A round-up of other regional news in brief
Councillor censured for ethics breach
A town councillor in Killarney, Co Kerry, has been censured for breaching ethics in public office standards after he negotiated money from a developer in return for withdrawing a planning objection.
The investigation into independent councillor Donal Grady was carried out by mayor of Killarney Patrick O'Donoghue and Killarney town manager, John Breen.
Their 11-page report found there was "no evidence of personal financial gain for Mr Grady" after he approached Park Partnership Developers in November 2006, agreeing to withdraw an objection to a commercial development at Park Road "on condition" the developers contributed €20,000 - which later became €25,000.
The money was for extra safety improvements to the Pinewood Estate and the directors paid it in 2008 to Mr Grady's solicitor.
The directors of Park Partnership, Denis Murphy and Mark Corkery, said they had always known they were dealing with Mr Grady as a public representative acting on behalf of residents.
Mr O'Donoghue and Mr Breen said: "Councillors in their functional or representational role should not at any time seek to undermine the integrity of the planning system" or engage in any activity the appearance of which would bring the planning process into disrepute.
Pyramid scheme sentence adjourned
A man charged in connection with a pyramid scheme has had his sentence adjourned after a court heard he is now working in the financial services in London.
Barry Hanrahan (33), Kilnavara Court, Cavan, now Hackney, London, pleaded guilty to 10 offences, that in 2001 and 2002 he acted as an investment business firm or broker without the authorisation of the Financial Regulator.
Cavan Circuit Criminal Court was told yesterday that Hanrahan had got work "in London in the financial services" and was optimistic he would pay compensation.
A proposed schedule of compensation along with a draft for €15,000 were handed into court.
Gas pipeline route to cross farmlands
The proposed pipeline linking the State's first liquefied natural gas terminal near Tarbert on the Shannon estuary to the national gas network near Foynes, Co Limerick, will cross 20 roads, three rivers, 11 streams, farmland and forestry and will involve 72 landowners, the second day of an Bord Pleanála hearing in Listowel has been told.
After construction, a permanent "easement" of 14 metres will be required within which Shannon LNG, the applicant, will have rights to access, to repair and to inspect the pipeline. The terminal would take four years to build and the pipeline would begin in the fourth year, LNG said yesterday.
A number of questions raised by the main objector, Safety Before LNG, were ruled out of order as having been dealt with at an earlier hearing.
The hearing continues.
Bellamy's Burren role queried
A Green councillor in Clare has questioned the appropriateness of Prof David Bellamy launching a new environmental initiative in the Burren, Co Clare, because of some of the positions he had taken in the past. Prof Bellamy says humans are not responsible for climate change and he is a critic of wind farms.
Brian Meaney said Prof Bellamy's views had been divisive. "I hope his association with this charity will not prove counter-productive."
Prof Bellamy is the special guest at a launch on Friday of an independent membership- based charitable organisation Burrenbeo Trust. The trust works towards a sustainable future for the Burren.