FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending July 30, 2010
Los Angeles: Goleta Man Indicted in Connection with Murder-for-Hire Plot Targeting Bel Air Resident and Others
A Goleta resident, Eugene Temkin, was charged and arrested at his residence without incident. At that time, a criminal complaint was filed outlining the scheme by Temkin to hire a third party to murder his former business partner, the man’s wife and the man’s business partner. Full Story
Charlotte: MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced to Death After Conviction on Racketeering Charges Related to Double Murders
Alejandro Umana was sentenced to the death penalty on murder charges for the deaths of Ruben and Manuel Salinas. He is the first MS-13 member in the country to receive the death penalty. Full Story
Honolulu: Founding Member of Abu Sayyaf Group Pleads Guilty to 1995 Hostage Taking Involving U.S. and Philippine Citizens
Madhatta Haipe, a citizen of the Philippines and founding member of Al-Harakat Al-Islamiyyah, also known as the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), pled guilty to four counts of hostage taking in connection with the 1995 abduction of 16 people, including four U.S. citizens, in the Philippines. Full Story
FBI Headquarters: FBI, Slovenian and Spanish Police Arrests Mariposa Botnet Creator, Operators
The FBI, in partnership with the Slovenian Criminal Police and the Spanish Guardia Civil, announced significant developments in a two-year investigation of the creator and operators of the Mariposa Botnet. Full Story
Birmingham: Former Jefferson County Commissioner Gary White Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
Former Jefferson County Commissioner Gary White was sentenced to 10 years in prison on 2008 convictions for accepting bribes from a sewer contractor whose company had about $50 million in contracts with the county. Full Story
Washington Field: Drug Kingpin Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Co-Conspirator Sentenced to 10 Years
Lonnell Glover was sentenced to life in prison for his role as leader of a Phencyclidine (PCP) and heroin distribution organization in the District of Columbia and Maryland. He is also required to forfeit $1,050,000 as proceeds from his drug conspiracy. Full Story
Sacramento: Sacramento Man Ordered to Pay Victims and Government Responders for Costs Related to Anthrax Hoax
Marc M. Keyser was ordered to pay nearly $7,000 in costs that various victims and government agencies incurred in response to Keyser’s fake anthrax mailings in October 2008. He was sentenced to prison in April, but deferred determination of the amount of restitution to be paid back. Full Story
Houston: Former Manager of Local Medical Group Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion
A former office manager for a local medical group was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by a three year term of supervised release for tax evasion. The individual failed to pay taxes on approximately $1 million embezzled from the employer, and ordered to pay $297,855 in back taxes. Full Story
New York: Former Fugitive in Multi-Million-Dollar New Square Fraud Scheme Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 27 Months in Prison
Avrum Friesel was sentenced to 27 months in prison for his participation in a long-running scheme to defraud millions of dollars from a number of federal and state programs. Friesel fled from the United States in 1997, was arrested in 2008 and extradited to the United States in August 2009, over 12 years after he was initially charged. Full Story
Seattle: Entertainment Club Corporations and Associates Sentenced for RICO Conspiracy and Prostitution Related Charges
Three associates and co-owners of the Colacurcio strip clubs were sentenced for conspiracy to commit RICO – Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations. The men, and the corporations they formed, are forfeiting more than $7.5 million in property. The clubs closed in May 2010. Full Story
Meath Tourism
Meath Tourism Historical Sites
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Public Accounts
More than 50 Documents on Bank Guarantee Scheme Not Released to Public Accounts Committee
30th July 2010
The D il Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has published a schedule of the key documents relating to the bank guarantee scheme which were not provided to it by the Department of Finance.
The PAC had previously received and published documentation on the planning that went on in the Department of Finance leading up to the implementation of the bank guarantee scheme on 29th September 2008.
However, the Committee was not provided with a large number of relevant documents as they were deemed not appropriate for release. The Committee was told that this was mainly because these documents were “subject to legal privilege” or were “institution specific.”
A list of the unrealised documents is now available at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/Committees30thDail/PAC/Homepage.htm
Committee Chairman, Bernard Allen TD said;
“The Committee was somewhat disappointed that we did not receive the full schedule of documents regarding the bank guarantee scheme. In order for the Committee to establish if the taxpayer has received value for money we are keen to have access to all the relevant information.
We accept that there are certain documents containing advice from the Attorney General which are subject to legal privilege. However, I believe that copies of the letters containng the questions which prompted the advice from the Attorney General should be made freely available to the Committee.
This is why we have asked the Secretary General of the Department of Finance to look through each of these privileged documents with a view to the Committee being given copies of the letters to the Attorney General which resulted in this advice.
We hope to receive this detail at an early stage, so that any insights gained from it can contribute to the Committee’s continuing analysis of this crucial matter.”
The Committee has also published details requested from the Department on the Domestic Standing Group on Financial Stability.
30th July 2010
The D il Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has published a schedule of the key documents relating to the bank guarantee scheme which were not provided to it by the Department of Finance.
The PAC had previously received and published documentation on the planning that went on in the Department of Finance leading up to the implementation of the bank guarantee scheme on 29th September 2008.
However, the Committee was not provided with a large number of relevant documents as they were deemed not appropriate for release. The Committee was told that this was mainly because these documents were “subject to legal privilege” or were “institution specific.”
A list of the unrealised documents is now available at: http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/Committees30thDail/PAC/Homepage.htm
Committee Chairman, Bernard Allen TD said;
“The Committee was somewhat disappointed that we did not receive the full schedule of documents regarding the bank guarantee scheme. In order for the Committee to establish if the taxpayer has received value for money we are keen to have access to all the relevant information.
We accept that there are certain documents containing advice from the Attorney General which are subject to legal privilege. However, I believe that copies of the letters containng the questions which prompted the advice from the Attorney General should be made freely available to the Committee.
This is why we have asked the Secretary General of the Department of Finance to look through each of these privileged documents with a view to the Committee being given copies of the letters to the Attorney General which resulted in this advice.
We hope to receive this detail at an early stage, so that any insights gained from it can contribute to the Committee’s continuing analysis of this crucial matter.”
The Committee has also published details requested from the Department on the Domestic Standing Group on Financial Stability.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Murder - body of Charlie Armstrong discovered
Disappeared - those murdered and secretly buried by Sinn Fein/IRA criminals.
The body of a man has been discovered in Co Monaghan. The body is believed to be that of an innocent man Charlie Armstrong, who was murdered by the Provisional IRA and secretly buried in Monaghan in the 1980s.
A project team with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains discovered the man's body earlier today.
The partial remains have yet to be formally identified, but they are believed to be that of Charlie Armstrong who went missing from the Crossmaglen area of Co Armagh in the early 1980s.
Gardai and the Minister for Justice have been informed of the find, and efforts are now underway to firmly establish the identity of the man so that his family can be informed.
The Independent Commission began a process Charlie Armstrong’s family watched unfold before them over the past few months. For several months the team of experts concentrated on an area of bog and gorse at Inniskeen, just a couple of miles from the family home. The commission was prompted to act by an anonymous map, sent to the family, which claimed he’d been buried there.
It was the second map the family had received. The first showed a slightly different location. It’s the fact that both maps highlight the same area that gives the Armstrong’s hope that they’ve been directed to the right place. All they need now is help to pinpoint the exact location.
Bodies found in bog:
The area where it’s believed Charlie Armstrong’s body is hidden had been used for that very purpose before. In 1999, the remains of two of the Disappeared, John McClory and Brian McKinney were found in a bog across the road from the site searched for Mr Armstrong.
Charlie Armstrong disappeared in 1981. A man who sometimes taxied for neighbours, he was on his way to pick up a lady for Mass when he went missing. Many believe he stumbled into an IRA operation and that his killing was neither sanctioned nor intentional. His family think he may have been killed by accident when he tried to stop his car being hijacked by armed men.
The death of a well-known and popular man would have caused major embarrassment for the republican movement in an area where it enjoyed substantial local support. It’s perhaps for that reason that the death was covered up and responsibility for it – even to this day - has never been acknowledged.
It is not known how many men, women and children were kidnapped, murdered and secretly buried by Sinn Fein/IRA, however, it is known that the body of 17 year old school boy Columbia Mc Veigh who was murdered by the PIRA still remains undiscovered in north Monaghan.
The body of a man has been discovered in Co Monaghan. The body is believed to be that of an innocent man Charlie Armstrong, who was murdered by the Provisional IRA and secretly buried in Monaghan in the 1980s.
A project team with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains discovered the man's body earlier today.
The partial remains have yet to be formally identified, but they are believed to be that of Charlie Armstrong who went missing from the Crossmaglen area of Co Armagh in the early 1980s.
Gardai and the Minister for Justice have been informed of the find, and efforts are now underway to firmly establish the identity of the man so that his family can be informed.
The Independent Commission began a process Charlie Armstrong’s family watched unfold before them over the past few months. For several months the team of experts concentrated on an area of bog and gorse at Inniskeen, just a couple of miles from the family home. The commission was prompted to act by an anonymous map, sent to the family, which claimed he’d been buried there.
It was the second map the family had received. The first showed a slightly different location. It’s the fact that both maps highlight the same area that gives the Armstrong’s hope that they’ve been directed to the right place. All they need now is help to pinpoint the exact location.
Bodies found in bog:
The area where it’s believed Charlie Armstrong’s body is hidden had been used for that very purpose before. In 1999, the remains of two of the Disappeared, John McClory and Brian McKinney were found in a bog across the road from the site searched for Mr Armstrong.
Charlie Armstrong disappeared in 1981. A man who sometimes taxied for neighbours, he was on his way to pick up a lady for Mass when he went missing. Many believe he stumbled into an IRA operation and that his killing was neither sanctioned nor intentional. His family think he may have been killed by accident when he tried to stop his car being hijacked by armed men.
The death of a well-known and popular man would have caused major embarrassment for the republican movement in an area where it enjoyed substantial local support. It’s perhaps for that reason that the death was covered up and responsibility for it – even to this day - has never been acknowledged.
It is not known how many men, women and children were kidnapped, murdered and secretly buried by Sinn Fein/IRA, however, it is known that the body of 17 year old school boy Columbia Mc Veigh who was murdered by the PIRA still remains undiscovered in north Monaghan.
Tayto Rip Off
Following several discussions with family and friends about how small the content of crisp packets were getting, I decided to carry out a survey of content between my two favourite crisps, Tayto Cheese and Onion and Hunky Dorys Buffalo. Over the past two weeks I have purchased 24 packets of Tayto Cheese and Onion and 24 packets of Hunky Dorys Buffalo flavoured crisps, I made my purchases at various shops throughout Meath in order to obtain a good and fair sample for my study.
Tayto Cheese and Onion which are sold in bags stating that the weight of the bag and its content are 37g - as can be seen from the picture above, were found in all 24 sample bags to weigh 30-34g, not one of the bags passed the 34g mark.
Hunky Dorys Buffalo which are sold in bags stating that the weight of the bag and its content are 45g - as can be seen from the picture above, were found in all 24 sample bags to weigh 47-51g, none of the bags were under 47g.
As far as this eater of Tayto crisps is concerned, Tayto is a rip off and from this study forth, unless Tayto get their act together and stop acting like the Scrooge of the crisp world then I will become an exclusive Hunky Dorys eater and I will encourage family and friends to do like wise. We are living in difficult times and it is unfair that mainly parents and children are being ripped off in this way. By the way I did not eat all 48 bags of crisps used in this study, I have had help from family and friends.
