28/03/2014 - 16:01:29Back to Ireland Home

Former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick has said he was instructed to 'mend fences' with Sean Quinn after the Maple transaction.

In garda interviews the 65-year-old denied that he had stepped outside his role as a non-executive director in meeting with the head of the Quinn Group after the 'bank's biggest deal'.

In July 2008 Anglo lent millions to the Maple ten and Sean Quinn's family to buy shares in the bank in what the prosecution alleges was an unlawful transaction.

The purpose of the deal was to unwind the 29% stake the Cavan businessman had secretly built up in the bank.

But FitzPatrick later told garda that in the wake of the transaction Mr Quinn's relationship with the bank's chief executive David Drumm had hit bottom.

Mr FitzPatrick said Quinn was threatening legal action and that he was seen by Mr Drumm as the only person able to speak to Sean Quinn, however his instructions were clear that he was to 'mend fences' rather than negotiate.

The 65-year-old denies 16 charges of providing unlawful financial assistance.

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FitzPatrick told to 'mend fences' with Quinn Anglo trial hears

Officials say several hundred African migrants tried to cross barbed-wire border fences to enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco on Friday but most were turned back by security forces from both sides. Immigrants from all over Africa regularly dare the razor-wire fences of Spanish enclaves Ceuta and Melilla, which are surrounded by Moroccan territory and sea. European asylum rules and regulations have to be enforced in the enclaves, so once in Melilla or Ceuta, the immigrants are fed and given clothes and beds in special centers.

A Spanish police officer on a motorcycle watches would-be immigrants cheering other ones who want to cross the fence from Morocco into the north African Spanish enclave of Melilla on Friday.

First published March 28 2014, 6:01 AM

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African Migrants Brave Razor Wire to Make New Home

March 27, 2014

NCEA Release

WACO, Texas (SMU) Freshman Sylvia de Toledo has been named to the National Collegiate Equestrian Association All-America Second Team for equitation over fences, the NCEA announced. Sophomore Schaefer Raposa was named to the fences All-America Honorable Mention squad.

Im so pleased for both Sylvia and Schaefer, interim head coach Natalie Burton said. They both have the attitude and work ethic to complement their outstanding natural talent. I am not surprised, but am very excited for both of them to be honored as All-Americans this year.

De Toledo is 11-4 over fences this season, including five MOP rides. The Mustang freshman has tallied an 80 or higher on 13 of her 15 fences rides this season. De Toledo is coming off a third-place finish at the 2014 Pin Oak Charity Collegiate Invitational.

Raposa is 9-4 over fences this season with four of her nine wins resulting in MOP honors. The SMU sophomore has 10 fences rides of 80 or more this season, including a stretch of nine-straight from September 29 to February 15.

As a team, the 10th-ranked Mustangs will await the draw for the 2014 NCEA Championships in Waco, Texas (April 17-19).

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W. Equestrian. De Toledo And Raposa Earn NCEA All-America Honors

Cory Burkarth, University of South Carolina Athletics - Media Relations Ridgefield

12:10 p.m. EDT, March 28, 2014

Schmidt went 2-0 in equitation over fences for the Gamecocks during their two regular season meets while earning one MVP.

Schmidt was previously named SEC Rider of the Month in October 2013 and March 2013. All three of her SEC Rider of the Month awards have come in equitation over fences.

The Gamecocks return to action this weekend when South Carolina and the Town of Blythewood host the 2014 SEC Equestrian Championship. This year's Championship will run March 28 and 29 at One Wood Farm, and admission is free all weekend. The Gamecocks (11-2, 4-2 SEC) earned the No. 1 seed at this year's Championship, and will face No. 4 seed Texas A&M on Friday at 10 a.m. ET. The winner will advance to the championship meet on Saturday, March 29 to face the winner of the Georgia/Auburn meet. Saturday's championship meet will begin at approximately 1:40 p.m. ET, preceded by the consolation meet, which will begin at 9 a.m. ET.

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READER SUBMITTED: Ridgefield Native Katherine Schmidt Named SEC Rider of the Month

Stephen A. Neal, 55, of Darrington; Bill Welsh, 66, of Arlington; Linda L. McPherson, 69, of Arlington; and Kaylee B. Spillers, 5, of Arlington have been identified asvictims of themudslide near Oso,according to the Snohomish County Medical Examiners Office.The cause of death for each was blunt impact, the Medical Examiners Office said.

Neal was a contractor who was doing plumbing work at Amanda Lennicks house in theSteelhead Drive neighborhood at the time of the mudslide. He owned his plumbing business for about 30 years, said son, Ryan Neal, of Marysville. Lennick remains missing.

Ryan Neal described his father as someone always concerned about others.

He was definitely out to help other people, Ryan Neal said.

Welsh was an electrician who planned to meet Stephen Neal at Lennicks house to install a water heater. The two were friends at Whitley Evergreen, where Welsh worked as the head of the electrical department and Neal sometimes worked as an independent contractor. Welsh, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, had worked for 25 years for the Marysville modular commercial-building manufacturer, said general manager Larry Dobrota.

He was 66. He was ready to retire. I told him, No, I wont let you. He was a very good worker. He knew everything about this place, Dobrota said.

