NEIL Armstrong, a Lurgan man who was in Monaghan during the summer, found himself in court berated by a judge for his “absolute savagery”.

Armstrong, of Forest Glade, Lurgan was prosecuted at Tuesday’s Monaghan Court for assauting Ciara McCrystal and Daniel Sweeney outside a nightclub, the assault against the woman drawing the judge’s attention. Mr Armstrong’s solicitor, Paul Madden,
explained to the judge that the man wasn’t sure if he’d intended to kick Ms McCrystal in the face or the eye, in the heat of the fi ght.

Judge Sean McBride said “if he wants to avoid jail, he’d better have €3,000 for the victim – he kicked a lady in the face!” Armstrong, a 22 year-old apprentice bricklayer, was in court with his mother and, in the afternoon, gave the €3,000 to the court, as well as letters of character reference, which the judge read.

Ultimately, Judge McBride dismissed the charge against Mr Armstrong, but told him that the assault will count on his record. The charge of assault on Daniel Sweeney was struck out.

A MAN who set fi re to St Daigh’s Junior National School and to the adjoining former Church of Ireland in Inniskeen on July 24 has been further remanded in custody for sentencing to Monaghan Circuit Court on October 23.

Stephen Deegan, 41, with an address at St Vincent De Paul Hostel in Carlow Town appeared before Judge Flann Brennan on a plea at Monday’s

A MAN who went on a regional spree of petty crime, and whose offences included the theft of a hair highlighting, of a suit and
shirt, of bottles of wine and various amounts of diesel, ended up in Monaghan District Court on Tuesday.

The man got money from forged cheques and fooled shop assistants into handing over money, stole diesel, food, wine, fancy clothes and even the tyres of a Mercedes car, all in a way that almost guaranteed that he would be caught.

He ended up pleading to 29 separate charges at Monaghan Court, where the judge heard that his spree took in Monaghan, Newbliss, Cootehill, Belturbet, Ballybay, Ballinamore, Dundalk, Navan, Bundoran and Manorhamilton in Leitrim.

In all, ten Gardai were involved in investigating the 19 year-old’s spree of petty crime, and in bringing the 29 prosecutions against him earlier this week.

A total of 14 prison sentences were imposed on Keith McConnell, 12, Emmett Terrace, Navan, all of them concurrent, and he was led away in handcuffs from Monaghan Court on Tuesday to begin ten months in jail. One of the more bizarre frauds he perpetrated
was going into Sophisticuts in Belturbet, where he got a special hair highlight treatment from Lucy Brady and made off without paying, then walking down the street stealing a take-away meal from the nearby Centra.

He hit Knight’s Shop in Cootehill and Browne’s Pharmacy, where he codded Aideen Browne into handing over €5, on the same
day that he went into the Super Valu there and walked out with three bottles of wine.

Evidence was heard, including some from his mother, who said his acts were ‘a cry for help, of what Judge McBride called “a disturbed upbringing”. As well as jail, Mr McConnell was disqualified from driving for five years.

VARIOUS opinion exists regarding the rezoning of an out-of-town retail park in Monaghan Town for full retail use.

This re-zoning certainly has implications for the entire county. The out-of-town retail park issue is something of an old chestnut which has been discussed the length and breadth of Ireland north and south and with good reason.

A fear exists among the established retailers in our county towns, as elsewhere, that the opening of these retail parks could represent a major threat to their business – business which has paid the rates for years and which are, effectively, the life blood of town development.

They could be a threat. Town centre jobs could be at risk too. On the other hand most consumers have cars nowadays and, as we have seen in our county in recent weeks, town centre parking can no longer be taken for granted. It must also be remembered that home grown customers have, for years, been going to other neighbouring towns where these retail parks exist.

Such retail developments bring added choice to the consumer and competition, as they say, is the life of trade. There will also be a considerable extra rates windfall for either the County or Town Council. Like it or not out of town centre retail parks are the norm throughout most of the rest of Europe.

