THE IRISH OBSERVER

Missing Child Alert, Rebecca Crawford

2012-02-14T10:58:00.000Z

Gardaí seek missing Dublin teen

Rebecca Crawford (16) was last seen on February 9th.

External

An Garda Siochana

Gardaí in Dublin are seeking the public’s help in tracing the whereabouts of a girl who has been missing from her home since last week.

Rebecca Crawford (16) was last seen on February 9th.

She is described as being 170cm (5 ft 7in) in height of slim build with long brown hair and blue eyes.

When last seen she was wearing a three-quarter length leopard fur jacket with a hood, light blue jeans and white boots.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mountjoy Garda station on 666 8600, the Garda Confidential Line 1-800-666-111 or any Garda Station.

Job Creation, Education, Training

2012-02-13T09:54:00.000Z

A GOVERNMENT plan designed to promote the creation of 100,000 jobs over the next four years will be published today. The Action Plan for Jobs 2012, prepared by Minister for Employment Richard Bruton, will involve 15 Government departments and 30 State agencies in a co-ordinated effort to implement a detailed list of measures to promote job creation.

A monitoring committee involving officials from the Department of the Taoiseach, Department of Jobs, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Forfás will be established to police the implementation of more than 250 pro-jobs measures contained in the plan.

The Cabinet has approved the initiative as well as the secondment of a small number of staff from Forfás to the Department of the Taoiseach to provide expertise.

The plan has a list of measures to be implemented in 2012 along with the Government body responsible for its delivery and deadline.

The committee will be responsible for ensuring that departments, State agencies and other bodies deliver on the targets. It will be chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and will provide reports every quarter to the Cabinet subcommittee on Economic Recovery and Jobs.

The plan will focus on four key areas: supporting indigenous businesses; encouraging foreign direct investment and international start-ups; competitiveness; and targeting a number of key sectors such as ICT and financial services where the Government has identified potential for employment growth.

One of the sectors targeted for jobs growth is life sciences. It is an industry projected to grow at 9 per cent globally to 2013 and employs 50,000 in Ireland between indigenous and multinational companies.

Nine out of the top 10 global pharmaceutical corporations have a presence in Ireland, as do 17 out of the top 25 global medical devices corporations. These firms are spread across the country with clusters in Dublin, Cork, the midlands and the west/northwest.

The plan suggests that despite the success of the life sciences industry in Ireland, co-operation between industry and the Irish health system to encourage the development of new products, services and processes has been limited.

PUBLIC FUNDING of smaller third-level colleges is unlikely to continue as a more co-ordinated higher education system is developed, according to the Higher Education Authority.

The authority’s warning is delivered in a discussion paper on the future of higher education published this morning.

The paper also says higher education in Ireland must “strengthen its alignment with the evolving economic needs, and its integration within the education and training system as a whole”.

On smaller colleges, it says these will be consolidated through incorporation into or merger with existing universities, institutes of technology or into technological universities.

“Public funding of these small institutions will not be continued except in circumstances where there are significant reasons of a strategic kind for continuing funding as separate institutions.

“Where appropriate, there will also be consolidation of institutions in the institute of technology sector, dictated by the requirements of sustainability and quality, leading to a smaller number of multi-campus institutions.”

The authority looks ahead to the possible establishment of technological universities and increased moves to build regional clusters of excellence.

In the past, the Higher Education Authority had said the policy of broadly distributing provision to facilitate regional access “took precedence over the creation of focused centres of excellence”.

The paper says care needs to be taken that competition between colleges does not create unnecessary and wasteful duplication.

The authority admits that the perception of the quality of Irish higher education internationally has worsened as staff-student ratios have deteriorated.

It identifies what it calls “two essential drivers of change” in higher education – quality and participation.

“There is a significant tension between these two objectives which needs to be managed in a sustainable way. The provision of education and research by Irish third-level colleges must meet or exceed international standards for quality of outcomes.”