Navan Live
The Navan Live event which will be taking place in Spetember 2010 is already drawing visitors from right across Europe, Hotels and B+Bs across Meath are reporting a steady interest from our neighbours in the UK and other countries across Europe. The event will see the ever popular Saw Doctors lead by Davy Carton take to the stage.
This is a welcome lift for Meath Tourism and will be an opportunity for Navan to showcase its central place in the rich history and culture of County Meath. The Royal County has become a world stage for international performers with the many magnificant concerts held at Slane Castle and hosted by Henry Mount Charles. Profile Music Group will be promoting the Navan event and this is a unique opportunity for our visitors to visit our many wonderful attractions such as New Grange, the beautiful Boyne River and so much more. http://summer-soltice.blogspot.com/
For further information on the Navan Live event read John Donohoe's article in this weeks, 28th July 2010, Meath Chronicle. John is well tuned in to the social vibe in Meath and his articles will keep music lovers up to date on what is going to be a wonderful event.
http://www.property.ie/estate-agent/royalrentals/
This is a welcome lift for Meath Tourism and will be an opportunity for Navan to showcase its central place in the rich history and culture of County Meath. The Royal County has become a world stage for international performers with the many magnificant concerts held at Slane Castle and hosted by Henry Mount Charles. Profile Music Group will be promoting the Navan event and this is a unique opportunity for our visitors to visit our many wonderful attractions such as New Grange, the beautiful Boyne River and so much more. http://summer-soltice.blogspot.com/
For further information on the Navan Live event read John Donohoe's article in this weeks, 28th July 2010, Meath Chronicle. John is well tuned in to the social vibe in Meath and his articles will keep music lovers up to date on what is going to be a wonderful event.
http://www.property.ie/estate-agent/royalrentals/
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Katy French
The case against a man and woman who face charges connected to the death of model Katy French has been adjourned again.
Kieran Ducie (40), Lambertstown Manor, Kilmessan, Co Meath, and Ann Corcoran (29), Tolka Road, Clonliffe Road, Dublin, are charged that on December 1st and 2nd, 2007 at the Statoil service station, Bracetown, Clonee, Co Meath they conspired to possess cocaine for the purpose of supply to another.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Drugs
An Garda Siochana have this morning raided a house in Kells and discovered what appears to be an illegal drugs factory.
Crime in America - FBI
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Florida Couple Guilty in $13.7 Million HIV Infusion Clinic Fraud Scheme
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:15:58 -0500
Miami, Florida-area husband and wife Modesto and Victoria de la Vega pled guilty to their participation in a $13.7 million HIV infusion Medicare fraud scheme.
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Minnesota Couple Convicted of Abusing Their Baby
Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:24:26 -0500
Charles William Prentice, Jr. and Showy Shalette Johnson, both of Red Lake, Minnesota, were convicted on assault and child endangerment charges in connection with their abuse of their baby.
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Former D.C. Correctional Officer Sentenced in Bribery Case
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:31:20 -0500
Former Correctional Officer Quincy Hayes, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for accepting bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband into the Correctional Treatment Facility in Washington, D.C.
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Georgia Man Pleads Guilty in D.C. in Advance Fee Wire Fraud Scheme
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:34:47 -0500
Kenneth Lane Milstead, of Atlanta, Georgia, pled guilty in Washington, D.C. to one count of wire fraud for obtaining $315,080.25 through an advance fee scheme in which he promised--but never made--loans to potential borrowers across the United States.
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Texas Men Sentenced in New Hampshire for Role in Significant Cocaine Conspiracy
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:41:27 -0500
Texas residents Ciro Lopez Garcia and Marco Garcia were sentenced in New Hampshire to 18.5 years and 16.5 years in prison, respectively, following their convictions on charges of engaging in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in excess of five kilograms of cocaine.
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Missouri Attorney Charged in Kansas with Attempting to Entice a Minor
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:46:30 -0500
Attorney Samuel P. Logan, of Kansas City, Missouri, was charged in Kansas City, Kansas with one count of attempting to entice a minor to have sex and one count of sending and receiving child pornography.
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New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:51:12 -0500
Edmund Arnold, of Burlington County, New Jersey, pled guilty to possession of child pornography, admitting he had more than 600 criminal images.
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Former Pennsylvania Police Officer Sentenced on Drug and Gun Charges
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:52:57 -0500
Former Philadelphia police officer Alhinde Weems was sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with distributing and attempting to distribute crack cocaine and for planning the armed robbery of a drug dealer.
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Pennsylvania Felon Indicted on Drug and Firearm Charges
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:55:37 -0500
Alex Ferguson, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was indicted on charges of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of crack cocaine.
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Georgia Woman Sentenced in Pennsylvania on Mortgage Fraud Charges
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:58:37 -0500
Nancy Barlet, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in a Luzerne County, Pennsylvania mortgage fraud scheme in 2005 and 2006.
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Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty in Washington to Sex Trafficking Juveniles
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:41:00 -0500
Sterling Terrance Hospedales, a U.S. Army sergeant based at Fort Lewis, Washington, pled guilty to sex trafficking of a child and attempted sex trafficking of a child.
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Connecticut Bookkeeper Sentenced for Embezzling from Employer
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:58:56 -0500
Peter C. Yarasavich, of Milford, Connecticut, was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for embezzling nearly $150,000 from a company where he worked as a temporary employee in the position of bookkeeper.
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Kansas Cattleman Sentenced for Multi-Million-Dollar Bank Fraud
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:04:28 -0500
Joseph C. Donohue, of Greeley, Kansas, was sentenced to six months in federal prison followed by six months of house arrest and was ordered to pay $10 million in restitution following his guilty plea to bank fraud.
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Texas Physician Assistant Convicted of Conspiring to Defraud Medicaid
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:10:43 -0500
Physician assistant Manuel Puig, of McAllen, Texas, pled guilty to his role in a conspiracy to defraud the Texas Medicaid program, admitting that he submitted or caused to be submitted over 6,000 fraudulent claims to Medicaid for which Medicaid paid approximately $173,830.56 between May 2005 and January 2006.
Florida Couple Guilty in $13.7 Million HIV Infusion Clinic Fraud Scheme
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:15:58 -0500
Miami, Florida-area husband and wife Modesto and Victoria de la Vega pled guilty to their participation in a $13.7 million HIV infusion Medicare fraud scheme.
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Minnesota Couple Convicted of Abusing Their Baby
Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:24:26 -0500
Charles William Prentice, Jr. and Showy Shalette Johnson, both of Red Lake, Minnesota, were convicted on assault and child endangerment charges in connection with their abuse of their baby.
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Former D.C. Correctional Officer Sentenced in Bribery Case
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:31:20 -0500
Former Correctional Officer Quincy Hayes, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for accepting bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband into the Correctional Treatment Facility in Washington, D.C.
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Georgia Man Pleads Guilty in D.C. in Advance Fee Wire Fraud Scheme
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:34:47 -0500
Kenneth Lane Milstead, of Atlanta, Georgia, pled guilty in Washington, D.C. to one count of wire fraud for obtaining $315,080.25 through an advance fee scheme in which he promised--but never made--loans to potential borrowers across the United States.
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Texas Men Sentenced in New Hampshire for Role in Significant Cocaine Conspiracy
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:41:27 -0500
Texas residents Ciro Lopez Garcia and Marco Garcia were sentenced in New Hampshire to 18.5 years and 16.5 years in prison, respectively, following their convictions on charges of engaging in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in excess of five kilograms of cocaine.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Missouri Attorney Charged in Kansas with Attempting to Entice a Minor
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:46:30 -0500
Attorney Samuel P. Logan, of Kansas City, Missouri, was charged in Kansas City, Kansas with one count of attempting to entice a minor to have sex and one count of sending and receiving child pornography.
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New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:51:12 -0500
Edmund Arnold, of Burlington County, New Jersey, pled guilty to possession of child pornography, admitting he had more than 600 criminal images.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former Pennsylvania Police Officer Sentenced on Drug and Gun Charges
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:52:57 -0500
Former Philadelphia police officer Alhinde Weems was sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with distributing and attempting to distribute crack cocaine and for planning the armed robbery of a drug dealer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pennsylvania Felon Indicted on Drug and Firearm Charges
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:55:37 -0500
Alex Ferguson, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was indicted on charges of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of crack cocaine.
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Georgia Woman Sentenced in Pennsylvania on Mortgage Fraud Charges
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:58:37 -0500
Nancy Barlet, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in a Luzerne County, Pennsylvania mortgage fraud scheme in 2005 and 2006.
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Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty in Washington to Sex Trafficking Juveniles
Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:41:00 -0500
Sterling Terrance Hospedales, a U.S. Army sergeant based at Fort Lewis, Washington, pled guilty to sex trafficking of a child and attempted sex trafficking of a child.
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Connecticut Bookkeeper Sentenced for Embezzling from Employer
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:58:56 -0500
Peter C. Yarasavich, of Milford, Connecticut, was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for embezzling nearly $150,000 from a company where he worked as a temporary employee in the position of bookkeeper.
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Kansas Cattleman Sentenced for Multi-Million-Dollar Bank Fraud
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:04:28 -0500
Joseph C. Donohue, of Greeley, Kansas, was sentenced to six months in federal prison followed by six months of house arrest and was ordered to pay $10 million in restitution following his guilty plea to bank fraud.
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Texas Physician Assistant Convicted of Conspiring to Defraud Medicaid
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:10:43 -0500
Physician assistant Manuel Puig, of McAllen, Texas, pled guilty to his role in a conspiracy to defraud the Texas Medicaid program, admitting that he submitted or caused to be submitted over 6,000 fraudulent claims to Medicaid for which Medicaid paid approximately $173,830.56 between May 2005 and January 2006.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
SIPTU
Members of SIPTU in the HSE West are to be balloted for industrial action following the failure of management to engage in discussions over threatened job cuts.
The union says it is vital to hold a protective strike ballot in case management decides to implement the sort of cuts which have been the centre of speculation recently.
Competition
As County Meath continues to be a major attraction for tourists and other visitors to Ireland, we are asking our readers to e-mail us and tell us which approach road to Navan, our capital town is the best kept and presented approach road in terms of litter visability, presentation, grass cutting and any other aspect that draws your eye. There will be a prize of 100 Euro for those deemed to present the best kept approach road to Navan
Larry Murphy Free in 17 Days
In 17 Days Larry Murphy will be released from Prison, this article is not written in order to single out Larry Murphy, but rather to highlight the failings in the Criminal Justice System, failings put in place by weak and self serving politicians such as John O'Donoghue TD. Larry Murphy will strike again of that I have absolutely no doubt, Larry has had a lot of thinking time and this time there will be no stumbling and fumbling, the pure frustration of getting caught the last time will ensure that Larry will this time leave his name etched in the history books. Will any of the self serving politicians who have spent fortunes of tax payers money on their lavish life styles, yet have failed to provide a small portion of that sum to ensure rehabilitative care for those like Larry Murphy who could have been stopped, take responsibility when Larry strikes again, the simple answer is No, they wont.
There has been much speculation in sections of the Irish media recently that suggests that when suspected serial killer Larry Murphy is released from jail (11th August 2010) having served 15 years for the rape and attempted murder of a young women he will be obliged to tell the Gardai (Irish Police) where he is living at all times. There is also speculation that the nation's women need not be concerned about Murphy's release as he will be under constant Garda supervision and surveillance.
