Revenue Officers seized approximately 29,600 cigarettes concealed within a mattress at Rosslare Europort yesterday (Monday).
The cigarettes seized were of various brands and have a combined retail value of €49,000, representing a loss to the Exchequer of over €38,500.
The illegal cigarettes were discovered when Revenue Officers stopped and searched a Czech registered van that had disembarked a ferry from Cherbourg, France. The search, which was carried out with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner, led to the discovery of the cigarettes concealed within a mattress in the load.
A Czech national in his 40s was questioned.
Investigations into both seizures are ongoing.
These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the supply of illegal tobacco products. If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding smuggling they can contact Revenue in confidence on the confidential free phone number 1800 295 295.
The Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council and a majority of members are opposed to the Draft Wexford County Development Plan 2021-2027 in its present form and are seeking a number of changes before the plan is adopted and called for a six-month extension to consider the document and its future impact on rural Ireland.
CLLR GER CARTHY
Cathaoirleach Cllr Ger Carty told Monday’s April meeting of Wexford County Council held with Microsoft Teams in line with Covid-19 protocols that it is extremely difficult for the Council to put the County Development Plan out to public consultation again in the absence of several changes coming from the departments around the National Plan Framework.
Cllr Carty said he asked Fianna Fail for an extension of six months to facilitate further discussion. “I can’t stand over it and I’m certainly not in a position to vote for it,” he added.
Cllr Michael Sheehan said everything ‘outside of Dublin is rural’ in the Plan and he believes there is much in the County Development Plan that will further destabilise rural Ireland.
Cllr Pat Barden described it as a particularly important Plan and must be considered very carefully.
CLLR JOE SULLIVAN
Cllr Joe Sullivan said the Plan has huge implications for rural areas and could not understand why the project could not be paused for six months to afford an opportunity to go through it in fine detail before putting it through and then finding “it is a complete mess.”
Cllr Sullivan warned that if a Fianna Fáil Minister pushes it through “Fianna Fáil will be without me” because he is “not standing by and letting rural Ireland be further decimated by a Fianna Fáil-led government!”
Cllr Sullivan showed that 35% of all 34 members of Wexford County Council are Fianna Fáil who cannot allow this to happen, and he called for a six-months pause to thoroughly examine the Plan.
CLLR LISA McDONALD
Cllr Jim Codd said the treatment of people in rural Ireland goes beyond belief. “We need to wake up in rural Ireland as we watch the demise of it,” added Cllr Codd who made refences to many shortcomings in services in rural Wexford. “Are we going to force everybody into the towns and leave people in towns and villages where there are no services?” he asked.
Cllr Jackser Owens said Enniscorthy was at the bottom of the list when it comes to the towns of Wexford and he was critical of the Fine Gael/Labour Coalition Government for the abolition of the town councils back in 2014.
Cllr John Fleming felt a need to increase rural density and lamented that rural areas are being told they cannot get planning! “I will not stand-by and let that happen,” he added.
Cllr Michael Whelan favoured direct contact with the Minister and noted that that the Plan was affecting all counties outside of Dublin and described it as “trying to fix a Dublin problem.” Cllr Whelan reaffirmed the need to stand together, and he called for a physical meeting to further discuss the Plan.
Cllr Mary Farrell agreed with the speakers and referred to a ‘crazy situation’ and claimed that villages are not like cities and towns, and she said “the hamlet effect is not for us.” She felt that in her area of Kilmuckridge that housing is a problem.
Others members who contributed included Cllrs Garry Laffan, Davy Hynes, George Lawlor, Pip Breen, Cathal Byrne, Frank Staples, Lisa McDonald, Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin. Diarmuid Devereux, Barbara-Anne Murphy Kathleen Codd-Nolan and Willie Kavanagh. CEO Tom Enright, Tony Larkin and David Minogue also contributed.
Discussion on the Draft County Wexford Development Plan lasted over an hour but diverted away from rural problems and much time was spent exploring future tactics, including the possibility of seeking independent legal advice.
CLLR MARY FARRELL
The public consultation period for the Draft Plan ended on Wednesday, December 9th, 2020. One hundred and sixty-eight submissions were received during the consultation period.
17 submission were received from Prescribed Authorities.
10 submissions were received from stakeholders such as infrastructure providers. 29 Submissions related to Protected Structures.
25 Submissions related to transportation issues.
14 submissions related to Rosslare Harbour and Kilrane Settlement Plan.
