Fake suicide gets four years for child abuse

Categories
General News

A pensioner who faked his own suicide to escape a sex abuse trial was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday.A court in Korneuburg, Lower Austria, heard how Helmut B. was found alive and well at an Upper Austrian monastery months after being declared dead.The 68-year-old staged his own suicide by jumping off a […]

Vienna woman injured in freak BBQ accident

Categories
General News

A Vienna woman is recovering after suffering serious burns in a dramatic barbecue accident yesterday (Sun).Police said today the woman, 50, triggered an “explosion-like darting flame” when she put inflammable paste on the charcoals during a private BBQ bash in Döbling district.She was flown to AKH clinic via helicopter after suffering second- and third-degree burns […]

Upper Austrian drink driver hits wheelchair pilgrim

Categories
General News

A wheelchair-bound writer on a pilgrimage from Belgium to Israel was hit by a drink driver in Upper Austria on Wednesday, it was announced yesterday (Thurs).The Italian-born handicapped woman was driving along the B137 main road near Grieskirchen when a drunk Austrian ploughed into her vehicle.The paraplegic woman and her dog – who has been […]

Lauda warning as Austrian aviation traffic shut tonight

Categories
General News

Niki Lauda has appealed to passengers stranded at European airports because of the eruption of an Icelandic volcano to remain patient.The three-time Formula One champion who now runs his own budget carrier FlyNiki said in a TV interview last night (Thurs): “Volcano ashes can ground a plane. The situation is extremely dangerous, and cancelling flights […]

Jailed brothel boss found commanding prostitution ring

Categories
General News

Graz officials have said a jailed Bulgarian brothel owner is accused of organising a prostitution ring from behind bars.Prosecutors said today (Fri) the woman, 51, had over the last year and a half arranged for seven Bulgarian prostitutes aged between 20 and 29 to be sent to Austria.Investigators found the woman had made calls worth […]

Eurofighter jet damaged in aquaplaning landing

Categories
General News

A fighter jet was damaged during landing yesterday (Weds) as the runway was slippery after a heavy rainfall.Officials at the army base in Zeltweg, Styria, said today the Eurofighter pilot had to use the jet’s parachute to create a braking effect. Its bottom panel and engine were damaged in the landing procedure, they added.Austrian army […]

Tyrolean debtor advisers report rising client numbers

Categories
General News

The number of people seeking debt counselling increased in Tyrol last year, it has been announced.Schuldenberatung Tirol (Tyrolean Debts Counselling) chief Thomas Pachl said yesterday (Weds): “An overall of 2,326 people asked us for advice last year, while 1,949 Tyrolean residents did so in 2008.”Pachl pointed out that the number of young clients has increased […]

Lorry crashes into Schönbrunn park wall

Categories
General News

A traffic jam of several kilometres was caused when a lorry crashed into the walls of Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace Gardens this morning (Thurs).Police said the driver got away with minor injuries after he came off the road and ploughed into a wall near Kennedy Bridge on the road towards the city centre shortly before 9am.Firemen […]

Fritzl victims lawyer attacks Church over abuse claims

Categories
General News

A top lawyer has accused the Catholic Church of focusing on damage limitation instead of trying to help the hundreds of victims of abuse at the Church’s institutions.Around 700 people got in touch with psychologists via new and existing hotlines to report their sex and violence abuse ordeals when serving as altar boys, choristers and […]

Farmers in court for keeping slave

Categories
General News

A Styrian farmer and his son accused of keeping a man as his work slave for years were in court in Leoben yesterday (Mon).Prosecutors charged Peter P., 63, and his 29-year-old son Christian P. with neglect, fraud and forging of documents after officials found that Max L., 56, had to work under gruesome conditions at […]