UPDATE - News from Ireland - 11 June 1999 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit ---------------------------------------------- UPDATE - The email news service from RTE Online ---------------------------------------------- 11 June 1999 17:53 with Donnacha DeLong ON RTE UPDATE TODAY --------------------------------------------------------------- 1. First Irish case of CJD diagnosed 2. Garda arrested in County Donegal 3. Former Sister of Mercy found guilty of rape 4. Polling takes place in elections across Ireland 5. Duffy says involvement in Gaiety proposal was above board 6. Two jailed for a total of 34 years for importing cocaine 7. Court hears recorded threats by murder-accused Brian Meehan 8. County Down Man pleads guilty to double murder 9. Extradited financier sent for trial in Belfast 10. Trimble and Blair hold private talks 11. ESRI calls for new socio-economic consensus 12. Textile firm will not locate in Belfast 13. Westmeath gardam search for armed raiders 14. Search underway for missing Mayo woman 15. #8.3 million paid for Foxrock house plus Business News and Ireland's Weather FIRST IRISH CASE OF CJD DIAGNOSED --------------------------------------------------------------- St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin has confirmed that it has written to 49 patients informing them that the medical equipment used to treat them had also been used on a patient who has been diagnosed as having variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease. The fatal disease may be caused by eating meat contaminated with BSE. Saint Vincent's have told the other patients that there are no known case of CJD being transmitted by the procedure used in their cases. The case came to light when the Irish Medicine Weekly magazine was given a letter sent by the Chief Executive of the hospital, alerting a patient that he or she was treated with the same equipment as another patient who has now been diagnosed as having nv-CJD. It is understood that about 50 such letters have been sent this week to patients who were treated using a piece of equipment known as an endoscope. The letter, from Mr. Nicholas Jermyn at St. Vincent's, assures one of these patients that there is no known case of CJD being transmitted by the procedure used in their cases. It says that they are just letting patients know, because it was likely the media might report the condition of the one patient who has nv-CJD. There is only one other known case of CJD on the island of Ireland, a 30-year-old Belfast man, Maurice Callaghan, who died in 1996. GARDA ARRESTED IN COUNTY DONEGAL --------------------------------------------------------------- It has been confirmed that a member of the Garda Smochana was one of three people arrested in County Donegal yesterday afternoon. He was arrested as part of an internal investigation into allegations surrounding Garda activity in the County. The three men arrested in Donegal yesterday afternoon were taken to Manorhamilton Garda station in County Leitrim, where they were held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. It was confirmed today that one of the men was a member of the Garda Smochana. All three were released late last night without charge, but Gardam say that enquiries are on-going. It is understood that the arrests were made in connection with an internal Garda investigation headed by Assistant Commissioner, Kevin Carty, and Chief Superintendent, Austin McNally, of Sligo. They are leading a special unit set up at Letterkenny Garda station to investigate allegations made against members of the force in County Donegal. Among the allegations are claims by a woman that Gardam were involved in organising a hoax bomb across the border, and that an arms find was split up to claim more credit. The Gardam at the centre of the investigation according to sources have strenuously denied the allegations made against them. This evening, Gardam confirmed a fourth arrest made in Donegal in connection with the on-going investigation, a man, who Gardai say is not a member of the force, is being held at Manorhamilton Garda station under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act. FORMER SISTER OF MERCY FOUND GUILTY OF RAPE --------------------------------------------------------------- A 51-year-old former Sister of Mercy, has been found guilty of raping a 10-year-old girl. Nora Wall, originally from the Nire Valley, had been the victim's guardian while the child was in care at Saint Michael's Centre in Cappoquin in County Waterford. Nora Wall's co-accused, Paul McCabe, a homeless man, was also found guilty of rape. Both have been remanded on bail, for sentencing in July. The victim was placed in care in Saint Michael's when she was 6 years of age. When she was ten, she was raped by Paul McCabe, a homeless man who visited Nora Wall at Saint Michael's. The victim told the jury that the nun held her legs while the man raped her. Both Paul McCabe and Nora Wall denied the charges. The pair were acquitted of a second count of raping the same child in 1990. The jury had heard conflicting evidence surrounding the dates of the alleged offence. Nora Wall's expertise was in childcare, she became the manager of Saint Michael's Centre in Cappoquin shortly after it was built in the 1970s. This centre heralded a new approach to childcare, moving away from the dark days of the industrial