Breaking news, garda searches, garda murder, adrian donohoe murder

Police in the Republic of Ireland are carrying out searches as part of the ongoing investigation into the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe.

Garda have renewed their appeal as searches continue in the murder case.

 

An Garda Síochána are carrying out a number of searches in the Carlingford area- following on from searches carried out by PSNI in south Armagh earlier in the month.

Detective Donohoe was shot dead as he confronted armed robbers at Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth, close to the Irish border on 25 January.

The 41-year-old was the first Garda to be killed in 17 years. He had not drawn his weapon when he was shot in the head by an assailant.

His colleague Detective Joe Ryan was held at gunpoint during the incident, where at least four men stole €4,000.

A burnt-out Volkswagen Passat, thought to have been the getaway vehicle, was discovered near a forest on Cumsons Road, a back road off the main A29 from Newtownhamilton to Keady in south Armagh.

A number of rewards for information remain in place, including a reward of €50,000 offered by the Irish League of Credit Unions.

PSNI and Gardaí have renewed their appeal to members of the public to come forward with any information in relation to the murder.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact detectives in PSNI on 0845 600 8000 or detectives in An Garda Síochána on 042 9388470.

Or alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the Garda Confidential Number 1800 666 111.

GRA Conference, Garda Conference, Westport Mayo

Gardaí are calling for the establishment of an independent police authority to remove what they claim is political interference.

Delegates representing over 11,200 gardaí will gather in Westport, Co Mayo, for the Garda Representative Association's annual conference.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has not been invited to the conference.

The conference will also hear calls for the establishment of an independent commission to report on pay and conditions in the gardaí.

'Where is the Justice' is the theme of this year's conference.

For the first time, no Minister for Justice has been invited to hear the calls for the Government to initiate the immediate recruitment of gardaí and new legislation to protect frontline workers from assault.

Delegates also want recognition of the fact that gardaí implemented in full all targets set including the new rosters and work time agreement.

They deplore what they say are the attacks on public servants and negotiated agreements and assert that any future cuts in pay or allowances are a breach of the Croke Park agreement.

GRA General Secretary PJ Stone said gardaí are a unique organ of the State not dissimilar in some aspects to judges and should, like them, also be afforded a separate mechanism for negotiations on pay and conditions.

They are also seeking clear guidelines on the detention of people who are drunk in garda stations, demanding that the Government increases the garda fleet and condemns the continued use of single occupancy patrol cars which they say is contrary to the recommendations of the Inspectorate.

Civil Public and Services Union, CPSU, Croke Park agreement

Civil Public and Services Union, CPSU, Croke Park agreement

The union representing lower-paid civil servants has warned the Government it will take industrial action unless it “bins the unfair cuts” proposed under the new Croke Park II agreement.

In her address to the annual conference of the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU), union president Joan Byrne said she wanted to send a clear message to the Government that members had had enough and were prepared to fight.

“We have shown bef ore that we can and will take action. We won’t lie down quietly while they walk all over us. We have the strength, the mettle and the means to fight,” she said. “We do not want to have to take industrial action, but be under no illusion, Minister (Brendan) Howlin, we will fight if you do not bin these unfair charges.”

Ms Byrne said the huge response in the CPSU’s ballot on the Croke Park II deal - which overwhelmingly rejected the proposal - fully showed members backed the decision of the union to walk out of the talks with the Government which led to the proposed agreement.

“By our actions we have set down our marker, we have endured enough, we are strong and we are united along with other unions who have the same message for the Government.”

Ms Byrne said changes to flexible working arrangements proposed under the new Croke Park deal would have made it more difficult for staff to combine work and family life. “The truth is this puts carers who are predominantly female at a disadvantage.”

She said there would also be longer working hours that reduced the hourly rate of pay. She said there were also proposed changes to redeployment arrangements that could force staff out of the workforce and changes to increments that would take more money out of members’ pockets.

“Well, enough is enough. So I say to (Taoiseach ) Enda Kenny, it’s time for you to get real , stop trying to kid us, go take the money from those who can afford it such as the top earners, the bankers who bust the economy and the wealthy elite who are still sitting pretty.”

“We have played our part. We have worked harder and smarter with less resources to serve the public. We have taken the cuts, made the changes, met the targets and helped this country to recover but be warned Enda there is only so much we can do or be expected to do.”

Fianna Fáil senator Francis O'Brien, €100,000 from Michael Heelan, Courts

Three men including former Fianna Fáil senator Francis O'Brien have been granted bail after appearing in court on a charge of demanding €100,000 with menaces.

