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New fears as wheel falls off ambulance
Wednesday, 12th March, 2014. Vol. 7, Issue 11 • 63 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Tel: 042 9320888. Fax: 042 9329676. Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
By Niamh Kirk
There have been calls for an investigation after the back wheel fell off an ambulance at the Xerox junction in Dundalk last week. The ambulance was returning to base and was not carrying a patient at the time. The crew were not injured during the incident and went back on duty in another vehicle soon afterwards. The HSE spokesperson said “The National Ambulance Service has confirmed that an ambulance broke down this morning in Dundalk." “The ambulance has been removed from the scene and a technical investigation of the vehicle will be under-
taken to establish the cause of the incident.” However there have been calls for a wider inquiry. Seamus Kirk TD described the incident as a near miss as it “could have been en route to an emergency incident or carrying a seriously ill patient at the time.” He called on the Minister for Health, James Reilly, to ensure this incident is fully investigated and a report into this matter is published. “This is not the first time the ambulance service in the North East has come under the spotlight in recent months. I have raised concerns in the Dáil about the safety and reliability of the ambulance service Continued on Page 14
Special guest for World Book Day
Tom McCaughren entertaining pupils at Gaelscoil, Muirtheimhne Mór
By Niamh Kirk Pupils of Geal Scoil Dundalk celebrated World Book Day in style with readings, costumes and lots of literary laughs. Gaelscoil Dundalk had a very special visitor to the school,
Journalist turned author Tom McCaughren, who has penned popular adventures such as Run with the Wind, The Silent Sea and the Children of the Forge. Mr McCaughren entertained the children with some of the
real-life stories of the 1798 Rebellion, 1916 Rising and civil war that influenced his fictional works. World Book Day has been celebrated in Ireland since its inception 16 years ago and aims to promote reading and books.