However, it says concerns relating to quality include the rapid expansion of undergraduate programmes with a narrow focus, the academic preparedness of students entering higher education with low levels of prior achievement and the small scale of some recent PhD provision.

All third-level colleges have been asked to respond to the paper within six months.

The authority will then advise Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn on a blueprint for the higher education system, including numbers, types and locations of higher education institutions that will be required over the next 10 to 20 years.

It is intended that this blueprint will be published by the end of this year.

Real IRA Tyrone, Dissident Charges

2012-02-12T21:05:00.000Z

A man has been charged with possession of explosives with intent to endanger life in the North by police investigating dissident republican activity.

The suspect, 32, was detained in Coalisland, Co Tyrone, yesterday following the recovery of an improvised device by detectives last Easter.

He is due to appear at Enniskillen Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

It follows a series of searches in the south Armagh and east Tyrone area over the Easter weekend of 2011.

Smithwick Tribunal, RUC Murders, British Agents

2012-02-12T15:14:00.000Z

The Smithwick Tribunal appears unaware that the two RUC officers who are subject to their inquiry, were executed by the PIRA due to the direct role those officers played in the executions of 8 PIRA volunteers in Loughgall in 1987 and not simply because they were RUC officers. The tribunal is investigating claims that a garda passed information to the IRA which resulted in them setting up an ambush to kill RUC Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan in March 1989. Former sergeants Owen Corrigan, Leo Colton and Finbarr Hickey all deny the claims.

A retired senior RUC officer has told the Smithwick Tribunal that Freddie Scappaticci - the man who denies he was the highly prized British agent known as 'Stakeknife' - was a member of the IRA's internal security unit known as the 'Nutting Squad'.

Retired Assistant Chief Constable Raymond White, who was in charge of the Special Branch in Belfast, confirmed that Mr Scappaticci worked in the 'Nutting Squad', along with John Joe McGee.

The witness, however, refused to confirm that Mr Scappaticci was 'Stakeknife', saying he was not prepared to name the agent.

Mr Scappaticci has always denied that he was a member of the Provisional IRA or their internal security unit.

Mr White said he would have seen the intelligence reports generated as a result of information supplied by 'Stakeknife'.

They would have come from the secretive British military operation known as the Force Research Unit, which was in charge of 'Stakeknife'. He acknowledged that the intelligence was often "historical" in that it came after an event had happened.

Mr White also said handlers from the FRU would have met the agent and debriefed him. They themselves would then be debriefed and the information written down. What intelligence was actually passed on to other bodies was largely up to the FRU.

Asked by Richard Smith, Counsel for Peter Keeley, who worked as a British agent within the IRA, Mr White said that he had "no grounds" to say information was held back by the FRU.

The witness confirmed that the head of the FRU was a British army colonel who was also in charge of running the agent Brian Nelson. Mr Nelson was the intelligence officer with the UDA and was implicated in several murders, include some, it is alleged, on behalf of British intelligence.

Mr White also said he was told by CID officers that the scene on the southern side of the border following the IRA attack on the British army at Narrow Water had not been properly preserved by gardaí, despite a request to do so.

The witness also outlined procedures the RUC had put in place when suspicions had arisen about officers passing information to terrorists. Even if no evidence was found, there would be a precautionary transfer of the person involved to another location.

The former ACC also said that in the 1970s the IRA was turning over £9m a year in fundraising activities.

Mr White said confirmed that he had given Peter Keeley "participant status" to take part in crimes to gather intelligence, despite being told by colleagues that Mr Keeley was not trustworthy. As a result, there had been several successful prosecutions.

Whitney Houston Dead, Beverly Hills, Grammy Awards

2012-02-12T14:46:00.000Z

US police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of US pop star Whitney Houston whose body was found in a Beverly Hills hotel room yesterday afternoon.

Houston, whose personal decline was fuelled by years of drug use, died at the age of 48.