Mr O'Brien, 70, of Corwillan, latton, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was remanded on bail of €5,000 cash to appear before the Carrickmacross District Court again on 22 May.

The other defendants are Michael Marron, 56, from Taghart, Shercock, Cavan and Raymond McCaughey, 55, from Drumgannus, Broomfield, Co Monaghan.

All three face a single charge that on 27 April, 2012 at Tullyvaragh Lower, Carrickmacross they demanded €100,000 from Michael Heelan with menaces contrary to the Criminal Justice Public Order Act.

The three were granted bail with a surety of €5,000. They were also ordered to hand over their passports, not to contact any witnesses and sign on weekly at their local garda station.

Det Insp Fergus Traynor gave evidence of arresting, charging and cautioning the accused.

None of them spoke during the brief hearing. The case is due back before the court on 22 May.

Liam Adams trial, Gerry Adams evidence, Sinn Fein

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams denied in court today that he told lies to a television journalist about his brother Liam. He said he “took exception” to the accusation.

Mr Adams was giving evidence in Belfast Crown Court in relation to the case of sexual assault charges against 57-year-old Liam Adams from Bernagh Drive in west Belfast.

Liam Adams denies ten charges against him involving his daughter Aine– three or rape, three of gross indecency and four of indecent assault. It is alleged the assaults took place over a six year period beginning in 1977 when Aine Adams was aged four.

During today’s hearing Gerry Adams said that in 2000 his brother Liam admitted to him that he had molested Aine Adams. This happened during a “walk in the rain” in Dundalk.

Ms Eilis McDermott, QC, acting for Liam Adams, put it to him that her client never made such an admission. “I don’t accept your submission,” said Mr Adams, insisting his brother had made an admission of guilt.

Mr Adams also referred to a meeting in Buncranna, Co Donegal with his brother in 1987 where he confronted him about the allegations made by Aine Adams. He spoke to him in the company of Aine Adams and her mother Sarah Marie, and he also spoke to him alone.

On both occasions at that meeting Liam Adams denied the allegations. The court has already heard that on that occasion it was alleged that Mr Adams threatened to hit Liam Adams with a hammer. Mr Adams said he never made such a threat.

Ms McDermott then referred to a television interview the Sinn Fein president gave in 2009 where he said that after the 1987 meeting his brother left the country and that Liam Adams thereafter “was more or less out of his life for the next 15 years”.

Ms McDermott said both assertions were lies. Mr Adams said he took exception to this accusation and that he was not lying. Asked where his brother went, Mr Adams said he went to Canada.

Ms McDermott however said that Liam Adams went to Canada for a period in 1983 but apart from occasional holidays in Spain did not leave the country after that. Mr Adams said he was providing evidence that was to “the best of his recollection”.

Ms McDermott in relation to her allegation that Mr Adams was lying about putting his brother out of his life for 15 years then put several photographs up on screen that showed Mr Adams in the company of Liam Adams on various dates and in various places. The dates included 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998. She also showed an inscription to Liam Adams that Mr Adams signed on the flyleaf of one of his book, “An Irish Journey” in May 2001.

This all served to demonstrate, said Ms McDermott, that far from being out of his life he was in regular contact with Liam Adams. Mr Adams said he had never denied he had been in contact with Liam Adams.

Ms McDermott suggested Mr Adams was trying to create distance between him and the defendant. “That is not the case; I love my brother,” said Mr Adams.

Boston Bomb latest

One alleged Boston Bomber Killed and another arrested

Message from FBI Director Robert S. Mueller:

During this long week, we have seen an extraordinary effort by law enforcement, intelligence, and public safety agencies. These collaborative efforts, with the help and cooperation of the public, resulted in the successful outcome we have seen tonight. The investigation will continue as part of our efforts to seek answers and justice, and there will be no pause in that effort. But tonight, I wish to thank all those who worked so tirelessly throughout the week in the pursuit of safety and justice.

INTO, Croke Park 2, Teachers strike ballot

Teachers at primary, secondary and third level are to ballot for industrial action in protest at proposed pay cuts.

The decision to hold ballots for industrial action up to and including strikes is effectively a shot across the bows of the Government which is to decide in the next week or so on its reaction to the move by public service trade unions this week to reject the proposed new Croke Park II agreement.

Teaching unions have said that State exams this June will not be affected by any industrial action.