9 submissions related to Bunclody Town Settlement Plan.
6 submissions were from environmental groups and NGOs.
8 related to rural housing.
5 related to renewable energy.
The submissions can be viewed online at https://consult.wexfordcoco.ie/.
Tipperary racecourse was the venue for today’s point-to-point action under the auspices of the famous Scarteen Foxhounds and a double for the respective champions, handler Colin Bowe and rider Barry O’Neill, were the highlight on another profitable day for Wexford involvement.
North of Nashville, a newcomer for owner Leo McArdle, got the Bowe/O’Neill partnership off to the perfect start with a three lengths victory in the maiden race for four-year-old mares.
Another newcomer, Chianti Classic in the colours of Benjamin Halsall, showed promising signs for the future with a two-and-a-half lengths advantage to complete the Kiltealy/Ballindaggin double.
COLIN BOWE
BARRY O’NEILL
The first division of the five-year-old mares’ maiden race resulted in a four lengths victory for newcomer Gaia Du Gouet for Andrew and Paul Pierce, Blackhall Stud, Killurin, and the successful rider was Sean Staples from Duncormick.
Division two of the five-year-old geldings maiden race was won by Revenue Judgement, trained at Lingstown by Johnny Berry for owner Liam Gahan, who had five lengths to spare in the hands of Shane O’Rourke, Foulksmills.
Fresh from competing in yesterday’s Aintree Grand National Jamie Codd returned to the winners’ enclosure today with victory on Jim Dreaper’s Aazza in the mares’ five-year-old maiden contest. Codd made it a double later in the afternoon when Denis Murphy’s Coachman triumphed in division three of the five-year-old geldings’ race. The five lengths winner is for sale.
The Irish point-to-point scene returned yesterday (Saturday) in a temporary format of four fixed races for four-and-five-year olds, geldings and mares, confined to selected race tracks. Cork played host to eight races necessitated by divides and raiders from Wexford won five races.
Racing began with the four-year-old test for mares where leading handler Colin Bowe saddled the first two home – Jenny Flex (Barry O’Neill) beating Harry’s Hottie (James Kenny) by ten lengths.
LUKE MURPHY had a winner at Cork yesterday.
The four-year-old geldings maiden race was divided. Sean Doyle’s American Mike scored by 20 lengths for the Monbeg Partnership with Jamie Scallan, Tomhaggard, up in division one; and the division two winner was handled by Sean’s brother, Cormac Doyle, winning with Cool Survivor by four lengths with Jack Hendrick from Mayglass in the saddle.
And there was a Doyle family treble on the day as Donnchadh Doyle saddled First Glance to win division one of the five-year-old mares’ maiden race with James Walsh up. It was close with First Glance getting the better of Ramble West (Barry O’Neill) by three-quarters of a length.
Denis Murphy from Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, got his name on the scoresheet in division two with the Edelle Logan owned Scarlet Witch, a twelve lengths victory in the hands of Inch rider Luke Murphy.
The value of dairy farming to the rural economy in Wexford and elsewhere is highlighted in new figures from Glanbia Ireland which show the company paid a total of €136 million for milk in the county last year.
Glanbia Ireland has 672 farm families supplying milk in Co Wexford. The company delivered a solid performance in 2020 despite the global disruption caused by Covid-19.
Revenue for 2020 stood at €1.9 billion, down 2.9%. Of this, a 2.1% drop was caused by volume decline with the balance due to modest price deflation over the period. The company reported profit after tax of €61 million.
GLANBIA WEXFORD (Pic; glanbiaconnect.com)
There was a sales decline in the Agribusiness part of the business because of very favourable weather conditions, leading to good grass growth and a consequent reduction in demand for both feed and fertiliser.
The domestic food service element of the Consumer business was significantly affected by the three lockdowns during much of 2020 but was cushioned by higher retail demand.
The milk price paid by the Group for the year was an average of 35 cent per litre, inclusive of VAT.
Commenting, Glanbia Ireland CEO, Jim Bergin, said: “Covid-19 significantly added to our operational challenges in 2020 but the speed at which the management team acted and adapted to safeguard the health and wellbeing of all was exemplary. Keeping milk on the shelves throughout the past year has been exceptionally challenging and tremendous credit goes to everyone who played their part.
