The Limerick Blogger: latest Limerick news and Limerick events

Also just to let you know. In the early hours of this morning, the record for the month with the highest number of visitors was broken. Previously, May 2007 held the record at almost 20,200 unique visitors.

Our highest daily visit remains at May 24th, the day of the General Election.

As of 1300 hrs, the number for unique visitors in October stands at almost 20,400

For anyone that is interested, there are currently 15,005 comments on the site.

The final number for October was 20,708 unique visitors.

Cross examination of James Martin Cahill, the only man to be convicted in relation to the murder of Docs Nightclub Doorman, Brian Fitzgerald, will face cross-examination from today.

Yesterday, during forty minutes of evidence, Cahill outlined both his role and made allegations in relation to the roles the four accused played in the plot to murder Mr. Fitzgerald.

Legal representatives from each of the defendants, Gary Campion of Pineview Gardens, John and Desmond Dundon of Ballinacurra Weston and Anthony Kelly from Kilrush, County Clare will question Cahil from today.

It is expected that cross examination will take several days.

James Martin Cahill has gone under cross-examination from councel for both Gary Campion and Desmond Dundon.

Cahill told Conor Devally SC, Councel for Gary Campion that he was afraid that he would be killed in prison by either one of the officers or by “politicals.”

“I was in the cell in Portlaoise and they were talking above me. They were saying the murder victim didn’t get a chance.” he told the court.

Cahill told the court that he could hear screaming and voices in his head and it only stopped when he told the truth about all the things he had done in his life. These voices, he claimed, began while in solitary confinement whilst serving a five year prison term for being in possession of a machine gun which he claimed was going to be used in a murder in Dublin, for which he was being paid €50,000.

He began to see a psychologist in 2005. It was in November of the same year in which he began to make a series of detailed statements to Gardai in relation to the Fitzgerald murder. He had previously told the court that he was having flashbacks about the murder. “I could see it in pictures.”

He also told the court that Paddy “Dutchy” Holland and John Gilligan wanted his book of evidence in September 2005 so that they could give it to people in Limerick.

He said that he had never fired a gun before, however had fired a shotgun and a blank pistol during robberies.

Cross examination of Cahill is set to continue tomorrow.

A man who pleaded guilty to shooting Adare man Charlie Chawke at his public house, The Goat Inn on October 6th 2003, has made an unsuccessful attempt to challenge the court’s jurisdiction this morning.

Frank Ward, (51) Knockmore Avenue, Tallaught, claimed in court this morning that the court did not have the jurisdiction to sentence him because he was unlawfully arrested and tried with the charges. This is despite entering a guilty plea.

Ward, who was representing himself again this morning was advised by the judge to get legal representation even at this late stage, however he stated that the only thing legal representation could do for him now as to “plead a deprived childhood.”

Ward has been handed down a life sentence for robbing and shooting Charlie Chawke.

When he heard his fate he remarked to the judge “A pox on all your houses,” to which the judge replied, “I don’t blame you for that, but you are the author of your own misfortune.”

A man who threatened the parents of murdered Noel Crawford and who told them that he killed them has received four months in jail.

Stephen Fitzgerald (45) Island View Terrace, St. Mary’s Park pleaded guilty to the charge of threatening to kill or cause harm to John and Mary Crawford outside their home in O’Malley Park last july.

The court heard how the couple were awoken at 0200 hrs by Fitzgerald who was shouting for their other son Paul. He told Mr. Crawford “I’ll get you and your wif
When Mr. Crawford told him that they had had enough with their son being murdered the previous December, Fitzgerald replied, “I killed your son.”

Describing Fitzgerald’s behaviour as “deeply disturbing” and his comments “appalling” he sentenced Fitzgerald to four months in prison. He told him that he would have given him the full twelve month sentence were it not for his early guilty plea.

Defence solicitor for Fitzgerald, John Herbert said that his client had been very drunk at the time. He said that he was apologetic and had no quarrel with the Crawfords.

At 45 one would think they could control their drinking and what they do while drinking. I guess not everyone is as mature as they would like us to think.

Senior civil servant at the Department of Transport Julie O’Niell will receive an extra sixteen cent for every discommoded Shannon Heathrow passenger when her next pay rise is awarded to her next year.

Ms O’Niell last week admitted and apologised (to the minister) for not passing on information she was in possession of in June 14 in relation to the withdrawal of Shannon’s Heathrow slots by Aer Lingus.

Now she is to be rewarded with a €58,000 pay rise..

Before we get started, just to answer a question about what “Legal argument” is, which was asked in the comments on Thursday.

As I said, Friday (Day 5) was taken up with legal argument.

This is where representatives from both sides in the case discuss with the judge points of law, or evidence which has come to their attention recently with the judge.