However should the Government mo ve to cut pay, there could be disruption in the classroom from September.

The Government has said it is reflecting on the decision by union members to vote against the Croke Park II proposals.

However the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin has said the proposed €300 million saving in the public service pay and pensions bill, which was scheduled to come from the implementation of the Croke Park II agreement, will still have to be realised.

The decision to undertake the ballots on industrial action next month was taken at meeting of the executives of the three main teaching unions, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) in Dublin today.

In a statement the unions said industrial action would be triggered “in the event of Government proceeding unilaterally to impose salary cuts or to worsen working conditions.”

Pat King, general secretary of the ASTI said: “Teachers have already taken a 14 per cent reduction in pay and have delivered additional work and substantial savings under the Croke Park Agreement. Young teachers, many of whom find themselves in precarious employment situations, have had inferior terms and conditions imposed on them in a most inequitable manner.”

Sheila Nunan, general secretary of the INTO said that following the strong rejection of the Croke Park II proposals the ball was now in the Government's court.

She said any move to unilaterally cut teachers' salaries or worsen working conditions would “ be strongly resisted up to and including strike action”.

TUI general secretary John MacGabhann said: “Teachers and lecturers objectively considered the LRC proposals and found them to be unbalanced and unfair. They hit those in part-time, lowly paid work hardest, are regressive and are now, deservedly, dead in the water. We have an existing agreement and will continue to honour it. We expect the Government to do the same. If they choose not to we will take whatever industrial action is necessary.”

Boston Marathon Bomb attack

Dublin runner Gerry Carr crossed the finishing line just before the first explosion. “I was about 100 yards past the finishing line when the first bomb exploded,” he said. “I was just talking to an American I’d been running with and we were congratulating each other and we heard this big bang followed by another one about 30 seconds later.”

The explosions were “very, very loud”, he said. “There were a lot of spectators in the area, a lot of marathon finishers and marathon staff. People began running in every direction, ambulances were coming and all hell seemed to break loose.”

Mr Carr said the peak finishing time for runners was between three and a half to four and a half hours and the explosion went off four hours after the race began. “People were really panicking. I wasn’t able to run - I was too tired- so I just walked away.” He made his way back to the hotel where other Irish runners and spectators were congregating. He was part of a group that travelled with Dublin travel agents Sports Travel International. It was led by Eugene Coppinger, the deputy director of the Dublin Marathon.

He said the group was made up of 12 Irish and 12 British runners and three partners of the Irish runners. Mr Coppinger was at the hotel, waiting for the Irish runners to return when the explosions went off. He had been tracking their progress and was worried about Mr Carr as he knew he was due to pass the finish line at the time of the explosion. “But luckily he was okay.”

Mr Coppinger said he had been worried about Angela Loughran, whose husband Eamonn was running in the race. She had been standing near the finish line to wait for his return but did not come back to the hotel as expected.

"We were very concerned about her but she came back safe and sound about ten minutes ago," he said. "It was chaotic out there and there were no taxis, no trains so she had to walk back to the hotel," he said. "Everyone is accounted for now and we are all delighted."

The official website of the Boston Marathon lists 50 entrants resident in Ireland and 108 entrants with Irish citizenship. The addresses given include Carlow, Dublin, Wicklow, Cork, Waterford, Galway, Cavan, Kerry and Westmeath.

For the past two years students from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) took part in the Boston Marathon to raise funds for Breast Cancer Ireland and according to their fundraising page, ten runners were selected to run the race. They were selected from the group of RCSI students that ran the Dublin City Marathon last October.

People used Twitter and online forums to let friends know they were safe. One poster on boards.ie wrote “An emotional bag of nerves is what is sitting on my bed now. What an horrendous end to a fantastic day. We were walking back to hotel and thought we heard thunder claps. Got back safely to the news reports. Just trying to contact everyone at home to let them know we’re safe.”

Another Irish runner wrote: “Heyyyy....total chaos here. Two explosions went off behind me as I left the medical tent... Pretty crazy and horrific scene here....this explosion thing really puts things in perspective. Very sad here.”

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Irish consulate in Boston was in touch with the emergency services in the city. He said anyone concerned about the safety of Irish citizens who were in the race, or involved in the event to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs at 01 4082000.

Jurys Inn, Jurys Hotels, Dublin Hotels

Jurys Inn, Jurys Hotels, Dublin Hotels

Irish budget hotel chain Jurys Inn has completed a financial restructuring that has resulted in its lenders taking a write-down on loans of about £300 million (€351 million).

