Latest news with #Loftus
News24
3 days ago
- Sport
- News24
Currie Cup: Bulls v Pumas
Live updates from the Currie Cup match between the Bulls and Pumas at Loftus Ver...
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Mayo hotel refused permission to convert function room into residential accommodation
Pat Mulhern Civil Engineering (Ireland) had sought retention permission to install ten guest rooms in an area currently occupied by a function room in the Dolphin Hotel in Crossmolina. The nine-bedroom hotel began providing emergency accommodation to homeless people after it closed in November 2024. At one point, 16 people were being accommodated at the hotel, which is owned by Pat and Mary Mulhern, who invested over €1 million in the premises after purchasing it in 2017. Mayo County Council refused retention permission as the facility had inadequate parking and would lead to an increase in traffic that would endanger public safety. Mary Gordon, Head of Planning Administration with Mayo County Council, said that converting the function room into residential accommodation 'would constitute an overdevelopment of the site, resulting in a sub-standard development which would alter the existing character of the immediate area in an undesirable manner and depreciate the value of the adjoining properties in the vicinity.' The proposal to convert the function room to residential accommodation attracted widespread local opposition. Over 100 people attended a public meeting in the town to discuss the proposed the development earlier this year. A total of 78 public submissions were lodged to Mayo County Council before the development was refused planning. This included submissions from local county councillor Michael Loftus and former Mayo footballer Peadar Gardiner. The local soccer club, Crossmolina FC, also lodged an objection. Cllr Loftus said in his submission that the function room 'has a low ceiling and limited natural light, making it an unsuitable environment' for residential accommodation. ADVERTISEMENT Speaking to the Irish Independent, Cllr Loftus said the local community were 'thrilled' with the council's decision to refuse the retention application. 'We want our hotel back so we can have functions in it, like we used to have. This location that was being proposed by Mr Mulhern was totally unsuitable for putting anybody into, regardless of who they were,' said the Fianna Fáil councillor. Tom Gilligan, Mayo County Council's Director of Services for Housing, told the Irish Independent that there would be no change to the existing residents' living arrangements. 'There is no change to the guests that are currently availing of the facility. We are still utilising rooms in the hotel for the provision of temporary emergency accommodation,' he said. The refusal of retention permission at the Dolphin Hotel was welcomed by Mayo TD Paul Lawless, who said the decision should set a precedent for how IPAS centres and emergency accommodation should be handled. 'Too often we see inappropriate developments pushed through without regard for local infrastructure, services, or the long-term sustainability of the area. If a development isn't suitable in terms of scale or services then it shouldn't go ahead, whether it's a hotel conversion or an IPAS centre,' said the Aontú TD. 'We must ensure that planning decisions reflect the needs of both the existing community and any new residents. That means rejecting unsuitable developments and insisting on equal standards for all developments as well as community consultation at every stage. This should be the norm, not the exception.'
The Citizen
04-08-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Confirmed: Ackermann retains coaches who served under Jake White
Johan Ackermann has kept his predecessor's assistant coaches under contract despite a potential role redundancy. New Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has retained the assistant coaches who served under his predecessor, Jake White. There was speculation whether the former Lions, Gloucester and Urayasu coach would shake things up at the Bulls after White's divisive final weeks at the Pretoria union, the assistant coaches' role in his removal, and the potential redundancy of forwards coach Andries Bekker. Ackermann keeps Bekker under contract The Bulls were the most successful union in South Africa under White, reaching three United Rugby Championship finals in the last four years. But after this season's final defeat to Leinster, White told media he simply could not beat the Irish side with the players he had. It emerged that players and coaches were unhappy with White's leadership, which had a more top-down and autocratic style. Assistant coaches Chris Rossouw and Bekker in fact, led the way by taking players' grievances above White's head directly to the board, who mutually agreed to part ways with the coach last month. It did not take the Bulls long to replace White. Ackermann wrapped up his time consulting the Junior Springboks with their World Rugby U20 Championship win and on the same day he arrived back in South Africa, paid Loftus a visit. New Bulls boss brings a different approach His own coaching career is also speckled with accolades (three times SA coach of the year, and one more in Japan) and defeats in tournament finals. But Ackermann brings a more unified and open approach to coaching. He told media in his first press conference that he wanted to hear the opinions of his players, but needed them to know that he was still in charge and they had to earn their places. On Monday, the Bulls confirmed with The Citizen that Ackermann has opted to keep White's previous coaches under contract. This is especially important for Bekker, after Ackermann was expected to take a more hands-on approach with the forwards, where he has been instrumental in his previous teams. He also said he will watch Phiwe Nomlomo coach the Bulls' Currie Cup side for a while before making suggestions about their tactics. Currently, the Bulls lead the Currie Cup log with 10 points from their first two games. They smashed the Sharks 64–0 at Loftus on the weekend to follow up their 48-23 win against the Western Province in Cape Town the week before.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Calls for Loftus 'eyesore' pub to be improved