While there were no obvious signs of criminal intent, police said the cause of her death is under investigation.
Beverly Hills police Lieutenant Mark Rosen said Houston was pronounced dead yesterday afternoon in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton hotel where she was staying ahead of the Grammy Awards tonight.

Early today her body was taken to a morgue in Los Angeles where a post mortem examination will be held later.

“There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent,” Lt Rosen said.

Houston’s publicist, Kristen Foster, said the cause of death was unknown.
Tributes poured in from around the world for a singer whose remarkable vocal power and range produced some of the most memorable music of her generation, including her signature hit, "I Will Always Love You ".
"First of all, I want to tell you that I love you all. Second, I would like to say, I love you Whitney. The hardest thing for me to do is to come on this stage.” - Houston’s former husband Bobby Brown , performing a show in Southaven, Mississippi, hours after her death.

"She had everything, beauty, a magnificent voice. How sad her gifts could not bring her the same happiness they brought us," Barbra Streisand , said in a statement.
Her death was discovered as her mentor, record mogul Clive Davis, was holding an annual pre-event party featuring scores of industry figures ahead of tonight's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
Beverly Hills police said they were called to the Beverly Hilton at around 3:43 pm PST, and fire department personnel who were already at the location responded immediately. Houston was in her fourth-floor room but was unresponsive to CPR, and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 pm.

"She has been positively identified by friends and family (who) were with her at the hotel, and next of kin have already been notified," Lieutenant Rosen told reporters.

A coroner’s official later said Houston’s body was taken from the hotel to the morgue where the post mortem examination will be held.

Captain Brian Elias of the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said the examination has not been scheduled and that investigators are awaiting reports before it can be conducted.
Whitney Houston's career saw her win six Grammys, 30 Billboard awards and 22 American Music Awards. She released seven studio albums and sold some 170 million CDs, singles and videos.

Organisers of tonight's Grammy Awards said Houston will be remembered at the awards
tonight in a tribute by Jennifer Hudson.

Navan Deaths, Navan Fire, Mother and son dead, Navan Gardai

2012-02-11T22:23:00.000Z

A woman and her five year-old have died during a fire in a house in Navan, Co Meath. Gardaí have described the deaths as a terrible tragedy.

It is believed that fumes from a smouldering sofa killed the 27-year-old woman and her son as they slept in their home in the Canterbrook Estate on the Kells Road in Navan town.

The house remains sealed off as the Garda continue their investigation.

Navan Gardai have described the deaths as a terrible tragedy.

Neighbours remain in shock describing the young boy and his mother as wonderful neighbours.

Farnham Estate, County Cavan, Review by V.P. McKenna, Radisson Hotels

2012-02-11T21:42:00.001Z

Farnham Estate (Review)

County Cavan

Ireland

Tel: +353(0) 49 4377701

Farnham Estate Brochure Click HERE

On the 11^th February 2012 I travelled to Farnham Estate in County Cavan to enjoy a day of relaxation and self-indulgence, and why not. When I arrived at Farnham Estate I parked in the extensive car parking facilities and decided to take a walk in the grounds of the estate before checking in for my pre-booked massage and use of the health spa facilities.

The Farnham Estate is set in 1300 acres of naturally landscaped grounds, giant Oaks stand proud, surrounded by a tapestry of winter colour. Meadow grasses whisper in the mild breeze, as Farnham Lake gently sends its waves on to the rocks of the rush covered shore line. Spring tickles the forest floor with its patchwork of snow-drops and bluebells, rabbits scurrying along the lush green meadows as grey and red squirrels continue to wrestle for domination. The morning sun breaks through the forest canopy as an orchestra of Finches, Tits, Thrushes and Blackbird compete for the Voice of Ireland.

The tall forest canopy brings a sense of tranquillity that is only punctuated by the gentle sounds of nature, this church like harmony echoes across the manicured greens of the 18 hole golf course. The combination of forestation, aquatic flows and splashes, sweeping hills and deep arching valleys leave the Farnham Estate a natural wonder that has stood the test of time.

