RTE UPDATE-News from Ireland- 1 Jun 99 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit ---------------------------------------------- UPDATE - The email news service from RTE Online ---------------------------------------------- 01 June 1999 16:54 with Harry Guerin RTE wishes to apologise for the non-delivery of today's Morning Ireland email and yesterday's UPDATE email. This was due to a technical fault. ON RTE UPDATE TODAY --------------------------------------------------------------- 1. IRA comments on victims' remains 2. Government urges UEFA to cancel match 3. Israeli Ambassador expresses sorrow at death of Irish soldier 4. Man charged with murder of Danish wife at their Dublin home 5. Minister announces end to early releases 6. Survey shows two thirds will vote in Euro and local elections 7. Family challenges Army decision 8. RUC investigate petrol bomb attack 9. Business: Greencore made #27 million in six months 10. Sentencing of cocaine importers adjourned 11. Man arrested in connection with murder 12. Car fire victim named 13. Guinness Dublin Mansion Up For Sale 14. Talks aimed at avoiding fire brigade strike resume plus Business News and Ireland's Weather IRA COMMENTS ON VICTIMS' REMAINS --------------------------------------------------------------- IRA sources have told RTE News that the IRA has made every attempt to establish the exact locations of the bodies of victims. They said that had they been able to recover all the bodies they would have done so. They maintained that in some instances it had proved impossible to establish the exact location, but in the one instance where they had definite information and were able to pass on a body, they had done so. They said the IRA leadership approached this issue in good faith, but that the investigation had been hampered by the lapse of time, changes of leadership and the deaths of members and former IRA members. Yesterday the family of one victim, Jean McConville, demanded that the IRA provide further information pinpointing exactly where her remains can be found. A preliminary search for the remains of IRA murder victims began today at Oristown, outside Kells in County Meath. Garda=ED are using ground radar penetration devices to assist them in the search. Digging also resumed at four other sites where the IRA says it has buried eight people who it killed over 20 years ago. Excavations at the sites in Wicklow, Monaghan and Louth have so far failed to uncover any remains. At the Carlingford location, where the remains of Jean McConville are thought to be buried, people have been leaving flowers. http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0601/morningireland/morningireland4C.ram http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0601/1News/1News6A.ram GOVERNMENT URGES UEFA TO CANCEL MATCH --------------------------------------------------------------- The Government is pressing soccer's ruling body UEFA to cancel Ireland's match against Yugoslavia in Dublin on Saturday. The Department of Sport and Tourism contacted UEFA this morning to convey the Government's view that it should review its decision to allow the Ireland v Yugoslavia match to go ahead. The Cabinet is awaiting a reply from UEFA before making a decision on the issuing of visas to the Yugoslavs. If Ireland withdraws visas for a Yugoslav team which is still legitimately in the competition, it is likely that Ireland would immediately be suspended from Euro 2000. The President of the Football Association of Ireland, has also said that it is now up to UEFA to cancel next Saturday's European championship qualifier with Yugoslavia. Speaking on RTE Radio, Pat Quigley said that they must weigh up the moral issues involved. If the game goes ahead, the Football Supporters' Association has said that there should be a complete boycott of the fixture. Meanwhile, the Kosovo Solidarity group has said it will organise protest outside the ground if the match goes ahead. http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0601/morningireland/morningireland7A.ram http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0601/1News/1News2A.ram ISRAELI AMBASSADOR EXPRESSES SORROW AT DEATH OF IRISH SOLDIER --------------------------------------------------------------- The Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, Zvi Gabay, has expressed his sorrow at the death of an Irish solider working with UNIFIL in Southern Lebanon. Twenty-two-year-old Private Billy Kedian died and twenty-three year old Private Ronald Rushe was injured in an exchange of fire between the SLA and Hezbollah guerrillas yesterday. The Government is to protest to the United Nations over the incident. Private Ronnie Rushe is stable in hospital in Ramban, an Army spokesman said this morning. He said that arrangements are being made to fly members of Private Rushe's family to Lebanon to visit him in the next day or so. Meanwhile, troops from the Israeli backed South Lebanon