Calls have been made for a plan to be drawn up to improve an eyesore former pub at the entrance of a Royal Hotel has lain empty on the side of A174 leading into Loftus for many years and a for sale sign was recently put up plans to turn it into an apartment-style hotel and supported living flats did not materialise, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said."It is a building in dire need of repair and slap bang next to a public footpath, and we need to make sure it is safe," Redcar and Cleveland Council's Loftus ward representative Wayne Davies said. 'Massive carbuncle' The independent councillor told a council meeting it was "the last eyesore" in the town, after a number of interventions on other buildings."We will keep pressing and it may have to go down the enforcement route," he councillor Tim Gray claimed the appearance of the Royal Hotel was affecting tourism in the area."It is a massive carbuncle and can't be left in the state it is," he added he was hoping to meet with an enforcement officer at the Labour-led council to discuss the building."The Royal holds a lot of memories for people," he said."I bought my first legal pint there and had my wedding reception in there, and that's why I am passionate about it." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Record
09-07-2025
- Daily Record
Gangsters targeted mob boss Mark Richardson's brother and best mate during six-day gun and knife rampage
Dale Richardson, 35, and David Togher, 40, were left with serious injuries after they were ambushed on Edinburgh's Walter Scott Avenue. Gangsters targeted mob boss Mark Richardson's brothe r and best mate during a six-day gun and knife rampage in Edinburgh. Dale Richardson, 35, and David Togher, 40, were left with serious injuries after they were ambushed on the capital's Walter Scott Avenue on June 28, 2023. Both were assaulted to their severe injury after assailants Jordan Demarco and Daryl Loftus, both 33, struck the pair's bodies with an unknown weapon. Just days later, they attempted to target Togher again during a botched break in of a home in Gorebridge. Demarco and Loftus were convicted of a terrifying six-day weapon rampage across Edinburgh, which saw the involvement of firearms, machetes and a sledgehammer. Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard how the pair reigned terror across the capital and surrounding areas between the dates of June 28 and July 4, 2023. It heard how a home on Bobbies Road in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, was broken into while Loftus was in the possession of a firearm or imitation gun, with the intent to cause the occupier fear. At the same time, Loftus was also in possession of a sledgehammer while Demarco wielded a machete. A set of keys and a vehicle were stolen from the address. The following day, the door of a home on Edinburgh's Niddrie Marischal Crescent was repeatedly struck as Demarco and Loftus attempted to gain entry. Hours later, they repeatedly struck another door on Shanter Way, attempting to cut through it with a circular saw with the intention of assaulting the two occupants. A woman was then threatened with a machete on Gilmerton Dykes Place after a brick was hurled through her window and door kicked down. On July 4, Loftus brandished a knife at a man while threatening him on Edinburgh's Saltire Square. The chaos is understood to have been sparked after an angle grinder and knife were brandished at a man on Granton Medway. Loftus was jailed for more than seven years at the High Court in Edinburgh on April 4. Demarco is due to be sentenced at the same court in August. In 2016, cocaine kingpin Mark Richardson's best pal Togher was caged for nearly six years for a frenzied slashing on drugs baron Sean 'Lugs' McGovern. Togher glided a knife across McGovern's body in front of horrified shoppers in Edinburgh city centre in a sinister revenge attack. The violence took place moments before McGovern, now 41, was due to return to jail from home leave. He had been serving 17 years for a shooting and drug crimes. A Record reporter and photographer witnessed the slashing. They saw bleeding McGovern run after the hitmen as they fled to a waiting Skoda. He then slumped to the ground and was helped into an ambulance with his head, neck and left hand bandaged. Distinctive cycling gear worn by Togher during the attack helped get him caught. He admitted assaulting McGovern to the danger of life. The High Court in Glasgow heard that McGovern had refused to help police. Togher's QC said there had been "historical" bad blood between the men. Lord Turnbull told him: "The victim was a serving prisoner who was obviously an enemy of yours for one reason or another."
