Looking back at 2022 - March

The news that a lone garda was the subject of a savage attack near Blacklion, Co Cavan left a dark cloud over the start of March.
The 29-year-old garda was on patrol and just after 2am he was beaten and doused in petrol along with his patrol car in the early hours of February 28.
Following the incident local politicians said that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of gardai, especially in rural border areas.

Manorhamilton library was the first location in the county to take delivery of the Cubbie sensory hub which provides a multi-sensory space that can both pre-empt and prevent sensory overloads and balances a person’s sensory needs by alerting or calming their senses.

This month well known local District Court Judge, Kevin P Kilrane officially retired.
Serving from 2008, Judge Kevin Kilrane thanked all those who gathered to bid him farewell, lamenting the compulsory retirement age of 70.
“It is unfortunate that the powers that be have nominated 70 as the upper age limit that judges must retire, whether they like it or not,” he said.
“I think if one is healthy and of sane mind there’s a case to be made to allow them to continue in their work provided they are prepared to do it,” he added.

Truck drivers pictured in Carrick-on-Shannon last March before they headed off to bring relief supplies to Ukraine. Picture: Gerry Faughnan

The growing number of refugees arriving from the Ukraine also made headlines this month. Families fleeing from war torn areas have been given refuge in many parts of the country including towns and villages throughout the county.

This month also saw a Ballinamore businessman make international news after an incident outside the Russian Embassy in Dublin. The matter remains before the courts.

This month also saw a story emerge from a Gortletteragh man which saw his entire life savings “wiped out” overnight.
The public was urged to exercise extreme vigilance to the rising prevalence of online investment scams after Terence Keighran was left with just €50 in his bank account and forced to rely on his elderly mother’s pension on more than one occasion in the aftermath of an incident which is now subject to a major garda investigation.

An engineering teacher by profession, Terence told of how he began investing money with a company he initially believed was both fully transparent and legitimate.
After seeing his initial investment sizeably increase within a matter of months, Terence opted to advance further money.

His faith in the authenticity of the company he had invested in gained further credence when Terence decided to withdraw a large five figure sum soon afterwards.
“I decided to invest more and just kept putting more money in over the next six months.”
Terence, however, suddenly became uneasy when attempting to withdraw over half of the money he had originally invested.