Army have begun withdrawing from the southern Lebanese town of Jezzine. Israel said the SLA was pulling out of the isolated mountain town because it could no longer be defended from attacks by Hizbollah guerillas. The move has increased speculation that Israel will itself leave the zone it occupies further south. http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0601/1News/1News3A.ram MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER OF DANISH WIFE AT THEIR DUBLIN HOME --------------------------------------------------------------- The husband of a Danish woman found dead in her Dublin home last week has been charged with her murder. Forty-six-year-old Joseph Kinsella, with an address in Blanchardstown in Dublin appeared before Dublin District Court today and was charged with the murder was of Bente Carroll at their home last Wednesday. He was remanded in custody. Mr Kinsella was arrested yesterday morning and is being held at Blanchardstown Garda Station. http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0601/1News/1News4A.ram MINISTER ANNOUNCES END TO EARLY RELEASES --------------------------------------------------------------- The Minister for Justice, John O'Donoghue, has announced that people convicted of attacking the elderly, violence against women and children, joyriding and serious Public Order offences will no longer be eligible for early release. The Minister was speaking at the opening of the new remand prison at Clover hill in Dublin. The new centre has space for 400 inmates and cost more than #20 million to build. SURVEY SHOWS TWO THIRDS WILL VOTE IN EURO AND LOCAL ELECTIONS --------------------------------------------------------------- A survey of voter intentions in Dublin has shown that almost two thirds of those polled will come out and vote in the Euro and local elections next week. The poll of 500 Dubliners, carried out for the Evening Herald newspaper, shows good support for Fianna F=E1il, with its coalition partners, the PD's, in trouble. And there is disappointment for opposition parties who appear to be failing to capitalise on the fall out from recent scandals and tribunals. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has a satisfaction rating of 61%. Meanwhile, Youth Affairs Minister Willie O'Dea has said the number of 18 to 25 year-olds who vote has dropped dramatically. He has warned that if this continues, it could have serious implications for democracy. With just 11 days to go to the European and local elections, a series of ads, featuring the Irish soccer international Niall Quinn, has been launched in an attempt to encourage young people to vote. http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0601/morningireland/morningireland3A.ram http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0601/1News/1News5A.ram FAMILY CHALLENGES ARMY DECISION --------------------------------------------------------------- The family of a Belfast teenager shot dead by security forces seven years ago are challenging a decision to allow two Scots Guards convicted of his murder to remain in the British Army. At the High Court in Belfast, a lawyer claimed that the Army Board's decision to retain Guardsmen James Fisher and Mark Wright had sent a message to other soldiers that if they took someone's life, they would be supported by the Army. The two soldiers were convicted of murdering 18-year-old Peter McBride, who was shot in the back near his home in the New Lodge area in September 1992. Both soldiers had each served six years of a life sentence when they were released on licence by the Northern Secretary last year. The British Army Board subsequently decided to reinstate the two men in their regiment. The reasons for that move are now being challenged by the victim's mother, Jean McBride. RUC INVESTIGATE PETROL BOMB ATTACK --------------------------------------------------------------- The RUC are investigating a petrol bomb attack on a house in the Waterside area of Derry last night. A spokesman said the incident happened shortly before midnight when the device struck the outside wall of the house in Sperrin Park, causing scorch damage. No one was injured in the attack which the RUC say they are treating as sectarian. The RUC are also investigating two attacks in Antrim and Strabane. A couple and their two children suffered minor injury from smoke inhalation after an explosion at the front of their house at Corbally Park in Antrim just before midnight. They had just gone to bed but were alerted by the noise. They called the fire brigade and escaped by the back door. The fire caused minor damage to the front door and hall and the front window was broken. British Army bomb experts removed parts of a device for further examination. Police say they have yet to establish a motive for the incident. Meanwhile, an incident in Strabane early this morning is thought to have been sectarian. The RUC say there was an attempted arson attack