By Michael McDonnell
michael@northern-standard.ie
Up on 200 people from mainly rural and farming homesteads attended a packed meeting on the septic tanks issue at Ballybay’s Wetlands Centre last Thursday, where the keynote speaker was Fianna Fáil’s deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív TD.
Fear of the unknown is usually guaranteed to provoke interest, and when the uncertainty is about a possible new drain on people’s money at a time when that commodity is in increasingly scarce supply, it can be taken as read that any public meeting on the issue in question …

By PATSY McARDLE
MANAGER’S Orders circulated to members of Castleblayney Town Council at Tuesday night’s meeting named ten local businessmen who face prosecutions being initiated for arrears of municipal rates—some dating back to 2009.
The orders related to the owners of different premises, all of whom were publicly named in the Managers’ Orders.
At the outset, Cllr. Brendan Hughes said he was opposed to such a drastic step being taken by the Council . He said it was because of the financial difficulties facing so many people in the town’s …

WARM tributes were paid at Monday’s sitting of Monaghan District Court to former county registrar, and returning officer for the Cavan/Monaghan constituency, Josephine (Josie) Duffy, of Cavany, Scotshouse, who passed away in Cavan Hospital on Sunday last
Before commencing proceedings on Monday morning, Judge Sean MacBride said he wanted to pay tribute to the late Ms Duffy, who was an absolute lady and had been an outstanding county registrar.
She had qualified as a solicitor as a mature student, going on to work in the offices of Mr Black …

By Veronica Corr
Prompt action by fire crews prevented the spread to other premises of a fire that broke out in Chinese Acupuncture and Care, Dawson Street, Monaghan on Tuesday last.
Dermot Brannigan, Acting Chief Fire Officer, credited the early detection, reporting and fast response of the fire brigade, as reasons why the fire didn’t spread to neighbouring premises.
Two units from Monaghan and one unit from Ballybay responded to the call, and a total of eighteen fire fighters from the retained service were on-site. Multiple breathing apparatus units were used.
There was …

The members of Co Monaghan Joint Policing Committee called at their recent meeting for more severe penalties and a heightened crackdown on criminals engaged in the production and distribution of illegal fuel products in Co Monaghan.
Illicit fuel laundering and its effects on the environment and the economy figured large in the debate when the Committee was putting together a list of topics to which they would devote attention during their schedule of meetings for 2012.
John O’Brien said that a trade in illicit fuel was going on …

The Co Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee have issued a detailed analysis of the report published last week by the International Expert Commission appointed to study the North-South electricity interconnector project being pursued by EirGrid.
The Committee said that they generally welcome the report and consider it “a fair, unbiased and independent review of the techno-economic aspects of the project.”
However they express their disappointment that the Commission’s brief did not allow them to consider other aspects of the project, such as land devaluation, visual impact and health issues.
…

Sinn Féin councillor Sean Conlon expressed strong views at Monday night’s meeting of Monaghan Town Council over the way in which finishing work had been carried out to the historic sundial monument structure shortly to be unveiled in a new location in Old Cross Square.
Colr Conlon had concerns that the integrity of the structure, which he described as the oldest piece of built heritage that the town possessed, would be compromised by the appearance of its new setting, which he believed should have been constructed of older salvaged …

By John Graham
In their opening game against Armagh, Down demonstrated their intent for the coming season with a resounding performance and victory and they sent out another message in Clones on Sunday last as they powered to victory over a disappointing if considerably under strength Monaghan side in this largely one-way contest that attracted an attendance of just over 2000 people.
Down laid the foundation for this victory with two scintillating periods either side of half-time, the first that yielded 2-4 in the final 10 minutes of the first half and …

Fine Gael TD for Cavan/Monaghan Heather Humphreys has confirmed that she has been in close contact with the Minister for Transport in relation to securing funding for crucial safety improvements along the N2 road from Monaghan to Emyvale.
Deputy Humphreys said that she had spoken to Minister Leo Varadkar on a number of occasions over the Christmas and New Year period and made clear the importance of this funding to Co Monaghan.
“I have lobbied the Minister intensively in relation to this matter and have made it quite …

Pictured are Orla Mc Phillips, Lauren Murphy and Muireann O’ Rourke from Ballybay Community College, Monaghan who won the Environment Agency Special Award for their project “Septic tanks: Old versus new!” at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2012 which was held at the BT Arena at Dublin’s RDS. Pictured giving the award was Annette Cahalane,  Communications Manager   EPA.
A delighted principal Moya Lynch stated ‘We are so proud of the girls and their achievement and the EPA award bears testimony to the huge workload undertaken …