News you need: Ireland sees highest weekly asylum seeker arrivals
Ireland has recorded its highest weekly number of asylum seekers since September 2024, with 350 people arriving last week. In local politics, Galway has elected a new mayor, while a former national politician has resigned from his party following a recent investigation.
New government figures show that 350 people applied for asylum in Ireland last week. This represents the highest weekly total of arrivals recorded since September 2024.
In political news, Helen Ogbu has been elected as the new Mayor of Galway. A member of the Labour Party, Ogbu secured the position just over two years after she was first elected to the City Council. Separately, former Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Kenneally has resigned his membership from the party. A TD, or Teachta Dála, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives in the Irish parliament. The resignation follows the release of a report into Bill Kenneally, a relative and former basketball coach convicted of historical abuse.
In the courts, a 70-year-old man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the sexual abuse of his daughter during her childhood. He was convicted of eight counts of sexual assault at the Central Criminal Court. The man’s name has been withheld to protect the identity of the victim.
In Northern Ireland, police were called to an altercation at Lidl’s first-ever pub, "The Middle Ale," in Dundonald near Belfast. The incident occurred just hours after the 60-seater venue opened for the first time. One man was taken to the hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
Additionally, Ukrainian therapist Liudmyla Nakonechna is highlighting the ongoing trauma faced by refugees in Ireland. She is working to help fellow displaced people rebuild their lives while managing the emotional impact of the conflict in their home country.
Visit the app's News section for more, including Katie Taylor’s honorary degree from Trinity College, the URC final between Leinster and the Bulls, and reports of a train collision in the UK.