Contraband cigarettes detected in Louth with two million seized either side of border

A customs officer with some of the seized cigarettes

Irish and Northern Irish Customs officers have, in a joint operation, seized more than two million contraband cigarettes.

Searches involving tobacco detection dogs in Louth and Dublin yielded over 300,000 cigarettes.

While searches in Down, Tyrone and Armagh resulted in the seizure of a tobacco processing plant, and two million cigarettes, along with 12 tonnes of tobacco and £50,000.

Five people have been arrested in the North.

The seizures are part of a joint customs operation targetting an organised crime gang’s cross border smuggling operation.

Customs officials say the investigation is continuing in both jurisdictions, and internationally.

The cigarettes seized represent a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €100,200. This is assuming that they would have displaced the equivalent full tax paid quantity of cigarettes.

In Off The Post to look back on a busy weekend of GAA action

Tonight’s In Off The Post GAA show on Dundalk FM will look back on a busy weekend of GAA action in Louth.

In the opening round of the Intermediate Championship the Sean O’Mahony’s proved too strong for local rivals Dundalk Young Irelands and the show will hear from the respective managers, Brendan Nordone and Enda Murray.

There’ll also be the views of Cooley’s Gary Thornton, O’Connells’ Donal Murtagh, St Pat’s Fergal Reel and Naomh Mairtin’s JP Rooney about their respective matches as well as reaction from James McArtain and Jason Ryan on the Kildare v Down Qualifier played last Sundya in Newry.

The show will also look ahead to this week’s fixtures, including the Dundalk derby between Clan na Gael and Sean O’Mahony’s in Dowdallshill on Friday.

In Off The Post airs each Wednesday night at 9pm on Dundalk FM 100 and is presented by former County Board chairman Peter Brannigan and Naomh Malachi clubman, Dermot Woods, a former chair of the Louth Ladies County Board.

The show can also be accessed online at www.dundalkfm.com and is repeated on Saturdays at 6pm.

Police issue fresh pictures of man who raped and tried to kill 8-year-old girl in Newry

This is the face of a man wanted for the brutal rape and attempted murder of an eight-year-old girl 20 years ago.

The youngster was attacked, tied to a tree and left for dead in Newry, Co Down – just miles from Dundalk.

On Monday, 20 years on, the PSNI launched a fresh appeal to catch the sex beast, who carried out the attack in 1994.

The survivor of the attack is now 28 and officers have assured her they will continue their probe to catch the pervert.

The victim had been playing with a seven-year-old boy in a wooded area within Daisy Hill Nursery at Barcroft Community Centre when she was attacked.

The man, who is believed to have been in his late teens or early 20s, asked the children to help find his brother.

The youngsters went with him but were separated in woodland behind the centre where the girl was subjected to a prolonged and violent sexual assault.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the horrific incident the PSNI have released two new images of the suspect who is now aged around 40.

Detectives are appealing to members of the public who may have information and have not already contacted police to phone the inquiry team.

They would like to hear from anyone who came forward in 1994 but has not made contact with police since.

Detectives are also keen to identify the couple who met the boy who had been with the victim.

And they want to speak with two young males who had been playing at the Community Centre on the day – June 19, 1994.

Anyone with information is asked to call the PSNI Serious Crime Branch on 028 3836 6274 or Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

An RUC officer involved in the initial investigation described the incident as “shocking”.

Independent councillor Jackie Patterson said: “It is vital that somebody is brought to justice.”

Source: Irish Daily Mirror

Dundalk to face neighbours Down in Milk Cup

Dundalk Schoolboys’ League have been paired with Watford, Global Premier Soccer and neighbours Co Down in this year’s Dale Farm Milk Cup in Coleraine.

The draw for the competition was made earlier this week in Belfast by former Manchester Utd and Aston Villa star Dion Dublin.

The games will take place from Monday July 28^th to Wednesday July 30^th with the semi-finals and finals taking place between Thursday July 31^st and Friday August 1^st depending on how far the team goes.

Creative Spark Print Studio opening this Wednesday

The new Creative Spark Print Studio will open this Wednesday at 7pm.

The studio at Clontygora in Muirhevnamor will be opened by Robert Peters, Director of Seacourt Print Workshop in Bangor, Co Down.

For further details call 02-9385720.

Adams to raise Narrow Water Bridge issue with the Taoiseach

An artist’s impression of the Narrow Water Bridge

Local TD Gerry Adams has given a cautious welcome to indications that the Taoiseach may be prepared to financially support the Narrow Water Bridge project and says he intends to raise the issue with the Taoiseach next week in the Dáil.

Newspaper reports earlier this week suggested that Enda Kenny might be willing to finance the bridge, which would link Warrenpoint and Omeath, in 2015.

