Armed raid on business in Dublin: Gardaí are investigating an armed robbery which occurred yesterday at 2.45pm at a business premises on the Long Mile Road, Dublin.
Two men, one armed with a shotgun, entered the premises. Staff and customers were forced to the floor. The raiders escaped with cash and cheques in a blue Volvo which was later found abandoned. There were no injuries and no shots were fired.
Aran Island cargo contract ends
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs yesterday terminated a lucrative Government contract to provide cargo services to the Aran Islands.
The department ended the two-year €1.8 million contract after Lasta Mara - jointly operated by Lahinch man Dick Grant - failed to provide the boat specified in the contract to carry out the service from Galway.
Mr Grant and Lasta Mara began the service last January after beating off competition for the contract from O'Brien Shipping, which operated the service over the previous 12 years, receiving €7 million in Government subsidies.
Bill O'Brien yesterday confirmed that O'Brien Shipping would be tendering for the remainder of the contract.
Boy on riotous assembly charge
A boy of 12 became the latest person yesterday to be charged after rioting broke out as an Orange parade was returning through the Ardoyne area of north Belfast on the Twelfth.
The boy was charged with riotous assembly when he appeared at the Magistrates Court. The charge is more serious than riotous behaviour and can only be dealt with at the Crown Court.
The boy was remanded to appear at the Youth Court on August 31st but is to apply for bail tomorrow.
Moto cross event disallowed
The High Court yesterday refused to allow a practice for a moto cross event to take place last night at Gormanston, Co Meath.
An application for the practice run for 25 young scramble enthusiasts was made by Colm MacEochaidh, on behalf of North Dublin Motor and Motor Cycle Club Ltd.
Mr MacEochaidh told Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne that Judge O'Hagan in the Circuit Court had ruled that lands at Gormanston could not be used for moto cross events on the grounds that the club had intensified its activities over the last five years. He said the Circuit Court had granted a 21-day stay pending appeal to allow an already planned event to take place.
President attends US Irish festival
President Mary McAleese flies to the US this weekend to attend one of the largest Irish festivals in the world.
The four-day Milwaukee Irish Fest, which was founded by the local Irish community in 1981, is expected to attract 130,000 people.
Mrs McAleese, who will be joined by her husband Martin, will meet local political, business and community leaders.
She will be guest of honour at a civic reception hosted by Mayor Tom Barrett and at the Milwaukee Centre for Celtic Studies.
Tenders sought for health surveys
Tenders have been invited by the Department of Health and Children from parties interested in carrying out the next national health and lifestyle surveys.
The surveys are carried out ever four years and measure trends such as the percentage of current smokers in the population, alcohol consumption tendencies, as well as the prevalence of obesity in a nationally representative sample of the the Irish population.
Expressions of interest must be made by September 23rd.