Under the terms of the deal, additional investors have been brought on board with new equity of £120 million involved.

It is understood the new equity will be paid to the lenders – Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, AIB and Ulster Bank – with a debt-for-equity swap in the transaction.

The debts of Jurys Inn are believed to have been reduced from about £650 million to about £240 million. It was not clear last night precisely what haircut each lender has taken on the loans. No comment was available from any of the banks involved. The banking facilities will run for five years.

Shareholder make-up

Jurys Inn shareholders now comprise the Oman Investment Fund; US-based investment group Mount Kellett Capital Management LP in partnership with Dublin-based Avestus Capital Partners; Ulster Bank; and Westmont Hospitality Group, one of North America's biggest privately owned specialist hotel investors.

Jurys Inn was acquired from Irish hotel group Jurys Doyle in 2007 for €1.166 billion by a consortium of investors led by Quinlan Private, then headed by Derek Quinlan. Mount Kellett, Ulster Bank and Westmont Hospitality are new shareholders.

Avestus is an investment vehicle established by senior executives from Quinlan Private. Mr Quinlan is not involved.

The Oman Investment Fund became a shareholder in 2008 via a reported €200 million investment and remains the biggest shareholder.

Jurys Inn said yesterday that the revised balance sheet structure would allow it to “build on its strong operating performance, which has seen profit as well as revenues grow each year over the past three years”.

A spokesman for Jurys Inn said the company’s 2011 accounts would be filed shortly and would show that revenues rose by 6 per cent to £147.5 million while its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased by 4 per cent to £33.4 million.

He said “further growth” in revenues and profits was recorded by the company in 2012.

Jurys Inn employs 2,000 staff and operates 24 hotels in the UK, seven in Ireland, and one in Prague. This is some way short of the 48 hotels by 2012 that the company had planned at the time of the original deal.

‘Great news’

John Brennan, chief executive of Jurys Inn Hotel Group, said the restructuring was “great news” for the business.

“We are especially delighted to have attracted such a prestigious group of long-term, well-capitalised, institutional investors with global experience in the hospitality sector.”

The restructuring is subject to Competition Authority approval in Ireland.

Breaking news, Monaghan Crash, Man dead

A 43-year-old man has died following a crash in Co Monaghan overnight.

The man was a passenger in a car which crashed into a ditch at Crowey in Silverstream on the R185 at about 1.55am.

He was taken by ambulance to Cavan General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A 40-year-old woman who was driving the car was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.

A second woman travelling in the car as a passenger was uninjured.

The scene of the crash remains closed to traffic this morning pending a technical examination, and diversions are in place in the area.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to contact them at Monaghan Garda station on (047) 77200 Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, Martin McGuinness MP, Dissident Republicans

Martin McGuinness has said, "Dissident Republican Groups are an Island wide network of Criminals".

The North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has acknowledged tensions within the Northern Executive between unionist and nationalist Ministers.

At the Sinn Fein ardfheis in Castlebar, Co Mayo last night - the first to be held in Connacht - Mr McGuinness said that commentators "with some justification" were critical of the "lack of cohesion between unionist and republican Ministers". He did not mention First Minister Peter Robinson by name but it appeared clear he was also adverting to the DUP leader.

Mr McGuinness was critical of unionist Ministers in the Northern Executive and also complained that unionist politicians had failed to stand up to loyalist violence over the flags controversy and were failing to tackle the issue of parading.

"More than once in recent months the observation has been made to me that Sinn Féin Ministers are in government with unionist Ministers because we want to be, but that unionist Ministers are in government with Sinn Féin because they have to be," Mr McGuinness told delegates. "Speaking frankly this isn't good enough."

This week on the 15th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement Mr Robinson insisted that the 1998 accord was not the "template" for the current powersharing arrangements.

Again in an implicit criticism Mr McGuinness said tonight that political progress would be helped greatly "if some within unionism ended the pretence that they are not working the Good Friday agreement institutions".

"People need to be in government not because they have to be but because they want to be - and approach decision-making in that spirit," he said.

Continuing his criticism of his unionist partners in the Executive Mr McGuinness added, "I have no difficulty whatsoever in respecting Unionist's allegiance to their Britishness - but it gives me no satisfaction to tell you that there is a marked reluctance by unionist leaders to respect the Irish identity of nationalists and republicans."

Mr McGuinness said that the Belfast Agreement "while not a political settlement" was a "levelling of the political playing field in the North for the first time since partition".

