User:rorynoonanDate:25/04/2013Time:08:30:02Edition:25/04/2013Thuthurecho250413Page:1Color:

S e r v i n g C o r k f o r 1 2 0 y e a r s

EE - V1

EDITION NO. 34,895THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013 RRP: e1.50

25.04.13

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Anger atmortgageincreasesHOME owners were todaybracing themselves for thestress of further mortgagehikes after AIB announced itwill increase its variableinterest rate by up to 0.4%.

face an extra €66 per month in repay-ments, adding an extra €800 per year totheir mortgage bills.Other lenders are expected to follow

suit, increasing mortgage rates acrossthe board for families already strug-gling to meet repayments, with 94,488residential mortgage holders in thiscountry already in arrears.News of the mortgage hikes came as

● Continued on page three.

The shock mortgageblow news came as house-holds had been looking for-ward to a flagged mortgageinterest rate decrease bythe ECB next week.Instead, AIB will hike its

rate from June 5, while thebank’s off-shoots, EBS andHaven, will increase theirrates by up to 0.25% fromJune 1.The hikes will mean an

average customer with a€300,000 mortgage will

Work being doneto make cannabisgrow area safeBy ANN MURPHYSecurity Correspondent

GARDAÍ were today carrying out painstakingforensic examinations at the scene of theunderground cannabis operation discovered inBallyvourney due to the danger involved.The drugs, worth €100,000, were found by gardaíon Tuesday evening in two 40ft containersconcealed beneath a mobile home in a clearing ina forest west of Ballvourney on the Cork/Kerryborder.It is believed that those behind the operation hadto bring in heavy machinery to the remote areato dig out the growhouses.Gardaí were fearful of earth collapsing as theycarried out their investigations today.Three men, believed to be from Lithuania, werearrested and are being questioned under drugtrafficking legislation.It’s thought that one person involved in theoperation would have been living in the● Continued on page two.

The scene at Derreenaling near Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, where gardaí found cannabis plants in asophisticated underground growing operation. The plants were being grown underneath the mobilehome pictured here. Picture: Denis Minihane

By MARIA ROLSTON

Other lenderslikely to followAIB rates rise

CORK Northside Blarney Street T: 021-4393315. Open Mon-Sat 9.30-5.30. Sun: Closed.Harbour Point Business Park, Little Island T: 021-4355506.

Open: Mon-Sat 9.30-5.30. Sun: 2-5.30Southside Industrial Estate T: 021-4316668. Open: Mon-Sat 9.30-5.30. Sun: 2-5.30

WATERFORD Butlerstown Retail Park, Waterford T: 051-599036.OPEN: Mon-Thurs 9.30-6 Fri 9.30-7 Sat 9.30 -6. Sun: 12-6

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