A woman who was mercilessly assaulted by an active-duty soldier on Limerick’s O’Connell Street has expressed her disgust at the suspended sentence he was allocated on Thursday for his unprompted attack. Natasha O’Brien recounted to Limerick Circuit Criminal Court the horrifying event, in which Cathal Crotty, aged 22 from Parkroe Heights, Ardnacrusha, County Clare, continued to batter her even after she had tumbled to the ground from his first two punches. O’Brien genuinely believed she would not endure the incident.
In other news,
– From Wednesday, Aer Lingus will scrap up to 20% of its flights due to potential industrial action by its pilots.
– Under a newly expected Fine Gael-led agreement, Dublin homeowners will be faced with increased property tax bills, expected to be confirmed by Dublin city councillors on Friday.
– Barristers are preparing for strike action next month in an effort to obtain higher pay, likely leading to further congestion in the criminal courts.
– Ireland has fallen three places in the European road fatality rankings, potentially dropping out of the top 10 safest countries following a surge in death rates.
– Weather Update: Morning rain in the west will progress eastwards, hitting the east coast by early afternoon, giving way to sunshine and sporadic showers in the west. The weather is expected to clear across the region throughout the afternoon and evening. Top temperatures will range from 15 to 19 degrees whilst minimum temperatures tonight will be between 7 and 10 degrees, coupled with clear periods and scattered showers.
In the Aer Lingus Dispute commentary, John McManus suggests why Michael O’Leary might not be delighted about the industrial action at Aer Lingus, stating that the airline’s difficulty should represent an opportunity for Ryanair. However, substantial salary increases for Aer Lingus pilots could prove problematic for Ryanair.
When considering the issue of consumer rights, one should remember the official EU directive 261. This states that if your outbound flight with Aer Lingus is cancelled due to industrial action, the airline is obligated to offer a refund or present options for rerouting – either on the soonest possible flight or at a time that suits you.
Noted actor, Donald Sutherland, tragically passed away on Thursday, aged 88. His vast body of work was particularly notable as he never received an Oscar nomination, despite being considered one of the best living actors, as mentioned by Donald Clarke.
In the realm of opinions, Justine McCarthy highlighted the irresponsible nature of Clare Daly’s negative remarks towards the media. Meanwhile, Gerard Howlin urges careful consideration of the urgency to decarbonise, so as to not risk falling behind.
Looking at the economy, a recent price comparison survey conducted by Eurostat revealed that, on average, goods and services in Ireland are 42% more expensive than elsewhere in the European Union.
On the sporting front, Sonia O’Sullivan encourages an outpouring of support for Rhasidat Adeleke at the National Championships. The event is particularly prominent in an Olympic year and has always been a key fixture in her racing calendar.
Finally, in the world of podcasts, it was noted that Taylor Swift is a driving force behind the modern trend of high ticket prices.