Kerry Today

Emergency services responded to an explosion and fire at a house in the Manor East area of Tralee, at around 5pm yesterday. Four people – two men, a woman and a teenager – had to be evacuated from the house. One of the men, aged in his 40s had to be taken to hospital. Jerry spoke to Radio Kerry journalist David Nelligan who was at the scene last evening, to Deputy Mayor of Tralee Angie Baily, and to Eoin O’Donnell, acting chief fire officer with Kerry Fire & Emergency Service.

Every Wednesday, Tony gives his perspective on listeners’ dilemmas.

The Government proposes changes to the migrant and refugee system including charges of up to €238 a week for accommodation. John Lannon is CEO of Doras, a non-governmental human rights organization, which supports the rights of refugees, migrants and those seeking international protection.

The Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville is part of the property portfolio of the Press Up group which has gone into receivership. Cathaoirleach of Kenmare Municipal District Fianna Fáil councillor Norma Moriarty says she understands there have been developments that give hope to the prospect that the hotel may reopen soon.

Former Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council and former Mayor of Tralee, retired Fine Gael councillor Jim Finucane has died at the age of 68. Tánaiste and leader of Fine Gael Simon Harris, Minister Norma Foley, Cathaoirleach of Kenmare Municipal District Norma Moriarty, Cathaoirleach of Castleisland Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District Bobby O’Connell, Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae, Deputy Michael Cahill and former TD John Brassil paid tribute to him. Mr Finucane’s death was sudden. Just over two weeks ago, he was appointed honorary consul of Ukraine for the south-west region.

Jerry spoke to a dear friend of the social justice campaigner who died yesterday at the age of 86. Like Sr Stan, Mike Joe Fitzgerald is from Lispole but moved to Dublin. They became friends when he owned a bookshop in Dingle.

Last night, the first in a two-part documentary aired on RTÉ about the Irish tracker mortgage scandal which affected more than 40,000 customers who were wrongly overcharged. Jerry spoke the victims’ champion financial advisor Padraic Kissane who’s originally from Lisselton.

A Killarney listener wrote to Jerry about the local property tax, he wrote: “I don’t object to the idea of a property tax, but this tax in its present blunt form is totally immoral and unjust because it takes no account of personal circumstances or ability to pay. I hereby challenge the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, or any government minister to come on your programme, or on any programme, and say that I am wrong.” Separately, Killarney Municipal District Budget meeting yesterday heard that due to the re-valuation of homes, it’s currently expected that there will be an additional €900,000 allocated to the council from the LPT. Cllr Niall Kelleher made some points about how this additional income should be used.

Former Kilkenny hurling star DJ Carey has been sentenced to five and a half years for defrauding 22 people out of nearly €400,000 by falsely claiming he had cancer. Jerry spoke to sports journalist Denis Hurley of the Evening Echo and to Amy Molloy, social affairs correspondent for the Irish Independent.

O’Callaghan’s Mills of Clare defeated Abbeydorney by two points in the Munster Intermediate Hurling Quarter-final Championship played in Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday. Limerick’s Knockaderry defeated Kenmare Shamrocks by the same margin in the AIB Munster Club Junior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final the previous day. Mike O’Halloran, hurling commentator with Radio Kerry, spoke to Jerry.