METRO Tuesday,August4,2009D METRODigest ANIRISH-ownedcivilengineering companyhasclincheda100million (85million)contracttoworkonthe M25wideningprogrammearound GreaterLondon,itemergedyesterday. TheMcArdleGroup,basedinLondon butacquiredbyCork-basedequityfirm MercierPrivateEquitylastyear,secured thelucrativethree-yeardeal,whichwill seeitundertakingsiteclearanceand earthworkscovering60km,movingsix milliontonnesofsoilandaggregates. Theprojectisthelargesteverworked onbythefirm,whichhasalsobeen involvedintheredevelopmentofthe M1andM25motorways,theA3 HindheadTunnelandtheT5baggage handlingtunnelatHeathrow. Irish-owned firm wins M25 contract FUNDINGofalmost960,000has beenawardedto89radioprojectsby theBroadcastingCommissionofIreland undertheSoundandVisionscheme. Thegrantsareforprogrammesdealing withIrishcultureandheritage,inawide rangeofareasincludingdocumentaries, drama,childrensprogrammingand entertainment.MichaelOKeeffe,BCI chiefexecutive,said:TheSoundand VisionSchemecontinuestobeagreat success.Weareparticularlypleasedat theongoinggrowthintheindependent productionsector,whichhassecured thehighestfundingcontributiontodate inthisround.TheBCIaddedthat14of the89projectsfundedareforIrishand bilingualprojects. Radio projects get 960,000 funding CROATIANwarcrimessuspectsawaiting trialinTheHaguehaveformedtheir ownnine-piecerockbandand announcedplansforatourofthe Balkansiftheywintheircases.The jailhousecrocksmadeupofpensioners, topmilitarybrassandexseniorofficials haverecruitedformerCroatgeneral AnteGotovina,55,whosetroopsare accusedofmurderingciviliansduring theconflict.However,theyarestill missingadrummer,saidajailsource. THEOrangeOrdercouldtaketheheatoutoftheparades issueimmediatelybydeclaringitwillnolongermarch whereitisnotwelcome,SinnFinsJohnODowd (pictured)saidyesterday.ThiscameasSFandtheSDLP clashedoverthefutureofLoyalistparades.TheSDLP calledfortheretentionoftheParadesCommissionand claimedRepublicanswerepoisedtomakeaconcession onmarchestosecureDUPsupportforthedevolutionof policingandjusticepowers. SF puts pressure on SDLP ADUPMPisaskingYouTubetoremovevideoclipsposted bydissidentrepublicans,includingfilmofparamilitaries firingshots.JeffreyDonaldson(pictured)saidtheclips glorifyterrorism,whileYouTubesaysitislookingintohis complaint.TherearedozensofclipsonYouTubeposted bydissidentrepublicangroups,someshowingpolitical meetingsandspeeches,othersfeaturingacollageofold filmsofIRAactions,butathirdgroupshowdissidents eitherfiringweaponsorworkingwithexplosives. YouTube clips glorify IRA EvaSpillane,4,withcelebritychefClodaghMcKennaat thelaunchofValueIrishWeek,whichwillseeall194 independentlyownedSuperValustoresshowcasingthe verybestofIrishfoodandbrandswithmorethan1,500 demonstrationsandtastings Picture: Maxwells METROE-MAIL US AT: mail@metroireland.ie What do you think of whats going on in the news? Or do you have a witty view on the bizarre little things in life? We want to hear from you for Irelands liveliest letters page TELL TWO people had a lucky escape yesterday when their small powerboat capsized in Dublin Bay. The pair issued a Mayday distress call on their VHF radio and were winched to safety by the Irish Coastguard Helicopter while the Dn Laoghaire RNLI lifeboat towed their craft ashore. The incident took place before 11am close to the Baily Lighthouse at Howth Head. Winds in the area at the time were gusting from the south-east and sea conditions were difficult when the four-metre boat capsized. The Irish Coastguard service launched their rescue helicopter from Dublin Airport. It arrived at the scene at 11.20 and winched both casualties from the water. Stephen Wynne, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, confirmed that: Carrying a marine VHF radio enabled the crew of this boat to make direct contact with the coastguard by issuing a Mayday distress call. Twopeople savedfrom DublinBay Thomas Cook workers will continue lock-inBy cOlm kelpIe PROTESTING workers staging a sit- in at a Thomas Cook branch vowed last night to continue despite a final High Court order to leave. The court said the protesters, who are locked in a row with the travel gi- ant over redundancy terms, had to be out of the Dublin office by 7pm last night or they could face jail today. More than 40 staff, including two pregnant women, occupied the shop in Grafton Street, Dublin, after man- agement announced the immediate closure of the companys two offices in the city on Friday afternoon. Caroline Cullen, a worker with the travel giant for eight years, said: We need the Government to intervene. Ms Cullen said she was worried about the repercussions of the deci- sion and appealed for the public to support them: Weve been told well ers as a hearing on the sit-in got under way at the Four Courts. Dublins Lord Mayor Emer Costel- lo, trade unionists and political par- ties are supporting the workers. At the protest outside the Thomas Cook branch, Ms Costello said she found the situation heartbreaking for staff and their families. She said she believed the lock-in had captured the mood of the city: We really do need to work to protect whatever jobs we have, she said. Chanting supporters packed the footpath outside the store, which had a large sheet draped across it with the words Fair redundancy for job loss- es written across it. Placards were held aloft with slo- gans such as We sold tickets for the Titanic and now were sinking. Management moved to shut the firms two Dublin stores a month ahead of schedule, claiming they wanted to minimise disruption to cus- tomers. Some 77 jobs are being axed with the closure of the two branches as well as a Direct Holidays outlet. Row: protesters at Thomas cook on Grafton Street yesterday Picture: PA be arrested if were not out by 11am tomorrow, she said. Earlier, around 150 people staged a rally in Dublin in support of the work- Drugraidpairfree TWO men arrested over a drugs seizure worth 600,000 have been released from custody. The pair were detained after officers swooped on a truck and a van in two separate locations, in Rathcoole, Co Dublin and near Celbridge, Co Kildare, at 7pm on Saturday. Approximately 25kg of cannabis herb was found in both vehicles and the two men in their 30s were brought into custody for questioning. Garda said a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html