The Minister for Justice and Law Reform has confirmed to Mayo Deputy, Enda Kenny, that long awaited renovation work will commence on Castlebar Court House in the latter half of this year. The deputy had accused the government of foot-dragging in relation to the matter which had meant the closure of the facility some months ago. The matter had only come to a head following action by an independant group of Mayo solicitors. Modern accomodation for barrister and solicitors, family law affairs, as well as state of the art technology for staff, will be part of the £750,000 project on the historic building which has so suffered over time from neglect.

An impressive limestone plaque has been unvieled to former UDC member, Paddy McGuinness and the RTC Action Group at the Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology campus at Castlebar in recognision of their efforts to bring a quality third-level college to the area. Director of the college, Dr Richard Thorn unvieled the memorial at the ceremony which included the planting of three trees - an oak to symbolise the enduring effort of the campaigners, and two rowan trees in memory of two members of the group who have since passed away.

A number of classrooms in the VEC were vandalised over night. Speaking to CRC this morning a spokesperson for the college said the damage was considerable, a number of computers were smashed along with other equipment used to teach courses for which alternative arrangments have had to be made this morning. Gardaí say one youth has been arrested and a number of others are suspected of being involved. Another prefab building at St Patricks National School and a care-takers vehicle was also vandalised over night. A link may exist between this and similar incidence at Marian Row last week. Gardaí say they are following a definite line of inquiry.

A doctor appeared in Court yesterday following an alleged sexual assault on a nurse in Castlebar general hospital. The doctor who was on temporary locum duty at the time is accused of sexually assaulting the woman on july 12th 1998. Reporting restrictions have been put on the case which continues before a jury in the circuit criminal court today.

The number of false alarms and hoax calls to the emergency services in the west of Ireland are to be drastically reduced with the introduction of a high tech detection unit in Castlebar within the coming months. A calling line identification facility similar to that used by police intelligence will be installed at the newly completed buildings in the town which houses the regions computer aided mobilisation project known as C A M P west. The system which is being operated in conjunction with Eircomm is able to identify within minutes the telephone number from which the call is being made. Staff at the unit can then establish whether the call is genuine or not.

A Crossmolina man was jailed for 7 years in Castlebar Circuit court yesterday for dangerous driving causing death. Derek Munnelly aged 15 was a front seat passenger in a car driven by Francis McHale of Abbeyview Crossmolina in October 1998. The car was in collission with another car and Derek Munnelly died when he was being removed to hospital. The car owned by Francis McHale was being driven at very high speed and had washing up liquid for brake fluid. Judge Kenny said it was the worst case of dangerous driving that had come before him and he sentenced Mr MCHale to 7 years in prison and disqualified him from driving for ten years.

Mayo County Council are to meet this evening at 4:30 to debate that a National Car Testing Centre be located at Erris. At the moment there are only two centres testing motor vehicles over 8 years old, which from January first this year must pass road-worthiness inspections. They are located in Westport and Ballina. Car owners in out-lying areas have been furious at the distances which they must travel to meet statuary requirements such as paying their motor tax and are seeking a more decentralised attitude from government. Also on the agenda is a motions to extend the public footpath in Bohola Village to Bohola National School.

The Dawn meat factories in Ballaghaderreen and Ballyhaunis are back in full production this morning following agreement reached over the weekend between protesting farmers and meat processing companies. Deals were reached with most meat factories and farmers, countrywide. Dawn Meats Group and Keepack, which control over 60% of the market for Irish beef, conceded to the 90p per lb price demanded by the IFA. Farmers are expected to lift the blockade on three remaining factories where agreement hasn’t yet been reached, later today.

The young woman killed outside Castlerea, Co Roscommon at the weekend has been named as Philomena Tighe, from Glinsk. The 19 year-old woman was a front seat passenger in a car which hit a bridge on the Ballymoe/Castlerea at about 11 pm. on Saturday last. Two other people were injured in the accident and were removed to Roscommon Co. Hospital. Also in county Roscommon, an elderly man died in a house-fire in Tibohine, outside Ballaghaderreen, in the early hours of Saturday morning. Thomas Dowd, aged 70 was alone in the house when the fire broke out. And Bridie Horan of New Street, Ballaghaderreen was killed when she was hit by a truck while crossing the street to a local supermarket on Saturday last.