McPhersons death had previously been confirmed by family members. McPherson and her husband Gary Mac McPherson were reading the newspaper Saturday morning, separated only by a living-room end table, said daughter Kate McPherson. He was able to grab a stick and dig himself out of the mud.

Even if the dangers of the areawere known, her daughter said, McPherson likely wouldnt have moved to a different area.

She loved the land, Kate McPherson said. That was her home. She was never going to leave.

Kaylees father, Billy Spillers, 30, sister Brooke, 2, and brother Jovon Mangual, 13, are missing. Her brother Jacob, 4, was rescued from the mud. Billy Spillers and the children were watching television when the mudslide hit. Her mother, Jonielle Spillers, wasnt home at the time. The family moved to the Oso area from Seattle about two years ago.

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Medical examiner: 4 more confirmed dead from mudslide

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LEXINGTON, Neb. In 2002 a work visa allowed Osvaldo Vallejo passage into the United States, he settled in Elkton, Md., where he took up construction work doing drywall installation.

Vallejos family consists of with wife Rosa Corona, 14-year-old daughter Veronica Vallejo-Corona and 15-year old son Bryan and younger daughter Ariana, were forced to move in search of better job prospects after the economic crash in 2008 left Osvaldo without work.

After five years living in Lexington, the family has settled into life in Nebraska. They attend St. Anns Catholic Church and Osvaldo works at the meat processing plant in Gibbon.

We like it here, at first it was difficult. Both of us are starting to prosper, Osvaldo works the most, I got a part-time job, Rosa said in Spanish.

Then last summer, Veronica, currently a 14-year old freshman at Lexington High School, began to have convulsions, Rosa said.

They did tests, they found out it was a tumor, they operated in July. It was cancer, Rosa said. The health hardships often leaves Veronica tired when she returns to Lexington from her chemotherapy treatments in Omaha she goes to school when she feels well.

Every two weeks Veronica undergoes chemotherapy treatments in Omaha, a necessity that has forced Rosa to stay at home more and work less.

They are very difficult and heavy days, when Veronica undergoes chemotherapy, Rosa said pointing out that her daughter undergoes two different types of chemotherapy treatments.

Veronicas strength and bright attitude is something that amazes and gives the family strength, Rosa said.

She is very strong, is very positive. It is something that gives us strength. Only people going through that can understand this, Rosa said.

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Family rallies around Lexington High School students brain cancer battle

ROCK HILL, S.C.

A bulletin board at Comfort Systems is covered with thank-you letters from customers, and local charities the business has supported during its 50-year history. All that was overshadowed Thursday by a damaged fence and a major theft. "Well, it shut us down for about half a day this morning, said Matthew Sy. Sy runs the company and said his workers couldn't do their jobs, because everything was gone. "We've been hit numerous times in the past where they've just taken copper, compressors, things like that, but last night they hit our employees tools, he said. So, for much of the day technicians couldn't install HVAC systems. Kim Henson runs a drywall shop across the street. She saw police here earlier this week, after a copper theft. She said things have gotten worse since a break-in last year. "Weve been robbed. Most of the businesses down White Street have been broken into, she said. Channel 9 checked the police department's crime mapping website, and zeroed in on a section of town along East White Street. It shows 43 crimes reported since the beginning of the year. Most of them are break-ins and theft from businesses. For Sy, a comment from his office manager Thursday morning made it worse. "Shes usually the first to get here, and she told me today she's going to start coming in later, because she doesn't feel safe here anymore, he said. The owner had to go to a hardware store and buy tools so his installation crews could work. Police are not talking about possible suspects.

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Multiple businesses in Rock Hill report break-ins, robberies

By Nicole Tuttle Voice Reporter

A message from the Macomb County Department of Roads was recently posted on the Macomb Township website, warning drivers to beware of ruts in thawing gravel roads and water back-up in open ditches, driveway culverts and cross roadway culverts.

Macomb Township has experienced the snowiest winter in 104 years and the coldest in 35 years, the posted message read. The Macomb County Department or Roads has indicated that the frost has reached a depth of 48 inches. This will create two areas of concern for roadways in the area.

Gravel roads thawing out after a cold winter can become soft, rutty and sometimes impassable, according to the notice. The notice also indicates that open ditches, driveway culverts and cross roadway culverts are frozen and can cause water back-up that flows over roads and driveways until they thaw.

Hoepfner said that he sent an e-mail with the gravel road and culvert information to all township supervisors several weeks ago.

We warn them that we know it is going to happen, and we are doing all we can to make repairs and corrections as they occur, Hoepfner said.

Hoepfner said that the department of roads is aware that 24 Mile and Luchtman roads in Macomb Township are presently rough.

Macomb Township Clerk Michael Koehs said that the area between Foss and Romeo Plank on 24 Mile Road is one area to be particularly careful of as the frost departs.

It creates conditions that make it really sloppy and bumpy Anytime you are on a gravel road this time of year, you need to use caution, Koehs said.

The Macomb County Department of Roads 2014 Construction Program schedule lists 24 Mile Road east of Romeo Plank to Foss as scheduled for paving at a total cost of about $1.1 million. The listed estimated start date is August 2014 with an estimated completion date of November 2014. Continued...

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Gravel roads, frozen culverts create concerns, county says