school era. Known as Sister Dominic, Nora Wall ran the group homes from 1978 until 1990. She left the Mercy order in 1994 and there was no member of the Order in court to give evidence on her behalf. She has since worked in hostels in Dublin and in a Romanian orphanage. Fifty-year-old Paul McCabe, also known as Pablo, is a diagnosed schizophrenic. In court he was described by his own legal team as "a vagabond and hobo". He spent his early years in the care of the Sisters of Mercy at the now closed industrial school in Cappoquin. It seems he originally met Nora Wall when he was trying to trace his mother. He said in evidence that he was a regular visitor to Saint Michael's during the 1980s. In a strongly worded statement this morning the Sisters of Mercy Order said its members were all devastated by these revolting crimes. They said the victim's courage in coming forward was heroic, and they called on anyone who was abused, while in their care, to contact the Gardam. They refused further comment, however, because the case has not yet concluded. Nora Wall and Paul McCabe have been remanded on bail and will be sentenced by Mr Justice Paul Carney in July. http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0611/morningireland/morningireland3A.ram http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0611/1News/1News5A.ram POLLING TAKES PLACE IN ELECTIONS ACROSS IRELAND --------------------------------------------------------------- Voting in the European parliamentary and local elections is taking place today. There are 15 European seats to be filled and just over 1,600 seats in 114 local authorities. The referendum to give constitutional recognition to local authorities also takes place today. Just over 2.8 million people are entitled to vote. Polling stations opened at 8am this morning and will close at 9pm tonight. Intending voters are advised to bring evidence of identity with them. In the Dublin City area, turnout is said to be slow, averaging at about 5% so far. High points are in Finglas, Clontarf and Glasnevin where turnout is at about 10%, but in Ballyfermot, it is as low as 1%. A high turnout across the Southeast is being helped by good weather and some high-profile candidates in certain areas. The turn-out in Kilkenny is around 30 percent. Polling in rural areas of Wexford still relatively slow. If the rate does not pick up, turnout tonight could be just below 50 percent. Wexford town is busier, with just over 25 percent at present. Over 30 percent in Arklow, with Wicklow very busy at well. West Wicklow is still very slow. There has been a 25 percent turnout in Waterford City, with around 20 percent in West Waterford, and up to 30 percent in Dungarvan town. The turnout is low in Carlow, around 18 percent, but many more people are expected to vote tonight. By mid-afternoon, the turnout in Drogheda was 15 per cent, with Dundalk running at about 13 or 14 per cent. In Meath, voting is said to be generally very slow: Dunshaughlin 17 per cent; Dunboyne, 12 per cent; Ashbourne, 14 per cent at 4 p.m. The returning officer for Monaghan says that polling there is "quite busy". Turn-out in the Sligo area is about 25%. In Leitrim, Carrick-on-shannon has had a turn-out of 28%, Ballinamore 25-30%, Manorhamilton 40%, a turn-out close to that of 1991, which was 75%, the highest in the country, is predicted. After a slow start, there was a brisk afternoon turnout in the Cavan/Monaghan area. The average in Monaghan was 32-36%. One of the oldest voters in the country was Margaret Gannon, who celebrates her 102nd birthday on the 4th of August, who voted at St. Mary's Hospital in Castleblaney. Voting in Galway City is low at the moment but many more are expected to vote tonight: Tirellan 15%, Moycullen 20%. The turn-out in Galway County has been slightly higher than the city, rural parts of the county are experiencing a low turn out but it is expected to get busier tonight: Mountbellew 22%; Athenry 20%; Rural Ballinasloe 15%; Ballinasloe 28%; Rosaveal 25%. Mayo voting is steady, with a turn out of around 25%, though there were very few young people. Towns in like Boyle and Roscommon are higher than rural parts of the county. Polling in Limerick ranges from 20% to 30%. In some parts of the Limerick city suburbs its described as steady, however at one large polling station on the southside of the city, polling personnel have described the turnout as very quiet, with just up to 20 percent of people turning up to vote by 5pm. Voting in Tipperary North has been described as brisk, in some small villages. Nenagh had a turnout of 25% this afternoon. Also a lot of young people came out to vote in the town. In the small village of Portroe, polling was said to be up to 10% higher than the rest of the country, probably due to a particularly keen contest between 2 Fianna Fail and 1 Labour candidates looking for a County Council seat, turnout there running at around 35%. Voting in West Clare is good, turnout there is reported to be between 42-45%. Ennis is slower, between 15-25%, but this could be due to a Fiile Peil Na nSg parade through the town this afternoon. County Clare is hosting the competition this year. A lot of voters are asking about the referendum, most do not know what it is about and are complaining that there was no advance information about it. Voters in one small village in south Tipperary have to put up with an unusual