Archive for February, 2008
Three killed in road accidents
Three young people have died in separate road accidents in County Derry in the past seven days.
The tragic toll makes this one of the blackest weeks for the county in years.
The first person to die was 24 year old Michael Deehan from the Slievemore Park area of Derry.
The tragedy occurred on Tuesday at around 7.45am at Legavallon Road, Dungiven.
It is understood that the young man was crossing the road on foot when he was struck by a vehicle. Michael was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
In another horrific road collision on Wednesday 35 year old local woman Martina Feeney died after her Ford Fiesta struck a tree on the Glenedra Road, just outside Feeny, at around 6.30am. It is understood the Park woman was travelling to her work at the time of the accident.
In a separate accident a young man was killed in a head on traffic collision with a lorry, on the Glenshane Road, near Claudy yesterday (Monday) at around 7am.
At the time of going to press, the 19 year old driver of the car had not been named but he is believed to be from Derry city.
Local councillor Thomas Conway said: “The carnage on our roads, particularly in rural areas, is becoming too much to bear and I don’t know what the solution is, whether it’s policing or a change in attitude or perhaps a combination of both.
Hospital bug fears grow
Health chiefs are refusing to confirm if anyone has died at the Mid Ulster Hospital as a result of contracting the deadly Clostridium Difficile superbug.
So far 20 people have died since the killer strain first attacked vulnerable patients in hospitals across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area.
A total of seven people have died in January alone.
However, trust bosses are refusing to say if any of the fatalities have occurred at the Magherafelt hospital.
A trust spokesman did confirm that five people are being treated for the killer bug in special isolation rooms at the hospital.
It is understood medical bosses have become increasingly concerned by the bug outbreak in Magherafelt and are considering moving people struck down by it to Antrim Area Hospital, which has a special infection unit.
Northern Trust Chief Executive, Norma Evans, said everything possible was being done to contain the bug.
“It has been a difficult week for patients and staff and indeed for visitors to our hospitals,” she said. “I am pleased however that our rigorous approach during the month of January is beginning to show a more positive turn. The Trust Infection Control Action Team, established to monitor and manage the outbreak, meets weekly to assess progress.
“The team is also carefully looking at our use of antibiotics and has worked with colleagues in General Practice to develop a prescribing policy that has been issued to all GPs and our staff.
I would wish to thank all those members of the public who followed the re-newed instructions given at each of our hospitals; this regime must continue, we cannot afford to be complacent and while I am pleased that figures are showing a downward trend, I know it will be some weeks before we can reasonably say that the situation has returned to normal.”
Last week the County Derry Post highlighted the death of Draperstown woman Rose Reid. The 83-year-old contracted the bug after being treated at Antrim Area Hospital.
Historic GAA game in Limavady
Limavady Wolfhounds Gaelic football side made history on Sunday morning when they met a Derry minor side in the first ever GAA match to played on a council pitch in the Limavady borough.
Both teams fielded experimental line-ups as the county minor team emerged as 2-15 to 2-8 winners but the result was of secondary importance to the Gaels of Limavady who are delighted to be able to avail of council facilities.
Declan Toner, manager of the Limavady Wolfhounds senior team welcomed the development which will alleviate the pressure on the club’s own pitch which struggles to cope with the demands placed on it.
“We are delighted that the council has given the pitch to let us play matches as we didn’t have enough facilities.
“Now in the winter weather, the club is under pressure as we have no facilities and it will also help ease pressure in the summer.
“It’s great to get the opportunity to use these facilities. We are really delighted with the pitch as it’s in very good nick.
“It will help save our own pitch also as we can take teams play matches and free up some space for the other teams to train on the pitch.”
Speaking on the game Ollie Mullan, Sports development officer for Limavady Borough Council and manager of the town’s Irish League soccer side, Limavady United, has welcomed the development.
He said: “Limavady Borough Council have opened their doors to other sports by making facilities available to the Gaelic fraternity.
McCloskey Lynes up Euro shot
Dungiven’s outstanding light welterweight prospect Paul McCloskey has European Champion, Colin Lynes in his sights, following his dismantle of highly-rated Mexican fighter Manuel Garnica in Limerick on Saturday night.
The stylish southpaw took his professional record to 15-0 (7KO) with referee David Irving awarding him the fight on a margin of 98-93, and believes he’s now ready to challenge for a major title.
“The next 12 to 18 months are going to be very big for me. I’m 28 now and I’m probably in the prime of my sporting life. You get to a stage where you have to step-up, if you haven’t won a title by a certain point then you’re probably never going to win one. In 18 months time I’d like to be European Champion.
“Obviously, there are a lot of things that can happen on the way but I was over in England last weekend to see Colin Lynes defend his European title against Juho Tolppola. Lynes is a class fighter but I didn’t see anything that I couldn’t deal with,” he said.
On Saturday night McCloskey displayed the cleaner and more accurate punches. The former St Canice’s ABC boxer took charge of the fight from the initial stages behind his right jab and he landed his left hand consistently.
Garnica’s chin and stamina saw him through to the end but McCloskey’s sharpness never dropped and he admitted to being satisfied with his night’s work.
“I was ready for a hard fight and it was tough but I was pretty much in control from the start. He was a strong tough opponent, just what you’d expect of a Mexican fighter. He threw a few low blows and tried to catch me with his head a few times but that was probably frustration on his part. I was happy enough with my performance but you can’t afford to ignore the negatives. That’s what you have to work on to improve.
“It was billed as an acid test for me and I think I dealt with it well. I hurt my left a wee bit in the fourth round but I had to keep throwing it. There were a couple of times when I had him on the ropes and you know when a guy is getting it tight. To be honest I wasn’t unhappy to have it go the distance as it’s the first time I have ever gone 10 rounds before. You work hard in training but until you’ve done it you never know how you’ll cope. It’s good for the confidence to have gone the distance,” he said.
McCloskey’s next outing will see him topping the bill in Letterkenny on March 22 when he will be hoping that promoter Brian Peters delivers on his promise of “a former world champion” as his opponent.
“My next fight will be in Letterkenny next month and I’m hoping for another tough opponent. At this stage I’m looking for more top class fights and ideally I want a big name,” said McCloskey.
No comments