A round-up of other regional news in brief
Arrest of cargo ship sought
High Court proceedings to allow for the arrest of a Latvian-owned cargo ship docked in Cork Harbour were expected to take place this morning. The International Transport Federation (ITF) is seeking to arrest and sell the vessel to reimburse a crew of eight allegedly owed more than €80,000.
Solicitors acting on behalf of the ITF will then inform the Latvian company, Forestry Shipping, of the intention to detain the 75m cargo ship.
ITF inspector Ken Fleming believes there will be no response from the company.
The MS Defender, which is registered in Cambodia and operating out of Riga, is estimated to be worth €100,000.
She will be advertised around the world and sold by auction in a bid to recoup unpaid wages for crew members.
Fly infestation prompts action over landfill
A SECTION of a landfill site in Cork is to be covered over in a bid to rid a city suburb of a plague of flies.
Hundreds of residents of Douglas, near the city’s Kinsale Road landfill site, complained of an infestation of flies and a foul odour. Earthmoving works at the city’s main dump, located at Kinsale Road, have been blamed for the outbreak.
Residents have used fly traps and fly strips amid fear of the spread of disease.
Cork City Council identified an elevated site within the landfill as a possible cause to the problem, where digging and levelling works were being carried out. “In order to address the matter arrangements have been made to cover most of this elevated area with soil material,” a spokesperson for the council said.
Judge discharges jury in burglary case
The jury has been discharged in the trial of a man charged with aggravated burglary involving the theft of over €100,000 of jewellery from a Westmeath family.
The trial of Brian McGinley (37) of Blackberry Lane, Athlone is to be relisted for a new trial date with a fresh jury.
Mr McGinley denies being part of a four man gang who tied up and threatened members of the family of Damien Kilmartin of Kilmartin's N6 Service Station in Athlone in February 2005. The gang made off with a safe containing jewellery valued at €102,000.
Judge Miriam Reynolds, who heard evidence last week, is indisposed, members of the jury were told in Mullingar Circuit Court today by Judge Raymond Fulham. Judge Reynolds is expected to return by next week but Judge Fulham discharged the jury when it emerged that several jurors would be unavailable next week.