Two police officers were attacked and slightly injured while patrolling on the Main Street in the Drumhaw area of Lisnaskea in County Fermanagh.  This incident marks the second attack on police in the county in the last three months.   The improvised rocket propelled grenade failed to explode when it was launched at the three man patrol. 

The officers were patrolling as part of a "Neighbourhood Beat" initiative.  The attack occurred near a Maxol filling/gas station.  The officers stood under a street light as they recorded the seizure of alcohol from some under-aged drinkers.   A car believed to be a white Ford Escord approached from the north, the direction of the Maguiresbridge or Brookeborough roads.  The car entered the filling station directly opposite from where the officers were standing.   Apparently, the driver of the vehicle got out and took an improvised rocket propelled grenade launcher from the back of the Escort.  He mounted the device on his shoulder and attempted to shoot at the officers.  The attempt failed as the grenade remained in the launcher.

Two officers were taken to hospital with shock; one sustained minor injuries.  A spokesman for the PSNI stated that a dissident republican group had used the plastic explosion Semtex in the attack.  A unionist assembly member, Tom Elliot, has suggested that the British Army be redeployed to counter such attacks.  The Army was withdrawn in the summer of 2007.   The Semtex is believed to be from old stock left over from the IRA campaign during 'The Troubles.'  Police continue to investigate the attack.  Police are continuing the investigation into the attack.

The Irish Mortgage Corporation has published figures that show a surge in the number of non-nationals purchasing homes.  As the housing market softens dramatically, first time buyers, born in Ireland have pulled out of the market, but those from overseas are grabbing property at an accelerated rate.  Five percent of homes are being snapped up by non-nationals from Africa; while one in fourteen first-time buyers are originally from Asia.  About 25% of first-time buyers are non-nationals compared to ten percent three years ago.

As torrential rain continues to hit Ireland, hundreds of passengers on a Dublin to Cork train narrowly missed a serious accident due to a derailment triggered by a landslide.  The 11 a.m. train departed Dublin and ran into trouble in Portarlington in County Laois.  Portarlington is a main focal point for the Irish rail network, serving as a junciton for the westerly routes to Galway and Mayo and the main southern route to Cork.

The engine derailed as it hit the debris strewn across the tracks from the landslide.  Fortunately, no one on the train was injured.  Following the incident, the engineer is being treated for shock.