More news in brief
Members of a Co Mayo pipe band escaped injury yesterday when the bus in which they were travelling caught fire in Newport.
The Achill-based Dookinella Pipe Band was en route to Shannon airport for a visit to Cleveland in the US when the fire occurred early yesterday morning.
No one was injured in the fire, but some luggage was destroyed, including passports. This resulted in a number of people having to seek emergency passports in Cork yesterday. Most of the group got the flight as planned.
A Garda official said the fire was not being treated as suspicious. Achill Island is twinned with the city of Cleveland and there are regular exchange visits.
New plans for €1m Clare crematorium
Contentious plans are to be relodged with Clare County Council for a €1 million crematorium to serve the midwest region, writes Gordon Deegan.
Illaunamanagh Ltd withdrew its plan last November after receiving indications that the proposal would not succeed due to the zoning of the site at Tullyvarraga, Shannon town.
The company yesterday confirmed that new plans would be submitted within two weeks.
Former mayor of Clare councillor Seán Hillery (FF), a company director of Illaunamanagh Ltd, said: "I'm more confident than before of securing planning permission. People had genuine fears and I believe that we have answered those."
Part of the site is zoned "open space". Mr Hillery said: "The area is so tiny, the planners could look favourably on it."
If the planning application materially contravenes the South East Clare Plan, three-quarters of the members of the council will be required to vote in favour for it to secure planning permission.
Mr Hillery's colleague in the venture is former Fine Gael councillor Tony McMahon.
Limerick prisoner on heroin charge
A brother of Limerick gangland victim Noel Campion has been charged with possession of heroin inside Limerick Prison.
Gary Campion (24), Pineview Gardens, Moyross, Limerick, is charged with possession of the drug for sale or supply at the prison on March 1st last.
It is alleged that 73 deals of heroin were discovered during the searches of his cell. The street value of the alleged seizure is estimated to be €2,300.
Insp Séamus Gallagher told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had already directed that Mr Campion's case be sent forward for trial at Limerick Circuit Court.
The Judge remanded Mr Campion in custody to appear again on July 19th.
Gas protesters to appeal
Three Co Mayo men jailed for three months on Wednesday and fined €500 each for assaulting a Garda sergeant during a Corrib gas protest last October are to make a further attempt to appeal their convictions at a sitting of Swinford District Court today.
A solicitor acting on behalf of father and son Patrick (49) and Jonathan O'Donnell (21), Porturlin Shore, Ballina, and Enda Carey (21), Porturlin, yesterday began the appeal process at Achill court.
Judge Mary Devins asked for further documents.