However, Sinn Féin president Adams said he was cautious about whether or not this supposed commitment was simply a pre-election promise or something set in stone.

He said: “I have raised the importance of constructing the Narrow Water Bridge with the Taoiseach on many occasions in the Dáil and while he has always sounded a positive note regrettably it was his government that failed to provide the financial investment needed to supplement the funding from local councils and the European Union.

“At last November’s meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council Ministers there was unanimous support for the Narrow Water Bridge project.

“It also has the support of all the parties in county Louth, south Down and south Armagh.

“The bridge can be a massive economic driver for the region from Slieve Gullion to the Cooley’s and to the Mournes.

“The government has acknowledged that it is the border counties that record the highest rates of disadvantage across a number of indicators.

“The construction of the Narrow Water bridge is a real opportunity to tackle this disadvantage.

“The Taoiseach has said he backs the bridge project. Fine Gael now says that Mr. Kenny is ready to support the project in the next round of funding from the Special European Programme Body. I intend raising this matter with the Taoiseach next week in the Dáil.

“The people of Louth and South Down and south Armagh want firm commitments not pre-election promises that may now be delivered later.”

In Off The Post to reflect on Louth’s National League campaign

Tonight’s In Off The Post GAA show on Dundalk FM will reflect on Louth’s National League campaign and look ahead to the start of the domestic leagues in the county.

Guests on the night will include St Patrick’s clubman Martin McCauley and Damien McCullough of Newry TV station ‘Destination Newry’.

In Off The Post airs each Wednesday night at 9pm on Dundalk FM 100 and is presented by former County Board chairman Peter Brannigan and Naomh Malachi clubman, Dermot Woods, a former chair of the Louth Ladies County Board.

The show can also be accessed online at www.dundalkfm.com and is repeated on Saturdays at 6pm.

Three changes to Louth team for Sunday’s clash with Monaghan

Louth have made three changes to their side for Sunday’s Allianz National Football League Division Two clash away to Monaghan in Clones.

Padraig Rath, Derek Crilly and Eoin O’Connor all return to the side while Gerard Hoey, Darren Clarke and U-21 star Patrick Reilly make way.

Clarke picked up a knock in the heavy defeat to Down last weekend while Reilly is likely to have been rested ahead of the county’s Leinster U-21 Championship quarter-final replay with Meath in Navan on Wednesday.

The team in full is: N Gallagher; P Rath, D Finnegan, K McLaughlin; J O’Brien, D Crilly, L Shevlin; P Keenan, B Duffy; A Reid, C Judge, D Byrne; A McDonnell, E O’Connor, D Maguire.

Throw-in at Clones on Sunday is at 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, the Louth hurling team for Sunday’s clash with Monaghan has also been named.

It is as follows: O’Reilly; McCormack, Carter, McCrave; Ryan, Hayes, Byrne; Callan, Condon; Smith, Rellis, Mackin; Kettle, Murphy, Mahony.

That game will take place at Aughnamullen at 12 noon.

iOTA programme looking to support local innovators

Do you have an innovative business idea or product you’d like to develop but don’t know where to start? iOTA can help.

Whether you have an established business, or you are in the ‘thinking about’ stage, iOTA can offer local support to help you develop ideas, improve products/services, explore new markets and ultimately help you to profit from innovation.

The iOTA Programme is funded through the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Cross Border Programme and managed by the SEUPB.

Dr Conor Patterson, Chief Executive of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency stated: “iOTA is open to SMEs and individuals; the support we offer is very much focussed on helping you or your company to be innovative to enable growth and expansion.

“We can help you develop innovative solutions, explore new markets, give you access to training and mentor expertise to support you in the journey to turn great ideas into viable business concepts.

“Whatever your idea, company status or previous background, we can provide a bespoke programme of support to address your needs.

“What’s more, all training and advice is delivered locally through a network of Enterprise Agencies, County Enterprise Boards, SRC, SERC and DKIT spanning counties Armagh, Down, Louth and Monaghan so you can tap into all these resources with ease.”

For further information or to participate on the iOTA Programme, please contact: Jane Magill, Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency on Tel: 0044 (0) 2830267011 or Email: info@iotaprogramme.com

In Off The Post to reflect on Louth’s defeat to Down

Tonight’s In Off The Post GAA show on Dundalk FM will have all the reaction from last Saturday’s National League game between Louth and Down in Newry

There will be reaction from Louth manager Aidan O’Rourke and Down boss James McCartan. There will also be an interview with Louth Ladies manager Ciaran Marks.

In Off The Post airs each Wednesday night at 9pm on Dundalk FM 100 and is presented by former County Board chairman Peter Brannigan and Naomh Malachi clubman, Dermot Woods, a former chair of the Louth Ladies County Board.

The show can also be accessed online at www.dundalkfm.com and is repeated on Saturdays at 6pm.