Galway Advertiser 2006/2006_07_20/GA_2007_E1_006.pdf 

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6 N E W S

www.galwayadvertiser.ie

July 20 2006

Parents on alert after stranger's approach to children
BY UNA SINNOTT Parents in the Tirellan Heights area of the city were on alert this week after two young children were approached by a man who had been hiding in bushes in the housing estate. The girls, aged seven and nine, were walking close to their home on Sunday when the man jumped out from behind a bush. Frightened, the pair ran off. However they had to pass the spot again in order to reach their homes, and when they passed by a short time later the man again emerged from the bush and called them over. The children again ran off and went to the house of the grandmother of one of the children, who alerted their parents. The incident happened close to the bus stop at the Coolough end of Tirellan Heights at the weekend. The man is described as a foreign national with dark skin. He wore black trousers and a long multicoloured top and he was carrying two shopping bags which contained sweets. Anyone with information on this incident should contact Galway Garda Station at (091) 538000.

Formal announcement on Debenhams expected in weeks
BY JULIE TIERNEY

"Moving house need space call"

A buyout deal between Roches and Debenhams is expected to be formally announced in a matter of weeks provided there are no last minute hitches. Spokespersons for both companies continue to remain tightlipped on the takeover of the retail operations of Roches Stores by Debenhams but sources close to the deal have revealed they have signed a heads of agreement and are completing due diligence. The Roche family stand to make a substantial fortune if it

exits the running of the 11-store group, however it is difficult to gauge how much they will actually make from the sale of the business as the group does not publicly publish trading figures. Last summer Roches Stores sold its four supermarkets, including the Supervalu supermarket in Eyre Square, to Marks and Spencer when it decided to withdraw from supermarket retailing to focus solely on the nonfood side of its business. The move was consistent with Roches Stores strategic focus on its fashion and homewares business in

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recent years. It is believed the company is now effecting a similar move with its fashion and homeware shops as it

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completes its withdrawal from the Irish High Street. The Roche family is expected to continue its property assets of the retail group, however, including the flagship Henry St Shop in Dublin which will be leased to Debenhams. A spokesperson for

Roches Stores said she was not in a position to comment on the deal but that as far as staff were concerned it was `business as usual'. A spokesperson for Debenhams also declined to comment. Roches Stores staff are expected be transferred to Debenhams should the deal go ahead, but it is not clear how the deal will affect third party retailers which operate within Roches Stores under licence. Debenhams has shops in Belfast, Dublin, Newbridge, and Cork and has been on an aggressive store opening drive in the UK this year. By acquiring Roches Stores it will spread its Irish reach to Limerick, Galway, Waterford, and Kerry.

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