However, Larry Murphy will not be required to give his details to Gardai and he most certainly won’t be under 24/7 surveillance by a team of up to 12 detectives, as suggested by some ill-informed sources.
Background: Larry Murphy is a carpenter by trade and by all accounts very good at his trade even while in prison where he under took further courses and classes in carpentry. Before being caught trying to suffocate a young woman with a plastic bag in the Wicklow Mountains in 2000 Larry Murphy appeared to all who knew him as a happily married man with a young family. However, Larry Murphy's double life was exposed in 2000 when he was witnessed by two huntsmen in the Wicklow Mountains as he tried to suffocate a young business woman from Carlow whom he had just kidnapped and repeatedly raped.
Murphy was duly arrested by Gardai and remanded to Cloverhill Prison to await his trial. While in Cloverhill Remand Prison in Clondalkin in Dublin Larry Murphy quickly made friends in the prisons E-Wing which is a protection wing for those people who do not wish to be in the general prison population due to concerns for their own safety, although Murphy would just as easily fitted in with the general population as so many of them view the rape of women as a normal part of their criminal and drug infested culture. As Larry Murphy walked around the small yard of Cloverhill's E-Wing with fellow sex offenders he had few words, although when pushed he would say that his only regret was that he had been caught. He was able to swap stories with Noel Cawley who had been charged with the unlawful imprisonment and rape of a young woman (Noel Cawley is now serving a sentence for the manslaughter of an old age pensioner in Westmeath last year) and so on.
Eventually Larry Murphy was sentenced to 15 years for the kidnap, repeated rape and attempted murder of the young business woman he had taken into the Wicklow Mountains. People who knew Larry Murphy including a close friend who was at that time a serving prison officer were shocked and stunned by the details of Larry Murphy's double life. Murphy had fooled many and had it not been for the two huntsmen on the night of his capture, Larry Murphy's reign would have continued. Since Larry Murphy was convicted in 2000 he has been questioned on a number of occasions about the disappearance of a number of young women in the Leinster area on various dates in the 1993 to 1998 periods. It is said that Larry Murphy has refused to co-operate with Gardai in relation to their investigations into the disappearance of these women.
This writer has no idea whether Larry Murphy did or did not have anything to do with these disappearances of young women, yet this writer does know that when Larry Murphy is released he will be able to roam free without legal obligation.
Why Larry Murphy will be able to roam free?
In 2001, the Sex Offenders Act was introduced; this Act had been in the pipe line for a number of years as Ireland tried to deal with the ever evolving extent of sexual crime in Ireland. As we now know this Act was delayed and then diminished in order to facilitate those within the Catholic Church who had raped children. It is clear now from both the Ryan and Murphy Reports that there was serious collusion at the highest levels in Ireland to protect religious child rapists. Indeed following the revelations about Father Brendan Smyth in the early 1990s the Government of the day moved quickly to reduce the sentence for sexual assault from 10 years to 5 years, this sentence was increased in the Sex Offenders Act 2001, after many ‘religious’ rapists had been given what appeared to be soft/token sentences.
When the 2001 Act was introduced by the then Minister for Justice, John O Donoghue TD, it was heralded by many ill-informed groups and individuals as a major step forward in the fight against sexual crime, in fact following the introduction of the 2001 Act sexual crime has continued to increase in every facet of its existence. While John O Donoghue had been warned by the Attorney Generals office not to introduce the 2001 Act in its form at that time, O Donoghue dancing to the tune of his cheer leaders (lurid tabloids) introduced the Sex Offenders Act 2001. Under the terms of the 2001 Act a person in jail at the time of its enactment or later convicted would be under an obligation to notify the Gardai within seven days of their release from prison the address at which they intend to live.
However, the Act also makes it legal to tell the Gardai that you live at NO FIXED ABODE, many sex offenders released since 2001 have used this loophole and some like Patrick (Paddy) O Driscol was able to roam freely among the people of Cork until he eventually struck again and smashed a young woman's head in with a brick before raping her for over an hour. On the night in question Paddy O Driscol was in the company of another convicted rapist (who had no part in this latest rape) Patrick Moorehouse (O Driscol and Moorehouse had meet while serving sentences for rape in Wheatfield Prison). Paddy O Driscol is now serving 18 years for his latest rape. This ‘no fixed abode’ clause runs contrary to international standards of good practice when managing high risk offenders. In Northern Ireland for example, such offenders must take up a place in a half way house upon their release from prison if they have no permanent address of their own.
Upon Release Larry Murphy will be able to tell Gardai that he has no fixed abode and he will be able to roam the country as he feels fit. The Gardai have neither the man power nor the financial resource to follow Larry Murphy indefinitely, however, it is the introduction of an ill-considered 2001 Sex Offenders Act that will let Larry Murphy of the leash.
Notes of Importance: There are presently 1,100 persons on the sex offenders register in Ireland including both men and women, up to 15% of these persons have given no fixed abode as their address, others have left the country (Patrick Barr, Patrick O Riordan), it is further clear from the Ryan and Murphy reports and the recent scandal surrounding the family of Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams that there are many thousands of sex offenders in Ireland who have never and will probably never see the inside of a court house. The reasons why so many known and confirmed sex offenders are not prosecuted are complex, however, the lack of political will and the introduction of ill-considered legislation are two of the main contributory factors in this regard.
Many Government Ministers spend much of their time trying to please the lurid tabloids, a tabloid industry that makes its bread and butter from exploiting men, women and children through their advertised perverted sex chat lines and sexual imagery. These same tabloids help normalise and facilitate sexual deviance and this is why they are the biggest selling media in the sex offender’s wings of Ireland’s Prisons. The reality is of course that the vast majority of people who read the tabloids don’t even vote, yet due to the contrived ‘moral panics’ created by the lurid tabloids weak Government Minister’s feel the need to go on bended knee to their banner headlines. We then have the perverse situation where the lurid tabloids are in effect dictating social policy, while the voting public are left to pick up the pieces.
In 2005, the Editor, Ger Colleran, of The Irish Star (tabloid) paid 400 Euro to a sex offender who had just been released from prison. The released sex offender had asked a friend to take some pictures of him as he walked in O Connell Street, the released sex offender then sold his own pictures to the Star for 400 Euro, and the following day the Star published the pictures stating that their photographer had taken the pics. What Colleran did not know was that when the Star was handing over the money for the pics, the released sex offender had someone taking pics of the transaction. Yet Colleran and other similar hypocrites are given regular platforms on RTE and other media as a man set upon high moral ground.
There has been much speculation in sections of the Irish media recently that suggests that when suspected serial killer Larry Murphy is released from jail (11th August 2010) having served 15 years for the rape and attempted murder of a young women he will be obliged to tell the Gardai (Irish Police) where he is living at all times. There is also speculation that the nation's women need not be concerned about Murphy's release as he will be under constant Garda supervision and surveillance.
However, Larry Murphy will not be required to give his details to Gardai and he most certainly won’t be under 24/7 surveillance by a team of up to 12 detectives, as suggested by some ill-informed sources.
Background: Larry Murphy is a carpenter by trade and by all accounts very good at his trade even while in prison where he under took further courses and classes in carpentry. Before being caught trying to suffocate a young woman with a plastic bag in the Wicklow Mountains in 2000 Larry Murphy appeared to all who knew him as a happily married man with a young family. However, Larry Murphy's double life was exposed in 2000 when he was witnessed by two huntsmen in the Wicklow Mountains as he tried to suffocate a young business woman from Carlow whom he had just kidnapped and repeatedly raped.
Murphy was duly arrested by Gardai and remanded to Cloverhill Prison to await his trial. While in Cloverhill Remand Prison in Clondalkin in Dublin Larry Murphy quickly made friends in the prisons E-Wing which is a protection wing for those people who do not wish to be in the general prison population due to concerns for their own safety, although Murphy would just as easily fitted in with the general population as so many of them view the rape of women as a normal part of their criminal and drug infested culture. As Larry Murphy walked around the small yard of Cloverhill's E-Wing with fellow sex offenders he had few words, although when pushed he would say that his only regret was that he had been caught. He was able to swap stories with Noel Cawley who had been charged with the unlawful imprisonment and rape of a young woman (Noel Cawley is now serving a sentence for the manslaughter of an old age pensioner in Westmeath last year) and so on.
Eventually Larry Murphy was sentenced to 15 years for the kidnap, repeated rape and attempted murder of the young business woman he had taken into the Wicklow Mountains. People who knew Larry Murphy including a close friend who was at that time a serving prison officer were shocked and stunned by the details of Larry Murphy's double life. Murphy had fooled many and had it not been for the two huntsmen on the night of his capture, Larry Murphy's reign would have continued. Since Larry Murphy was convicted in 2000 he has been questioned on a number of occasions about the disappearance of a number of young women in the Leinster area on various dates in the 1993 to 1998 periods. It is said that Larry Murphy has refused to co-operate with Gardai in relation to their investigations into the disappearance of these women.
This writer has no idea whether Larry Murphy did or did not have anything to do with these disappearances of young women, yet this writer does know that when Larry Murphy is released he will be able to roam free without legal obligation.
Why Larry Murphy will be able to roam free?
In 2001, the Sex Offenders Act was introduced; this Act had been in the pipe line for a number of years as Ireland tried to deal with the ever evolving extent of sexual crime in Ireland. As we now know this Act was delayed and then diminished in order to facilitate those within the Catholic Church who had raped children. It is clear now from both the Ryan and Murphy Reports that there was serious collusion at the highest levels in Ireland to protect religious child rapists. Indeed following the revelations about Father Brendan Smyth in the early 1990s the Government of the day moved quickly to reduce the sentence for sexual assault from 10 years to 5 years, this sentence was increased in the Sex Offenders Act 2001, after many ‘religious’ rapists had been given what appeared to be soft/token sentences.
When the 2001 Act was introduced by the then Minister for Justice, John O Donoghue TD, it was heralded by many ill-informed groups and individuals as a major step forward in the fight against sexual crime, in fact following the introduction of the 2001 Act sexual crime has continued to increase in every facet of its existence. While John O Donoghue had been warned by the Attorney Generals office not to introduce the 2001 Act in its form at that time, O Donoghue dancing to the tune of his cheer leaders (lurid tabloids) introduced the Sex Offenders Act 2001. Under the terms of the 2001 Act a person in jail at the time of its enactment or later convicted would be under an obligation to notify the Gardai within seven days of their release from prison the address at which they intend to live.
However, the Act also makes it legal to tell the Gardai that you live at NO FIXED ABODE, many sex offenders released since 2001 have used this loophole and some like Patrick (Paddy) O Driscol was able to roam freely among the people of Cork until he eventually struck again and smashed a young woman's head in with a brick before raping her for over an hour. On the night in question Paddy O Driscol was in the company of another convicted rapist (who had no part in this latest rape) Patrick Moorehouse (O Driscol and Moorehouse had meet while serving sentences for rape in Wheatfield Prison). Paddy O Driscol is now serving 18 years for his latest rape. This ‘no fixed abode’ clause runs contrary to international standards of good practice when managing high risk offenders. In Northern Ireland for example, such offenders must take up a place in a half way house upon their release from prison if they have no permanent address of their own.
