Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today With Will Faulkner - Tuesday July 15th

Power delays in Portlaoise have left 80 families unable to move into new homes, exposing wider grid capacity issues across half the country’s substations. Offaly County Council has launched its Climate Action Plan and designated Tullamore as a Decarbonising Zone, aiming for a 51% emissions cut by 2030. Athlone’s Diarmuid Morrissey has summited Denali—his sixth of the Seven Summits—bringing him one step closer to completing the world’s tallest peaks.

Tributes are pouring in for Paul Loonam, a respected boxing coach and referee, following his death in a workplace accident near Tullamore. A Laois councillor says €40k is being redirected to tackle a rat-infested alley in Portlaoise, as the council cracks down on illegal dumping. Families say Portiuncula Hospital’s maternity service may no longer be viable, after reviews revealed major clinical and governance failings.

Tusla handled nearly 10,000 child protection referrals in the Midlands last year, as its annual report marks a decade of rising demand, reform and staff growth. Experts recommend transferring high-risk pregnancies from Portiuncula Hospital after critical reviews highlighted serious safety and staffing issues. Delays to electricity connections have left 80 Portlaoise families locked out of new homes, fuelling anger over infrastructure planning failures.

Two Midlands-based GPs and a medical secretary are facing over 130 charges for allegedly submitting false claims and laundering money through the HSE. A woman has spoken out about fleeing the country after her ex-partner beat her with a golf club in Athlone; he now awaits sentencing for the savage attack. Pat McDonagh has criticised the DPP’s refusal to prosecute a withdrawn injury claim, saying businesses deserve better protection from false affidavits.

The Sinn Féin leader says she’s keeping all options open ahead of this year’s presidential election, as party consultations continue. Financial advisers say the Government has failed to simplify pensions, with one in three calling its communication around auto-enrolment “terrible.” Georgina Tuohey, whose children were abused by her ex-partner, is campaigning for electronic tagging of sex offenders after a sentencing she says offers no real justice.

The Irish Road Haulage Association says red tape is worsening the driver shortage and wants faster permit approval for non-EU workers. A Cork man remains in custody after being charged with multiple assaults on women in Athlone during a single day of alleged unprovoked attacks. A senior Garda used official channels to import gun parts for a private club, with no charges or disciplinary action recommended despite an internal investigation.

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The Longford-based charity that reunites children in hospital with their pets is seeking sustained Government support to expand services nationwide. One of the Midlands’ fastest-growing sports clubs has secured planning permission for a purpose-built facility beside Athlone’s Regional Sports Centre. Nearly half of women who contacted Gardaí about domestic abuse found their response unhelpful, prompting calls for better training and consistency across stations.

Oil prices tumbled after Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, easing fears of global supply disruption. A major deal with unions will see thousands of health workers rostered over weekends to tackle the trolley crisis and boost patient care. Laois County Council is rolling out free STEM workshops tailored for children with autism, helping build skills, confidence, and fun through hands-on learning.

A Daft.ie report reveals Midlands house prices jumped by 16.5%—the highest regional rise—as supply remains tight despite signs of recovery in Dublin. The Irish Road Haulage Association says poor hedge-cutting is causing crashes and costing truckers thousands in repairs, calling for tougher local enforcement. Developer Sean Mulryan has proposed a €multi-billion eco-city for Athlone by 2040, aiming to make it a European hub for sustainability and green tech.

Irish officials are working to help citizens leave Israel and Iran, as Tánaiste Simon Harris warns of escalating conflict and the urgent need for diplomacy. Alpha Drives & Switchgear is investing €3.5 million in a major expansion, with plans to hire 30 new staff at its Portlaoise base. Fine Gael is pushing to limit welfare hikes for long-term unemployed in Budget 2026, insisting priority should go to pensioners, carers and disabled people.

A Portlaoise man who faked lawnmower injury details to claim €167,000 in insurance payouts has avoided jail but must repay €20k. Irish Rail’s antisocial behaviour text line logged over 4,200 complaints in 2024, including racism, sexual harassment, and drug use on trains and platforms. HIQA has defended its handling of abuse claims at a Portlaoise care home, as politicians demand tougher laws and fines for failing private operators.

HIQA has referred two nursing homes—including one in Portlaoise—to Gardaí after nearly 240 abuse allegations, vowing reforms following an RTÉ Investigates exposé. Four relatives of Ashling Murphy’s killer have been found guilty of withholding evidence or assisting in covering up the 2022 murder. A EuroMillions ticket sold in Ireland has landed the record €250 million jackpot—the largest National Lottery win in the country’s history.