Was the council right to rezone its Monaghan retail park? which might just have opened the planning flood gates throughout Monaghan.

Where will it end? That is the real question.

By Cianna McNally
cianna@monaghanpost.com

4HOME Superstores which are located in Monaghan Retail Park on the Clones Road are set to get neighbours with the creation of 130 new jobs.

Cllr Joe Brennan of Castleblayney Town Council feels that the decision to re-zone these developments could have strong negative repercussions. “I have sought a report from the planning department of the County Council on the implications, if any, on the transferring of this decision into the County Development Plan.”

He pointed out that Blayney has two major new town centre developments which will be a major boost to the town centre and the council rates base. However Monaghan town and county councillor Robbie Gallagher has welcomed the news that big
name businesses including Next, Argos and KFC are to move into the business park on the outskirts of Monaghan town.

Speaking to the Monaghan Post, Councillor Gallagher was loud in his praise of such a development calling it a “massive boost” to the economy as 130 new jobs will be created. Cllr Gallagher also said that in the past it has been difficult to get other
retailers out to Monaghan Retail Park but hopefully with the big names out there other businesses will be persuaded to move out there.

He concluded by saying that the arrival of stores such as Next and Argos will put Monaghan on a par with other bigger towns and will encourage people to shop locally. Local property developer Barry Aughey who owns Monaghan Retail Park, confirmed that work has already begun on Argos and it will open on November 8. KFC and Next are hoping to be open for business early next year.
Mr Aughey also said that four more big, international retail names are in negotiation to possibly have branches of their businesses in Monaghan Retail Park.

Barry Aughey would like to express his thanks to all the councillors who voted in favour of the new businesses coming to Monaghan, in particular, Robbie Gallagher and Brian McKenna. Shopaholics are advised to watch this space!

CLOSED Circuit television systems have become an effective tool in the prevention, detection and prosecution of crime, anti social behaviour, public disorder and in maintaining public safety, affording the public a greater peace of mind in their communities.

A public consultation meeting has been arranged to seek public opinion on the proposed installation of CCTV in Ballybay town on October 18 at 8.00pm in The Birch Court, Main St, Ballybay.

CARRICKMACROSS Gardai are urging all keyholders to be extra vigilant regarding the security of their premises after a number of burglaries in the Carrick area which are currently under investigation.

€6,000 was stolen from a house in the Ivy Lane area in recent days whilst, in another break-in, a safe and its contents was stolen from a house on the Ballybay Road after an alarm on that dwelling was crudely disabled.

These burglaries have taken place when the occupants were absent and between the hours of 8pm and 10pm. Any suspicious activity in the vicinity of houses should be reported immediately to Carrickmacross
Gardai at 042 9661222.

MONAGHAN town councillor Robbie Gallagher expressed his deepest sympathy towards the Treanor family in Tyholland whose two year old son Eoin died tragically on Tuesday night.

The child was apparently strangled by a cord of a window blind in his bedroom. Eoin’s parents, Glen and Martina as well as a twin sister and an older sibling are said to be devastated.

Cllr Gallagher said that his heart goes out to the family and that they will be in everybody’s prayers.

By Joe McCabe
joe@monaghanpost.com

A DRUG addict who hijacked an 86-year-old Carrickmacross pensioner’s car at knifepoint on Sunday last has been remanded in custody for a week to Castleblayney District Court
on October 15.

“I am very, very sorry. I did this due to the intensity of the addiction that I have”, Daniel Wiliams said in evidence.
Under a false name Williams gained access to retired baker, Packie McDermott’s car as he sat listening
to a football match. Williams then asked him to give him a lift.

When the old man became suspicious Williams pulled a knife and ordered him to hand over money.

A struggle ensued during which Mr McDermott sustained a cut to one hand and brusing to his other hand.
Williams then pushed the pensioner out of his own car and onto the ground where the victim sustained
injuries to his knees.

Williams was later arrested by Garda Smith at 11.15pm on Sunday night.