distraction. The presiding officer at Faugheen near Carrick-on-Suir, has had to cover with masking tape parts of one section of the Parish hall to stop bees entering the polling areas. The presiding officer discovered the bee-hive at the hall when he arrived this morning to open the polling station. He was worried about the consequences if voters were stung while casting their ballots. The general trend at polling booths around Cork City and county seems to be a slight increase on the 1994 turnout, which was about 50 percent. Tipsters anticipate that the final turnout in Cork will be somewhere between 52 and 54 percent. Reports from polling stations say that the 8am start has encouraged more people to vote on their way to work. Turners Cross has reported a steady trickle since opening this morning, while there was a queue at one polling station in Ballincollig. Little Island says that turnout has been low so far, but stations at Darrara in Clonakilty and at Churchtown in Mallow say that voting has been very good. Some confusion between the three papers has also been reported at some stations. http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0611/1News/1News3A.ram DUFFY SAYS INVOLVEMENT IN GAIETY PROPOSAL WAS ABOVE BOARD --------------------------------------------------------------- The Taoiseach former advisor, Paddy Duffy has said that his involvement in the Gaiety Theatre proposal was proper and above board. He said that he was not involved in any day to day operations, nor had any financial dealings with Dillon consultants at any time. Fine Gael has called for an investigation by the Public Offices Commission into any potential conflicts of interest involving Mr. Duffy. The call follows a newspaper report that Mr Duffy was a director of the firm, Dillon Consultants, and a serving member of the Millennium Committee, during a time when Dillons applied to the Committee, for three million pounds for the refurbishment of a Dublin theatre. Fine Gael's Enterprise spokesman Ivan Yates said that, if this report were confirmed, Mr. Duffy's position on the Committee would be untenable. Last week, Mr. Duffy resigned as adviser to the Taoiseach after it emerged that he was on the board of Dillon Consultants, which advised Anglo-American group NTL on its successful bid for the purchase of Cablelink. A spokesperson for the Millennium Committee has told RTI news that the Gaiety Theatre did apply for funding from the 15-member committee and that the committee took a decision that it would support that application. The spokesperson said that the committee was not made aware at any stage that Paddy Duffy had any connections with the Gaiety group. He said that Mr. Duffy was present along with about 5 other members of the committee when the Gaiety made its application. The spokesperson said that, as of now, Mr. Duffy was still a member of the committee, but that the chairman of the Millennium Committee, Seamus Brennan, would address this situation and discuss the matter with Paddy Duffy as soon as Mr. Duffy returned from abroad. TWO JAILED FOR A TOTAL OF 34 YEARS FOR IMPORTING COCAINE --------------------------------------------------------------- Two men convicted of importing over #40million worth of cocaine have been sentenced to a total of 34 years in prison at Cork Circuit Criminal Court today. Passing sentence, Judge Patrick Moran, sentenced 52-year-old John O'Toole, the owner of a yacht involved in the incident, to 20 years in jail, and his companion, an Englishman to 14 years. Wicklow-born John O'Toole and Englishman Michael Tune were arrested by Gardam after Customs Officials uncovered 320 kilograms of cocaine hidden on a boat in Kinsale last September. Michael Tune and John O'Toole, were convicted of the offence by a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court two weeks ago. In court this morning Detective Sargent John Healy, the leading officer in the investigation, described both men as "pawns" in the drug dealing business. He said O'Toole and 39-year-old Tune had been recruited by a criminal gang and stood to earn #400,000 in total for their part in the operation. Detective Sargent Healy said the cocaine was intended for distribution in the Cork area and for transfer on to markets in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. Passing sentence, Judge Patrick Moran said he had an obligation to protect against an operation like this that brings nothing but misery, ruin and upset to decent people. He sentenced O'Toole to 20 years and Tune to 14 years, and he refused leave to appeal against the severity of the sentences. COURT HEARS RECORDED THREATS BY MURDER-ACCUSED BRIAN MEEHAN --------------------------------------------------------------- The Special Criminal Court has heard a tape recording of murder-accused Brian Meehan threatening to kill a number of people, if they co-operated with the garda investigation. Twenty-three-year-old Brian Meehan with an address of Stanoway Road in Kimmage in Dublin has pleaded not guilty to the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin and 15 other drugs and firearms offences. COUNTY DOWN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DOUBLE MURDER --------------------------------------------------------------- A 30-year-old County Down man faces life imprisonment after pleading guilty to the double murder of Philip Allen and Damien Trainor