Upon entering the Farnham Hotel it is clear that my walk in the ancient forests is to be complemented with contemporary architecture, tasteful decoration and architectural restoration. The receptionist is professional and polite and I am directed to the Health Spa reception area, upon entering the Spa reception one is immediately at ease with a sense of well-being and professionalism. I was escorted to the Spa facilities where I enjoyed a variety of sauna treatments, ice wash facilities, reflexology and shower utilities. Following my various body, mind and spirit enriching treatments, I relaxed on specially designed furniture and enjoyed freshly cut fruit and nicely chilled fruit flavoured water.

Having rested following my Spa treatments it was time for my massage, this was a wonderful experience, the demons of a hard weeks work were cast out of my body by a highly trained dedicated professional. This entire experience and treatment process, including fresh towels, bathrobe, slippers, fresh fruit, and chilled water, cost a total of 50 Euro. The Farnham Estate is a national treasure that offers a rare glimpse of the best of Irish traditions including hospitality, welcome, natural beauty, and blends them with contemporary comfort and service, creating a destination unlike any other in Ireland. Inside and out, Farnham is a playground for the senses. From the softest fabrics to the most delicate local ingredients, every detail has been carefully chosen to create a sense of total well-being.

The only way to describe Farnham Estate is to experience it.

Sun Journophiles Arrested, Sun Criminals

2012-02-11T18:52:00.000Z

The Sun has been plunged into its worst ever crisis following the arrest of five of its most senior journalists over corruption allegations, moving Rupert Murdoch to pledge his support for the paper amid rumours that it faces closure.

Murdoch's "total commitment" to continue to own and publish the Sun was sent to News International staff by chief executive Tom Mockridge after the journalists, who include the deputy editor, were arrested in connection with an investigation into inappropriate payments to police and public officials.

Mockridge confirmed that the five Sun journalists involved are deputy editor Geoff Webster, picture editor John Edwards, chief reporter John Kay, chief foreign correspondent Nick Parker and deputy news editor John Sturgis.

The Sun's editor, Dominic Mohan, said: "I'm as shocked as anyone by today's arrests but am determined to lead the Sun through these difficult times. I have a brilliant staff and we have a duty to serve our readers and will continue to do that. Our focus is on putting out Monday's newspaper."

A News International source said Mohan was "not resigning" but added that it was "obviously a dramatic day for him".

Sky News reported that Murdoch is flying into the UK to reassure Sun staff that he will not close the paper in the wake of the latest arrests. Murdoch is expected to visit News International staff in London towards the end of next week.

In an email to News International staff, Mockridge said he "had a personal assurance today from Rupert Murdoch about his total commitment to continue to own and publish The Sun newspaper."

He also called on staff to support Mohan at a time when the company was "facing our greatest challenge".

Amid accusations from the National Union of Journalists that Sun staff were being sacrificed to save Murdoch's reputation, Mockridge added that he had written to the Independent Police Complaints Commission to seek clarification on its oversight of the Elveden investigation into the Sun.

The worsening crisis at the tabloid could have wider ramifications for the Murdoch media empire, according to some media experts.

Clive Hollick, former chief executive of United Business Media, said the latest arrests could intensify the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation into News Corp in the US.

In a post on his Twitter account he added that the arrests "may lead to fines, director oustings and asset sales".

He also suggested that the developments could lead to the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom reviewing Murdoch's control of Sky television in the UK.

Hollick tweeted: "Will Ofcom conclude that Sun arrests on top of hacking render NI not fit and proper to hold #Sky license and make them sell shareholding?"

Rupert Murdoch's biographer Michael Wolff said on Twitter: "I've never known a point in News Corp history with so much internal acrimony."

