METRO Tuesday, September 22, 2009 D TWO Australian policemen could face disciplinary action after running around a police van naked in Brisbane on Sunday. Commissioner Alan Davey said the officers, who carried out the off-duty prank after a stag party, had not yet been stood down but were not on duty. Theyre not exposed to the public, he said. TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has announced a 1million investment in a leading technology firm creating 30 jobs in his constituency. Tullamore-based Automatic Technology Systems and Research (ATSR) will expand its research and development and manufacturing operations and its overseas presence. ATSR develops and produces electronic and communications systems for emergency vehicles including ambulances, fire engines and police cars. Its products are sold in Ireland, the UK, Canada and the US. 30 jobs for Offaly firm A SAFETY review will be carried out on Skellig Michael after a second US tourist fell and died at the same spot in five months. A 57-year-old woman from New York fell 30ft to her death as she made the pilgrimage to the remote 7th-century monastic site 11km off the Kerry coast on Sunday morning. Dr Martin Mansergh, junior minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, said the climb was hazardous. About 11,000 visitors climb 600 stone steps, which do not have safety rails, to the islands stone huts every year. Review after tourist dies A PLAN to introduce postcodes should be shelved until the financial situation eases, an opposition TD has argued. Labours Liz McManus said: At a time when theres no money in the kitty for the 10million cervical cancer vaccine, questions have to be raised as to why were going ahead with this scheme. Communications minister Eamon Ryan said the plan, which would cost up to 15million, was essential for the development of the digital economy and will bring faster and more accurate postal delivery. The system is estimated to be up and running by early 2011. Postcode plan queried THRESHOLD has called on the Government to analyse the housing stock and land banks being acquired by Nama in order to house vulnerable people in the rented sector. Rather than selling off these properties to the first carpet-bagger that opens their cheque book, the government should take a look at the properties and identify those that could meet housing needs, chairperson Aideen Hayden said. The agency, which dealt with 20,136 queries last year, maintains that the economic crisis could give the State a chance to tackle the housing crisis. Nama call for homeless METRODigest Parish priests poignant eulogy to an Darren, the boxer who dazzled our hearts OLYMPIC medallist Darren Sutherland was yesterday remembered not only as a loved sporting hero but as a kind and generous family man deeply committed to his community. Giants of the boxing world rubbed shoulders with Sutherlands grieving family, friends and fans at the funeral of the 27-year-old Irish fighter, found hanged in his London flat a week ago. Fr Declan Hurley, parish priest of St Marys Church in Navan, Co Meath, said Darrens distraught family would will- ingly swap all his success to have him back in their arms. He told mourners a terrible darkness had fallen on the Sutherland home last Monday, and the tragic death had ripped the familys heart. Nobody is more proud of Darrens achievements than his family, Fr Hurley said. Yet today, faced with the horrible, painful reality that Darrens young life has been brought to a tragic end, they would willingly swap all those achieve- ments to have their son, brother and the one they love, back in their arms. Fr Hurley said Darren nicknamed The Dazzler because of his show-grab- bing performances in the ring had earned the admiration of the country when he clinched bronze in Beijing last year. But it was his beaming smile that had won the nations heart, he said. Among the hundreds of grieving mourners were Darrens parents Tony and Linda and sisters Nicole and Shaneika. Representatives from the sporting world included Olympic-winning fighter Michael Carruth, champion boxer Jim Rock, Martin Rogan, Mick Dowling, John Joe Nevin and Olympic athlete Ea- monn Coghlan. Fellow boxer Kenny Egan, who trav- elled to the Beijing games with Darren and clinched silver, also attended, wear- ing the Irish squad tracksuit. Darrens trainer Brian Lawrence did not attend the funeral while manager Frank Maloney, who discovered his body, was told not travel due to ill health. Fighters young and old from St Sav- iours Olympic Boxing Academy on Dublins Dorset Street, where Darren spent a decade honing his famed skills, sat near the top of the church. Dressed in black club T-shirts they lined the grounds in a guard of honour as Darrens coffin was taken from the chap- el. In his homily, Fr Hurley painted a pic- ture of a young man who despite his suc- cess remained grounded, and did not let fame go to his head. Wherever Darren went, his gentle, kind, modest and generous heart en- deared him to everybody, the parish priest said. His success in Beijing obviously brought great demands, but he respond- ed generously, whether it was offering encouragement to young boxers, speak- ing to students in his former school, or visiting sick children in hospital. He said that despite being known across the country for his top-class boxing skills, to his family, Darren was a loving and caring son and brother. Darren was much more than The Daz- zler who captivated in the ring. He was a loving son, everything an older brother could be, and a good friend, he said. The young man who in the publics eye was a sporting hero, was to his fam- ily a loved and loving son and brother. Touching on the tragic circumstances surrounding Sutherlands death, Fr Hur- ley said a terrible darkness had shrouded the Sutherland family. He said words of comfort were mean- ingless. Our silence betrays a deep un- easiness as we all ponder the question why? Fr Hurley said. Its a question we hesitate to ask out loud because we know by COLM KELPIE Sutherland: Generous heart A terrible darkness shrouds the family Darrens co-medallist Kenny Egan Portrait: A painting of Darren lies near his coffin index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html