He condemned the actions of dissident republicans, adding, "Whatever else about those groups responsible it is obvious that they have now been swamped by ruthless criminal elements with an island-wide network."

Cavan-Monaghan TD Caoimhghin O Caolain said that Sinn Fein would continue to press for a Border poll on a united Ireland, stating that not only would such a referendum be held but that ultimately Irish "unity is going to happen".

The ardfheis is being held in Castlebar as part of Sinn Fein's policy of rotating the annual conferences between the four provinces.

Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, Martin McGuinness MP, Dissident Republicans

Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, Gerry Adams TD, Mary Lou McDonald, Castlebar Mayo

Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, Gerry Adams TD, Mary Lou McDonald, Castlebar Mayo

There has been sharp criticism of the Government at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis this evening.

Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald told delegates at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar that the proposed extension to the Croke Park public service pay agreement was not the "stuff of reform".

Ms McDonald accused the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform of being the "boot boy of Labour, waving the stick".

She said Brendan Howlin's "bully boy tactics haven't worked so far" and added that "they are not going to work now".

The party has committed to abolishing the Local Property Tax if elected to Government.

Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said the party would introduce legislation next week to "scrap" the tax.

He said Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil in the 90s that a property tax was morally unjust and unfair.

Mr Doherty acknowledged that the comments were made when there was no mortgage crisis, no personal debt crisis or unemployment crisis.

However, he said it was "all the more reason why Enda Kenny should hold on to his convictions".

Delegates will also discuss a border poll and the party's performance in government in Northern Ireland.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers hinted this week that funds from London might be curtailed if there is not more political progress.

Tomorrow morning's session will be televised live, as will the address of party leader Gerry Adams tomorrow night.

 

The North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has acknowledged tensions within the Northern Executive between unionist and nationalist Ministers.

At the Sinn Fein ardfheis in Castlebar, Co Mayo tonight - the first to be held in Connacht - Mr McGuinness said that commentators "with some justification" were critical of the "lack of cohesion between unionist and republican Ministers". He did not mention First Minister Peter Robinson by name but it appeared clear he was also adverting to the DUP leader.

Mr McGuinness was critical of unionist Ministers in the Northern Executive and also complained that unionist politicians had failed to stand up to loyalist violence over the flags controversy and were failing to tackle the issue of parading.

"More than once in recent months the observation has been made to me that Sinn Féin Ministers are in government with unionist Ministers because we want to be, but that unionist Ministers are in government with Sinn Féin because they have to be," Mr McGuinness told delegates. "Speaking frankly this isn't good enough."

This week on the 15th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement Mr Robinson insisted that the 1998 accord was not the "template" for the current powersharing arrangements.

Again in an implicit criticism Mr McGuinness said tonight that political progress would be helped greatly "if some within unionism ended the pretence that they are not working the Good Friday agreement institutions".

"People need to be in government not because they have to be but because they want to be - and approach decision-making in that spirit," he said.

Continuing his criticism of his unionist partners in the Executive Mr McGuinness added, "I have no difficulty whatsoever in respecting Unionist's allegiance to their Britishness - but it gives me no satisfaction to tell you that there is a marked reluctance by unionist leaders to respect the Irish identity of nationalists and republicans."

Mr McGuinness said that the Belfast Agreement "while not a political settlement" was a "levelling of the political playing field in the North for the first time since partition".

He condemned the actions of dissident republicans, adding, "Whatever else about those groups responsible it is obvious that they have now been swamped by ruthless criminal elements with an island-wide network."

4Cavan-Monaghan TD Caoimhghin O Caolain said that Sinn Fein would continue to press for a Border poll on a united Ireland, stating that not only would such a referendum be held but that ultimately Irish "unity is going to happen".

The ardfheis is being held in Castlebar as part of Sinn Fein's policy of rotating the annual conferences between the four provinces.

Irish Economy

German chancellor Angela Merkel is facing political pressure in Berlin to demand fiscal concessions from Ireland in exchange for granting extra time to repay crisis loans.

A new troika report has recommended extending maximum average maturities by seven years as an “important catalyst for the full restoration of market access” for Ireland and Portugal.

The report warns of a “potentially challenging” situation ahead for Ireland “if market conditions become more adverse again” and, after presenting five options, proposes a seven-year maximum average maturity extension on loans as “the best compromise” to ease a return to markets.

