Articles in the General News Category

The Government could not in good conscience respond to the cessation of industrial action by Irish nurses and midwives without meeting their justified pay demands, local health issues campaigner Tommy Hagan told The Northern Standard this week. Mr Hagan welcomed the fact that a Labour Court recommendation had resulted in a suspension of the industrial action undertaken by the Irish Nurse and Midwives Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association, but he stressed that the Government had now to deliver with significant improvement in pay and conditions. “Our national politicians, unlike ...

Heather Humphreys, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and Fine Gael TD for Cavan Monaghan, has given an update on the uptake of Brexit supports for businesses, and encouraged local firms to visit www.PrepareForBrexit.ie for more information on how the Government can support them. Minister Humphreys said: “Without a doubt, Brexit preparedness is the key focus of my work as Business Minister. “Government Departments, enterprise agencies and regulatory bodies have a range of supports covering advice, finance and upskilling to help businesses as they prepare for Brexit. “One of these ...

The campaign for justice and truth being conducted by the family of Aidan McAnespie, who was shot dead by a British soldier at a checkpoint in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone on February 21 1988, was brought to the European Parliament this week. A delegation from the Time for Truth campaign were invited by Northern Ireland Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson to meet with relevant European Parliament members and stakeholders in Brussels to detail their objectives. “Almost 31 years on, we are still waiting for justice and truth from both the British ...

Lacey hails blayney boys in defeat PATRICK SMYTH “The lads just dug in as they have done all year, they got the hooks in, they got the blocks in and did the work and there was no little skill either there when we took our chances and I thought our goal was the score of the game.” Although shocked and devastated in equal measure, Castleblayney hurling boss Jimmy Lacey was able to extricate enough silver linings from the mother and father of all clouds. In the immediate aftermath of his side’s agonising ...

AIB ALL-IRELAND CLUB JUNIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL DUNNAMAGGIN 1-17 CASTLEBLAYNEY 1-13 Kilkenny and Leinster champions Dunnamaggin staged a late rally to clinch the All Ireland club Junior hurling championship title at the expense of Castleblayney in this totally absorbing and thrilling encounter that was played in sunny if somewhat chilly conditions in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon last. Ultimately the Cats had to dig deep into their reserves of courage and commitment to get the better of a resurgent Castleblayney who carried the battle to them particularly in the final ten minutes of ...

Patsy McArdle Young people – and others not so young – are no longer regarded as “cool” by taking illicit drugs in a bid to boost their spirits, but they are really showing themselves to be stupid as they dice with death and part with their hard cash to make drug traffickers richer. This was just one of the themes to emerge from a public meeting of the Co Monaghan Joint Policing Committee attended by public representatives and community leaders at the Glencarn Hotel, Castleblayney on Wednesday of last week. ...

An Emyvale woman died on Tuesday after sustaining injury in a three-vehicle road traffic collision outside Dungannon, Co Tyrone on Sunday last. Mrs Brigid McKenna from Derryhee was the third person to lose her life as a result of the accident. She passed away at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Mrs McKenna was travelling with her husband when their vehicle was involved in the collision on the Moy Road. Two men from Slovakia were killed. Her husband, a local tradesman, remains in hospital after sustaining serious injuries. Another person ...

Michael Fisher Anti-pylon campaigners have called on the Utilities Regulator to investigate an alleged breach of planning procedures relating to work on the proposed North South electricity interconnector. Behind the scenes work is progressing on what EirGrid see as a vital infrastructure project which will commence construction in early 2020, according to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton TD in a recent Dáil reply. On Monday the North East Pylon Pressure Campaign publicly challenged EirGrid for putting in train discussions under the auspices of ESB Networks ...

By Veronica Corr Monsignor Larry Duffy was in reflective mood ahead of his Episcopal Ordination this Sunday in the majestic St. Macartan’s Cathedral, when he met with The Northern Standard on Monday in what will be his new home. There is a serenity and humility about Monsignor Larry that is quite endearing, when our reporter commented on the beauty of the 1901 period dwelling formerly known as the Bishop’s Palace overlooking the Bishop’s Lake, the Bishop-Elect commented: “A small bungalow would have done!” The property now comprises offices downstairs and ...

The Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs Stef Blok visited the border near Dundalk on Monday accompanied by the Minister for European Affairs, Helen McEntee. She showed him the border at Carrickarnan in Co. Louth on the old N1 road between Dublin and Belfast. Former PSNI officer Peter Sheridan, Chief Executive of Co- Operation Ireland, explained how traffic had been moving freely in both directions across the border for over twenty years since the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Blok told reporters the purpose of his visit was to see for himself ...