In Short

A round-up of other stories in brief...

A round-up of other stories in brief...

60 Aviance workers set to lose jobs

Approximately 60 people are to lose their jobs due to the closure of a Dublin airport ground handling operation, Siptu has said.

Aviance is to cease its Dublin operations on August 25th, making more than 100 employees redundant.

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However, employment for 41 of these workers has been secured at ground handler Servisair.

Siptu is seeking better redundancy terms for the employees.

The company is currently offering statutory two weeks redundancy for each year. However, it has agreed to base this pay on 2008 rates, which are 15 to 20 per cent higher.

Teenagers to  face murder trial

Two teenagers have been returned for arraignment to the High Court in Belfast charged in connection with the murder of pizza delivery man Emmet Shiels at Bligh’s Lane in the Creggan area of Derry last year.

Gary Meenan (19), Bishop Street, is charged with murdering Emmet Shiels, attempting to murder another man, possession of a firearm and three assaults.

Nadine Kelly (19), Celadine Court, was remanded on continuing bail to the same court. She is charged with perverting the course of justice by providing an alibi for her Mr Meenan.

Disability rights campaigner dies

The death has taken place of a well-known campaigner for the disabled and brother of the famed Seán South.

Ger South (78), Richmond Park, Corbally, Limerick, was chairman of the Limerick Association of the Parents and Friends of the Disabled for over 20 years.

He was one of the country’s foremost campaigners on disability and won funding to provide care for those with an intellectual disability.

Mr South, whose brother was the subject of the famous Irish rebel ballad, died early yesterday morning at Millbrae Lodge nursing home.

His removal will take place from Griffin’s funeral home next Monday at 7pm, with funeral Mass at St Mary’s Church at 11am on Tuesday.

Three rescued after yacht loses power

A crew of three aboard a 16.7 metre yacht were towed to safety yesterday after their craft lost power 12 miles east of Ballycotton, off the Cork coast. The crew alerted emergency services shortly after midday and the Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat was launched to their assistance.

One member of the Ballycotton lifeboat crew boarded the troubled vessel and a tow line was attached to pull the yacht to Ballycotton, where it docked at 1.45pm.

The crew, who were sailing for pleasure, attempted to launch the main sail when they ran into difficulties but a lack of wind hindered their progress.

Website to explain EU to Irish citizens

The latest website to explain the EU to Irish citizens has been launched by the European Commission’s Dublin office.

The www.talktoeu.ie site is part of a 12-month programme to let Irish citizens know what the EU does and what it can do for them.

The programme includes a series of local “listening” events over the next six months, aiming to get the opinions and views of the population.

Cinema advertising began last week for the website.

Another arrest over McDaid killing

A 20-year-old man was arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland yesterday for questioning in connection with the loyalist sectarian mob murder of Kevin McDaid (49) in Coleraine, Co Derry.

He was later released from police custody pending further inquiries.

Mr McDaid and Damian Fleming, who was badly injured in the assault, were attacked in May.