A round-up of today’s other news stories in brief
Gormley call on status of public parks
Green Party TD John Gormley has called on Dublin City Council to verify the land ownership status of all public parks in its charge.
This follows the claim by Athlone businessman Noel O'Gara that he is the freehold owner of the park at Dartmouth Square in Ranelagh. He padlocked its gates earlier this week to prevent public access, to the consternation of local residents, who had assumed it was publicly owned.
"People are entitled to expect that ownership disputes should not lead to the closure of public open spaces," Mr Gormley said yesterday. He also urged the council, which has been maintaining the park since 1987, to ensure its swift reopening.
The council says it has been in contact with Mr O'Gara since it received a solicitors letter before Christmas claiming that he had acquired freehold title to the park from the Darley Estate, which laid out Dartmouth Square in the 1880s.
Waterford man dies in collision
A man was killed in a two- vehicle collision in Co Waterford yesterday. Patrick Lawlor (55), Kilmacthomas, died after a crash on the Cork-Waterford Road at the Kilmacthomas turn-off at about 7.15am.
His body was brought to Ardkeen Hospital, while gardaí preserved the scene for technical examination.
Gardaí in Tramore are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 051-391620.
Meanwhile, the victim of a crash in Co Monaghan on Wednesday has been named by gardaí as Timmy Keenan (41) from Magheranery, Smithboro. He was killed after the car he was driving collided with another vehicle at Aghnamallagh.
Shop fined for not displaying prices
A supermarket in Co Offaly has been prosecuted for failing to display prices by the Director of Consumer Affairs. The offences were uncovered during two inspections of O'Callaghan's Centra in Ferbane last year in September and October.
At Kilcormac District Court, the supermarket's owner, Derbyvale Ltd, was fined €300 for each of six counts related to its failure to display prices, while costs and expenses of €500 were also awarded.