Ex-garda murder suspect in man's disappearance

SOURCES say that "huge progress" has been made in the case and that there may be major developments in the coming weeks.

A key part of the probe has been detailed investigations into Mr Daly's "colourful past" including his links with Dublin-based gangland criminals and dissident mobsters.

But sources now say that the key to cracking the mystery lies in the Cavan area and in "business transactions" that Mr Daly was involved in in the weeks before his disappearance.

"This has been a hugely complex investigation which has not only involved local gardai and detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The PSNI, Interpol, Europol and police forces in England have also been involved but the focus is now back on the rural area in Co Cavan where Mr Daly lived.

"He may have got himself involved in a row with former associates who include a drug dealer who is originally from the Coolock area of north Dublin and a former garda."

The former garda served for a large number of years but retired after a hugely controversial career. Sources say that since retiring from the force he has got involved in criminal activity and was recently arrested as part of a massive probe into stolen property. During his lengthy career he worked as a detective in specialist units.

"What is not in doubt is that Mr Daly was mixed up with some very serious criminals," the source added. "Gardai are also certain that there are people in the Bailieboro area who know exactly what happened Mr Daly and there has been a number of intelligence-led searches to try and locate him."

Vicious

Mr Daly, who is formerly from Knockmore Grove in Tallaght, was a dog breeder who trained for the security industry -- training dogs which were worth thousands of euro and had the potential to be vicious.

These dogs were at his home when he disappeared last June leading gardai to believe that whoever called to his home was known to Mr Daly.

"Otherwise the dogs would have attacked whoever called there. It had to be someone who knew him who enticed him out of the house," said a source.

The unemployed joiner spent a normal Sunday at his Co Cavan home with his visiting girlfriend Roisin Maguire and her kids and seemed his usual self when they left to go home to Co Armagh. But three days later when she hadn't heard from him his worried partner went back to Cavan to discover Gerard had disappeared. There was no sign of a break-in at the house, the TV was still on and there was no sign of a struggle.

Mr Daly comes from an extremely respectable family and his disappearance has left them utterly devastated. His sister Belinda Daly told the Herald: "Our family are going through an absolute living nightmare. We are appealing for anyone who has information about Gerry's disappearance to contact gardai." 

Second child hurt after pet husky savages little girl (3) 

A SECOND child has been attacked by a pet husky in less than a month.

The three-year-old girl was playing with other children when the family dog launched an unprovoked attack on her on Saturday afternoon.

Her father and uncles came to her aid and managed to rescue her from the dog. The girl, from Clare, is recovering at home

The attack comes just three weeks after Reece O'Leary (2) was attacked by his family's husky in the back garden of his home in Limerick.

Today, Reece's mother Mags told the Herald her son was still too nervous to play in the back garden of his home.

In the second incident, it is understood the child was playing in the garden of her home near Ballyncally, Co Clare.

The girl was walking across the garden of her family home with some other children when, without warning, the usually placid dog attacked her.

The unnamed girl sustained a number of injuries.

She was taken to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, before being transferred later to Galway University Hospital for further treatment. She returned home last night and is said to be making a good recovery from a head injury. The dog which attacked her will be destroyed.

Mags O'Leary, mother of Reece, said she was delighted to hear that the little girl in Clare was recovering. "It is terrifying incident for any child. It is good to hear she will be okay," Ms O'Leary said.

She said her son was continuing to recover from his ordeal.

"He is back at home and is playing about the house, but he has to go back to Cork tomorrow for a check-up," she said.

"The staff in the hospital have been brilliant to him. He has some scars at the moment, but we are hoping they will heal through the years."

Little Reece still refuses to venture into the back garden of his home following the attack at his home in Yeats Avenue, Carew Park, Southill.

"He won't go out there at all -- he is still to nervous," Ms O'Leary said.

Neighbour Jonathon Curtin (21) was credited with saving the child's life after he jumped over the back wall and repeatedly hit the dog with a shovel.

Water bills could rise to €600 a year as Leo says sorry

FAMILIES will be paying an average of €600 a year in water charges, a leading economist said today.

The assessment came as Transport Minister Leo Varadkar apologised for the way the issue had been communicated to the public.

Former Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) economist Richard Tol said households would be charged a €40 a year standing charge and €560 in usage fees "if the Government has its way".

Austerity

Mr Tol, who is now a professor of economics with Sussex University, was heavily critical of the plans.

He pointed to a series of stumbling blocks, suggesting the proposals had not been thought out.

Prof Tol said if households were to install water meters privately it would cost €200 per home but, "because of the way the Government is going about it", the price will be €800.

He described the sum as "quite excessive" in a time of austerity. If the Government offers a free allowance to householders, every litre of water used above the amount will have to be more expensive, Prof Tol added.

He said the new semi-State Irish Water would not know how many people are living in each household.

It means that small households will be getting water for free while larger families will be paying, he added.

Prof Tol pointed to the logistical difficulties in transferring the water departments of the country's 34 local authorities into the new body. "Irish Water will be four times as big as Bord Gais is now," he said.

The Government has admitted up to one-in-five homeowners will be paying flat-rate fees because of the difficulty in installing a meter.

Mr Varadkar said the mainly older houses and apartments would not be charged by usage but would have to pay a set levy.                               

"There will be about 20pc of houses and apartments that won't be able to be metered in the normal way.

"What they do in other countries is that they estimate the charges based on the size of the house and the number of people in it. But that is something that will have to be worked out at a later stage," he said.

He acknowledged there had been confusion over the issue.

"I apologise for that. I know the people are struggling with bills at the moment and that the cost of living is increasing, and certainly nobody in the Government wants to scare people about charges that, let's face it, are not going to come into play for over two years," he said.

Anger in the Labour party at the way Environment Minister Phil Hogan has handled the issue has grown.

Labour TDs fear they will be "mauled" at the next election if Mr Hogan is responsible for introducing water charges, the Herald can reveal.

There is now growing unrest among Labour deputies that the new tax will "explode" -- becoming even a more divisive issue than the household charge.

The fears were compounded by the latest opinion poll which shows Labour now straggling on just 13pc -- a 6pc drop on the previous poll.

The party is becoming increasingly agitated with Mr Hogan following recent fiascos.

One Labour TD has broken ranks to claim that the embattled Environment minister is unfit for the job.

Clare TD Michael McNamara launched a scathing attack of his handling of the €100 charge.

"If the minister continues in the same bungling manner over the water charges, it raises questions about his suitability for office," he said.