Sligo witness appeal
A man has died after being seriously assaulted in Co Sligo on Tuesday.
The incident happened at Rockwood Parade in Sligo at around 6pm on Tuesday evening. Emergency services attended the scene and treated the man, aged in his 30s, for an apparent head injury.
He was taken to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he later died. A post-mortem examination will be carried out, the results of which will direct the further course of the investigation, gardaí said.
As the investigation continues, gardaí are asking for witnesses to come forward.
Failed accommodation pledges
More than half of the accommodation pledges made for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland have failed to come to fruition.
Mass accommodation for refugees is going to become a larger part of the Irish response to the crisis, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Roderic O’Gorman, whose department is leading efforts to house refugees fleeing the war-torn country, admitted the Government is facing challenges with around 25,000 Ukrainians having already arrived in Ireland.
He confirmed the Millstreet Arena in Co Cork is now being used to house 70 refugees. He said such accommodation is “not the preference” but he expects refugees to be there for a “number of weeks”.
Meanwhile, Millstreet locals have pledged to give refugees a "warm welcome". Noel Buckley, chair of Millstreet Community Council, said the first bus arrived at about 9pm on Wednesday and that the refugees were in remarkably good spirits despite the arduous and emotional journey undertaken from their war-torn homeland.
Consumer confidence plummets
Consumer confidence has fallen to an 18-month low amid concerns over the cost of living and the war in Ukraine.
According to the latest KBC Bank Ireland consumer sentiment survey, consumers are being more pessimistic about their spending plans.
The latest index fell from 67.0 in March to 57.7 in April, which is significantly lower than the average 86.6. Previously, there had been a 10 point drop seen between February and March.
The cumulative 24 point decline in the survey over the three months from February to April is the second largest in the 26-year history of the survey.
Stalking and strangulation offences
Stalking and non-fatal strangulation are set to become standalone offences under new legislation, with the changes aiming to create greater awareness and reporting of the crimes.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has secured Government approval to draft the legislation.
While both stalking and non-fatal strangulation are already crimes, the Minister is proposing a number of changes to make the law in this area “clearer and stronger”.
The changes, which will be included in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, will empower courts to issue orders restraining stalking behaviours without a criminal prosecution and also strengthen procedural protections for alleged victims of stalking during the court process.