A Surrey police officer, 39, a Ministry of Defence employee, 39, and a member of the armed forces, 36, were also arrested at their homes on Saturday on suspicion of corruption, misconduct in a public office and conspiracy in relation to both.

The new arrests at Britain's bestselling newspaper will further rock News International, which is still reeling from the closure of the Sun's sister title, the News of the World last July, after it emerged that journalists had hacked the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

The journalists, aged between 45 and 68, were arrested at addresses in London, Kent and Essex on suspicion of corruption, aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office, and conspiracy in relation to both these offences. They are being questioned at police stations in London and Kent.

News Corporation, the parent company of News International which owns the Sun and the Times, confirmed that five Sun staff were among those arrested today.

It said its Management and Standards Committee (MSC) had provided information to the Elveden investigation which led to the arrests and had also provided the option of "immediate legal representation" to those arrested.

"News Corporation remains committed to ensuring that unacceptable news-gathering practices by individuals in the past will not be repeated and last summer authorised the MSC to co-operate with the relevant authorities," it said.

"The MSC will continue to ensure that all appropriate steps are taken to protect legitimate journalistic privilege and sources, private or personal information and legal privilege.

"News Corporation maintains its total support to the ongoing work of the MSC and is committed to making certain that legitimate journalism is vigorously pursued in both the public interest and in full compliance with the law."

The NUJ has accused Murdoch of throwing his journalists to the wolves in a bid to save his company, adding that the reputation of those arrested will "inevitably" be damaged.

General secretary Michelle Stanistreet said News International staff were reeling and furious at "what many sense to be a witch-hunt" and "a monumental betrayal on the part of News International".

"Once again Rupert Murdoch is trying to pin the blame on individual journalists hoping that a few scalps will salvage his corporate reputation," she said.

The arrests come two weeks after four former and current Sun journalists as well as a serving Metropolitan police officer were arrested over alleged illegal police payments.

Senior Sun employees Chris Pharo, 42, and Mike Sullivan, along with former executives Fergus Shanahan, 57, and Graham Dudman, were named by sources as suspects facing corruption allegations. All five were released on bail.

Surrey police confirmed a serving officer was arrested at the officer's home address on Saturday as part of Operation Elveden.

Deborah Glass, deputy chair of the IPCC, said: "Today's arrests are further evidence of the strenuous efforts being undertaken to identify police officers who may have taken corrupt payments."

The MoD refused to comment.

Officers from Operation Elveden made the arrests between 6am and 8am as part of the investigation into allegations of inappropriate payments to police and public officials.

Operation Elveden, which runs alongside the Met's Operation Weeting team, was launched as the phone-hacking scandal deepened last July.

Its remit has widened to include the investigation of evidence uncovered in relation to suspected corruption involving public officials who are not police officers.

The homes of all eight detained men are being searched and officers are also carrying out searches at the offices of News International in Wapping, east London, the Metropolitan police said.

Real IRA arrests, Cork Arrests

2012-02-11T17:43:00.002Z

Two men are in custody following the discovery of a firearm in Co Cork.

Detectives arrested a 45-year-old and a 32-year-old in the Watergrasshill area of north Cork at around 8.30am.

The men are being held under Section 30 of the Offences against the State act and have been taken to Cobh Garda Station for questioning.

Gardaí also recovered a handgun in a wooded area nearby. Today's arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation into dissident republican activity in the Cork area.

Derry Murder, Donegal Murder, RUC Informers, Drug Dealers

2012-02-10T21:33:00.000Z

Up to 40 men have been forced out of Derry City by a republican vigilante group who shot dead a dad-of-two, it has been claimed. The ‘republican’ group is heavily involved in dealing drugs in Derry and are driving out anyone who will not work directly for them or pay them protection money. Following the first PIRA cease-fire in 1994 the Provisional IRA murdered over a dozen people related to the drug trade as they would not pay protection money to IRA criminals, it has since transpired that those carrying out the murders were British agents including Freddie Scapettichi, the British allow these criminals to attack Catholics in return for information, the British describe this criminality as , ‘Internal Housekeeping’.

