Other News In Brief

Shannon Shuts

The busy Shannon Airport was temporarily closed this afternoon after an aircraft suffered a punctured tyre on the runway. An Omni Air International DC9 aircraft was taxiing on the runway when one of its tyres burst. It had to be fixed on the runway, a 45 minute process according to Shannon Airport. No flights could land or take off during that time. It has since reopened.

Dublin CIT Robbers Fail

Gardaí are investigating an attempted raid on a cash-in-transit van in north Dublin this morning. Two men on a motorbike approached the vehicle at Artane Shopping Centre at around 9am. They threatened security staff with a firearm, but fled empty-handed. The motorbike was subsequently found abandoned nearby, along with the gun.

Fishing For A Living Under Threat

There are fears that the fishing industry in Co Donegal will see dire consequences if the EU Commission proposal goes ahead to close down the white fish fishery off the Donegal coast. The Federation of Irish Fisherman will travel to Brussels on Thursday for crucial talks with the EU fisheries ministers in an attempt to reverse the Commissions proposals. As Donegal has already the highest unemployment rate in the country the devastating effect to the fishing industry would see irreversible effects.

Mumps Alert Issued

Teenagers and young adults are being warned about the dangers of catching the potentially dangerous mumps virus after it was revealed that more than 1,000 people contracted the disease this year. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) said seven colleges were hit by outbreaks of the illness, with 1,166 people treated by doctors. Last year, 132 people were treated for mumps. Medics urged people aged between 15 and 24 to get two doses of the MMR vaccine to prevent the numbers affected increasing.

Sun Worship In Donegal

The first ever solar powered public lighting scheme in the Co Donegal is due to be switched on in Donegal this week. The pilot scheme includes 15 solar panel lights on the N56 at Meenacuing in Gweedore and lighting on a section of the N13 Derry to Letterkenny route. Welcoming the announcement Donegal Senator Pearse Doherty says there are many benefits associated with such a scheme.

(BMcC)