More news in brief
A 23-year-old unemployed man appeared before a special sitting of Killarney District Court last night, charged with assault causing harm to James Brazier (30) who was found dead in Killarney last weekend.
Gerard O'Riordan of Arbutus Grove, Killarney was charged earlier yesterday at Killarney Garda Station with the Section 3 charge of assault causing harm to James Brazier at Pinewood Estate Killarney on April 15th last, contrary to the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
A more serious charge may be brought, Garda John Evans said when he opposed bail.
O'Riordan had presented himself voluntarily at Killarney Garda Station early on Thursday his solicitor, Padraig O'Connell, said, applying for bail.
Judge James O'Connor refused bail and granted the State's application for a remand in custody to Cork Prison to appear before Castleisland District Court on Thursday next. He granted legal aid.
PD select Galway candidates
The Progressive Democrats have selected three candidates to run in Galway West in the general election, in a repeat of the strategy first devised by former minister of state Bobby Molloy in 2002.
Sitting TD Noel Grealish was endorsed at a selection convention chaired by Tánaiste and PD leader Michael McDowell in the Ardilaun Hotel last night, along with Galway city councillor Donal Lyons and Galway county councillor Thomas Welby.
Mr Grealish, a former Galway county councillor, was elected on the 15th count in 2002 to retain the PD seat in Galway West first held by Mr Molloy. He was assisted by transfers from running mates, councillors Donal Lyons and Declan McDonnell.
Mr Welby will be running for the first time in an election as the party's third candidate. He was elected to Galway County Council in 2004. The party has already selected Ciarán Cannon to run in Galway East.
Mr McDowell also announced 50 new jobs at Pragmatica automotive specialists in Parkmore, Galway city.
Drowned man's identity sought
Gardaí are seeking assistance in identifying a man who was pulled from the river Liffey on Wednesday only to die in hospital on Thursday.
The man, who was in his late 30s or early 40s, was taken from the river at Memorial Bridge at about 4pm on Wednesday, shortly after entering the river at O'Connell Bridge. He was brought to the Mater hospital where he died.
He is described as being of large build and 175cm (5ft 9in) tall. He had short black hair going grey, with a receding hairline. He had hazel eyes. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Store Street station on 01-6668000 or the Garda confidential line on 1800-666111.
Flat death not suspicious
The body of an eastern European man found in a flat in Killarney on Thursday night had been there for some weeks, it has emerged.
The body was discovered in the flat at New Road, Killarney, near the town's Garda station and a number of schools. His landlord, who had been away for some weeks, found him. It is understood the landlord became concerned and decided to check the flat.
Initial postmortem findings indicate death was due to natural causes. Gardaí are not treating the death as suspicious.
Cork road crash fatality named
Gardaí at Rosscarbery, Co Cork have released the name of the woman who died following a road crash on Thursday. She was named as Hannah McCarthy, Barley Hill, Rosscarbery, Co Cork.