Many of those now engaged in the latest campaign of terror against the Catholic Community in Derry are RUC/PSNI Informers

Andrew Allen was gunned down through a window of his home in Buncrana, Co Donegal, after a group of men tried to break down the front door.

The 24-year-old was from the Top of the Hill area of Waterside, Derry, where he was intimidated from about six months ago.

Parish priest Fr Michael Canny claimed a group called Republican Action Against Drugs had become self-appointed executors in the city and were responsible for the attack.

“At some stage last year between the Waterside and Cityside areas as many as 36 or 37 people have been exiled from their community and families,” he said.

“The people are being exiled because these vigilantes claim they are involved in anti-social activity like breaking into houses and selling drugs.

“They are imposing their law on people as judge and jury and now executor.

“They have guns and obviously they are prepared to use them,” he added.

Fr Cranny believes the victim, whose mother still lives in Derry, is the first of the group of men who fled the city to be shot.

Armed men opened fire on a house on the Links View estate in Buncrana after 9pm last night. Mr Allen’s 34-year-old girlfriend escaped uninjured.

A silver Vauxhall Cavalier – registration SJI 2117 – was later found burnt-out in the townland of Ballybone in nearby Fahan – where a second getaway car is believed to have been waiting.

Gardaí have appealed for information on anyone acting suspiciously in the area in recent days.

The priest said the killers had no place in a civilised society and backed the appeals of politicians for anyone with information on the murder to assist police.

Cross-party politicians also condemned the gun attack, which shocked residents in the quiet Inishowen peninsula.

Jonathan Craig, a DUP member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said there is no place for vigilante justice. “These people, like those who carried out the murderous attacks at Massereene, speak for no-one and represent no-one in Northern Ireland,” he said.

“They are a fanatical micro-group who arrogantly assumed the right to act as the judge, jury and executioner of a 24-year-old father of two.”

Sinn Féin’s Raymond McCartney said a life has been cut short and a family plunged into grief and despair.

“People north and south have rejected these actions. They need to stop immediately,” he said.

Keith McGrellis, of the Alliance Party, said he was disgusted at the actions of those behind this brutal and callous murder.

“This barbaric murder has sent shockwaves through the whole community and those behind this must be brought swiftly to justice,” he added.

“The community has nothing but utter contempt for those who carry out acts of this nature.”

The SDLP’s Pat Ramsey added: “The community of Derry has suffered enough and it is time for these organisations to move on.”

A PSNI spokesman would not confirm claims about Republican Action Against Drugs and said it would not discuss the personal security of individuals.

“Where we receive information that a person needs to review their personal security we take steps to inform them,” he said.

“We never ignore anything that may put an individual at risk.”

Facebook Murder

2012-02-10T11:28:00.002Z

A Tennessee couple who "defriended" a woman on Facebook were murdered in their home by the jilted woman's father and another man, US police said.
"It's the worst thing I've ever seen," said Johnson county sheriff Mike Reece, who has worked in local law enforcement for 27 years.
"We've had murders, but nothing like this. This is just senseless."
He said Billy Clay Payne Jr and Billie Jean Hayworth were killed last month after they deleted Jenelle Potter, the daughter of one of the suspects, from their "friends" list.
Both were shot in the head and the man had his throat cut.
The couple's 8-month-old baby was in the mother's arms, unharmed, when the bodies were found.
Marvin Enoch "Buddy" Potter Jr (60) and Jamie Lynn Curd (38) were each charged in Mountain City in northeastern Tennessee with two counts of first-degree murder.
The men were arrested on Tuesday.
The case was not the first involving violence linked to Facebook.
Last year in Iowa, a woman was arrested on accusations of setting fire to a friend's garage after she was “defriended” on the social network site, local media reported.
In Texas, a man was accused of hitting his wife after she failed to "like" a Facebook post he wrote about the anniversary of his mother's death, according to media reports.
Curd's attorney, RO Smith, an assistant public defender, said of the Tennessee case that it was "safe to say there's more to it than the Facebook problem, it appears."

