[caption id="attachment_71696" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Customs Officer Matthew Hudson with the 38 million cigarettes with a retail value of €14.7 million seized by customs officers in Dublin Port. The cigarettes were brought into the country in four 40-foot maritime containers. The cigarettes seized represent a potential loss to the Exchequer of €13.1 million. They originated in Vietnam and arrived into Dublin Port via Rotterdam. "]
DUBLIN NATION IS ‘SOFT TOUCH’ FOR SMUGGLERS
A Northside shopkeeper has said that the recent haul of cigarettes worth €14.7 million at Dublin Port shows that the market for illegal tobacco is growing rather than waning.
Benny Gilsenan, who owns Benny's on Emmet Street opposite Croke Park and is the spokesperson for Retailers Against Smuggling, said the recent haul indicates that Ireland is still considered a "soft touch" for criminals.
The seizure on April 13 was the third largest in the history of the State.
"It's great that these cigarettes are being seized before they hit the streets, but it does show that there is still a market for Irish and European criminals to make money here, otherwise they wouldn't be shipping such large amounts of illegal cigarettes into the country," Gilsenan told the Northside People.
"The market is obviously extremely profitable and the risk these criminals run if they're caught isn't a deterrent,” he added.
"The penalties for being caught are simply not strong enough. The big-time criminals are not going to get caught and it's the small-fries who are paying the fines on their behalf, which are peanuts in relative terms when you think of how much money is being earned from the import and sale of illegal cigarettes.
"We as shopkeepers find that the gardaí and customs act quickly and take seriously any tip offs we give them on the street sale of cigarettes.
"Just recently I called the gardaí after I saw a guy selling smokes on a street corner close to my shop and they lifted him within minutes," he said.
"Customs and the gardaí have their hands tied because the Government isn't giving them the manpower they need to make a serious difference and the justice system is such that illegal smugglers are only getting a slap on the wrist if or when they come to court,” he said.
Last year the capital registered 50 convictions for illegal tobacco activity, 32 for smuggling cigarettes and 18 people were convicted for selling illegal cigarettes.
CLARE KNOCK BOOSTS TOURIST NUMBERS
Additional flights at Ireland West Airport Knock are providing an unexpected boost for tourism in Clare. Two hotels in the county are expected to benefit from up to 640 additional bed nights later in the summer as a result of the recently launched Lufthansa Dusseldorf-to-Knock route, the Clare Champion reports.
According to Michael Vaughan, owner of Vaughan Lodge Hotel in Lahinch and current president of the Irish Hotels Federation, the Luftansa service to the Mayo airport, which only began last weekend, is already having an impact in Clare.
"The Luftansa flight coming into Knock is bringing tourists down here. This proves that not all tourists have to come through Shannon and that every airport, particularly those on the west coast, has a part to play in nurturing and promoting the tourism product here," Vaughan commented.
The service, which will operate every Saturday until the end of September, is expected to bring in the region of 2,000 German tourists generating a spend in excess of €1,000,000 for the Mid-West, West and North-West regions.
The number of German visitors coming to one of the county's best-known tourist attractions has been strong this year according to Katherine Webster, director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre.
"Figures show that about 65 percent of the Germans flying into Dublin are coming to the West of Ireland so a direct service into the west, even if it is Knock and not Shannon, will further benefit the region," she said.
SLIGO BISHOPS CALLS FOR MORE DEACONS
With the first ordination of new deacons to the Diocese of Elphin due in December, Bishop Christopher Jones is now inviting married and single men who may be interested in becoming permanent deacons to contact Church authorities, the Sligo Champion reports.
Six trainees are due to complete a four year part-time training program later this year, with Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, earmarked for an ordination ceremony.
The new deacons will officiate at baptisms, weddings, funerals and other services throughout Sligo.
"We are now accepting enquiries from married and single men who may feel called to ministry as permanent Deacons. The training program will begin in October or November and we will have consultations and discussions with anyone interested. Bishop Jones would be delighted to welcome any expressions of interest," said the Rev. Michael Duignan, director for the Permanent Diaconate, Diocesan Offices, St. Mary's.
Single men over 30 and married men over 35 and under 60 can apply to become deacons. If single, they take a promise of celibacy when they are ordained and live from then on as celibates. If married, they may not remarry should their spouse predecease them.
KERRY CLUB FALLS FOR MCILROY HOAX
Rory McIlroy fans were teed-off in Ballybunion the Saturday before last after an elaborate hoax saw a crowd of around 100 wait in vain for hours to welcome the golfing superstar, the Kerryman newspaper reports.
The fans gathered from 7.30 a.m. for a supposed visit that had the club engage outside caterers. The club got a call on Friday from a man, claiming to be an agent for golfer Mark O'Meara, asking if it would be possible for O'Meara and McIlroy to play a round together on the old course prior to attending the Heineken Cup Ulster/Edinburgh match in Dublin. The no-show was clearly apparent by 11.30 a.m.
"It was looking immaculate," said photographer Dominic Walsh, who was dispatched by the Examiner, after the Cork daily was contacted by Ballybunion Golf Club.
"The saddest thing about it was the disappointment on the faces of his young fans,” Walsh said.
