Category: Ireland Posts

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE have attended vigils across the island of Ireland in memory of two men killed in Sligo. Aidan Moffitt, 42, and Michael Snee, 58, were found dead in their own homes in the town on the west coast earlier in the week.

A man was remanded in custody at Sligo District Court yesterday after being charged with their murders.

Scenes at the vigil in Sligo town today were replicated all over the island, with more than 30 events organised in towns and cities on both sides of the border.

SEE FULL STORY:  https://www.thejournal.ie/vigils-for-aidan-moffitt-and-michael-snee-5739227-Apr2022

John Kierans: “Sligo is the county of beautiful beaches, mountains and WB Yeats. But in recent days, it has become known for something a lot more unpleasant.

Everyone I spoke to over the past two days were shocked and angry that this beautiful place famous for its beaches, mountains and poems had seen two violent deaths.
No one could explain it. People kept pinching themselves to see if this was really happening.

But there were more questions than answers on the streets as the whole community comes to terms with the two recent killings.
Everybody wondered how this could happen to decent people like Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee, who were the type of individuals who wouldn’t harm a fly.”

SEE FULL FEATURE: https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/news-opinion/shocked-sligo-community-left-more-26717064

On Friday evening, thousands of people will gather up and down the country to mourn the tragic loss of both men.

Here is a current list of vigils taking place in each county over the Easter weekend:
FRIDAY
Galway: 5pm at The Long Point
Wicklow: 5pm at the bandstand in Bray
Sligo: 6pm outside the Town Hall
Dublin: 6pm at Dáil Éireann
Louth: 6pm at Dundalk Town Square
Louth: 6pm at the Tholsel
Louth: 6pm at Ardee Civic Offices
Waterford: 6pm at St John Roberts Square
Waterford: 6pm at Walton Park, Abbeyside, Dungarvan
Carlow: 6pm at the fountain, Liberty Tree, Haddens Car Park
Westmeath: 6pm in Mullingar Town Park
Kildare: 6pm at the bandstand in Liffey Linear Park, Newbridge
Donegal: 6pm at the crossroads in Falcarragh
Belfast: 6pm at City Hall
Derry: 6pm at Guildhall Square
Laois: 6pm at County Hall Plaza, Portlaoise
Offaly: 6pm at O’Connor Square, Tullamore
Meath: 6pm at Navan Town Hall
Meath: 6pm at the Fairgreen, Kells
Cavan: 6pm at Market Square, Cavan Town
Monaghan: 6pm at The Lace Gallery, Carrickmacross
Kilkenny: 6.30pm at the Town Hall, High Street
Wexford: 7pm on Wexford Quay
Tyrone: 7pm at Omagh Courthouse
Tipperary: 7.30pm at the Main Guard, O’Connell Street, Clonmel

SATURDAY
Donegal: 2pm at the Amazing Grace Memorial, Buncrana
Wicklow: 6pm in the square, Blessington
Kildare: 6pm at the Square, Maynooth
Galway: 7pm in Eyre Square

SUNDAY
Clare: 2.15pm at the Killaloe side of the bridge that links Clare and Tipperary

A 22-year-old man has been formally charged with the murders of two men and assault of a third man in Sligo before a sitting of Sligo District Court.

Yousef Palani, of 10 Markievicz Heights, Sligo, was charged with the murder of Aidan Moffitt at 4 Cartron Heights on Sunday, April 10.

SEE FULL STORY:  https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtandcrime/arid-40851746.html

As the country is left reeling from the horrific murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee, a number of vigils for the two men are being planned.

Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has insisted that a proposed ban on the sale and distribution of turf will proceed from September.

The proposal would also extend a ban on smoky-fuel from certain cities and towns onto a nationwide basis. There is strong opposition to the ban from some Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs in western and midland counties.

Mr Ryan said it was never the intention to stop people cutting turf on their own bogland but that this was made “unclear in the last week because people were just scaring people”.
“It’s not (that) we’re going to put your granny in prison for burning turf from down the road, but it is getting it right where we get our air quality improved.”

He accepted there would be differences but said the scale of change required was so great that “if we do it as a party political thing, a divisive issue, we won’t get the people behind it”

SEE FULL STORY:  https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/eamon-ryan-insists-ban-on-sale-and-distribution-of-turf-will-proceed-1.4852631

ENVIRONMENT MINISTER EAMON Ryan has doubled down on his comments that there has been no pause on plans to regulate the sale and distribution of turf from September.

His comments are contrary to those made by the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar last night to his parliamentary members.
The new regulations would not prevent people who own part of a bog from cutting and burning turf but would impact the sale and distribution of the fossil fuel.

Leo Varadkar told Fine Gael TDs that the regulations set to come in later this year have been paused, but this has been denied this morning. The Tánaiste said removing turf cutting from rural Ireland is like removing wine from the French or pasta from the Italians, according to sources.

SEE FULL STORY:  https://www.thejournal.ie/ban-on-sale-of-turf-ireland-5738729-Apr2022

 

PLANS TO REGULATE the sale and distribution of turf from September has been paused, Leo Varadkar has told Fine Gael TDs this evening.

Speaking during a briefing with party members online, the Tánaiste said removing turf cutting from rural Ireland is like removing wine from the French or pasta from the Italians, according to sources.

His comments come just hours after Environment Minister Eamon Ryan defended the plan stating that action must be taken to improve air quality.

SEE FULL STORY:  https://www.thejournal.ie/regulation-sale-and-distribution-turf-eamon-ryan-5737816-Apr2022

 

Forget Tony Holohan, have you heard about this?

This is a tale of overpriced masks, Whatsapp chats and angry yummy mummies. Strap yourself in and read about how the HSE recruited the company that created a “scam” festival for families to import masks and ventilators during the PPE shortage.

Irish-based events management company, Roqu Media International Limited were recruited to import medical ventilators and other supplies for use in Irish hospitals at the very start of the pandemic. In March 2020, the HSE paid the company 14.1 million euro for ventilators from China which were never used due to “issues with the quality”.

SEE FULL STORY:  https://districtmagazine.ie/features/hse-paid-organisers-of-fyre-festival-for-kids-1-4-million-euro-to-import-ventilators

Families that heat their homes with oil will miss out on moves to address the cost of living crisis by cutting energy Vat rates.

The Government will today announce plans to cut Vat on electricity and gas to ensure homeowners are not impacted by environmental tax increase.

However, they were unable to secure a deal with the EU to allow them also reduce Vat on home heating oil.

This means the proposed carbon tax increase will mean a 900 litre tank of kerosene will go up by €19.40 next month.

Government leaders agreed on Monday night that Vat on electricity and gas will reduce from 13.5pc to 9pc.

Families are still facing an almost €20 increase in their energy bill next month despite Government commitments to offset carbon tax increases.

SEE FULL STORY:  https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/out-in-the-cold-no-vat-cuts-for-families-who-rely-on-home-heating-oil-41548661.html