Substantial reward offered by Louth Village community for information on hit-and-run incident

Keith Byrne RIP

The local community in Louth Village are offering what they describe as a “substantial reward” for information on a fatal hit-and-run incident which claimed the life of Keith Byrne earlier this month.

The 35-year-old was walking home to his house at Carnalogue around 4.40am on Sunday May 11^th when he was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.

He was discovered a short time later by a passer-by, suffering from injuries to the leg and head. He was later pronounced dead at the scene before being removed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Despite pleas from his family for the driver of the vehicle to come forward, including an appearance on RTÉ’s Crimecall on Monday, no new evidence has emerged.

Now local residents are offering a reward for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to a conviction.

Anyone with information can contact Ardee Garda Station on 041-6853222 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

Green accuses council of letting Greenacres residents down over rubbish dumping problem

Cllr Jennifer Green beside some of the dumped rubbish in Greenacres

Local election candidate, Sinn Féin councillor Jennifer Green has accused the council of letting people down in the Greenacres area as local residents battle a rubbish dumping problem.

Residents of the estate, located off the Avenue Road, have been plagued with continuous dumping in an alleyway at the back of their houses.

Cllr Green went to look at the problem recent and said she was shocked when she saw the volume of rubbish left.

“It’s disgusting! The smell is overpowering and as a mum, I fear for the children playing in the area as there is quite a number of broken glass bottles along with dirty nappies, general house waste and used condoms. Not only that, but there is also a couch. It beggars belief. The rubbish is scattered the whole way along the alleyway. This type of rubbish attracts vermin and is a health and safety issue to people in the surrounding area.”

Cllr. Green explained: “I got the residents on board to do a clean-up of the area which is really above the call of duty for them as it wasn’t their rubbish in the first place. But talking to the residents it’s very obvious that they have great pride in their community and want to do what they can to address this issue and clean the area up. I duly contacted the council to arrange a clean up with the residents only to be told that the council wouldn’t provide us with any equipment and would not help us to take the rubbish away as it was on private ground.

“This has infuriated me as the council are constantly promoting Tidy Towns and cleaning up of the town. It strikes me as this rubbish is out of sight so it doesn’t matter to the council and the people have to deal with it. This is unacceptable. Are the people in Greenacres not entitled to have a tidy and clean estate just because they are not as visible as the town centre?”

Cllr Green concluded by saying: “Sinn Fein are fighting for better provision of public services and this is yet another example of how the council is letting the tax payer down. This is unacceptable.”

O’Neill to seek election in Dundalk South

Brian O’Neill

Well-known local businessman Brian O’Neill has confirmed his intention to stand as an independent candidate in the forthcoming local elections.

Brian, best known for his business RQ O’Neill’s, will be seeking election in the Dundalk South constituency when the public go to the polls on Friday May 23rd.

Mr O’Neill has been heavily involved in the local community for several decades and is the chairman of the Dundalk Business Investment District Scheme (BIDS). He is also a former Dundalk Chamber of Commerce president, a former co-chair of the Dundalk-Newry Economic Forum and a peace commissioner.

As he looks forward to his retirement from the family’s retail business, Brian confirmed that his continuing interest  in local issues has led him to make the decision to ask the people of Dundalk South for their vote in the elections taking place in just over seven weeks time.

He stated: “I have always held a lifelong interest in the community and the organisations and groupings which support it.  Over the years I have been involved in many sectors throughout Dundalk and the environs of County Louth.

“I have a deep belief in taking positive action, in being pro-social, and in harnessing the goodwill of communities. It is in seeing the benefits of being both a leader and a team worker, which has led me to seek a seat in our new local authority under the banner of ‘Good Citizenship’.

“Not one person can solve all problems, but one person can harness positivity and an enthusiasm to bring people’s views to the fore. I would like to be that person in Dundalk South.”

He added: “Myself and my family before me have always done our best to serve the people of Dundalk and Louth, both in business and the community. There are many people who have been loyal customers, indeed many families going back through generations, who know me well enough to know if I say I’m going to try and do something for them, I will do it to my best ability.

“Retirement from business would give me time to devote myself fully to the challenges of local government and time to liaise with the people of Dundalk and Louth that I hope to serve.”

Brian added that given the dissolution of Dundalk Town Council, he is undaunted by the change in the local authority and would look forward to the new era of local government.

“Some people would see it as going into unchartered territory but after you’ve been in so many groupings as I have, it’s a new challenge, and a challenge I would relish if given the opportunity by the electorate.”

Order of Malta Dundalk launches urgent recruitment drive

The Order of Malta in Dundalk, is looking to recruit new members for the organisation as demand for the voluntary service has increased by over 20% in the last year.

Membership of the Order of Malta is open to everyone. The voluntary service meets on a Monday at 8pm to 10pm every week in Mill Street. The cadet unit is looking for members between the ages of 10 to 16 years while the senior unit is recruiting for ages 16 and up.

The Order of Malta is a charity that devotes its time to voluntary, community and First Aid services. First Aid duties include working at locations such as football matches, horseraces, nightclubs and concerts. Community duties include hospital transfers and nursing home visits.

The charity also provides public First Aid courses. In 2013, the Dundalk Order of Malta carried out a total of 198 duties. 128 of those duties were first aid services and 80 of these duties were community services. There was a grand total of 2,352 man hours, which is a leap of 500 hours from last year.

“It has been an incredibly busy year for us with hundreds of duties in the community. We urge young people and adults to join for a really rewarding experience,” said David Caldwell, PRO of the Order of Malta.

“Being a member of the Order of Malta Voluntary service to me is a privilege, helping people, learning vital skills and meeting new people all make it so rewarding and enjoyable,” added local student Niamh Fergus, who has been a member of the Order for the last five years.

There is no experience required to join the Order as everyone will be trained. This training ranges from basic level First Aid all the way up to EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). Some of the vital skills covered in this training are CPR, using a defibrillator, spinal immobilisation and basic slings and dressing.

For more information on the Order of Malta contact Officer in Charge Caitriona Clarke at 0879356381 or Duty Officer Paul Duffy at 0879371272. Alternatively visit www.orderofmaltaireland.org or email dundalk@orderofmalta.ie