Real IRA conviction

2012-02-09T20:05:00.000Z

A self-confessed dissident republican from Derry has been remanded back into custody on Thursday, after he pleaded guilty to attacking the city's Strand Road PSNI Station with a car bomb.

Following defence applications at Belfast Crown Court, 43-year-old Philip O'Donnell pleaded guilty to causing an explosion likely to endanger life on 3 August, 2010.
O'Donnell, from Baldrick Crescent, also pleaded guilty to hijacking the taxi which contained the 200lb device, falsely imprisoning the taxi driver and either belonging to or "professing to belong" to dissident republican group Óglaigh na hÉireann.

He pleaded guilty to two further charges of attempted hijacking in the two days before the terrorist attack.
No-one was injured in the deadly attack, claimed by dissident republican group Óglaigh na hÉireann, but several businesses were badly damaged.
On Thursday, the Recorder of Belfast Judge Tom Burgess adjourned passing sentence until pre-sentence probation reports have been compiled and also until the case against O'Donnell's co-accused is completed.
Martin McLoone, aged 23 and from Abercorn Road in Derry, is in custody awaiting trial as he maintains his not guilty pleas to the charges.

Dublin Murder, Cowardly Scum Murder Child

2012-02-08T10:59:00.000Z

The murder of teenage girl in a shooting in Tallaght in Dublin last night has been described by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter as a "totally barbaric" tragedy.

The 16-year-old girl sustained serious injuries when a shot was fired from a passing vehicle into the silver-coloured Nissan Almera car in which she was a passenger at Brookview Way at about 10.35pm.

There were three others in the car at the time. A dark SUV came back from behind the car and fired two shots from a shotgun into the car fatally injuring the woman.

The driver of the SUV drove off towards the City West area. The jeep was found abandoned near Brown's Barn on the Dublin-Naas road. The gardaí have taken it away for forensic examination.

The driver of the Almera car drove straight to Tallaght Hospital after the shooting, but the teenager died two hours later in hospital.

Her body has been removed to the mortuary at the hospital for a postmortem examination and the State pathologist has been notified.

An incident room has been set up at Tallaght Garda station and investigating gardaí have appealed for witnesses.

A media briefing will be held at the station at mid-day where more details will be given of the investigation.
The scene is preserved pending a full technical and forensic examination.

Detectives believe the girl, who is a settled traveller, may have been mistakenly targeted in a feud between families.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said the killing was an appalling and totally barbaric tragedy.
“This is an absolutely horrific incident. These type of incidents will not be tolerated,” he said.

“Gun law on the streets of Tallaght, or any other part of the city or county of Dublin or anywhere else in the country, is entirely unacceptable. Unfortunately, we have groups of people in the state who have no respect for human life and quite frankly, we have too many people accessing guns.”

Mr Shatter extended his sympathy to family, friends and neighbours of the dead girl and appealed for anyone with any information to come forward.

The Minister told Newstalk radio he expected to get a briefing on the investigation from Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan later today.

Former Fianna Fáil TD for the Tallaght area, Charlie O'Connor said there was "deep shock" in the community at the shooting. He said even senior gardaí were shocked at such a crime in which a young woman had lost her life.

He also appealed for anyone who had information about the crime to contact gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda station at 01-6666000 , or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.

Ian Paisley Dead, Rev Ian Paisley death, DUP Leader dead

2012-02-07T11:01:00.000Z

Members the Rev Ian Paisley’s family were with him at the Ulster Hospital last night where he is being treated for acute heart problems in the intensive care unit of the hospital. It is believed that Mr Paisley is being kept alive by artificial means. Paisley who helped form the Ulster Resistance that imported thousands of weapons to loyalist criminals in the north, which were used to murder dozens of innocent Catholics is expected to have his life support turned off in the coming hours.

