkswagen Golf was found two days ago by rowers not far from Páirc Uí Chaoimh on the river's southern bank. Gardaí say it is unclear when the car entered the water, but fear the driver may have been swept out into the river as it sank.
Gardaí are appealing to anybody who may be concerned about the disappearance of a friend, relative or neighbour to contact them.
Crean society to honour explorers
The society founded on the exploits of Anascaul, Co Kerry explorer Tom Crean is to honour the Irish team of explorers who followed in his footsteps to the South Pole exactly 99 years later.
Tom Crean medals are to be presented to explorers Pat Falvey, Clare O'Leary, Shaun Menzies and Jonathan Bradshaw at a ceremony at Siamsa Tire, Tralee, today.
They will be presented by Mary Crean-O'Brien, daughter of Tom Crean, at Aidan Dooley's one-man show on Crean.
Lead retesting for Louth tap water
Retesting of drinking water in Co Louth after high levels of lead were discovered last week has confirmed levels above the legal limit of 25 microgrammes per litre in Dundalk, Ardee and Omeath. The breaches were discovered in seven of 11 samples taken in Dundalk, two in Ardee and one in Omeath.
None of 40 samples from Drogheda was above the limit.