Upon Release Larry Murphy will be able to tell Gardai that he has no fixed abode and he will be able to roam the country as he feels fit. The Gardai have neither the man power nor the financial resource to follow Larry Murphy indefinitely, however, it is the introduction of an ill-considered 2001 Sex Offenders Act that will let Larry Murphy of the leash.
Notes of Importance: There are presently 1,100 persons on the sex offenders register in Ireland including both men and women, up to 15% of these persons have given no fixed abode as their address, others have left the country (Patrick Barr, Patrick O Riordan), it is further clear from the Ryan and Murphy reports and the recent scandal surrounding the family of Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams that there are many thousands of sex offenders in Ireland who have never and will probably never see the inside of a court house. The reasons why so many known and confirmed sex offenders are not prosecuted are complex, however, the lack of political will and the introduction of ill-considered legislation are two of the main contributory factors in this regard.
Many Government Ministers spend much of their time trying to please the lurid tabloids, a tabloid industry that makes its bread and butter from exploiting men, women and children through their advertised perverted sex chat lines and sexual imagery. These same tabloids help normalise and facilitate sexual deviance and this is why they are the biggest selling media in the sex offender’s wings of Ireland’s Prisons. The reality is of course that the vast majority of people who read the tabloids don’t even vote, yet due to the contrived ‘moral panics’ created by the lurid tabloids weak Government Minister’s feel the need to go on bended knee to their banner headlines. We then have the perverse situation where the lurid tabloids are in effect dictating social policy, while the voting public are left to pick up the pieces.
In 2005, the Editor, Ger Colleran, of The Irish Star (tabloid) paid 400 Euro to a sex offender who had just been released from prison. The released sex offender had asked a friend to take some pictures of him as he walked in O Connell Street, the released sex offender then sold his own pictures to the Star for 400 Euro, and the following day the Star published the pictures stating that their photographer had taken the pics. What Colleran did not know was that when the Star was handing over the money for the pics, the released sex offender had someone taking pics of the transaction. Yet Colleran and other similar hypocrites are given regular platforms on RTE and other media as a man set upon high moral ground.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Royal Rentals
Killary Manor
Lobinstown
5 Bedroom House
1,700 Euro, per month.
http://www.property.ie/estate-agent/royalrentals/
Lobinstown
5 Bedroom House
1,700 Euro, per month.
http://www.property.ie/estate-agent/royalrentals/
News from America - FBI
Massachusetts Gang Member Sentenced for Narcotics Offenses
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:58:30 -0500
Aaron Vaughan, a member of the Montes Park street gang in New Bedford, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 40 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of crack cocaine and aiding and abetting.
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Texas Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography
Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:01:23 -0500
Michael Simeon Sadowski, of League City, Texas, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison without parole, was ordered to register as a sex offender, and must serve a life-term of supervised release for possessing child pornography.
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Army Space and Missile Defense Command Engineer Guilty of Accepting Bribes
Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:11:09 -0500
Steven Earl Bryant, of Scottsboro, Alabama, pled guilty to accepting bribes when he worked as an engineer with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville and to evading payment of taxes on the bribery income.
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Five Oklahoma Police Officers Indicted in Federal Corruption Probe
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:17:11 -0500
One retired and four current Tulsa (Oklahoma) Police Department officers were arrested in connection with two separate indictments in which the defendants are charged with a variety of drug trafficking, civil rights, and related offenses.
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Virginia Man Sentenced for Role in Heroin Conspiracy
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:24:10 -0500
Edward Myricks, of Newport News, Virginia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his participation in a heroin ring that distributed heroin throughout the Virginia Peninsula.
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Pennsylvania Investment Firm Owner Admits Running $25 Million Ponzi Scheme
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:29:29 -0500
Palm Beach, Florida resident Donald Anthony Young, who operated an investment advisory business in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of money laundering in connection with a $25 million fraud scheme.
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Florida Man Charged in Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:32:27 -0500
Stanley Gabart, of Miami, Florida, was charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making false statements on loan applications to Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., in connection with the purchase of various properties. The fraud scheme resulted in more than $7 million in losses to several banks.
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Man Indicted for Bank Robbery in Tennessee
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:41:39 -0500
Terrence Hardy was indicted for his alleged commission of the June 2, 2010 armed robbery of a First South Bank branch in Jackson, Tennessee.
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Virginia Man Accused of Providing Material Support to Terrorists
Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:44:49 -0500
Zachary Adam Chesser, aka Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee, of Fairfax County, Virginia, was arrested on charges that he provided material support to al Shabaab, a violent and brutal extremist group based in Somalia with a number of individuals affiliated with al Qaeda.
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Former Georgia Deputy Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Corruption and Drug Offenses
Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:53:27 -0500
Anthony C. Atwater, of Atlanta, Georgia, a former Fulton County deputy sheriff, pled guilty to corruption and drug offenses related to a scheme to provide protection to people identified to him as drug dealers, who were in fact undercover FBI special agents.
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Michigan Attorney, Businessmen Sentenced for Illegal Sports Betting Business
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:57:04 -0500
A Detroit, Michigan-area attorney and two area businessmen were sentenced to terms of court supervised probation and fines of $2,000.00 each for their roles in a large scale sports betting operation.
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Illegal Aliens Convicted in Louisiana of Conspiracy and Counterfeiting
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:02:33 -0500
Pierre Emmanuel Jalla and Jackson Ntone Ndemba, both citizens of the Republic of Cameroon illegally present in the United States, were convicted by a federal jury in New Orleans, Louisiana of conspiracy to counterfeit and counterfeiting.
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Two Members of Drug Ring Conspiracy Plead Guilty in Minnesota
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:10:36 -0500
Kou Lee, of South St. Paul, Minnesota, and Sherman Lee, of St. Paul, pled guilty in connection with their involvement in a St. Paul drug ring responsible for distributing methamphetamine and other controlled substances.
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Washington Man Sentenced on Child Pornography Charge
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:29:38 -0500
Keith Marshel Ivers, of Moses Lake, Washington, was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing child pornography on his computer.
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Texas Businessman Pleads Guilty to Illegal Currency Structuring
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:31:20 -0500
Hector Jesus Garcia-Ponce, proprietor of Hector's Pipe Company of Midland, pled guilty in Midland, Texas to charges that he illegally structured cash withdrawals to avoid reporting requirements for cash transactions exceeding $10,000.
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Maryland Man Who Posed as Teenage Girl Sentenced on Child Pornography Charge
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:36:51 -0500
Michael Speelman, of Adelphi, Maryland, who assumed the online identity of a 16-year-old girl and established a romantic relationship with a 15-year-old female who lived in Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for sending child pornography online.
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Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Over $400,000 in Counterfeit Goods
Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:59:34 -0500
James L. Dicapo, of Parkville, Missouri, pled guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to traffic more than $400,000 worth of counterfeit designer purses, shoes, and other items, and to a money laundering conspiracy.
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Wisconsin Man Sentenced for Making False Statements to Credit Union
Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:02:40 -0500
Trever J. Stefan, of Lyndon Station, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 14 months in prison for making false statements to a financial institution in order to secure a $64,615 loan from that institution.
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Texas Man Pleads Guilty in Murder-for-Hire of Michigan Couple
Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:06:28 -0500
Douglas Tobar, formerly of Houston, Texas, pled guilty to his role in the murder-for-hire of a Troy, Michigan couple.
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Former South Carolina State Representative Convicted in Insurance Fraud Scheme
Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:09:41 -0500
Former South Carolina state representative Robert A. Kohn, of Charleston, was convicted of mail fraud in connection with his role in an insurance fraud scheme.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Abortion - the truth behind the lies
Together they weighed about the same as a bag of sugar and could fit snugly into each of their father's palms. Amelia Hope Burden and her brother Arthur are the youngest premature twins to survive in the UK. One was even born before the 24-week legal limit for abortion.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Jobs
Well known women's retailer McElhinney's in Athboy, Co Meath is to reopen its doors.
The shop was forced to close last month after a winding-up application from one of its creditors.
It will reopen next Monday under a new agreement with distributor Flairline and all 56 workers will get their jobs back.
Owner Neal Sweeney admitted the environment remained challenging this year, but said he was hopeful of an "upswing" next year.
The shop was forced to close last month after a winding-up application from one of its creditors.
It will reopen next Monday under a new agreement with distributor Flairline and all 56 workers will get their jobs back.
Owner Neal Sweeney admitted the environment remained challenging this year, but said he was hopeful of an "upswing" next year.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Blight
I have been growing potatoes for the past couple of years but over the past couple of weeks I have noted that the leaves on my plants have almost rotted away, I guess I did not want to admit it was potato plight, but that is exactly what it is. Potato blight is the worst disease imaginable for growers and the weather conditions in Ireland over the past couple of weeks have been perfect for blight to take hold of my crop. I don’t know if my tubers (potato seeds) have been damaged I can only wait and hope. Even if I can save the potatoes there is a chance that even in storage they will be infected.
A fungus known as Phytophthora infestans is what causes blight in potato crops. Other members of the potato family such as tomatoes can also be affected by blight. Blight travels through the air and when the weather conditions are right it flourishes, Irelands hot humid weather over the past couple of weeks has been ripe for infection on potato and tomato crops.
It is virtually impossible to predict when blight will strike; it can happen over night and wipe out all the foliage in a field, garden or allotment. Most gardeners or farmers who have knowledge of the blight problem suggest that ‘Smith’ periods are the best indicator of when disease is going to strike. A Smith period is a period of approx 48 hours in which the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celcius or more and the humidity exceeds 90% for at least 11/12 hours during the first 24 hour period and for at least 11/12 hours during the final 24 hour period. That said any sustained period of warm, humid weather increases the risk of blight.
Here in Ireland potato blight caused hundreds of thousands of deaths in the 1845-49 period as blight struck the potato crops, potatoes were the main diet of the Irish people in this period and they were left to starve to death in their hundreds of thousands as English Landlords continued to take what little wheat and grain the Irish farmers had in order to pay their rents. The Irish grew a limited variety of potatoes and it is for this reason that their crops were wiped out with blight, had they had access to more varieties of potato it is possible that some may have been resistant to the blight that struck with such consequences.
The first thing I noticed a couple of weeks ago when this humid warm weather began, were brown freckles on the leaves of my potato plants. There was also a yellowish border spreading from the brown patches, quickly the entire crop fell into a rotting mass. All of the foliage was completely wiped out. I dug up a couple of potatoes to see if they had been hit by the blight but they appear to be normal, when I cut them in half there was no rot as one would expect to see if the blight had gotten into the potatoes.
As we have not had cold weather for some months now the fungus was not killed off by cold temperatures as would normally happen. That said there are some strains of blight that will remain over the winter period. The tubers if infected will destroy every other potato even while in storage. The warm weather, rain and humidity have left conditions ideal for blight. There are a great many chemical treatments available to farmers but us small gardeners are more restricted in what we have access to, I had hoped to address blight with the traditional spray of Bordeaux mixture, however, the blight has set in so quick that is not an option.
Of course with hind sight I should have planted a more resistant variety, however, the potatoes that I planted had come highly recommended and had worked well last year.
It is important when lifting the potato crop to ensure that all the potatoes are lifted this will prevent disease taken hold in a ground reservoir.
Ensure that potatoes are well earthed in order to protect the tubers; this will help even if the foliage is diseased.
Always water at the bottom of the foliage as watering from the top creates artificial rain that can help blight spread.
