A Shanagolden child remains in a serious condition in a Dublin hospital following a freak accident in which he was struck on the head with a golf ball on Tuesday evening.

The nine year old was playing with friends at the Parkview estate when he was struck by a golf ball and fell and hit his head. Advanced paramedics were called to the scene around 7.30pm.

He had sustained serious head injuries and was rushed to the Mid Western Regional Hospital. The youngster has since been moved to Dublin.

An alliance to alert the people of Limerick to new proposals by Dublin City Council to extract water from the river Shannon at Lough Derg at high volumes and to pipe it directly to Dublin, has been formed.

The new Limerick branch of the ‘Shannon Protection Alliance’ has been established to warn people and stakeholders in Limerick and environs, the damage the proposal could do to the region.

‘Water would be extracted at a rate of upwards of 500 million litres per day. This equates roughly to the amount of water which currently leaks from the Dublin water delivery system.’

The group believes that if the proposal were to gain approval it would “signal the beginning of the plunder of Ireland’s finest waterway”, have serious consequences for the life of the river and upset the balance and natural order in the water.

Limerick SPA branch spokesman, Gerry Siney says that if abstraction were allowed to proceed, a precedent would be set and it would be just the thin “edge of the wedge,”

“Demand would grow exponentially, and opportunist extractors would emerge to put even more pressure on the river, and in time the Shannon would go the way of an increasing number of rivers around the world that have been disastrously compromised, many beyond recovery.”

In the coming weeks and months the SPA say they will engage in an active campaign of awareness including holding public meetings on the matter.

“The people have a right to know what others are planning for them, and are entitled to have their say,” the alliance said.

Gardai have detained a man following a street attack in the city center Thursday.

It’s understood a man received a stab wound to his lower back following an altercation on Thomas Street just before 3pm. Gardai and Ambulance personnel were quickly on scene and the victim was taken to the regional hospital in Dooradoyle.

A man was subsequently arrested by Gardai a short time later at Colbert train station. It’s thought the victims injuries are not serious.

Gardai are seeking witnesses.

A man has been charged with the attempted murder of another man in the city last May.

Shane Mason, of Sean Heuston Place, was further charged by Gardai following a shooting in May which left a 20 year old man, Daniel Phillips, fighting for his life in hospital.

The accused appeared at Limerick District Court Wednesday where Gardai gave evidence of charging the 28 year old with the attempted murder of Daniel Phillips at St John’s Square on May 24th, 2010.

He is already been charged with the possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life at St John’s Square on the same date.

“Sarah Ryan, solicitor for the accused, said bail had been refused in the High Court and she was not making any new bail application.

Judge Olann Kelleher on the application of Insp Brendan McDonagh returned Mason for trial to the Central Criminal Court.”

A man arose from the visitors gallery during the hearing and began shouting at the accused before being escorted out of the courtroom.

Gardai say the book of evidence in the case is still being assembled and the accused was remanded to appear again, via video link, on August 18th.

Investigations are underway into an assault on a member of the Limerick Athletics Club in the city last week.

Ethiopian born runner, Labeta Debela, who won the half marathon at the Great Limerick Run event this year, was badly assaulted by two men on the Old Cratloe Road, as he made his way to a training session last Thursday.

His coach, Willie Logan, told the Limerick Chronicle Tuesday, the 22 year old was “covered in blood” following the attack.

He was immediately taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle where he was treated for head injuries and discharged later that night.

Gardai revealed Tuesday they had not been informed of the attack until early this week and are now liaising with the victim.

Garda Superintendent Frank O’Brien also discussed possible motives.

“We would be very concerned about a serious assault. If there was a racist undertone to it, that would be a particularly distressing and worrying development, if this victim was targeted because of his race. We are very anxious to try and identify the culprits.”

Supt O’Brien said they had no report of the attack on the Garda Pulse System and they will try and ascertain why they did not receive a report or complaint.
Via Irish Examiner.

The Irish Times reports the numerous wins under the young man’s belt, winning the Salty Faces 10km in Co Clare in May, the Jacinta O’Brien Plassey 10km in April.

“He is such a quiet young boy, everybody is mad about him. All his training companions are always very keen to run with him and I’d say everybody is upset at what happened.”
Via Irish Times.

The attack has sparked furious outrage and debate among online communities including Boards.ie and local blogs.

A 12 year old boy was recovering in hospital Monday after being knocked down in Limerick City center.

The child was struck by a Garda vehicle as he was crossing O’ Connell Street just outside Easons, near the William Street junction, around 1.30pm Monday afternoon.

He was immediately taken to the regional hospital in Dooradoyle where he remains in a stable condition.

The road was closed for a short time while Garda collision investigators examined the scene. As a Garda vehicle was involved, it is standard procedure that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission investigates the incident.

Diversions were in place to accommodate evening rush hour traffic.

The Live register grew by 873 people across Limerick in July, according to detailed CSO figures released Friday morning.

The new figures show that 23,148 people are now signing on the live register across the city and county. The city register now stands at 16,490 people for July, up 671 on June.

In the county, July figures show there are 2,919 people signing on at welfare offices in Kilmallock, a rise of 79 on June, while there are 3,739 people signing at the Newcastle West offices, a rise of 123 on June figures.

Nationally there were 466,800 people signing on, an increase of almost 14,000 on the previous month.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said the national figure would be “far higher” were not so many people forced to either leave the country or stay out of the workforce.

“There are now over 270,000 less people at work than in 2007. They are no longer paying taxes income taxes and their spending power is greatly reduced. This is reflected in the recent fall in income tax receipts and in retail sales,” Paul Sweeney, Economic Advisor to Irish Congress of Trade Unions said.

4,562 of the total July Limerick figure are people under 25.

Gardai carried out a number of searches across the country Wednesday in relation to criminal activity in Limerick.

Gardai say the searches were conducted in Dublin, Tipperary, Offaly and Kerry, which they say were targeting individuals involved in gang feuding in Limerick.

“A total of 12 searches were conducted and included searches of private residences, commercial premises and professional offices,” a Garda spokesperson confirmed.

The searches were conducted by members of the Criminal Assets Bureau, Detective Gardai from Birr, Roscrea, Nenagh and Tipperary Town Garda Stations, the Regional Support Unit based in Mullingar Garda Station, The Garda Dog Unit and members of the Divisional Crime Task Force.

Although nobody was arrested, Gardai confirmed €38,000 in cash was seized along with a large amount of documentary evidence and computers.

Investigations are said to be ongoing.