METRO Thursday, December 17, 2009 D METRODigest AN ABANDONED deaf fox cub has apparently learned sign language from her Doctor Dolittle owner. Devon animal lover Beth Tyler-King says she uses hand signals to get the fox to obey basic commands. To get her to sit, I put my palm out facing downwards to say sit and she does it. When she is being naughty I waggle my finger at her. Ms Tyler-King was keen to adopt the cub as she too is deaf. She couldnt have come to a better person, she said. A MAN who harassed a pregnant garda has been sentenced to four years. Mark Lawlor, 27, of Belclare Green, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to harassment of Sergeant Noleen McKenna between August and October 2008, because she did not have enough evidence to prosecute his claims of having been sexually abused. Sgt McKennas victim impact report stated she was afraid for herself and her unborn child and that she had to change her working hours, phone number and home security because of the harassment. Lawlor, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar depression, has 49 previous convictions. 4 years for harassing pregnant garda Heart of village torn out by loss Tragedy: Garda Gary McLoughlins parents Noel and Una McLoughlin at his funeral yesterday Picture: PA THE heart has been ripped out of a Co Leitrim vil- lage by the death of a young garda, his state fu- neral heard. About 200 garda from across the country stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the heartbroken family of Garda Gary McLoughlin (pictured), during an emotional service in his native town of Fenagh, Co Leitrim, yesterday. The 24-year-old died on Monday morning after a car smashed into his car while on duty near Burt, Co Donegal, on the main Letterkenny to Derry road. A full state funeral, attended by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and Garda Commissioner Fachtna Mur- phy, was held in the rural parish where he grew up. Priest Fr Bernard Hogan said, The heart was ripped out of the community by the news of Garys tragic accident and eventual death. In a moving tribute, his brother Enda broke down as he joked about Garys style. When he came home at the weekend, he was some looking guard with highlights in his hair, his scarf and he was done up to the last. But we all loved him, he said. His girlfriend Shauna sobbed as she read a short poem which the late garda had sent her, describing her as my world, my life, my heart. Wreaths spelling Brother and Soul Mate garland- ed the coffin, on which a tricolour and the deceased gardas cap were placed. By BRIAN HUTTON UNEMPLOYMENT soared to almost 280,000 in recent months, it emerged yesterday. Official figures show twice as many men as women were out of work in September, with the number of unemployed up 120,000 on last year. The Central Statistics Office said the largest drop in jobs was recorded in construction, which fell by 80,800. Industry saw the second biggest fall, down 41,100 in the year, while the wholesale and retail sector and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles reported 31,400 job losses. Elsewhere, the quarterly national household survey revealed 1.9million people were still employed in the third quarter down 184,700 in the previous 12 months. Jobless rate soars to near record levels THE Government will today be urged to overturn plans to cut grants to Protestant secondary schools. After the Orange Order met ministers to demand the cuts be withdrawn, its sister group the Royal Black Institution is to hold separate meetings with Education Minister Batt OKeeffe (pictured) today. Protestant church leaders have heavily criticised the decision to remove grants to 21 fee-paying Protestant schools in a Government bid to save 2.8million. Protestant schools fight cuts index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html