Today I have had to take drastic action as the blight has spread so rapid and you can see from the pictures that I have taken what I had to do. I did try earlier to remove the diseased looking leaves but this was a waste of time as the disease had taken hold. I burned the ones I removed. It was also too late to spray with Bordeaux mixture of Dathane 945, both of which could have helped if I had moved sooner.
Today I have cut off all the haulm and composted it, I would have burned it but I live close to a road and the smoke could cause a problem. I have earthed up the rows of potatoes as you can see from the pictures. I will now leave the rows of potatoes alone for at least two weeks to let the blight spores die on the surface and to allow the potatoes to develop thicker skins. When I have harvested my potatoes I will have to check them regularly for blight and remove any possible tubers that have or appear to be affected.
Next year I will be trying some of the Sarpo Hungarian varieties as these are extremely blight resistant and are just coming on the market. All I can do is keep experimenting and see what is the most successful; I guess that is what gardening is all about.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Health Care
The health budget will be cut by up to 5% next year, which would achieve savings of approximately €600m, according to reports in the national press this morning.
It is thought that frontline services will be hit, as pay costs which make up 70% of the Department of Health's budget are unlikely to be cut following the Croke Park deal.
However, the Sunday Business Post reports that the Government is hoping to make savings on overtime pay through greater flexibility in working arrangements, this is more a pipe dream than a reality.
The Cabinet meeting taking place next Wednesday 21st July 2010, will discuss Departmental spending proposals for next year, as the Government starts formulating Budget 2011.
It is thought that frontline services will be hit, as pay costs which make up 70% of the Department of Health's budget are unlikely to be cut following the Croke Park deal.
However, the Sunday Business Post reports that the Government is hoping to make savings on overtime pay through greater flexibility in working arrangements, this is more a pipe dream than a reality.
The Cabinet meeting taking place next Wednesday 21st July 2010, will discuss Departmental spending proposals for next year, as the Government starts formulating Budget 2011.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Healthcare
Ninety-four people, including doctors, health care company owners, and executives, have been charged for their alleged participation in schemes to collectively submit more than $251 million in false claims to the Medicare program. This is the largest federal health care fraud takedown since Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations began in 2007.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Book Review
Two things that attracts me to a book, content and value. The Irish Republican Army is completly free to read on line at the address below, and Free means Free, just click on the link and read the 12 Chapter e-book completely free. Its content, well that will be judged by each writer, for me it was educational and insightful. In these times of economic recession it is rare that one gets something for nothing, well here you have it, let me know what you thought.
http://irishrepublicanarmy-ira.blogspot.com/
http://irishrepublicanarmy-ira.blogspot.com/
Banking
The former financial regulator told the Taoiseach that Anglo Irish Bank was in good health just 72 hours before the Government had to move in to save it, according to reports today.
The Irish Independent reports that, according to documents being investigated by the Dáil's spending watchdog, Patrick Neary insisted Anglo was not insolvent.
The Irish Independent reports that, according to documents being investigated by the Dáil's spending watchdog, Patrick Neary insisted Anglo was not insolvent.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Banking
Public Accounts Committee to Publish Key Documents on Bank Guarantee Decision
15th July 2010
Following a meeting in private session this morning with the Secretary General of the Department of Finance, the D il Public Accounts Committee (PAC) intends to publish the documents it received from the Department which provide information on the contingency planning that went on in the Department in the 9 months leading up to the implementation of the bank guarantee scheme on 29th September 2008.
The Committee has also decided to convene a special public meeting next Thursday morning with the Secretary General of the Department of Finance, Kevin Cardiff. The Committee wants to question Mr Cardiff and the senior Departmental officials on the way the Department assembled the key facts that led to the guarantee.
It intends to place the documents on the Oireachtas website, www.oireachtas.ie tomorrow (16th).
Committee Chairman, Bernard Allen TD said;
“The Committee has decided that in the public interest, and in order to ensure full accountability of the role the Department played in managing the banking crisis that this critical information should be made freely available. Therefore, we have made a decision to put these documents in the public domain.
Furthermore, the Committee will reconvene next Thursday and has called the Secretary General of the Department of Finance and the relevant officials to the meeting where we will question them in public.
This meeting will examine the flow of information into the Department and the way it scrutinised the various options open to the State to ensure that there was not a collapse of the banking system."
Today’s deliberations are part of the Public Accounts Committee’s investigation concerning the collapse of the Irish banking system. It has already met with the Financial Regulator, Department of Finance and the National Treasury Management Agency.
15th July 2010
Following a meeting in private session this morning with the Secretary General of the Department of Finance, the D il Public Accounts Committee (PAC) intends to publish the documents it received from the Department which provide information on the contingency planning that went on in the Department in the 9 months leading up to the implementation of the bank guarantee scheme on 29th September 2008.
The Committee has also decided to convene a special public meeting next Thursday morning with the Secretary General of the Department of Finance, Kevin Cardiff. The Committee wants to question Mr Cardiff and the senior Departmental officials on the way the Department assembled the key facts that led to the guarantee.
It intends to place the documents on the Oireachtas website, www.oireachtas.ie tomorrow (16th).
Committee Chairman, Bernard Allen TD said;
“The Committee has decided that in the public interest, and in order to ensure full accountability of the role the Department played in managing the banking crisis that this critical information should be made freely available. Therefore, we have made a decision to put these documents in the public domain.
Furthermore, the Committee will reconvene next Thursday and has called the Secretary General of the Department of Finance and the relevant officials to the meeting where we will question them in public.
This meeting will examine the flow of information into the Department and the way it scrutinised the various options open to the State to ensure that there was not a collapse of the banking system."
Today’s deliberations are part of the Public Accounts Committee’s investigation concerning the collapse of the Irish banking system. It has already met with the Financial Regulator, Department of Finance and the National Treasury Management Agency.
Gardai in Navan
Article written by shoppinginmeath.blogspot.com
As the recession continues to bite hard, crime will continue to play a significant role in our society, the Gardai cannot be every where all the time and so we must all play our part in the fight against crime. First, make sure your own home and family are aware of the dangers that exist, simple things like ensuring you have an alarm fitted to your home, dont leave valuables in your car. Make sure your children are supervised at all times. If you have any concerns about crime in your area please contact the Gardai, you can speak confidentially to any officer at any time about any matter that is of concern to you.
Finally, well done to all those people who recently helped the Gardai with their investigation into the death of Martin O'Gorman, Martin was a decent man who should have lived to see Meath play Louth last Sunday, he would have enjoyed the game and the debate and discussion that followed.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Politicians Do It For Charity
TDs and Senators Put Best Foot Forward by Climbing Mountain and Raising Money for Alzheimer Society of Ireland
12th July 2010
Determined Oireachtas Members from all sides of the House put their best foot forward and trekked up the Sliabh Beagh Mountains in Monaghan today. In doing so they succeeded in raising funds for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
Group leader, Jimmy Deenihan TD said;
We had a great turn out from TDs and Senators from all sides as well as from Oireachtas staff members. Despite the tough terrain we all rolled up our sleeves and completed the walk.
More importantly, we managed to generate money for an extremely worthy cause. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland do great work and we are all thrilled that by our efforts today, we will help contribute to their efforts.
This is the third year of the Annual Houses of the Oireachtas hill walk. Among the members in attendance today were: Jimmy Deenihan TD, Mary Upton TD, Caoimhghin O'Caol in TD, Mattie McGrath TD, Frank Feighan TD, Rory O'Hanlon TD, Seymour Crawford TD, Liz McManus TD, Aine Brady TD, Senator Joe O'Reilly and Senator Ronan Mullen.
Chief Executive of the Alzheimer Society of Irland Maurice O Connell said;
I thank all the TDs and Senators for lending their support to our cause and in helping us to continue to provide services to thousands of people living with dementia who depend on our vital services and guidance.
Every year our organisation needs to raise more than 4 million and fundraising initiatives like the Oireachtas Walk are essential in allowing us to reach that target.
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe various conditions which damage brain cells and lead to a loss of brain function over time. Dementia causes a progressive decline in a person s mental functioning. It is a broad term, which describes a loss of memory, intellect, rationality, social skills and normal emotional reactions.
The Society provides 115 services supplying nearly 700,000 hours of support during the year to the growing numbers of people affected by Alzheimer's disease and dementia in Ireland. Its National Helpline answered over 2,400 queries last year demonstrating clearly the demand for support pressured families need while providing care for their loved ones living with dementia.
12th July 2010
Determined Oireachtas Members from all sides of the House put their best foot forward and trekked up the Sliabh Beagh Mountains in Monaghan today. In doing so they succeeded in raising funds for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
Group leader, Jimmy Deenihan TD said;
We had a great turn out from TDs and Senators from all sides as well as from Oireachtas staff members. Despite the tough terrain we all rolled up our sleeves and completed the walk.
More importantly, we managed to generate money for an extremely worthy cause. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland do great work and we are all thrilled that by our efforts today, we will help contribute to their efforts.
This is the third year of the Annual Houses of the Oireachtas hill walk. Among the members in attendance today were: Jimmy Deenihan TD, Mary Upton TD, Caoimhghin O'Caol in TD, Mattie McGrath TD, Frank Feighan TD, Rory O'Hanlon TD, Seymour Crawford TD, Liz McManus TD, Aine Brady TD, Senator Joe O'Reilly and Senator Ronan Mullen.
Chief Executive of the Alzheimer Society of Irland Maurice O Connell said;
I thank all the TDs and Senators for lending their support to our cause and in helping us to continue to provide services to thousands of people living with dementia who depend on our vital services and guidance.
Every year our organisation needs to raise more than 4 million and fundraising initiatives like the Oireachtas Walk are essential in allowing us to reach that target.
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe various conditions which damage brain cells and lead to a loss of brain function over time. Dementia causes a progressive decline in a person s mental functioning. It is a broad term, which describes a loss of memory, intellect, rationality, social skills and normal emotional reactions.
The Society provides 115 services supplying nearly 700,000 hours of support during the year to the growing numbers of people affected by Alzheimer's disease and dementia in Ireland. Its National Helpline answered over 2,400 queries last year demonstrating clearly the demand for support pressured families need while providing care for their loved ones living with dementia.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Terrorist Threat
A bomb that damaged a bridge in Northern Ireland yesterday was an attack on police, the PSNI said.
No one was injured in the explosion on a country road between Belleek and Cullyhanna near the south Armagh border. The incident was reported shortly after 5.30pm yesterday.
Police Chief Superintendent Alisdair Robinson said the explosion was "a totally reckless act that could easily have led to loss of life if anybody had been driving past at the time.
"However I believe at this stage the real target was my officers. This was an attempt to lure police into the area to injure or kill them," he said.
No one was injured in the explosion on a country road between Belleek and Cullyhanna near the south Armagh border. The incident was reported shortly after 5.30pm yesterday.
Police Chief Superintendent Alisdair Robinson said the explosion was "a totally reckless act that could easily have led to loss of life if anybody had been driving past at the time.
