Warning of rise in racism

IRISH ATTITUDES towards immigrants are hardening as people search for someone to blame for their worsening economic situation, a leading NGO has warned.

Crosscare Migrant Project, which provides information to migrants, has also appealed to the Government to maintain funding for projects to assist immigrants to integrate into Irish life.

Conor Hickey, director of the Crosscare Migrant Project, said yesterday people “rolled out the red carpet for migrants” willing to do the jobs they were not willing to do a few years ago. This carpet is being “rolled back” against a backdrop of rising unemployment and the threat of racism, he said.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1126/1224259488680.html

Commission finds Church covered up child sex abuse

The Commission of Investigation into Dublin’s Catholic Archdiocese has concluded that there is “no doubt” that clerical child sexual abuse was covered up by the archdiocese and other Church authorities.

The commission’s report covers the period between January 1st 1975 and April 30th 2004. It said there cover-ups took place over much of this period.

In its report, published this afternoon, it has also found that “the structures and rules of the Catholic Church facilitated that cover-up.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1126/breaking73.htm

Life sentence for Brazilian murderer

A BUTCHER has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his girlfriend with his meat-boning knife in Roscommon last year.

Brazilian Amilton Leonel de Olivera (37), Lanesborough Street, Roscommon town, pleaded guilty yesterday to murdering mother of one Kezia Gomes Rosa (31) on August 19th, 2008, at a house on Lanesborough Street.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1124/1224259338967.html

Poll shows hardening of attitude towards immigrants

THE VAST majority (72 per cent) of people want to see a reduction in the number of non-Irish immigrants living here, according to an Irish Times /Behaviour Attitudes opinion poll.

Overall, a total of 43 per cent say they would like to see some, but not all, immigrants leave the State, while 29 per cent would like to see most immigrants leave. In contrast, just over a quarter (26 per cent) would like to see the number of immigrants remain as it is.

In a reversal of trends from polls in recent years, younger people’s attitudes towards immigration have hardened the most.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2009/1124/1224259339934.html?via=mr

Chinese man ordered to leave country

A Chinese man who sexually assaulted a woman and mugged and beat a young girl has been given a three-year suspended sentence on condition that he leave the country immediately and not return for 15 years.

Yu, of Garville Avenue, Rathgar, but originally from North China, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a young woman on May 14, 2006 on Ranelagh Road. He also pleaded guilty to robbing a 16-year-old girl of her handbag on June 1, 2006 on Kenilworth Road, Rathmines.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/chinese-man-ordered-to-leave-country-434666.html#ixzz0X9SSwjSD

Protests over hygiene and heat by asylum seekers

DOZENS OF asylum seekers protesting against conditions at Globe House accommodation centre in Sligo yesterday said they regularly had no hot water and no heating for days at a time.

About 50 people protesting outside the centre said there was one washing machine for 173 residents. They said the doors of dryers had to be closed with cellotape. “People are saying it is like a hotel here. It is a nice building on the outside but they should see inside,” said one resident.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1111/1224258551899.html

Mayor of Limerick: "Send home jobless nationals"

THE Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Kevin Kiely, has called for the deportation of EU-nationals who have failed to secure employment since their arrival here.

"I'm calling for anybody who is living in the State and who can't afford to pay for themselves to be deported after three months. We are borrowing €400 million per week to maintain our own residents and we can't afford it," the outspoken politician said this Wednesday.

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/Mayor-of-Limerick-Send-home.5814604.jp

Cocaine use here among the highest in Europe

Irish youths are among the worst in Europe when it comes to cocaine use, a new report has revealed.

The European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) showed the country has the fourth-highest use of cocaine among 15- to 24-year-olds in Europe.

Ireland is also among the countries with the highest prevalence of drug-related deaths, coming fifth in Europe with 57 drug-induced deaths per million of population.

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/cocaine-use-here-among-the-highest--in-europe-1936117.html

Asylum 'shoppers' deported over scam

One-in-10 asylum seekers who arrived here this year have been deported to other EU member states because they were 'shopping' for benefits.

The extent of the racket was revealed last night after a week-long operation targeting the asylum 'shoppers' -- so-called because they shop around for better benefit deals between various EU countries.

The recent crackdown by the Garda National Immigration Bureau and the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service resulted in the arrest and deportation of 22 people, mainly Somalians, Albanians and Eritreans.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/asylum-shoppers--deported-over-scam-1934607.html

Serbian national jailed for importing cocaine

A former military bodyguard has been jailed for six years for importing cocaine into the country hidden in a car’s battery.

Zoran Andjelkovic (aged 41), a Dutch national, but originally from Serbia, was caught with nearly two kilogrammes of the drug, worth €125,000. Gardaí were alerted to the drugs by a confidential tip-off.

Andjelkovic, of Hagandoornwag, Amsterdam, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on December 13, 2008 at the Airside Retail Park in Swords.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/former-bodyguard-gets-six-years-for-cocaine-in-car-battery-433119.html#ixzz0W0zpZiVU

Polish man arrested after drugs find

A 30-year-old man is in custody following the discovery of over 4.5kgs of herbal cannabis in Wexford yesterday.

A Polish male was arrested at the scene and was handed over to gardaí in Wexford.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1102/breaking50.htm