European finance ministers asked the EU-ECB-IMF troika and the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) to examine options for revising loan terms with a view to reducing Irish and Portuguese refinancing terms in the next 10-15 years.

‘Well manageable’

Finance ministers meeting informally in Dublin this weekend will discuss the resulting report, which describes Ireland’s looming borrowing requirements as “demanding . . . but well manageable”.

No binding decision is expected on the report at the Dublin meeting, though political agreement would mark another step in an incremental process to improve Ireland’s financial position ahead of a planned return to markets later this year.

Ireland faces continued challenges, the report’s authors add, citing non-performing loans as a “key concern” to financial markets, fearing additional burdens for the sovereign should a capital shortfall arise.

On the other hand, extending loans to Ireland by an average of seven years could boost the country’s reputation with the influential Moody’s ratings agency. It told the report’s authors that a maturity extension might prompt it to reconsider its current Ba1 rating for Ireland – a status that has put off some potential investors.

While cautiously optimistic about Ireland’s planned programme exit later this year, the report raises concerns about “limited and opportunistic” market access for Portugal a year ahead of its own planned programme exit.

“Given the current volatility in the markets, quick implementation is recommended to maximise benefits in shielding Ireland and Portugal from possible contagion effects,” the report urges.

Formal agreement

After the informal Dublin talks, ministers are expected to reach formal agreement deal on extending the repayment periods in April or May.

Berlin has yet to show its hand on the report’s proposal but have already reminded EU partners that any substantial change to an EU-ECB-IMF programme require a Bundestag vote. However, opposition lawmakers in Berlin who have seen the report plan to make their Bundestag support dependent on Portugal and Ireland adopting measures to improve their own fiscal base.

The SPD complains that the Merkel administration has put the EU financial transaction tax (FTT) on the political back-burner. The Merkel administration agreed to push the FTT in exchange for continued opposition backing of rescue measures in Bundestag votes.

With an eye on the September general election, the SPD has been anxious to present to voters its FTT demands as a way of forcing financial institutions help cover the cost of future crises.

Dr Merkel has not needed opposition support in previous votes on euro rescue programmes. Each successive crisis vote, however, has seen a slow but steady rise in backbench rebels.

murder appeal, garda murder appeal, Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe

murder appeal, garda murder appeal, Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe

Gardaí have issued a further appeal for information over the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in Louth and in particular a white truck.

The truck was parked on Shean Road, Forkhill near Newry at around 9.45pm on the night of his murder, 25 January.

Gardaí say the truck may have been broken down and a number of people were seen around the vehicle.

They want to establish the identity of the driver or owner of the vehicle or the identity of any person who was around it on the night.

Detectives are also looking to identify any person who may have been involved in the recovery of the vehicle or any person who may have been involved in the service of the vehicle on that day.

They are also looking to locate the drivers of any other vehicles that may have been travelling on the Shean Road on 25 January at around 9.45pm.

Gardaí are appealing for any of the above to come forward and contact them in Dundalk on 042 9388400.

Thatcher Dead

Loughgall

Former Conservative British prime minister Margaret Thatcher has died.

Her spokesman Lord Bell said Baroness Thatcher had died this morning following a stroke.

The "Iron Lady" who dominated British politics for two decades was 87.

Britain's only woman prime minister, the tough, outspoken leader led the Conservatives to three election victories, governing from 1979 to 1990 - which was the longest continuous period in office on the part of a British prime minister since the early 19th century.

"It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning," Lord Bell stated.

A grocer's daughter with a steely resolve, she became loved and loathed in equal measure as she crushed the unions, adopted a hard line against republicanism in Northern Ireland and privatised vast swathes of British industry.

In a statement on the Downing Street Twitter feed, British prime minister David Cameron said: “It was with great sadness that I learned of Lady Thatcher’s death.

“We’ve lost a great leader, a great prime minister and a great Briton.”

Buckingham Palace released a statement that the queen was sad to hear the news of the death and would send a private message of sympathy to the family.

Ms Thatcher earned a place in history as the first female British prime minister when she entered Downing Street in 1979.

Over the next 11 years even her critics admitted that she changed the face of the country. In recent years her health deteriorated, and she stopped making public appearances.

Garda Donohoe murder investigation, Garda murder charges, murder suspects, Dundalk murder

Garda Donohoe murder investigation, Garda murder charges, murder suspects, Dundalk murder

The prime suspects in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe have made prepared statements denying involvement as the investigation reaches a frustrating impasse faced with a wall of silence in south Armagh.