"However I believe at this stage the real target was my officers. This was an attempt to lure police into the area to injure or kill them," he said.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
FBI Top 10 Stories week ending 9th July 2010
FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending July 9, 2010
New York: Ten Russian Agents Plead Guilty and are to be Removed from the United States
Ten individuals pled guilty in Manhattan federal court to conspiring to serve as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation within the United States and will be immediately expelled from the United States. Each of the defendants arrested on June 27, 2010 pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government within the United States without notifying the U.S. Attorney General. Under their plea agreements, the defendants were required to disclose their true identities in court and to forfeit certain assets attributable to the criminal offenses. Full Story
Headquarters: FBI Director Mueller Names Timothy P. Murphy Deputy Director
Director Robert S. Mueller, III named Timothy P. Murphy to be the FBI’s deputy director. Mr. Murphy has served as associate deputy director since January 2008, overseeing the FBI’s personnel, budget, administration, and infrastructure. He succeeds John S. Pistole, who left the FBI to serve as administrator of the Transportation Security Administration. Full Story
Washington Field: Italian Executive Extradited from Germany to the United States to Face Foreign Bribery Charges
Italian citizen Flavio Ricotti, a former executive of Rancho Santa Margarita, California-based valve company Control Components Inc., was extradited to the United States from Germany. He allegedly participated in a conspiracy to secure contracts by paying bribes to officials of foreign state-owned companies, officers, and employees of foreign and domestic private companies. Ricotti was arrested on Feb. 14, 2010 in Frankfurt, Germany and arrived in the United States on July 2. Full Story
Kansas City: Former Congressman Pleads Guilty to Obstructing Justice, Acting as Unregistered Foreign Agent
Former Congressman and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mark Deli Siljander, of Great Falls, Virginia, pled guilty to obstruction of justice and to acting as an unregistered foreign agent related to his work for an Islamic charity with ties to international terrorism. He pled guilty to one charge contained in an October 2008 federal indictment, and an additional charge involving his work for the Islamic American Relief Agency of Columbia, Missouri. Full Story
Birmingham/Memphis: U.S. Army Major Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements Related to Shipment of Currency from Iraq to the United States
U.S. Army Major Charles E. Sublett, 46, of Huntsville, Alabama, pled guilty to making false statements to a federal agency. Sublett was charged in an indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on January 5, 2010, following his arrest in Huntsville. According to the indictment, Sublett smuggled more than $100,000 in currency, concealed in a shipping package, into the United States from Iraq in January 2005. Full Story
Houston: Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. Resolves Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Investigation and Agrees to Pay $240 Million Criminal Penalty
Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. agreed to pay a $240 million criminal penalty to resolve charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for its participation in a decade-long scheme to bribe Nigerian government officials to obtain engineering, procurement, and construction contracts (EPC). The EPC contracts to build liquefied natural gas facilities on Bonny Island, Nigeria, were valued at more than $6 billion. Full Story
Denver/New York: Charges Unsealed Against Five Alleged Members of al Qaeda Plot to Attack the United States and the United Kingdom
The Justice Department announced charges against five members of an al Qaeda plot to attack targets in the United States and United Kingdom. The charges reveal that the plot against New York’s subway system uncovered in September 2009 involving Colorado resident Najibullah Zazi was directed by senior al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan. The plot was directly related to a scheme by al Qaeda plotters in Pakistan to use Western operatives to attack a target in the United Kingdom. Full Story
New Orleans: Mayor and Chief of Police of White Castle, Louisiana Indicted
In an ongoing investigation designated “Operation Blighted Officials,” a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Maurice A. Brown and Mario D. Brown, of White Castle, Louisiana, with 20 counts of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, mail fraud, wire fraud, use of an interstate facility in aid of racketeering, and forfeiture. If convicted, Maurice Brown, who is the mayor of the Town of White Castle, faces up to 170 years' imprisonment and a $3,250,000 fine. If convicted, Mario Brown, chief of police for the Town of White Castle, faces up to 145 years' imprisonment and a $3,000,000 fine. Full Story
Baltimore: Former Prince George’s County Police Officer Pleads Guilty in Bank Break-In
Former Prince George’s County Police officer Eddie Lee Smith, of Fort Washington, Maryland, pled guilty to breaking into a bank with intent to commit felony bank larceny. Smith met with Earl Blake in Prince George’s County and told Blake he had a job for him. Smith drove Blake in his marked police cruiser to a SunTrust Bank in Temple Hills, Maryland. He provided Blake with a black bag containing an electric grinder/saw and other materials and instructed Blake on how to cut open the ATM safe. Full Story
Louisville: Former Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy, Burglarizing a Pharmacy
Former Williamsburg police officer Kenneth Bradley Nighbert, of Lexington, Kentucky, admitted in federal court his involvement in the burglary of a Williamsburg pharmacy and that he helped facilitate a long-term prescription pill trafficking conspiracy. Nighbert pled guilty to the charges of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and conspiracy to burglarize a pharmacy.
New York: Ten Russian Agents Plead Guilty and are to be Removed from the United States
Ten individuals pled guilty in Manhattan federal court to conspiring to serve as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation within the United States and will be immediately expelled from the United States. Each of the defendants arrested on June 27, 2010 pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government within the United States without notifying the U.S. Attorney General. Under their plea agreements, the defendants were required to disclose their true identities in court and to forfeit certain assets attributable to the criminal offenses. Full Story
Headquarters: FBI Director Mueller Names Timothy P. Murphy Deputy Director
Director Robert S. Mueller, III named Timothy P. Murphy to be the FBI’s deputy director. Mr. Murphy has served as associate deputy director since January 2008, overseeing the FBI’s personnel, budget, administration, and infrastructure. He succeeds John S. Pistole, who left the FBI to serve as administrator of the Transportation Security Administration. Full Story
Washington Field: Italian Executive Extradited from Germany to the United States to Face Foreign Bribery Charges
Italian citizen Flavio Ricotti, a former executive of Rancho Santa Margarita, California-based valve company Control Components Inc., was extradited to the United States from Germany. He allegedly participated in a conspiracy to secure contracts by paying bribes to officials of foreign state-owned companies, officers, and employees of foreign and domestic private companies. Ricotti was arrested on Feb. 14, 2010 in Frankfurt, Germany and arrived in the United States on July 2. Full Story
Kansas City: Former Congressman Pleads Guilty to Obstructing Justice, Acting as Unregistered Foreign Agent
Former Congressman and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mark Deli Siljander, of Great Falls, Virginia, pled guilty to obstruction of justice and to acting as an unregistered foreign agent related to his work for an Islamic charity with ties to international terrorism. He pled guilty to one charge contained in an October 2008 federal indictment, and an additional charge involving his work for the Islamic American Relief Agency of Columbia, Missouri. Full Story
Birmingham/Memphis: U.S. Army Major Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements Related to Shipment of Currency from Iraq to the United States
U.S. Army Major Charles E. Sublett, 46, of Huntsville, Alabama, pled guilty to making false statements to a federal agency. Sublett was charged in an indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on January 5, 2010, following his arrest in Huntsville. According to the indictment, Sublett smuggled more than $100,000 in currency, concealed in a shipping package, into the United States from Iraq in January 2005. Full Story
Houston: Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. Resolves Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Investigation and Agrees to Pay $240 Million Criminal Penalty
Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. agreed to pay a $240 million criminal penalty to resolve charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for its participation in a decade-long scheme to bribe Nigerian government officials to obtain engineering, procurement, and construction contracts (EPC). The EPC contracts to build liquefied natural gas facilities on Bonny Island, Nigeria, were valued at more than $6 billion. Full Story
Denver/New York: Charges Unsealed Against Five Alleged Members of al Qaeda Plot to Attack the United States and the United Kingdom
The Justice Department announced charges against five members of an al Qaeda plot to attack targets in the United States and United Kingdom. The charges reveal that the plot against New York’s subway system uncovered in September 2009 involving Colorado resident Najibullah Zazi was directed by senior al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan. The plot was directly related to a scheme by al Qaeda plotters in Pakistan to use Western operatives to attack a target in the United Kingdom. Full Story
New Orleans: Mayor and Chief of Police of White Castle, Louisiana Indicted
In an ongoing investigation designated “Operation Blighted Officials,” a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Maurice A. Brown and Mario D. Brown, of White Castle, Louisiana, with 20 counts of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, mail fraud, wire fraud, use of an interstate facility in aid of racketeering, and forfeiture. If convicted, Maurice Brown, who is the mayor of the Town of White Castle, faces up to 170 years' imprisonment and a $3,250,000 fine. If convicted, Mario Brown, chief of police for the Town of White Castle, faces up to 145 years' imprisonment and a $3,000,000 fine. Full Story
Baltimore: Former Prince George’s County Police Officer Pleads Guilty in Bank Break-In
Former Prince George’s County Police officer Eddie Lee Smith, of Fort Washington, Maryland, pled guilty to breaking into a bank with intent to commit felony bank larceny. Smith met with Earl Blake in Prince George’s County and told Blake he had a job for him. Smith drove Blake in his marked police cruiser to a SunTrust Bank in Temple Hills, Maryland. He provided Blake with a black bag containing an electric grinder/saw and other materials and instructed Blake on how to cut open the ATM safe. Full Story
Louisville: Former Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy, Burglarizing a Pharmacy
Former Williamsburg police officer Kenneth Bradley Nighbert, of Lexington, Kentucky, admitted in federal court his involvement in the burglary of a Williamsburg pharmacy and that he helped facilitate a long-term prescription pill trafficking conspiracy. Nighbert pled guilty to the charges of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and conspiracy to burglarize a pharmacy.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Finance
After 9 Weeks of Asking Public Accounts Committee Finally Receives Documentation Re Bank Guarantee Decision
9th July 2010
At the end of a 9 week wait, the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has finally received the documentation it had requested from the Department of Finance regarding the details of the decision taken in the lead up to the implementation of the bank guarantee scheme on 29th September 2008.
The Committee had initially expected to receive this information well before now and had intended to examine it at its meeting yesterday, however this was not possible as the information was not forthcoming in time.
The Committee has sought from the Department relevant details relating to the period leading up to the decision to guarantee the Irish banking system on the night of 29th September 2008 in order to determine whether this move has resulted in the best value for money for taxpayers.
Committee Chairman, Bernard Allen TD said;
“Firstly, the Committee is disappointed that this information has taken so long to be handed over to us. We had intended to consider it at our meeting yesterday and were under the impression that we would have the documents in time for this. Regrettably, this was not the case.
The relevant records were provided to us yesterday after the meeting. We had requested detail regarding the events and developments which occurred prior to the decision being made to offer a guarantee the banks in 2008.
We intend to carefully consider this information next week to try to establish if the decision was in the best in the interest of taxpayers. At the centre of this Committee’s remit is to ensure that taxpayers are given value for money and are protected from unnecessary waste as much as possible.
The decision to guarantee the banks has been a burden on the taxpayer and we are determined to try and find out if it was a necessary one.”
9th July 2010
At the end of a 9 week wait, the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has finally received the documentation it had requested from the Department of Finance regarding the details of the decision taken in the lead up to the implementation of the bank guarantee scheme on 29th September 2008.
The Committee had initially expected to receive this information well before now and had intended to examine it at its meeting yesterday, however this was not possible as the information was not forthcoming in time.
The Committee has sought from the Department relevant details relating to the period leading up to the decision to guarantee the Irish banking system on the night of 29th September 2008 in order to determine whether this move has resulted in the best value for money for taxpayers.
Committee Chairman, Bernard Allen TD said;
“Firstly, the Committee is disappointed that this information has taken so long to be handed over to us. We had intended to consider it at our meeting yesterday and were under the impression that we would have the documents in time for this. Regrettably, this was not the case.
The relevant records were provided to us yesterday after the meeting. We had requested detail regarding the events and developments which occurred prior to the decision being made to offer a guarantee the banks in 2008.
