More news in brief.
Irish citizen held by Spanish police
The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday confirmed that an Irish citizen has been arrested in Spain.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that more than 800kg of cocaine were seized when two yachts moored off Ibiza and the Costa Blanca were stormed by armed officers on Friday. The drugs were allegedly found below the decks of the yachts.
Meanwhile, Merseyside Police and Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency could not confirm that an Irishman had been arrested in Liverpool as part of the same investigation.
President on state visit to Austria
The President, Mary McAleese, leaves this morning on a state visit to Austria at the invitation of president Heinz Fischer.
During a three-day programme of engagements, she will visit Vienna where she will meet dignitaries and officials including president Fischer and vice-chancellor Gorbach.
Mrs McAleese will deliver a number of addresses including one to the Irish community in Austria and another to Austrian and Irish business leaders at a breakfast event hosted by Enterprise Ireland. The party returns on Thursday.
Ambulance stolen in Dublin
The theft of an ambulance in Dublin city centre at the weekend highlights the need for laws governing such incidents to be fully enforced, according to Fianna Fáil Senator Cyprian Brady.
The ambulance was taken at Chamber Court, Cork Street, early on Saturday. Mr Brady said he intended to raise the matter with city management to ensure the removal from service of the damaged vehicle would not lead to a reduction in emergency cover in the capital.
The vehicle was stolen as the crew were treating a patient at a block of flats, and is understood to have been driven around the city, with its sirens wailing, where it hit a number of parked cars.
"We cannot allow the lives of our emergency workers and the people they are assisting to continue to be endangered," Mr Brady said. "The recently passed Criminal Justice Bill brings in a jail sentence of six months for anyone who prevents emergency workers from carrying out their duty and up to seven years for anyone who threatens fire and ambulance crews."
A man in his 20s was arrested and charged.
Polish crewman dies in accident
A Polish crewman on a vessel located more than 180 miles off the southwest coast died early yesterday. It is believed he was involved in a routine training drill on the Cypriot-registered vessel when there was an accident.
The Coast Guard confirmed two other crew members, also believed to be Polish, were airlifted to Kerry General Hospital with serious injuries after the incident.
Appeal for help in tracing man
Gardaí in Dublin are seeking help in tracing Yohan Verhoeven (31), who has been missing from his home in Bray, Co Wicklow, since last Tuesday.
Mr Verhoeven, who is 1.78 metres tall, of medium build, with hazel eyes and red receding hair, was last seen leaving a house at Rathsallagh in Shankill, Dublin, on Tuesday morning.