Gardai involved in the investigation seized mobile phones and a laptop computer in a raid on a house in Co Louth close to the Border on Friday. The investigation is centring on mobile phone traffic on the night of the murder, January 25.

The five gang members directly involved in the murder and robbery all live in south Armagh and, if arrested, will be questioned by Police Service of Northern Ireland officers. Gardai can "assist" in the interview process but not take part directly.

It is understood a number of other associates of the gang have also made prepared statements. The prepared statement is a standard procedure in Northern Ireland to pre-empt the use of the criminal law provision where police can use the "inference" of guilt of a suspect who refuses to answer questions during interrogation by police. The "right to silence" defence was removed in Northern Ireland in 1988 under the Criminal Evidence Act. If they are arrested, their signed statements can be handed to police by their solicitor, who can then sit in on the interview process, advising their clients on which questions they should or should not answer.

Gardai have amassed significant circumstantial evidence in the case, mainly involving mobile-phone traffic on January 25, the evening Det Garda Donohoe was shot dead while on cash escort duty at the Lordship Credit Union near his home on the northern outskirts of Dundalk.

However, it is understood there is as yet insufficient evidence to bring charges. Nor, at the moment, is there sufficient evidence for the suspects to be extradited to the Republic. In the event of an extradition, gardai would have to take them directly to court on charges and would not be allowed to question them under extradition laws.

Sources say that, despite appeals, no one has come forward with any incriminating witness evidence. A similar situation arose in the garda and PSNI investigation into the murder of the 21-year-old south Armagh man Paul Quinn, who was beaten to death by an IRA gang in October 2007.

Mr Quinn was beaten to death by a gang of up to 15 members of the Provisional IRA in a cowshed just inside the Republic at Oram in Co Monaghan. Despite a lengthy investigation, no one in south Armagh, where Mr Quinn lived, came forward to assist the investigation.

Garda appeals for witnesses in the Det Garda Donohoe murder investigation have also failed to elicit any significant response in south Armagh, which has a reputation for non-compliance with Northern Ireland state authority.

It is understood that gardai have received intelligence from several sources in the area about the gang, their whereabouts and activities, but no one is prepared to give evidence for fear of being branded a police informant.

The identities of the gang members were quickly established and the man who shot Det Garda Donohoe is well known to gardai and the PSNI. He is in his early twenties and lives just north of the Border in south Armagh.

It is believed he had a grievance against Det Garda Donohoe, who had investigated him for previous armed robberies in the north Louth area.

The suspect had also been arrested by the PSNI in connection with robberies and other crime in the south Down and south Armagh areas.

He is the main suspect in the shooting and injuring of a man at a fuel depot just north of the Border on the main Dundalk to Newry road last November. Again, in that incident a shotgun was used.

Det Garda Donohoe was shot dead as he alighted from his patrol car at the credit union. CCTV footage shows three men came out of hiding behind a wall as the squad car carrying Det Garda Donohoe and his colleague, Det Garda Joe Ryan, arrived at the credit union car park.

One of the men is seen pointing a shotgun and firing at close range, hitting Det Garda Donohoe in the head.

The gang then smashed a window in the squad car and threatened to kill Det Garda Ryan before assaulting two staff members of the credit union and taking a bag containing €4,000 in cash. The killers then drove north-westwards back across the Border.

The dark blue Volkswagen Passat used in the robbery was found the next day burnt out in a laneway near the south Armagh village of Darkley.

Last month, gardai questioned two men about the theft of the car from a house in Clogherhead, Co Louth, three nights before the murder. It is believed to have been stolen by a gang of professional car thieves and breakers, known as "ringers", who are based in the Dundalk area.

Economy, Central Bank, Finance, Quarterly Economic Bulletin, Banking, GDP

Economy, Central Bank, Finance, Quarterly Economic Bulletin, Banking, GDP

Prospects for the domestic economy have improved in recent months, according to a new report by the Central Bank.

However, the effect on overall economic growth will be cancelled out by weaker than anticipated export, according to the bank’s Quarterly Economic Bulletin.

Despite the anticipated shift in the sources of economic growth towards the domestic economy and two consecutive quarters of employment growth, the bank’s economists have not revised their labour market forecasts. They continue to believe that employment will expand by 0.3 per cent compared to 2012. If this happens it will be the first time in half a decade that employment has risen on an annual basis.

