Stricken man waits four hours for ambulance
A CARLOW man who was suffering excruciating pain was left to wait for an agonising four hours before an ambulance arrived at his home.
Michael Walker from Graiguecullen collapsed in agony with severe stomach pain and immediately sought assistance.
But the Walker family claim it took some four hours before the ambulance finally arrived at the 40-year-old man’s home.
Michael’s father Joe said: “It’s just outrageous. What kind of a service is that€ He was in unmerciful pain.
“Michael’s wife kept ringing and ringing but she was told that there was only one ambulance on that night and that it was already on its way to Kilkenny so it would have to come back for him.
“But why would it take four hours for the ambulance to get back€
“If you went on a bicycle to Kilkenny it would be quicker than that.”
Michael was taken to Tallaght Hospital where tests were being carried out to determine the father-of-two’s condition.
The Nationalist
Sligo youths posting fights on internet
BRUTAL fights between Sligo youngsters in places across the town and county are being broadcast on the internet.
One five-minute video recorded on a mobile phone shows two teenagers fighting in a basketball court in Sligo watched by up to 20 other youngsters who are cheering them on and clapping.
The fight was stopped twice as the fighters involved took rests before continuing on again.
One of the fighters was holding his bloodied hand in pain.
They punched, kicked and pushed each other repeatedly during the course of the footage.
One youngster can been seen lying across one of the basketball hoops enjoying the best view from his vantage point.
The fight has been viewed by over 1,000 viewers already since it was uploaded on to the website www.youtube.com.
And many of those that have seen the footage have given their comments.
It has even received a four-star rating.
But it isn’t the only video on the website showing Sligo youngsters fighting.
Another showed two boys fighting in the grounds of a well-known Sligo building.
The footage showed students in Summerhill College uniform along with other youngsters cheering on the two fighters.
The clip was suddenly taken off some time over the weekend.
One Summerhill College student told the Weekender: “These fights take place every couple of months and it is a regular thing for two boys to fight each other if they have had a disagreement.”
Sligo Superintendent Mick Barrett said gardaí had not received any complaints about the website.
He said: “We deal with all incidents very seriously but we have never received any complaint about youtube.com.”
The Sligo Weeekender
Kerry on alert over foot and mouth
KERRY’S farming community is on high alert as the county works to ensure there is no outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
Local farmers looked on in horror after an outbreak of the disease in England.
In line with the rest of Ireland the county is now doing its utmost to extend prevention measures.
Department of Agriculture officials immediately set-up disinfectant mats and an inspection point at Kerry Airport for inbound flights from Britain.
The airport at Farranfore operates two daily flights from England as well as other private and corporate flights from Britain.
Basil Sheerin of Kerry Airport said: “The Department of Agriculture will keep a permanent presence at the airport during the day and posters placed at the airport will ask passengers questions such as whether they have been near farms or farm animals or whether they are carrying foodstuffs.
“There will also be formal interviews when necessary.”
Mayor of Kerry Michael Healy-Rae issued an appeal to help prevent the spread of the disease to Ireland.
He said: “While we will continue to welcome all visitors to this county we will have to use all the precautionary measures available to help prevent the spread of this disease to our shores.”
Laois Nationalist
Mystery as Euro lottery win is yet to be claimed
THE OWNER of a winning Euromillions lottery ticket worth almost €400,000 which was bought in a Centra store in Tramore still hasn’t claimed their prize — nearly two weeks after the winning draw.
The ticket was a €6 quick-pick bought in the Centra store at Tankfield in Crobally Upper but the owner of the ticket — worth €387,553 — has still to stake their claim.
The winner was one of seven people across Europe who got five numbers and one lucky star in the draw on July 27.
Joan Burns who works in the Centra store said the fact there has still been no news of a winner has added to the suspicion that the ticket’s owner is away.
She said: “We think here that the person has to be on holidays. If you think about it the builders were starting two weeks’ holidays that weekend so it could have been someone who bought their ticket and then flew out somewhere for two weeks.”
Waterford News and Star
Travellers set-up camp at luxury estate
MOUNT Falcon on the outskirts of Ballina has become the latest target for illegal camping after dozens of Travellers set-up an impromptu halting site.
The group are now proving difficult to move with a legislative battle preventing garda involvement.
A convoy of up to 10 caravans descended on a road near the €64million four-star Mount Falcon Country House Estate with Travellers rigging up washing lines, gas stoves and other equipment.
It is understood the group are mostly English and are believed to have arrived in advance of the annual Knock Novena.
The caravans arrived at Mount Falcon at a time when management and staff at the luxury hotel were preparing for a wedding.
Alan Maloney of Mount Falcon County House said: “There is really not a lot that can be done.
“The 2002 legislation for moving illegal campers is currently being contested in the Supreme Court and the gardaí now claim they are powerless as a result.
“What is currently happening is not to anyone’s satisfaction but I recognise the delicate nature of the situation.
“Given that it is our land it is our responsibility to try to deal with this as sensitively as possible.”
Western People