It is in legal arguement where it is decided what can and cannot be presented to the jury. The defence may disagree with the prosecution presenting certain pieces of evidence and they will do what they can to take apart the prosecution’s case by restricting them as much as they can as to what they can present to the jury.

James Martin Cahil, the only man so far to be convicted in relation to the Fitzgerald murder, is giving evidence to the court today.

During his opening statement, councel for the prosecution, Dennis Vaughan Buckley told the jury that Cahill would say that he was contacted by Anthony Kelly (50) from Kilrush County Clare, and that he went to Dublin where a Mr. A hired him to carry out the murder of Brian Fitzgerald. He would earn €10,000 for the killing, it will be alleged.

From Live95fm.ie

It is alleged Anthony Kelly provided him with the gun, that Dessie Dundon pointed out the victim, John Dundon showed him where to wait for the bouncer and Gary Campion drove the motor bike used on the night.

In his evidence today, James Martin Cahill told the Central Criminal Court how he had waited in bushes for Brian Fitzgerald to return home from work.

He described how he ran across the road to Mr. Fitzgerald as he got out of his car and started shooting him.

Mr. Fitzgerald fell, but managed to get up again and made it to his front door, the court was told.

He told the court that he continued shooting until M. Fitzgerald fell again. It was at this point he walked up to him and shot him in the head, the court heard.

On completion of Cahill’s evidence, Justice Peter Charlton adjourned the case until tomorrow to allow transcripts of Cahill’s evidence to be given to both the defence and the prosecution.

Heathrow slots whave come on the market and the government is being urged to bid for them for Shannon.

The slots became availible after EasyJet acquired GB Airline for a price tag of £stg105;3m. The Heathrow slot were not included in the acquisition and the former GB Airlines would like to offload them before January 31, 2008.

Mayor of Clare and Atlantic Connectivity Alliance member Cllr. Patricia McCarthy, in a statement said “The slots owned by GB Airways are prime slots at Heathrow. This sale of slots represents a significant opportunity for the Government to play an active role in ensuring the retention of services between Shannon and Heathrow.”

“The Government has publicly stated that it will do all that it can to ensure Shannon Airport holds on to its strategic link with Heathrow. Therefore, it should now immediately express its interest in these slots by whatever means necessary, as they are likely to be the subject of intense interest.”

Last week, an application for Heathrow slots by the Atlantic Connectivity Alliance and Astraeus airlines fell flat on it’s face when the UK based Airport Co-Ordination Limited rejected the application.

Just a quick note.

Dan has informed us that there in online petition availible for those interested to sign calling for the postponement of the introduction of new measures being brought in which would see provisional driving licence holders face severe restrictions.

The petition is calling for the potponement until the waiting period for a driving test is universally brought down to three weeks. The certification and assesment of driving inpectors is also called for to ensure an equal standard.

This would eliminate the possiblility of people from Dublin travelling to the likes of Tipperary where the pass rae for drivingtests are higher.

The petition can be found by clicking here

Soccer
With the First division nearing its conclusion and Limerick out of the promotion race, there have been a few fixtures lately which have showcased how frustrating a year it sometimes has been following the blue and white army. Last week Kilkenny city were the visitors to Jackman Park and the blues went down 2-1 to the team who were at the bottom of the league. Then last thursday night, the team travelled to Dundalk who were flying high for most of the season, only to fall back into the playoff picture and managed to beat them 2-0 with two goals from John Tierney! Dundalks first home defeat in 27 games!!Gloriously incostistant as the man says but thats life. Next up is an away game to Athlone on tuesday and then the last home game of the season versus Shelbourne next Friday the second of November.

Rugby
Most of the world cup squad have returned to the provinces and the Celtic league has carried on. Last night all the four provinces were involved in draws with the Red army of Munster being the visitors to Firhill to play the Glasgow Warriors. Despite two late drop goal attempts to win the game, Munster drew 11 all with the warriors with the equaliser being a try scored by Larry Murphy (Mafi) on 69 minutes. One more game against Edinburgh before the Heineken cup rolls around again, first game being away to London Wasps (the game being played in Coventry!!) Fans will have a chance to see the works going on at Thomond Park with the first home game in the Heineken cup being played on Sunday the 18th of November

We wrote about this some while ago and while it isn’t specifically geared for Limerick there are loads of Tesco shops around the place. Anyway Tesco Mobile has launched using the 089 prefiix and is offering 20 cent calls to any network at any time with all text messages cosing nine cent. It is also offering unlimited calls, texts and picture messages to other Tesco Mobile customers by buying In Touch 10 and In Touch 30 Bundles. A range of Tesco Mobile prepay handsets will be rolled out to 48 Tesco stores from Monday October 29. Credit top-ups will also be available in all 97 Tesco Ireland stores and at 3,000 other independent locations nationwide. The service is a virtual one and basically piggybacks on the 02 network, so if you have 02 coverage and want to try it out feel free