On Tuesday's edition of Morning Focus with John Cooke
The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict in the Graham Dwyer trial today. Mr Justice Tony Hunt has instructed the seven men and five women to set aside their feelings and reach a verdict on the evidence alone. Mr Dwyer, an architect from Kerrymount Close, Foxrock denies killing childcare worker Elaine O'Hara at Killakee in Dublin in August 2012. Her remains were found in September 2013 – no cause of death was established. Francesca Comyn Courts Correspondent with Newstalk joined us with the latest.
John Flaherty has been a gravedigger in North Clare for 20 years or more; he wrote to Morning Focus following the discussion last Wednesday on the “Draft Burial Ground Bye-laws 2015 – County Clare”, which contain 39 clauses, including definitions relating to the management and control of burial grounds in the county. Burial space is at a premium and the whole purpose of the depth requirement (at 8Ft) would ensure two burials in the one plot John says there is no way will mini diggers be able to dig graves to a dept of 8FT. As it stands, some graves in North Clare only go down 3ft before meeting a bed of limestone or rock. The Draft Burial Ground Bye-laws may be inspected during normal opening hours until the 24th April, 2015 at the Tourism & Community Department, CCC. Written submissions and observations may be made to the Senior Executive Officer, Tourism & Community Department, Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare on or before 4.00p.m. On Friday, 15th May 2015.
Farmers express security concerns around publication of Direct Payment details. There are fears that publishing details of Direct Payments would arouse the interest of the kind of criminals who target rural dwellers and the elderly already. It’s thought the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food will publish the details of Direct Payments to one hundred and eighty thousand farmers online later this year – A list that gives the name, address and amount paid to individual farmers. The recent closure of many Garda Stations in rural Ireland is an added concern. According to Cratloe Farmer, Eddie Punch of the ICSA the idea is simply too intrusive.
Morning Focus Money Matters Next with John Lowe, The MONEY Doctor – for all your financial needs. This week John discussed the warned increase to Electricity prices; Sneaky petrol price rises and The benefit of shopping around for your motor insurance.
Stobart Air has announced that it's returning to Shannon Airport, less than three months after it withdrew its flights from there. The airline is to operate a six-times weekly return service to Birmingham from June. Patrick Edmond is the Group Strategy Director, & Managing Director of International Aviation Services Centre at Shannon Airport, he spoke to John following the good news.
Noeleen Moran from Ballyvaughan was selected as the Sinn Fein Election Candidate for Clare at a party convention Monday night in the West County Hotel. Noeleen spoke to John following the selection, outlining her plans.