We intend to carefully consider this information next week to try to establish if the decision was in the best in the interest of taxpayers. At the centre of this Committee’s remit is to ensure that taxpayers are given value for money and are protected from unnecessary waste as much as possible.
The decision to guarantee the banks has been a burden on the taxpayer and we are determined to try and find out if it was a necessary one.”
Author of Books for Children Sentenced on Child Pornography Charges
Author of Books for Children Sentenced on Child Pornography Charges
Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:56:36 -0500
Kevin Patrick Bath, a published children's author from Portland, Oregon, was sentenced two six years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography. Investigators found a large collection of still images and video clips depicting child pornography--including images and videos depicting sadistic conduct, rape, sodomy, and bestiality--on computer equipment and data storage media owned by Bath. Many of the videos graphically depict the sexual abuse of very young children.
Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:56:36 -0500
Kevin Patrick Bath, a published children's author from Portland, Oregon, was sentenced two six years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography. Investigators found a large collection of still images and video clips depicting child pornography--including images and videos depicting sadistic conduct, rape, sodomy, and bestiality--on computer equipment and data storage media owned by Bath. Many of the videos graphically depict the sexual abuse of very young children.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Liam Adams wanted in NI for allegedly raping his daughter Aine
Lawyers representing Liam Adam sought "more time" before the High Court today to prepare their defence to an attempt by the North to extradite him.
Mr Adams, a brother of Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, is wanted in the North to face multiple charges of rape, indecent assault and gross indecency against his daughter, Aine Tyrell, who has waived her right to anonymity.
Mr Adams (aged 54) with an address at Bernagh Avenue in Belfast, denies all the charges and is contesting his extradition.
Today the High Court was told Mr Adams' legal team was seeking a further adjournment of the matter to allow for a sworn affidavit from a solicitor in the North to be filed in the case.
The court, of Mr Justice Michael Peart presiding, adjourned the matter until July 21 next when he was told "everything would be ready to proceed in the usual way".
An order of discovery, being made in relation to a single document, will also be heard on that day.
Judge Peart said he was "most anxious" to fix a date for the hearing of the matter "at that stage".
It is claimed the offences occurred at various addresses in Belfast between March 1977 and March 1983 when the alleged victim was aged between four and 10 years.
It is alleged some of the offences occurred when Ms Tyrell's mother was out of the family's house.
Mr Adams turned himself into gardaí in Dublin early this year after a European Arrest Warrant was issued by the PSNI.
He has already denied he fled the North a year ago to escape prosecution but claims he feared he and his children were in danger after media reports of the allegations.
Mr Adams also maintains he will not get a fair trial.
Mr Adams, a brother of Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, is wanted in the North to face multiple charges of rape, indecent assault and gross indecency against his daughter, Aine Tyrell, who has waived her right to anonymity.
Mr Adams (aged 54) with an address at Bernagh Avenue in Belfast, denies all the charges and is contesting his extradition.
Today the High Court was told Mr Adams' legal team was seeking a further adjournment of the matter to allow for a sworn affidavit from a solicitor in the North to be filed in the case.
The court, of Mr Justice Michael Peart presiding, adjourned the matter until July 21 next when he was told "everything would be ready to proceed in the usual way".
An order of discovery, being made in relation to a single document, will also be heard on that day.
Judge Peart said he was "most anxious" to fix a date for the hearing of the matter "at that stage".
It is claimed the offences occurred at various addresses in Belfast between March 1977 and March 1983 when the alleged victim was aged between four and 10 years.
It is alleged some of the offences occurred when Ms Tyrell's mother was out of the family's house.
Mr Adams turned himself into gardaí in Dublin early this year after a European Arrest Warrant was issued by the PSNI.
He has already denied he fled the North a year ago to escape prosecution but claims he feared he and his children were in danger after media reports of the allegations.
Mr Adams also maintains he will not get a fair trial.
Navan Arrests
Two teenagers have been arrested as part of the investigation into the death of a pensioner in Co. Meath over two weeks ago.
Martin O' Gorman, 36, who was orginally from Athlone, was attacked on Academy Street in the town shortly after midnight on June 21. He died six days later.
As part of the investigation into his death, gardaí this morning arrested two teenagers, aged 16 and 18.
The pair are being held at Kells and Navan Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Martin O' Gorman, 36, who was orginally from Athlone, was attacked on Academy Street in the town shortly after midnight on June 21. He died six days later.
As part of the investigation into his death, gardaí this morning arrested two teenagers, aged 16 and 18.
The pair are being held at Kells and Navan Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Martin O'Gorman (63) murdered in Academy Street, Navan, Meath, 20th-21st June 2010. If you have any information contact the Gardai.
Martin O'Gorman (63) murdered in Academy Street, Navan, Meath, 20th-21st June 2010. If you have any information contact the Gardai.
Ian Bailey before the High Court today 7 July 2010
Ian Bailey is to appear before the High Court in Dublin this morning and a date is expected to be set for a full hearing of the French application for his Extradition.
Woman who was beaten by Ian Bailey says Bailey is being stitched up.
During a number of civil actions taken by Ian Bailey against a number of newspapers it became clear that Ian Bailey was a man who engaged in domestic violence against his live in partner Miss Jules Thomas. Miss Jules Thomas continues to live with Ian Bailey at her home in CountyCork. Miss Jules Thomas has told a French TV crew that, “I would not stay with a murderer. I am not a stupid woman”. Miss Thomas was speaking about the fact that the French authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for Mr Ian Bailey in relation to the murder of 39 year old French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Cork in 1996.
La femme qui a été battue par Ian Bailey dit que Bailey est piqué en haut.
Pendant un certain nombre de mesures civiles prises par Ian Bailey contre un certain nombre de journaux il est devenu clair qu'Ian Bailey était un homme qui s'est livré à la violence dans la famille contre son vivant dans Mlle de partenaire Jules Thomas. Mlle Jules Thomas continue à vivre avec Ian Bailey à sa maison dans le Liège de Comté. Mlle Jules Thomas a dit à un équipage de TV français que, “je ne resterais pas avec un meurtrier. Je ne suis pas une femme stupide”. Mlle Thomas parlait du fait que les autorités françaises ont délivré un mandat d'arrestation européen pour M. Ian Bailey par rapport au meurtre de femme française de 39 ans Sophie Toscan du Plantier dans le Liège en 1996.
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Who Done It?
French (English below)
Les Nouveaux Renseignements sur le Meurtre de Sophie
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Qui Fait Cela ?
Pour ces Rédacteurs en chef populaires qui tenaient souvent la première page pour Ian Baileys insightful et copie exclusive sur les reportages du meurtre brutal de producteur de film de 39 ans Sophie Toscan du Plantier, près de sa résidence secondaire à l'extérieur Schull dans le Liège ouest, le 22 décembre 1996, Ian Bailey est maintenant le persona non grata aux mêmes Rédacteurs en chef.
Gardai croit que Sophie Toscan du Plantier s'enfuyait de son attaquant quand elle a été sauvagement assassinée. On y croit que le soir ou dans la nuit du 22 décembre 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier a été dérangée ou surprise par sa maison par son tueur. Une chose est à coup sûr, elle a subi un meurtre brutal et lâche.
Pendant que les tabloïdes ont versé l'insightful d'Ian Bailey et des reportages exclusifs sur le meurtre de Sophie Toscan du Plantier, les Gardai commençaient à trouver le nom d'Ian Bailey apparaissant sur leur radar d'investigation.
English
For those tabloid Editors who often held the front page for Ian Baileys insightful and exclusive copy on the reporting of the brutal murder of 39 year-old film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, close to her holiday home outside Schull in west Cork, on the 22 December 1996, Ian Bailey is now persona non grata to the same Editors.
Gardai believe that Sophie Toscan du Plantier was running away from her attacker when she was brutally murdered. It is believed that on the evening or in the night of the 22 December 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier was disturbed or surprised at her home by her killer. One thing is for certain, she suffered a brutal and cowardly killing.
While the tabloids poured out Ian Bailey’s insightful and exclusive reporting on the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the Gardai were starting to find Ian Bailey’s name appearing on their investigative radar. Ian Bailey lived in the area where Sophie Toscan du Plantier had lived and where she was so brutally murdered. However, the Gardai had more information than this to identify Ian Bailey as a suspect. This information or ‘evidence’ was not enough to bring charges against Ian Bailey, but it was enough to have him arrested twice within a fourteen month period and subsequently released due to lack of evidence.
Later in 2003 Ian Bailey would bring civil actions against some newspapers for suggesting that he was in fact the murderer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Some of these newspapers paid damages to Ian Bailey, others were cleared of any wrong doing. During the civil actions Bailey was painted as a very un-pleasant person. Being an un-pleasant and un-civilised person does not make one a murderer. However, this writer can exclusively reveal that Ian Bailey may well be the architect of his own downfall.
Once the lurid tabloids had destined Ian Bailey to that drawer in the filling cabinet marked persona non grata, Ian Bailey was left without a lively hood and therefore an income. It is during this period that Ian Bailey made a new friend. That new friend was one Mr Patrick O Riordan. Mr Patrick O Riordan had lived in England for many years but had returned to Cork following the break down of his marriage. Mr O Riordan had a chip van and he offered his new friend Mr Ian Bailey a job. Mr Ian Bailey and Mr O Riordan became big buddies. Mr Bailey would often travel over to England to stay with Mr O Riordan when he was back in London visiting family.
However, Mr Patrick O Riordan would also soon come to the attention of the Gardai. Mr Patrick O Riordan’s estranged daughter wanted to meet her father as she was soon to get married. So Mr Patrick O Riordan’s daughter flew over from England to meet her father in Cork. On arrival Patrick O Riordan was every thing his daughter had wanted to find, a caring, tall, strong, clean and sober businessman. That evening Patrick O Riordan treated his daughter to a fine dinner and some drinks. Then Mr Patrick O Riordan invited his daughter to stay with him in his BB accommodation and she could use his bed while he would sleep on the floor. However, early next morning Mr Patrick O Riordan would be arrested as he tried to leave the country after his daughter contacted Gardai to say her Father had raped her in his BB room. Mr Patrick O Riordan would be sentenced to ten years for the rape of his daughter. He has since been repatriated to finish his sentence in England.
It was during this close relationship with Mr O Riordan that Ian Bailey allegedly admitted for the first time that he had in fact murdered Sophie du Plantier. The Gardai are aware of this alleged admission, however, at no time did Mr Patrick O Riordan try to use this information to do a deal with the State in relation to his own charging and conviction for rape. No, Patrick O Riordan never disclosed this information until he was in the confidence of a fellow prisoner in Wheatfield Prison. Mr Patrick O Riordan had nothing to gain from this disclosure and never gained anything from this disclosure. So it is a disclosure that holds some very substantial merit as far as this writer is concerned.
Now a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Ian Bailey. Ian Bailey now in his second year of a law degree was quick to respond to the news of the European Arrest Warrant. Ian Bailey’s solicitor was on the news within hours and saying that Ian Bailey would contest the warrant, which is his legal right to do. The DPP have certainly been unable to bring any charge of murder against Mr Bailey, so is it possible that the French have a strong enough case to pursue such a charge. French law allows the French authorities to investigate the death of their nationals abroad, and this is fair and right.
