A round-up of other regional stories in brief...
Louth man charged with murder
A Co Louth man has been charged with murdering another man near a religious shrine over two years ago.
Angelo Ó Ríordáin, with an address at Point Road, Bellurgan, Dundalk, was charged with the murder of Aidan Myers (37) from Farndreg, Dundalk at Faughart Upper, Dundalk on December 13th, 2006.
At Dundalk District Court yesterday Det Garda Charlie Geoghan gave evidence of arresting and charging Mr Ó Ríordáin that morning. He made no reply to the charge.
Judge Flann Brennan was told Mr Ó Ríordáin was not objecting to being remanded in custody and the case was adjourned until next week.
The inquest into Mr Myers’s death last year heard that he died after a gang tried to hijack a car he was a passenger in at St Brigid’s shrine, Faughart, and he suffered fatal injuries to his liver and rib cage.
Midleton celebrates relief road opening
Midleton, Co Cork, is to celebrate the opening today of a €35 million relief road which promises to lighten traffic flow significantly through the town centre.
The first phase of the Midleton Relief Road, funded jointly by the Department of Transport and Cork County Council, has been completed two months ahead of schedule.
The 1.6km northern relief road will complement the new train service in the town, which is due to open in June. The new road links the Oatencake N25 flyover on the Cork Road (west of Midleton) to the Mill Road, north of the town centre.
Writer remanded for sex offender's assessment
Writer Desmond Hogan (57) was yesterday given an opportunity by a judge to undergo assessment to establish whether he is suitable to participate in a sex offenders’ treatment programme.
Hogan, with an address at Back Lane, East End, Ballybunion, Co Kerry, was remanded to appear at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court after he pleaded guilty last July to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy at his house in Ballybunion on November 11th, 2006.
Barrister for Hogan, Mark Nicholas, told the court that there was a six-month waiting list for assessment but that Hogan had received an appointment for assessment on March 25th where experts would decide whether he was suitable to participate in the programme.
Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan said that the State had no objection to an adjournment to allow Hogan be assessed
He was remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court on May 27th.
Celebrity chefs to help food promotion
Celebrity chefs Neven Maguire and Phelim Byrne are to donate their time to help promote local food in Wexford.
They have agreed to give cookery demonstrations at Wexford Food Fair, on March 25th in White’s Hotel.
The event, organised by parents from St Iberius National School in Wexford, will also feature food producers from the Wexford area.
Further details on www.wexfordfair.ie