A round-up of today's regional news in brief
Man jailed for assaulting girlfriend
A man who assaulted his girlfriend because he claimed she had kissed another man at a funeral was yesterday jailed for two years at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court, writes Elaine Keogh.
The first assault by Martin O’Riordan (29), of Point Road, Bellurgan, Co Louth, was at a bus stop in Balbriggan on May 1st, 2008, as the then couple were going home from the funeral.
The second assault took place at his girlfriend’s home in Dundalk. Judge Donagh McDonagh was told he punched and kicked her, and when he left the house the following morning she went to hospital.
Open season once more for civil weddings
The HSE yesterday confirmed it was again taking bookings for civil weddings this summer in counties Louth and Meath.
There was controversy earlier this week when the HSE said the embargo on recruitment in the public service meant they would not be able to fill vacancies for registrars in the two counties.
But yesterday it issued a statement saying it “is now in a position to accept further bookings for civil ceremonies from June 2010 onwards”.
It said the appointment of replacement registrars had been confirmed. A number of couples had complained about possible withdrawal of civil marriage services.
Parents of conjoined twins express thanks
The parents of conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf yesterday expressed their appreciation for the many messages of support received from members of the public since they left hospital and returned home to east Cork.
According to the twins’ parents, Angie and Azzedine, the boys have continued to make steady progress since their discharge from Cork University Maternity Hospital last month.
The family has also established a special bank account in response to numerous requests.
The details are:
The Little Fighters Fund, Permanent TSB, Patrick Street, Cork. Sort code: 99-07-03 A/c No: 16556196