A round-up of some other news reports.
Man in court over three road deaths
A motorist has appeared in court charged with causing the deaths of three pedestrians in an incident in Navan last Sunday morning.
Marius Tamulevicius (29), a welder originally from Lithuania but now living at Athlumney Abbey, Navan, appeared before Kells District Court yesterday morning.
He is charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Philip Quinn, (38), Ballivor, Co Meath; Paul Lennon (42), Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow; and Polish national Slawomir Krzenek (34), Johnstown, Navan, at Kilcarn, Navan.
Vetting has limits, says Lenihan
While a vetting system for anyone coming into susbtantial unsupervised contact with children is to be extended to the education system, this will do little to highlight those with no criminal record, the Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan, has warned.
Speaking on RTÉ's Prime Time programme last night, which focused on the case of the disgraced former national swimming coach, George Gibney, Mr Lenihan said the DPP had decided not to bring charges against the latter.
Although it is possible to re examine the criminal justice system in this regard, it is not possible to interfere with the work of the Director of Public Prosecutions, he added.
Man killed as part of bridge collapses
Gardai were last night investigating an accident in which a man in his 50s was killed when part of a bridge fell on top of him after two vehicles were involved in a collision on the structure.
The accident happened at Ballygriffin, Castletownroche, North Cork at around 7.45pm when a car and a van were in collision on the bridge and struck the side of the structure causing masonry to fall on the man, who was tending dogs in a pen under the bridge.
Singer charged with assault
RTÉ's You're A Star singer George Murphy appeared in the Dublin District Court yesterday charged with assaulting a man at a north Dublin housing estate last October.
Mr Murphy (19), Elm Mont Close, Beaumont, Dublin, has been charged with assault causing harm to James Pollard at Oldtown Road, Santry, on October 29th. David Cullen (19), from Artane, was also arrested on similar charges.
Judge Timothy Lucey remanded both men on bail until March 7th.
€100,000 advance for Bird memoirs
RTÉ journalist Charlie Bird has secured a €100,000 advance for his memoirs, due to be published later this year.
Publishers Gill & Macmillan, which outbid a number of other firms for the deal, said they expected the book to be its "big seller" of 2006.
Concern for Irish worker in Nigeria
The Department of Foreign Affairs last night confirmed it was continuing to make inquiries on behalf of an Irish family concerned about the welfare of a family member working in the oil fields off Nigeria. A department spokesman said that Irish Embassy officials were making inquiries to establish if the Irishman working on the oil rig was safe and well.