Paisley once told this writer:

“Once I knew that Adams and McGuinness had the same goal as myself, the surrender of the IRA, I was able to do business with them, I knew they were British agents, but in Northern Ireland who is not”.

Dr Paisley (85), now Lord Bannside, was rushed to the hospital in Dundonald, east Belfast, on Sunday suffering from what some sources said was a serious heart condition.

DUP Assembly members, who were told of his condition at their weekly parliamentary meeting at Stormont yesterday morning, prayed that the former DUP leader, first minister and moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church would recover.

Dr Paisley’s wife, Eileen, issued a statement confirming he was undergoing treatment. A statement on her behalf said: “She requests that the family’s privacy be respected at this difficult time.”

The Assembly was sitting at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, yesterday and throughout the day Assembly members, including some Sinn Féin MLAs, inquired about Dr Paisley’s condition.

Dr Paisley, after a political and church career going back more than 60 years, gave his last sermon on Friday week to a congregation of 3,000 at the Martyrs Memorial Church which he founded in south Belfast. Although frail, he was in cheerful humour and with his family joined in the celebrations on the night.

With his wife Baroness Paisley, twin sons Ian and Kyle and daughters Rhonda, Sharon and Cherith he told of how he was planning to devote some of his remaining years to completing his autobiography.

“I am exceedingly happy that I’ve had the privilege of being the preacher here for 65 years, and that’s a long time,” he said. “We have seen a miraculous work done and we have seen a great change in our city in many ways. We’ve seen a change spiritually by people having respect for the Bible.”

Dr Paisley was taken to hospital after he became ill on Sunday. Sources initially feared he may have suffered a heart attack but later it was believed that he was suffering from general heart problems. It was learned last year that he had to have a pacemaker inserted after he became ill in the House of Lords.

Some of his DUP colleagues were last night praying he would make the same recovery as he did in 2004 when during a period of difficult political negotiations he became seriously ill. It was a time, he later admitted, when he had “walked in death’s shadow”.

Throughout most of his political life Dr Paisley led the DUP in opposing various attempts to achieve a powersharing settlement for Northern Ireland. In the past five years, though, after the DUP firmly established itself as the dominant unionist party, he surprised many by agreeing to share power with Sinn Féin and by holding to that agreement.

Valentines Day Special, Mercantile Dublin

2012-02-07T10:46:00.000Z

Valentines Big €3,000 Giveaway This Friday

GET DOWN FOR THE FINAL THIS FRIDAY!
Pop by AFTER WORK FROM 5-9 to grab a drink and a chance to win a €3,000 diamond ring or a €300 Cocktail Ring. Friday 10th February 2012 @ 5-9 (Winner announced 11pm) - Just in time for Valentines Day!
Ladies Night every Friday sponsored by Smirnoff Vodka and Harmony Diamonds!
FINAL NIGHT YOUR BIG CHANCE TO WIN THE €3,000 DIAMOND!
♥ CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION at 6pm
♥ CUPID HOSTESSES
♥ FREE FINGER FOOD
♥ COMPLEMENTARY VALENTINE TREATS
♥ VALENTINES DECOR
DRINK PROMOTIONS:
€5 COCKTAILS
€3 SELECTED BOTTLES
€4 PINTS
€3 SHOTS
€5 SMIRNOFF VODKA AND MIXER
€5 CAPTAIN MORGAN AND COKE
€5 GORDONS GIN & TONIC
€5 JACK DANIELS & MIXER
R.S.V.P to sales@mercantilegroup.ie
Group bookings welcome email us at sales@mercantilegroup.ie

Mercantile Hotel / 28 Dame Street / Dublin 2
Join us on facebook or see http://www.mercantilehotel.ie/ for latest updates on live gigs and events.

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