News Friday, January 29, 2010 D Prisoners abscond at family funeral TWO prisoners remained at large today after escaping while visiting the remains of their late brother. The two Travellers fled Smyths funeral home in Roscommon Town on Tuesday despite being guarded by five prison officers. It is understood family members formed a barrier between the wardens and the prisoners, allowing them to escape. The men were half way through a three-year assault sentence in Castlerea Prison. The Irish Prison Service said an investigation has been launched. A spokesman said: Two prisoners while on an escorted visit on compassionate grounds to see the remains of a deceased relative escaped from custody. Garda were immediately notified and the Irish Prison Service has initiated its own investigation into the incident. Garda confirmed they have launched a manhunt for the men. Rotterdam fight leaves man dead A 33-yeAR-Old Irishman has died in hospital following an attack in the Netherlands. Niall Coyle from Four Roads in Co Roscommon was working as an electrician in Rotterdam. Police have arrested a 49-year-old man in connection with the attack. Mr Coyle received serious head injuries last Tuesday during a confrontation at a late bar in dordrecht, a town 15km southeast of Rotterdam. Newest recruit: President Mary McAleese was shown around the PSNI training college in Belfast by Chief Superintendent Kevin Dunwoody yesterday Picture: Paul Faith/PA Lillis jury resume its deliberations today THE jury in the trial of Eamonn Lillis, who is accused of murdering his wife, will begin a third day of deliberations today. Judge Barry White yesterday told jurors he would give them further direction on the three verdicts open to them after Lillis (pictured) pleaded not guilty to murdering Celine Cawley at their home in Howth in December 2008. The six women and six men yesterday listened again to a recording of Lillis giving his evidence and a recording of his 999 call. homedigest CROSS-Border shopping cost the Southern Exchequer 810million in 2009, according to a monitor by the UCD Smurfit School and the Marketing Institute of Ireland. Shopping in the North is up 25 per cent since the end of 2008, with 250,000 households now grocery shopping over the Border. The Consumer Market Monitor results for the fourth quarter of the year also show ten per cent of off-licence business migrated north in 2009. The level of confidence in December 2009 was six per cent better than in December 2008 but consumers have changed their spending habits, with 55 per cent buying less and 65 per cent spending more time looking for value. Shopping in North cost 810m in 2009 INDUSTRIAL relations chiefs have backed aviation bosses in a row with air traffic controllers over new working arrangements. The dispute, which crippled the countrys three main airports on Wednesday week, leaving 20,000 passengers stranded, centred on new systems. The Labour Court said the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) was within its rights to bring in new technology. Controllers went on strike after 14 employees were suspended for refusing to take part in the four projects. A second recommendation on the IAAs claim that it is unable to fulfil a six per cent pay increase agreement is to follow. LRC backs bosses over air dispute No deal on marches has parties walk out DEvoLvINg policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland cannot be held hostage to a resolution on controversial loyalist parades, Sinn Fein leader gerry Adams (pictured) has warned. But Democratic Unionist, Sammy Wilson accused him of living in cloud cuckoo land if he thought he could determine local outcomes for marches during the current round of talks at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, to save the power-sharing administration from collapse. and finally... A MOTORIST spoke of his disbelief after he was fined by police for blowing his nose while at a standstill in traffic. Father-of-two Michael Mancini said he put the handbrake on before wiping his nose but was asked to pull over by officers who were standing nearby. He was told he was not in control of his vehicle and was handed a 60 (69) fixed penalty and three points on his licence. Rapes and robberies rise in crime figures Break-in advice: Be more vigilant By Ed Carty INCIdeNCeS of serious crimes in- cluding rapes, burglaries and robberies increased by almost ten per cent last year, official figures have revealed. While violent deaths dropped slightly, Justice Minister dermot Ahern said he remained concerned at the high level of killings 53 murders, two manslaugh- ter cases and 25 people killed by dan- gerous driving. Many of the killings are gang related which underlines the necessity of the tough legislation enacted last year and which is now being fully utilised by the Gardai, he said. The crime report also showed more than one reported rape every day. Cliona Saidlear, spokeswoman for the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI), said the rising attacks on men and women up ten per cent to 377 may reflect reports of historic cases. It is both recent and historic. Our best analysis is that more people are coming forward and more people are likely to report rape, she said. Half of victims supported by the RCNI last year had suffered rape or sex assaults in the years before. Because there has been a huge focus and public debate on the historic incidents, you would have seen a peak. Many have come forward, Ms Saidlear said. Cases involving the sexual abuse of children were up more than 29 per cent. Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy appealed for people to take steps to pre- vent break-ins, and Mr Ahern added: Both the Commissioner and I are con- cerned at the increase in property theft shown by the figures. elderly people are subject to bogus callers to their homes. They must be vigilant but, likewise, we must do more to protect them. I have met with the At- torney General with regard to the issue of mandatory sentencing for such crimes. he said. labours Pat Rabbitte called for more action to tackle break-ins. He said burgla- ries and robberies are the crimes that im- pact most severely on ordinary families. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html