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Galway student admits hacking Fine Gael website
Galway Bay fm Newsroom – A GMIT student is one of two young computer experts to admit hacking Fine Gael’s website – in the weeks leading up to the 2011 General Election.
According to the Irish Independent, 21 year old Darren Martyn from Cloonbeggin in Claregalway and 20-year-old Donncha O Cearrbhail, from The Ring, Birr, Co Offaly are to be sentenced in October.
Darren Martyn studies forensic science and analysis at GMIT while his co-defendant Donncha O Cearrbhail is a student of medicinal chemistry at Trinity College in Dublin.
The students said they hacked the website as a “stunt” to embarrass the party.
Dublin District Court heard that the pair who used the online aliases ‘Raepsauce’ and ‘Palladium’, had been identified by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation in conjunction with US law enforcement agency the FBI.
They pleaded guilty yesterday to criminal damage to the website, which was defaced, had its database stolen and was knocked offline for 24 hours after it was hacked on January 9, 2011.
Fine Gael said it cost €10,000 to get the site up and running again.
The offence, at district court level, can lead to a conviction, a fine and can carry a maximum 12-month jail term.
The case has been adjourned until October.
Funding of more than €100 thousand has been awarded to Galway Simon and COPE Galway.
The allocation is part of a €2.3m national fund to support social enterprises through the Scaling-up Fund for Social Enterprises initiative.
€64 thousand has been awarded to COPE Galway to fund works to their kitchen space, as well as a new electric vehicle.
While a further €41 thousand will fund an electric vehicle for Galway Simon to support the expansion of their charity shops.
The Connemara Pony Breeders Society has begun its centenary celebrations with a series of events in Clifden this weekend.
The founding committee, who set up the organisation in 1923, are being honoured and two leading present day members have been inducted into the Society’s Hall of Fame.
“What sight can be more beautiful than a group of Connemara ponies?”
So stated Michael O’Malley from Ros Muc more than 100 years ago.
Michael was a leading member of the group that set up the Connemara Pony Breeders Society in 1923.
Speaking in Clifden this weekend, the current President of the Society, Dave Sheedy stated the founders planted a sapling that grew into a mighty tree and spread its branches across the world.
The pony is, probably Connemara’s best ambassador internationally 100 years later.
The Hall of Fame awards are given annually and the anniversary year is a special time.
There are two awards this year: Elizabeth Hodgins from Galway a member of the Society for the past 65 years and has bred some outstanding Connemara ponies.
Robbie Fallon from Cashel and his wife Barbara from Carraroe were Connemara emigrants to America who have been living on both sides of the Atlantic. Their ponies continue to win the biggest accolades at home and, at shows and events far from their native hills.
Six Galway groups have been shortlisted for the All Ireland Community and Council Awards.
The county is being recognised across five categories, including mental health, Irish language and sustainability.
The Galway nominees are Green the Laneways, NUA Surgical, The Galway Porter Shed, Speire Nua, Gallimhe Le Gaeilge and the HDSG Housing Disability Steering Group.
Over 300 nominations were submitted to the national awards, which take place in Tipperary on April 15th.
Funding of €100k awarded to Cope Galway and Galway Simon
Connemara Pony Breeders Society begins centenary celebrations in Clifden
Six Galway groups shortlisted for All Ireland Community and Council Awards
Gardaí concerned for the welfare of a missing man in County Roscommon.
Full preferred route for Galway-Athlone cycleway to be published tomorrow
City seeks to annex Oranmore, Claregalway, Moycullen and Barna in boundary extension
Man awarded €142,000 over unprovoked attack in toilet of County Galway pub
Woman convicted of harassing social media guru
Galway family’s plea – help us save our home
What’s the issue with grants for dribble bars?
