Aer Rianta faces additional costs in its planned clean-up of its ongoing pollution of the Shannon estuary caused by the continued absence of sewage treatment facilities at Shannon Airport, writes Gordon Deegan.
This follows An Taisce winning a battle to compel Aer Rianta to put in place additional controls in the company's plan to eliminate the pumping of 100,000 cubic metres of untreated sewage into the Shannon estuary, a proposed Special Area of Conservation, each year.
Earlier this year, Aer Rianta secured planning permission from Clare Co Council for a sewage treatment works for the airport to address the on-going pollution that saw the semi-State successfully prosecuted by the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board in the District Court last March.
However, An Taisce appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála seeking a more advanced level of treatment of the sewage.
The appeals board has found in An Taisce's favour after its inspector recommended that tertiary treatment be included as a precautionary measure.
Man remembers striking teacher
A 19-year-old murder accused has told a court that every night before he goes to sleep he sees the face of a former school teacher who was beaten to death with an iron bar in a public park.
Mr Johnathan Tuohy, Edward Street, Limerick denies the murder of 42-year-old Mr Noel Carmody at Arthur's Quay Park in Limerick city on September 27th, 2003.
A co-accused Mr Darren Wallace, (21), Assumpta Park, Lee Estate, Limerick, also denies the same charge.
Both men are further charged with robbing Mr Carmody.
Yesterday, Mr Tuohy admitted to a jury at the Central Criminal Court that he remembered striking Mr Carmody once with an iron bar .
The 19-year-old murder accused said that when he arrived in the park with Mr Wallace he saw Mr Carmody in the bushes with another man.
"I was shocked at this stage as I never expected to see anything like this," said Mr Tuohy.
He said that he asked Mr Carmody "what his game was" and that Mr Carmody then asked him "if he was looking for one as well".
"I interpreted this as him thinking I was gay. I was disgusted. I have nothing against gay people but there's a time and a place for this thing," he said.
"I remember striking Mr Carmody once and then I blanked out and Darren Wallace took the bar," he added. The trial continues today.
Search for missing men in Galway
Gardaí in Galway have conducted an aerial and coastal search for a young Co Offaly man who went missing on July 30th.
Mr Eamon Kinahan (30), of Clara, Co Offaly, was last seen at Busker Browne's in Cross Street, Galway, at 2.30 a.m. on July 30th. He had been visiting the city for the race week and got separated from his friends. The alarm was raised when it was discovered that he hadn't returned to his guesthouse.
Mr Kinahan is 6ft, 1 inch, of slim build, and was wearing a navy blazer, navy trousers, blue shirt and black shoes when last seen.
Meanwhile, gardaí are still appealing for information on Mr Michael Nee (76), who was last seen in Eyre Street centre on July 10th at about 2 p.m. Mr Nee is about 5ft, 6 inches, of thin build with short grey receding hair and was wearing a tweed sports jacket.
Gardai investigate alleged Tuam rape
Gardaí in Tuam, Co Galway, are continuing their investigations into an alleged rape which occurred early on Thursday morning.
Supt Martin Lee confirmed yesterday that a suspect has been interviewed and a file forwarded to the DPP.