The Central Bank said growth in gross domestic product in 2013 would be 1.2 per cent, down 0.1 per cent from previous predictions. GDP grew by 0.9 per cent in 2012. For 2014, the forecast is unchanged at 2.5 per cent.

By contrast, the bank has revised up its forecast for the narrower measure of economic activity, gross national product, in both 2013 and 2014.

GNP is expected to grow by 0.6 per cent this year, 0.1 percentage points higher than its last forecast three months ago. In 2014, GNP is forecast to expand by 1.6 per cent, 0.3 percentage points higher than previously expected.

The report said growth in Ireland’s trading partners was expected to slow more than previously thought, leading to a slowdown in demand for exports.

“The performance of Irish exports has proved quite resilient to a significant slowdown in external demand over the last year reflecting the benefits of an improvement in competitiveness and a strong performance from services exports,” the report said. “Nevertheless, the progressive deterioration in the outlook for demand in Ireland’s main trading partners has necessitated a corresponding downgrade in projected export growth.”

The bank’s economists noted the increasingly marked difference in performance between exports of goods and exports of services, with the latter continuing to grow and the former stagnating.

Total exports are forecast to pick up in 2014 on the back of a rise in demand in major markets from the second half of 2013.

It said Ireland is still meeting its EU-IMF programme targets, but the bank yet again criticised slow progress by banks in dealing with non-performing loans, saying it prolonged the uncertainty over asset quality in the financial system.

At a briefing today, Central Bank chief economist Lars Frissel said further recapitalisation of the banks could not be ruled out, but how any such move would be funded, if required, was “an open question”.

water charges, water restrictions

The official date for the introduction of water charges remains January 1st next, Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan said yesterday but he indicated there may be further discussions with the troika.

In response, Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath warned that if water charges begin on January 1st on top of property tax it will push some people over the financial cliff.

Mr Hogan said that, as part of the agreement negotiated with the troika by the Fianna Fáil-led government in 2010, water charges were due to commence on January 1st, 2014.

He added it was a matter for the two Ministers who dealt with the troika to discuss the date: “There are very few Ministers or politicians in this country that would not like to see some respite for people who are going through a difficult time.”

However, the Minister said he was operating on the basiswater charges would start on January 1st and so was the newly established body Irish Water.

Free water allowance

Mr Hogan said the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Energy Regulator were carrying out studies on the appropriate level of the charges and the amount of free water that should be available. He said they should know the scale of charges in two or three months.

He also said there were a lot of positives in the reform of the water system. As well as water conservation and elimination of leakages, more than 2,000 jobs would be created in water metering.

Mr McGrath later queried what form charging for water would take, given that it would not be feasible to introduce metering from January. He wascritical of Mr Hogan who suggested yesterday that Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin could engage with the troika about the timetable.

“Minister Hogan seemed to be putting it up to Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin to get the start date pushed back.

“That is not really the kind of leadership we need,” said Mr McGrath. He said there needed to be a full national audit of the water network before water metering could start.

The water restrictions in Dublin continue.

TUI, Teachers Union, Croke Park Agreement, INTO, Wexford Convention

TUI, Teachers Union, Croke Park Agreement, INTO, Wexford Convention

Teachers angered over education cuts have accused the Government of breaking election promises.

Anne Fay, president of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (Into), told delegates schools were experiencing the tightest squeeze for decades.

More than 800 primary teachers attending the annual conference in Cork heard that public services and public servants are left battling a government determined to make its citizens bear the cost while many who caused the economic crash could avail of economic absolution through bankruptcy.

Elsewhere the majority of 500 second level teachers at the Asti convention in Wexford voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion calling for a rejection of the Croke Park II pay deal.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn will address members at both events on Tuesday. In her keynote address, Ms Kay said there is increasing anger among teachers about education cutbacks in primary schools.

"There are more pupils but relatively fewer teachers, operating costs are rising but government funding is falling, there are more special needs pupils but teaching hours are being cut back, there are more disadvantaged children but supports are being reduced or in some cases eliminated," she said.

The primary teacher from Fermoy in Co Cork did not address the controversial pay talks directly in her speech as a members are holding a postal vote on the proposals.

Instead she said there was anger at investment in education becoming another discredited election promise, not a real priority to return Ireland to economic growth and social equality.

Ms Fay also accused the government of refusing to get the wealthy to pay their fair share through fair taxation. "Instead, they champion a policy of targeting cuts at public servants and public services," she added

The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) also opens its conference in Galway on Tuesday with a special motion on Croke Park, even though its members have already voted No to the deal.