in Poyntzpass last year. 34-year-old Mr. Allen, a Protestant, and his 25-year-old Catholic friend were shot dead by Loyalist gunmen at the Railway Bar. Ryan Robley from Banbridge admitted murder, attempted murder and having a gun and ammunition. His co-accused, Stephen McClean and Noel McCready from Banbridge, have denied the charges. Earlier today, it emerged that relatives of three people killed by Loyalists in County Armagh in 1975 are looking for a meeting with the North's Security Minister, Adam Ingram, following allegations on last night's Primetime programme that members of the RUC and the Ulster Defence Regiment were involved in the murders. Trevor Brecknell, Patrick Donnelly and 14-year-old Michael Donnelly died in a gun and bomb attack in a public house in Silverbridge. Their families have asked to see the RUC's files on the killings. http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0611/1News/1News8A.ram EXTRADITED FINANCIER SENT FOR TRIAL IN BELFAST --------------------------------------------------------------- Financier George Finbar Ross, who was extradited from America last month, has been sent for trial in Belfast on fraud charges involving more than #600,000. Cork-born Ross, who is 53, was head of International Investments Limited, which collapsed in 1984 owing investors #7million. TRIMBLE AND BLAIR HOLD PRIVATE TALKS --------------------------------------------------------------- The North's First Minister and Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, had a meeting with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at Downing Street last night. The private talks were held as the two governments prepared to launch a new drive to break the political deadlock in the peace process. ESRI CALLS FOR NEW SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSENSUS --------------------------------------------------------------- The Economic and Social Research Institute has called on the Social Partners to undertake a serious search for a new and heavily modified consensus on socio-economic policy before the end of this year. To date economic and social consensus agreements have been aimed at improving our public finances, create jobs and deliver tax cuts. The Institute says these objectives are now outdated. http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0611/morningireland/morningireland4A.ram http://www.rte.ie/news/1999/0611/1News/1News7A.ram TEXTILE FIRM WILL NOT LOCATE IN BELFAST --------------------------------------------------------------- A Taiwanese textile firm has decided not to go ahead with a multi-million pound factory outside Belfast. The company originally promised to create 1,800 jobs. It was offered #61 million in British government aid five years ago towards developing a huge factory on a 100-acre site at Newtonabbey, County Antrim. The Chief Executive of Northern Ireland's Industrial Development Board, Bruce Robinson, said the opportunity for the project no longer existed, owing to the economic and financial situation in the Far East. WESTMEATH GARDAM SEARCH FOR ARMED RAIDERS --------------------------------------------------------------- Gardam in County Westmeath are searching for three men after an armed robbery in Kilbeggan last night. It is understood the raiders, one armed with a sawn off shotgun, held up a filling station in the town around midnight. They escaped by car with a quantity of cash and cigarettes. No one was injured during the incident. SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR MISSING MAYO WOMAN --------------------------------------------------------------- A search is underway on the Belmullet Peninsula in County Mayo after a local woman failed to return from a walk last night. The Shannon based Rescue helicopter, the Ballyglass lifeboat as well as local gardam and local people are involved in the operation. The alarm was raised shortly after midnight. #8.3 MILLION PAID FOR FOXROCK HOUSE --------------------------------------------------------------- The Independent reports on a new record for the sale of an Irish house. Eight point three million was paid for a five bedroom house in the plush Dublin suburb of Foxrock yesterday. The figure tops the previous record by more than #2.5 million, the previous record of #5.9 million for Sorrento Terrace in Dalkey last year. A spokesman for the auctioneers said they were 'mesmerised' by the price. The Foxrock house had been expected to reach close to five million. BUSINESS NEWS On the currency markets the euro traded at US$1.04, AUS$1.58, 124.09 yen and 65 pence sterling. The Irish punt traded at US$1.33, AUS$2.01, 157.56 yen and 83 pence sterling. (The euro is permanently valued at 0.78 Irish punts.) The ISEQ Index meanwhile closed up 54.51 points at 4983.18 IRELAND'S WEATHER It will be dry and rather cloudy this evening, continuing mostly dry and calm overnight, with mist and fog in places later. Lowest temperatures: 7 to 10 Celsius (44.6 to 50 Fahrenheit). Most areas will be dry again tomorrow, with a few bright or sunny spells here and there. Scattered showers also, chiefly over Ulster and Leinster. Little or no wind. Highest Temperatures: 14 to 18 Celsius (57.2 to 64.4 Fahrenheit). ---------------------------------------------- UPDATE is a free 7-days a week service from RTE bringing you the latest news from Ireland. 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