An Irish volunteer who fought with the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War has been granted Spanish citizenship at a ceremony in London in recognition of his contribution to democracy.
Dublin-born Paddy Cochrane, 96, is thought to be the last surviving Irish veteran of the war. Mr Cochrane, whose father had been shot by the Black and Tans, went to Spain as an ambulance driver but was injured after a year and sent to London to convalesce.
In a ceremony today at the Spanish embassy in London, RTE News reports, he and six British veterans were granted Spanish citizenship.
The former treasurer of a GAA club in County Limerick, who stole cash and forged cheques from the club worth almost €100,000, has been jailed for a year at Limerick Circuit Court.
RTE News reports that Patricia Carroll, 49, of Chapel Street in Kilfinane had pleaded guilty to stealing cash of over €63,000.
She also pleaded guilty to forging cheques worth over €34,000 from the Blackrock club in Kilfinane between dates in October 2005 and March 2007.
The three seats in the North West European constituency were filled in the early hours this morning.
Independent Marian Harkin (left), Pat the Cope Gallagher of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's Jim Higgins were all elected on the sixth count without reaching the quota. After a lengthy count and a detailed recheck of over 500,000 ballot papers in the constituency, just 1,487 votes separated the three successful candidates at the end of the proceedings in Castlebar.
Libertas leader Declan Ganley resigned from politics following the election count.
An Irish volunteer who fought with the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War has been granted Spanish citizenship at a ceremony in London in recognition of his contribution to democracy.