at a house at Moorlough Road around 2.00am. A 62 year-old woman and her four sons were awoken by the sound of breaking glass. A bottle and a partially burnt wick were found on the front door and were removed for forensic tests. BUSINESS: GREENCORE MADE #27 MILLION IN SIX MONTHS --------------------------------------------------------------- Results from Greencore, the former Irish sugar company, show that in the six months to the end of March the company made 27 million pounds in pre-tax profit which is a rise of 7 per cent over the corresponding period last year. Sales rose by 27 per cent to 337 million pounds. Shareholders can expect a 10.5 per cent increase in their interim dividend to 3.15 pence per share. SENTENCING OF COCAINE IMPORTERS ADJOURNED --------------------------------------------------------------- The sentencing of two men convicted last month of importing over #40million worth of cocaine into Ireland has been adjourned until June 11th at Cork Circuit Court. In court this morning, Judge Patrick Moran heard an application from counsel for 52-year-old, Wicklow-born, John O'Toole that the sentence be adjourned so as to allow character witnesses from Tenerife, Panama and elsewhere to be contacted. Judge Moran acceded to the request and the matter was adjourned. MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH MURDER --------------------------------------------------------------- A 40 year old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a man from Ballyfermot in Dublin. Martin Sweeney was found dead in a field at Mill Lane in Palmerstown last Friday. The man was detained in Ballyfermot shortly before 7 o'clock last night and is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. CAR FIRE VICTIM NAMED --------------------------------------------------------------- The 2-and-a-half-year-old boy who was killed in a car fire in County Mayo this morning has been named as James Nevin, of Mullam, Newport, County Mayo. James and his twin brother, Sean, were playing in the family car outside their home when it burst into flames just before eight o'clock. The car, a 1988 Nissan Sunny, was engulfed in flames within minutes. Sean managed to escape and alert his father. Garda=ED in Westport are examining the car but say they have not yet been able to establish the cause of the fire. GUINNESS DUBLIN MANSION UP FOR SALE --------------------------------------------------------------- The Guinness family is selling its main family mansion in Ireland. It is expected to fetch between #10 million and #15 million. "Farmleigh", built in 1881, is set in 40 acres on the edge of the Phoenix Park. It was valued at #800,000 for will purposes after the death of the third Earl of Iveagh, Benjamin Guinness, in 1992.

Since 1992 the house has been used infrequently by the stout-brewing family. But the present Earl, Edward Guinness, who lives mainly in England, intends to continue farming land around the 24-bedroom mansion after the house is sold.

http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0601/morningireland/morningireland8A.ram http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0601/1News/1News10A.ram TALKS AIMED AT AVOIDING FIRE BRIGADE STRIKE RESUME --------------------------------------------------------------- Talks at the Labour Court aimed at avoiding a nationwide fire brigade strike from Thursday are to resume in the afternoon. After more than six hours of talks SIPTU spokesman, Paul Smith, said the gap between the sides remained considerable. The fire personnel claim Dublin Corporation is attempting to break their pay link with garda=ED. That has been denied by the corporation, which says the row is over productivity. Business News On the currency markets the euro traded at US$1.04, AUS$1.62, 126.35 yen and 65 pence sterling. The Irish punt traded at US$1.32, AUS$2.06, 160.43 yen and 83 pence sterling. (The euro is pegged at 0.78 Irish punts). The ISEQ Index meanwhile was down 27.12 points today at 4878.46 Ireland's Weather Generally dry this evening, with some sunshine in many areas, and just a few isolated showers (chiefly in the Midlands). Tonight will be dry and calm, with patches of mist and fog. Lowest Temperatures 8 to 12 Celsius (46 to 54 Fahrenheit). Over Munster and Leinster there will be a good deal of cloud tomorrow, and outbreaks of thundery rain will develop in many areas, giving some severe downpours locally. Over Connacht and Ulster many places will have another dry day, with hazy sunshine at times - but here too some scattered outbreaks of thundery rain may develop later. Highest Temperatures 14 to 20 Celsius (57 to 68 Fahrenheit). ---------------------------------------------- UPDATE is a free 7-days a week service from RTE bringing you the latest news from Ireland. For regular news updates throughout the day check RTE News Online at http://www.rte.ie/news/ ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-06.02.99-09:29:38-27955