Galway Advertiser 2006/2006_03_30/GA_3003_E1_001.pdf 

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March 30, 2006

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Two Ballybane men charged in connection with body in car case
Body identified as Bohermore man Joe Sweeney
Two men in their twenties appeared in custody before Galway District Court yesterday in connection with an ongoing Garda investigation into the discovery of a body which was found in the back of a burnt out car in Ballybane on Monday. Tom McDonagh (26), 35 Lios na Run, Ballybane, Galway, was remanded in custody for one week, while his co-accused Tom Sweeney (23), 79 Castle Park, Ballybane, Galway, was granted bail. McDonagh is charged with burglary at a house at Elm Park, College Road, Galway in the early hours of Saturday morning last and with stealing a car from the same address. He is further charged with leaving the scene of an accident at the Morris Roundabout, Ballybane, Galway, on Monday last. Detective Sergeant Willie Byrne, who gave evidence of arresting McDonagh yesterday, March 28, after he voluntarily walked into Galway Garda Station, said that when charged, McDonagh had replied, "Guilty as charged." McDonagh is further charged with failing to appear before Nenagh District Court last November to face another charge. A bench warrant was issued by that court when he failed to appear and Det Sgt Byrne told Galway District Court yesterday that he executed the bench warrant yesterday morning before the court hearing. Tom Sweeney, who also went voluntarily to the Garda Station, is charged with allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car at Morris Roundabout, Ballybane on March 27. Garda Fergus Gaughan gave evidence of arresting Sweeney yesterday. When charged the accused had replied, "I didn't know it was stolen." Both men will appear before the court again, next Wednesday, April 5. In a related incident, the dead man found in the back of the stolen car on Monday afternoon has been named locally as Joe Sweeney, from Bohermore. A Garda investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of his charred remains in the back of the stolen car is still ongoing. -

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Ho'way the lads as Connacht aim for Geordie success
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Tom McDonagh from Ballybane pictured entering Galway District Court yesterday morning. Photo: Andrew Downes.

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Shock as Mayor decides to stay local
BY KERNAN ANDREWS The Mayor of Galway Cllr Brian Walsh has declared that he will not be among those seeking nomination to stand for Fine Gael in Galway West in the May 2007 General Election. The decision will come as a surprise to some as Mayor Walsh proved one of the party's most successful candidates in the 2004 local elections and many saw him as a future successor to Fine Gael's Galway West TD Padraic McCormack. However he has ruled out putting his name forward for the next election. "I will not be a candidate," he told the Galway Advertiser, "and I consulted with my family, friends, and political supporters before I made this decision. I was elected to serve on the city council and I am still learning the game. I recently got married, I am starting a business which I need to commit to, and being a councillor is hard work and as Mayor it is very enjoyable but very time consuming. Dep McCormack is our candidate, a very hard worker, and I will be supporting him." While Mayor Walsh has ruled out standing in 2007, is he perhaps thinking longer term down the road to the 2012 election when many new faces should emerge onto Galway West. However he is ruling that out as well. "I don't see any future for myself in national politics," he said. "I am happy and content being part of local government. It is time consuming but I enjoy it. I enjoy just being on the local scene."

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