“Milk volumes in 2020 increased by 4.9% on a like-for-like basis and the Group paid over €1.083 billion to milk suppliers, an increase of 3.8% on 2019. This represents a significant source of income for farm families, for our rural and regional economies and highlights the impact of dairy farming on villages and towns throughout rural Ireland where our suppliers live, work and spend their farm income,” concluded Mr Bergin.
A 25 year old man has died and three others were injured in a single vehicle collision on the N25 Rosslare Road at Drinagh around 1.40am today.
The deceased was a passenger in the vehicle and taken to Wexford General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The driver of the car, a woman in her 20s, was also taken to hospital for treatment for serious injuries.
Two other passengers in the car, a man in his late teens and woman in her 20s, were treated for minor injuries.
The road was closed for several hours as forensic collision investigators carried out an examination of the crash site but has re-opened.
As the car came to the attention of Gardaí prior to the incident, the matter has been referred to GSOC.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and are particularly appealing to anyone with camera footage from along this route at the time of the collision to make it available to investigators.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Wexford Garda station on 053 9165200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
This afternoon’s seven-race card at Bettyville Park get off to a perfect start with a local winner in Mt Leinster Gold (15/2) trained by Colin Bowe by three quarters of a length in the Brendan Cullimore Electrical Contractors Rated Novice Hurdle.
ANTHONY KEARNS tenor and successful horse owner from Kiltealy.
A seven-year-old bay mare Mt Leinster Gold is owned by international tenor Anthony Kearns from Kiltealy and before today had won a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse and three of her four starts in point-to-points.
Bred by Kearns’ fellow performer with The Three Tenors, Ronan Tynan, this was a winning opportunity for Barry O’Neill who returned from Aintree where he rode in the foxhunters’ chase over the National fences yesterday.
Speaking after the race O’Neill said; “She jumped great and has done it nicely. She loves every bit of the three miles. “Whatever she does over hurdles, fences will be her game.”
Former jockey and American trainer Keri Brion saddled her final runner The Mean Queen (4/5 fav), which landed the Slaney River (Mares) Maiden Hurdle with Carlow rider John O’Neill up.
Brion, currently based in Enniscorthy but returning to Maryland, said afterwards; “I’m going out with a bang as I’m heading back to America on Sunday and there are nine horses including this mare coming back with me.”
Paul Nolan, who will be hoping for a big run with Discorama in tomorrow’s Aintree Grand National, got a little appetiser when Fortune Street (10/1) scored by one and a half lengths with Richie Deegan up in the M&T Plant Hire Maiden Hurdle.
Paul Nolan’s brother and assistant James Nolan said Fortune Street was winning at Wexford for the second time having won his bumper here. “He said he loved that ground. They have done a brilliant job here with the ground and it’s lovely, safe jumping ground.”
Sean Flanagan, (Tout Et Permis) who flies himself with Jody McGarvey (Alpha Des Obeaux) as his passenger, to Aintree for the National tomorrow, each had a Wexford winner. The Robinstown rider was aboard Getaway Queen (4/1) in the handicap hurdle and McGarvey was aboard The Cool Dude (11/2) for John ‘Shark’ Hanlon in the Traynor’s of Wexford Handicap Chase. The verdict was five and a half lengths.
SEAN O’KEEFFE rides in tomorrow’s Aintree Grand National
Ricky Doyle who won last Monday’s Irish Grand National on Freewheelin Dylan for Meath trainer Dermot McLoughlin was aboard Campagne Beauty (4/1) who beat McLoughlin’s charge The Echo Boy in a photo-finish to the Traynors of Wexford Novice Handicap Chase. Great success for Youghal-based breeder, owner and trainer Pat Fitzgerald.
And in the only other race on the card – the Garryrichard Stud Veterans Handicap Chase – top trainer Henry de Bromhead saddled Aintree Grade 1 winner Ornua (11/4 fav.) with Dylan Robinson up and enjoyed another Wexford victory for the Waterford man. There was only a neck in it at the finish with Ornua and de Bromhead depriving local trainer Paul Nolan of a double with the runner-up Fine Theatre ridden by Taghmon jockey Sean O’Keeffe, who has his first ride in the Aintree Grand National tomorrow on the Willie Mullins trained Cabaret Queen.
Revenue officers at Rosslare Europort have seized almost 18,500 cigarettes with an estimated retail value of €13,120 representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €10,350.
