A round up of today's otehr regional news in brief ...
International cycling event for Burren
Cycling enthusiasts from many countries are expected to visit Co Clare to participate in the inaugural run of a new international event, An Post Tour de Burren, on June 20th.
The event has been organised by Clare Sports Partnership and is supported by An Post and the Irish Sports Council.
It will involve three routes: the 10km Aillwee Cave Family Loop starting; the 60km Corkscrew Hill Challenge starting and the 160km Burnin’ Burren! The focus on each event is fun and participation, the organisers have said.
Clare Sports Partnership co-ordinator John Sweeney said yesterday: “The investment by An Post and the Irish Sports Council is a great opportunity for Co Clare and the west of Ireland to be showcased as a natural region for cycling.”
Carmody bail terms varied
A judge has varied the bail terms of former doctor Paschal Carmody after being told that the State had yet to issue a response to his grounds for a High Court judicial review into his case.
At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Mr Carmody (61), Ballycuggeran, Killaloe, Co Clare, appeared in connection with 11 charges of obtaining €30,854 by deception from three terminally ill patients who received photodynamic therapy (PDT) at the East Clinic in Killaloe in 2001-02.
Last July, after a four-week trial, a jury found Mr Carmody not guilty on six charges and failed to reach a verdict on the remaining 11 charges. Last November, Mr Carmody obtained a High Court judicial review of the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions to retry him on the 11 outstanding deception charges.
At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, Catherine Staines, for Mr Carmody, said the State had still to issue its response and the case is unlikely to be heard before the summer.
Ms Staines also sought the return of Mr Carmody’s passport and a reduction in his signing on at the local Garda station in Killaloe.
Judge Moran acceded to both requests and adjourned the case until September 28th.
Development of docks for tender
Cork City Council has put out to tender the lucrative docklands regeneration project which will involve the recruitment of a multi- disciplinary team to design a master plan for 2.5km of quayside amenities.
The Cork docklands renewal project is one of the most ambitious urban renewal projects in the State.
The tender advertisement, which has been placed in national newspapers, says the ambition is to “develop this unique waterside setting in a way that will provide an environment of such quality that it will rival any European waterfront.”
Action at Bantry General deferred
Industrial action due to get under way at Bantry General Hospital in west Cork today has been deferred for one week pending the outcome of a ballot.
The HSE has made an offer for consideration by Irish Nurses’ Organisation members at Bantry General Hospital. The offer has not been made public. A meeting of members will take place this evening to discuss the offer.
Bantry General Hospital is fighting to retain its AE resources amid fears health cutbacks will result in an effective downgrading of the hospital . Today’s industrial action was to have involved a one-hour work stoppage and lunchtime demonstration from 12.30pm. Emergency cover was to have been provided during the stoppage.
The INO said its members at the hospital had voted 91 per cent in favour of industrial action in response to management’s targeting of frontline staff due to alleged budgetary constraints.