News in brief

Sentence reduced for assault A Bailieboro man who was convicted of assaulting another man on the Main Street had his conviction affirmed but his sentence reduced when he appealed the case at Cavan Circuit Court last week. Mark Sheridan, 15 Woodview, Bailieboro, appealed a 12-month sentence handed down in the district court when convicted on a charge of assaulting Ramond Rogers at Main Street, Bailieboro on July 8, 2006. Judge John O'Hagan affirmed the conviction but reduced the sentence imposed to six months. The law applies to everyone When Martin McDonagh from 8 Cluain Aobhinn, Cavan and John McDonagh, 12 Townparks, Cavan came before Judge John O'Hagan, to appeal six-month sentences imposed on them in the district court, the judge told them that he was aware they came from a community that liked to deal with matters themselves. He reminded them that they were not unique and the law applied to everyone. Both men had their convictions affirmed but the six-month sentences were suspended by Judge O'Hagan on the stipulation that they enter a bond to keep the peace for one year. They must be of good behaviour and not commit any public order offences or any offences covered by the firearms or Offensive Weapons Act, 1990. Martin McDonagh had been charged with having a slash hook and an iron bar with him on the January 19, 2008. John McDonagh was charged with having a Samurai sword with him on the same date at Townparks, Cavan. The court heard that damage had been caused to vans and windows of houses and that compensation had been paid. "I appreciate that these two young men are from a community that feel that then can organise their own affairs and that feuds have to be settled among themselves and that the gardaí should not be involved; that they will sort matters out themselves," said Judge O'Hagan. He reminded both appellants that the behaviour they were involved in was totally unsocial and was totally illegal. "Brandishing slash hooks and Samurai swords and an iron bar is certainly not the way to behave. "This form of behaviour brings criticism of their community on themselves. The same rules applies to them as everybody else and they are not unique or special," said Judge O'Hagan. He added that things were a lot hotter than they are now in their community when those six-month sentences were imposed in the district court. Drugs case adjourned for report Michael Duke, with an address at 95, Aughnaskerry Drive, Cavan, pleaded guilty at Cavan Circuit Court to a series of charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act. He was charged that on December 20, 2007, at 95 Aughnaskerry Drive he had in his possession a controlled drug - cannabis resin - for the purpose of selling or otherwise. He was further charged that he unlawfully had in his possession a controlled drug namely diamorphine (heroin) for the purpose of selling to another. Duke was further charged that on January 16, 2008, at 134 Aughnaskerry Drive, he had cannabis resin in his possession for the purpose of selling or otherwise to another. Defence counsel asked that a Probation report be prepared on the defendant and Judge O'Hagan acceded to this request. He adjourned the case to the next term. Council congratulations At the July meeting of Cavan County Council votes of congratulations were passed as follows: Killygarry GAC on the success of Killygarry U14 football team on winning the All-Ireland Féile competition in Kildare; Rehab and Garda Peter O'Sullivan on the fundraising event Lady of the Lakes in Bailieborough; Savina Donohoe, Catriona O'Reilly and the staff of Cavan County Museum on the impeccable organisation of the Donovan Days festival. Votes of sympathy The following votes of sympathy were passed at the July meeting of Cavan County Council: Cllr. Jacqui Lewis and family, Cavan, on the death of James Gumley; Helen Boylan and the Boylan family, Corlea, Kingscourt, on the death of Pat Boylan; Annie Edwards and family, Killycrin, Bawnboy, on the death of John Edwards; the Fitzpatrick family, The Hill, Toam, Blacklion, on the death of Noreen. Thrills from past at Ballinamuck Dromard GAA Club are hosting a traditional Fair and carnival dance weekend in Ballinamuck on Saturday, August 15 and Sunday 16. The extensive programme of events include items such as vintage hay making and threshing, vintage tractor and machinery display, re-enactment of an old fair day, country market, live traditional Irish music, crossroads dancers, story-tellers, a traditional eatin' house with home made soda bread, boxty and butter straight from the churn, tug o' war, pig and mouse racing, a fortune teller, bouncing castles, barbecue.... There will be carnival dancing in the marquee behind Pikeman Inn on Saturday and Sunday nights. Tickets for the event are going on sale this week are available from any club member or contact Joe Murphy 087-1340132 or Gus McEntire on 086-8214659. Rural Ireland ignored - Crawford "The fact that Minister Brendan Smith brought forward the cuts in agriculture even before An Bord Snip made their public announcement shows clearly that this Fianna Fail/Green Government is totally ignoring the needs and difficulties of rural Ireland," said Seymour Crawford TD at a Fine Gael executive meeting in Castleblayney. Deputy Crawford was replying to anger expressed at the meeting regarding the proposals of An Bord Snip for agriculture and also proposed winding down Garda services, court services and small rural schools. According to Deputy Crawford the winding down of REPS will mean that many farmers will now not have the money to meet their bank commitments and others will have minimal income. "This will result in farm families having to rely on Farm Assist from the Department of Social and Family Affairs rather than income which had been previously guaranteed by the Department of Agriculture," stated Deputy Crawford. "The single biggest mistake by Minister Smith and those who negotiated with him was the decision to pay the Farm Waste Management grants over a 3 year period on a 40/40/20 basis. It was stated at the time that Minister Smith could not get the money to pay the farmers in full, yet since then the Government has found up to €11 billion to rescue the banks. Surely half a billion of this money would have allowed the farmers to be paid in full and in turn would have refinanced the banks, as the money had already been mandated to them by the farmers," said the Cavan/Monaghan Fine Gael Deputy. Hospital needed for swine flu "In light of the serious possibility of a swine flu epidemic the beds in Monaghan General Hospital must be left in place as a backup to the limited beds available in the North Eastern area," stated Seymour Crawford, Fine Gael TD for Cavan/Monaghan. "I have written to Minister Mary Harney TD and Professor Drumm urging them to retain the bed space in light of the fact that their senior advisors are publicly stating that a serious crisis is possible. It is clear even at this early stage after the winding down of services in Monaghan General Hospital that bed space is at a premium and patients have to be sent home from hospitals such as Cavan and Drogheda. "It would be inexcusable to put the high quality beds that are in place in Monaghan General Hospital wards into storage if they could be used to save lives in such an emergency," concluded Deputy Crawford.