The illegal cigarettes, branded ‘’Benson & Hedges Gold’, ‘Benson & Hedges Silver’ and ‘L&M Blue’, were discovered when Revenue officers stopped and searched a Slovakian registered van that had disembarked a ferry from Cherbourg, France.
The search, which was carried out with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner and detector dog Gus, led to the discovery of the cigarettes concealed within the load. A Slovakian national in his 40s was questioned.
ROSSLARE EUROPORT (File Picture)
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, Revenue officers at Rosslare Europort also seized 85 litres of wine. The wine was discovered following the search of an unaccompanied trailer, with the assistance of Revenue’s mobile x-ray scanner, that had arrived on a ferry from Cherburg, France. The wine has a retail value of over €1,000 representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of more than €550. Investigations are ongoing.
These seizures are part of Revenue’s ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal cigarettes and alcohol. If businesses, or members of the public, have any information regarding smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295.
A claim made on local radio on Wednesday that Wexford MEP Mick Wallace has been appointed “EU chief negotiator for Iraq’ has been contradicted by a spokesperson for the EU Parliament. And in a new twist tonight, Senator Malcolm Byrne has used social media to describe the actions of MEP’s Mick Wallace and Clare Daly as “just awful.”
A trip by two Irish Members of the European Parliament to visit a headquarters of a militia network in Iraq has been used in a YouTube video to promote the group after the MEPs visited a brigade headquarters of Hashed al-Shaabi in Iraq and criticised American foreign policy in the region.
MICK WALLACE MEP (Pic; YouTube)
Senator Malcolm Byrne claims that MEPs Wallace and Daly visited a Shiite Militant Group that has lured gay people to their deaths. “If their support for Lukashenko in Belarus and Hezbollah in Lebanon was not bad enough, this is really appalling.
“Ireland should always pursue policies in support of the protection of human rights and minorities. This is a core tenet of our foreign policy. These latest actions by two MEPs are just awful,” he concluded.
The trip is believed to have taken place just weeks after US airstrikes hit five of the networks’ bases, which the US Department of Defence said; “housed weapons used to target US and coalition troops.” Video footage of the visit released on the group’s YouTube channel on March 30th, shows Wallace and Daly, the latter dressed in hijab, inspecting a wall tiled with photographs of “martyrs”, before speaking to camera.
A spokesperson for the European Parliament told The Journal that the visit was organised in a private capacity, was not part of an official European Parliament delegation, and does not represent the parliament. It was added that all European Parliament committee trips and inter-parliamentary delegations inside and outside of the EU are cancelled due to the pandemic.
Great news emanating from Bridgetown Community Development Group following almost two years of application forms, tenders and the planning process, the green sods have been turned in the Village Field that represents an investment of €125,000 by Wexford County Council together with Town and Village Renewal and the Bridgetown Steering Group.
Tom Kelly of Paddy Kelly & sons are undertaking the works which will initially consist of a walking track, carpark, land drainage, landscaping and a multi-use all weather sports pitch.
Work begins on the Village Field at Bridgetown that will bring excellent facilities to the village centre.
The landscaping will consist of a park with seated areas, natural features, heritage items and art features. The walking track will include area with outdoor gym equipment. The car park will consist of 16 parking and two disabled parking bays which will service the new facilities and current playground.
Ollie Daly, Chairperson of Bridgetown Steering Group said; “This will be a fantastic facility which we hope will cater for all age groups and people in our village. There are things which we will need help in providing. The Bridgetown steering group will undertake planting, painting and in the future provide lighting for the area (ground works included at the start.
“We want anyone who is willing to come down and give of their time to assist with these physical activities. We will be calling on the young people in our community to assist with the project also. Through Bridgetown Vocational College, FDYS and School completion we will be engaging with young people to meet their needs and provide a safe place for them to meet and socialise. Their help will be greatly appreciated,” added Mr Daly.
There is a list of appreciation that includes committee members Diane Goff, Tracey McCabe, Maurice Cloney, Francis Goff, Phil McCabe, Jim Moore and Eoin Gorry (Bridgetown Pharmacy).
Thanks also goes to Yvonne Byrne consultant with Wexford County Council, Noirín Cummins and Dean Waters of Wexford County Council (Rosslare District). Carolyne Godkin, Director of Community Services and Cllrs Jim Moore, Lisa McDonald, Ger Carthy, Frank Staples and Jim Codd who have worked tirelessly to ensure that Bridgetown gets the facilities it deserves.
WexfordLocal.com 