For this writer Ian Bailey has been the architect of his own down fall. However, that does not mean that this writer wants to see a miscarriage of justice. I think it is important that Ian Bailey travels to France and allows the legal process to take its course. Ian Bailey is well versed in the law and has access to able counsel; he should have no fear of the French authorities if he is an innocent man.
During the civil actions taken by Ian Bailey, Paul Gallagher asked Mr Bailey, “What kind of man are you?” this question can only truly be answered by a full, open and fair hearing. Many aspects of this case including those disclosed here today need to be fully examined. Other matters such as why Maria Farrell who claimed to have seen Mr Bailey close to the scene of the murder of Sophie du Plantier on the night in question, and then admitted that she had not in fact seen him at all, need to be answered. The Attorney General, Mr Paul Gallagher, is studying the merits of the European Extradition Warrant that has been issued for Bailey. This is the same Paul Gallagher who cross examined Mr Bailey during his civil actions against some news papers. I have no doubt that Mr Gallagher’s objectivity will be challenged at some point.
It is neither important nor relevant if the French authorities are simply trying to shift the buck in this matter. What is important is that this brutal and cowardly murder needs to be solved. If clearing Mr Bailey of any wrong doing or finding his guilt has to be done in a French court, so be it. But Mr Bailey does not serve his cause well by fighting this warrant.
Woman who was beaten by Ian Bailey says Bailey is being stitched up.
During a number of civil actions taken by Ian Bailey against a number of newspapers it became clear that Ian Bailey was a man who engaged in domestic violence against his live in partner Miss Jules Thomas. Miss Jules Thomas continues to live with Ian Bailey at her home in CountyCork. Miss Jules Thomas has told a French TV crew that, “I would not stay with a murderer. I am not a stupid woman”. Miss Thomas was speaking about the fact that the French authorities have issued a European arrest warrant for Mr Ian Bailey in relation to the murder of 39 year old French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Cork in 1996.
La femme qui a été battue par Ian Bailey dit que Bailey est piqué en haut.
Pendant un certain nombre de mesures civiles prises par Ian Bailey contre un certain nombre de journaux il est devenu clair qu'Ian Bailey était un homme qui s'est livré à la violence dans la famille contre son vivant dans Mlle de partenaire Jules Thomas. Mlle Jules Thomas continue à vivre avec Ian Bailey à sa maison dans le Liège de Comté. Mlle Jules Thomas a dit à un équipage de TV français que, “je ne resterais pas avec un meurtrier. Je ne suis pas une femme stupide”. Mlle Thomas parlait du fait que les autorités françaises ont délivré un mandat d'arrestation européen pour M. Ian Bailey par rapport au meurtre de femme française de 39 ans Sophie Toscan du Plantier dans le Liège en 1996.
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Who Done It?
French (English below)
Les Nouveaux Renseignements sur le Meurtre de Sophie
Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Qui Fait Cela ?
Pour ces Rédacteurs en chef populaires qui tenaient souvent la première page pour Ian Baileys insightful et copie exclusive sur les reportages du meurtre brutal de producteur de film de 39 ans Sophie Toscan du Plantier, près de sa résidence secondaire à l'extérieur Schull dans le Liège ouest, le 22 décembre 1996, Ian Bailey est maintenant le persona non grata aux mêmes Rédacteurs en chef.
Gardai croit que Sophie Toscan du Plantier s'enfuyait de son attaquant quand elle a été sauvagement assassinée. On y croit que le soir ou dans la nuit du 22 décembre 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier a été dérangée ou surprise par sa maison par son tueur. Une chose est à coup sûr, elle a subi un meurtre brutal et lâche.
Pendant que les tabloïdes ont versé l'insightful d'Ian Bailey et des reportages exclusifs sur le meurtre de Sophie Toscan du Plantier, les Gardai commençaient à trouver le nom d'Ian Bailey apparaissant sur leur radar d'investigation.
English
For those tabloid Editors who often held the front page for Ian Baileys insightful and exclusive copy on the reporting of the brutal murder of 39 year-old film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, close to her holiday home outside Schull in west Cork, on the 22 December 1996, Ian Bailey is now persona non grata to the same Editors.
Gardai believe that Sophie Toscan du Plantier was running away from her attacker when she was brutally murdered. It is believed that on the evening or in the night of the 22 December 1996 Sophie Toscan du Plantier was disturbed or surprised at her home by her killer. One thing is for certain, she suffered a brutal and cowardly killing.
While the tabloids poured out Ian Bailey’s insightful and exclusive reporting on the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the Gardai were starting to find Ian Bailey’s name appearing on their investigative radar. Ian Bailey lived in the area where Sophie Toscan du Plantier had lived and where she was so brutally murdered. However, the Gardai had more information than this to identify Ian Bailey as a suspect. This information or ‘evidence’ was not enough to bring charges against Ian Bailey, but it was enough to have him arrested twice within a fourteen month period and subsequently released due to lack of evidence.
Later in 2003 Ian Bailey would bring civil actions against some newspapers for suggesting that he was in fact the murderer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Some of these newspapers paid damages to Ian Bailey, others were cleared of any wrong doing. During the civil actions Bailey was painted as a very un-pleasant person. Being an un-pleasant and un-civilised person does not make one a murderer. However, this writer can exclusively reveal that Ian Bailey may well be the architect of his own downfall.
Once the lurid tabloids had destined Ian Bailey to that drawer in the filling cabinet marked persona non grata, Ian Bailey was left without a lively hood and therefore an income. It is during this period that Ian Bailey made a new friend. That new friend was one Mr Patrick O Riordan. Mr Patrick O Riordan had lived in England for many years but had returned to Cork following the break down of his marriage. Mr O Riordan had a chip van and he offered his new friend Mr Ian Bailey a job. Mr Ian Bailey and Mr O Riordan became big buddies. Mr Bailey would often travel over to England to stay with Mr O Riordan when he was back in London visiting family.
However, Mr Patrick O Riordan would also soon come to the attention of the Gardai. Mr Patrick O Riordan’s estranged daughter wanted to meet her father as she was soon to get married. So Mr Patrick O Riordan’s daughter flew over from England to meet her father in Cork. On arrival Patrick O Riordan was every thing his daughter had wanted to find, a caring, tall, strong, clean and sober businessman. That evening Patrick O Riordan treated his daughter to a fine dinner and some drinks. Then Mr Patrick O Riordan invited his daughter to stay with him in his BB accommodation and she could use his bed while he would sleep on the floor. However, early next morning Mr Patrick O Riordan would be arrested as he tried to leave the country after his daughter contacted Gardai to say her Father had raped her in his BB room. Mr Patrick O Riordan would be sentenced to ten years for the rape of his daughter. He has since been repatriated to finish his sentence in England.
It was during this close relationship with Mr O Riordan that Ian Bailey allegedly admitted for the first time that he had in fact murdered Sophie du Plantier. The Gardai are aware of this alleged admission, however, at no time did Mr Patrick O Riordan try to use this information to do a deal with the State in relation to his own charging and conviction for rape. No, Patrick O Riordan never disclosed this information until he was in the confidence of a fellow prisoner in Wheatfield Prison. Mr Patrick O Riordan had nothing to gain from this disclosure and never gained anything from this disclosure. So it is a disclosure that holds some very substantial merit as far as this writer is concerned.
Now a European Arrest Warrant has been issued for Ian Bailey. Ian Bailey now in his second year of a law degree was quick to respond to the news of the European Arrest Warrant. Ian Bailey’s solicitor was on the news within hours and saying that Ian Bailey would contest the warrant, which is his legal right to do. The DPP have certainly been unable to bring any charge of murder against Mr Bailey, so is it possible that the French have a strong enough case to pursue such a charge. French law allows the French authorities to investigate the death of their nationals abroad, and this is fair and right.
For this writer Ian Bailey has been the architect of his own down fall. However, that does not mean that this writer wants to see a miscarriage of justice. I think it is important that Ian Bailey travels to France and allows the legal process to take its course. Ian Bailey is well versed in the law and has access to able counsel; he should have no fear of the French authorities if he is an innocent man.
During the civil actions taken by Ian Bailey, Paul Gallagher asked Mr Bailey, “What kind of man are you?” this question can only truly be answered by a full, open and fair hearing. Many aspects of this case including those disclosed here today need to be fully examined. Other matters such as why Maria Farrell who claimed to have seen Mr Bailey close to the scene of the murder of Sophie du Plantier on the night in question, and then admitted that she had not in fact seen him at all, need to be answered. The Attorney General, Mr Paul Gallagher, is studying the merits of the European Extradition Warrant that has been issued for Bailey. This is the same Paul Gallagher who cross examined Mr Bailey during his civil actions against some news papers. I have no doubt that Mr Gallagher’s objectivity will be challenged at some point.
It is neither important nor relevant if the French authorities are simply trying to shift the buck in this matter. What is important is that this brutal and cowardly murder needs to be solved. If clearing Mr Bailey of any wrong doing or finding his guilt has to be done in a French court, so be it. But Mr Bailey does not serve his cause well by fighting this warrant.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Moynalty Steam Threshing and Working Show: August 8th 2010: 35th Annual Show.
It is difficult to believe that it is Moynalty time again, where did that year go, the two ducks I bought at last years show are a constant reminder of the great day we had last year. Moynalty, Kells, County Meath, is a beautiful location for what is a wonderful experience, the show runs from 12 noon until 6pm on Sunday 8th August 2010 and it is a delight to behold. There is also a day of activity on Saturday 7th August starting at 3pm. The list of fun things to do and see are endless from the professionally maintained Vintage tractors, cars, horse drawn machinery, stationary engines to the endless display of farmyard animals and pets, some of which can be purchased, to the finest of our traditions such as cooking, churning, basket weaving, tinsmith, woodturning, spinning, blacksmith, water wheel, harness making, forge, kitchner steam driven saw, mud turf making.
For those of us who love the memories of Ireland's yesteryear this is a day in heaven, the smells and aromas of Granny's kitchen fills the air, the toil and sweat of Irish men doing the work that has so long since been forgotten, however, thanks to the Great people of Moynalty and the surrounding area we can all enjoy great memories and wonderful people. The cooking on site is just magic, pancakes, champ, BBQ and why not find a sit down place to enjoy this wholesom food and listen to the many entertainers who provide an array of great music and dance. There is plenty for the kids to do with the fun fair and all sorts of entertainment.
Admission for the day is 10 Euro while children under 12 years go FREE. This is a day that your children will remember for the rest of their lives, so make the decision to take the family out for the day and enjoy an experience that can be shared and enjoyed in equal measure by all the family.
http://www.moynaltysteamthreshing.ie/
For those of us who love the memories of Ireland's yesteryear this is a day in heaven, the smells and aromas of Granny's kitchen fills the air, the toil and sweat of Irish men doing the work that has so long since been forgotten, however, thanks to the Great people of Moynalty and the surrounding area we can all enjoy great memories and wonderful people. The cooking on site is just magic, pancakes, champ, BBQ and why not find a sit down place to enjoy this wholesom food and listen to the many entertainers who provide an array of great music and dance. There is plenty for the kids to do with the fun fair and all sorts of entertainment.
Admission for the day is 10 Euro while children under 12 years go FREE. This is a day that your children will remember for the rest of their lives, so make the decision to take the family out for the day and enjoy an experience that can be shared and enjoyed in equal measure by all the family.
http://www.moynaltysteamthreshing.ie/
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
Murder in Navan
Anyone with information about the assault is asked to contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or Navan garda station on (046) 9079930.
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