In short

More news in brief.

More news in brief.

Elderly woman dies in Cork house fire

An elderly woman died in a house fire in Blackrock in Cork city shortly before lunchtime yesterday.

She was named by gardaí last night as Bridie Donoghue, 92. The fire broke out in the house at 11.30am.

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The woman's daughter found her downstairs and raised the alarm.

Three units of the Cork City Fire Brigade tackled the blaze and the woman was subsequently brought to Cork University Hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after she arrived.

Driving death inquest adjourned

A coroner's inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday into the death of a young woman in a two-car collision near the village of Balla, Co Mayo, on Thursday evening last.

John O'Dwyer, coroner for south Mayo, held the brief hearing so that the body of Jennifer Davis (19), Swanton Morley, Norfolk, could repatriated to England.

Ms Davis was killed instantly at a blackspot on the N60 Claremorris-Castlebar road at teatime on Thursday. Her 29-year-old partner and her 22-month- old son were also involved.

State drops rape charge

The jury in the trial of a Waterford man charged with raping a woman almost two years ago has been discharged after the State decided not to proceed with the case by entering a nolle prosequi.

The 52-year-old man had denied raping the woman at his home in Waterford city in July 2005. The trial began last Tuesday.

Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins told the jury that the case was over because the State was not continuing with the prosecution and he discharged the accused from court.

Midlands IT questionnaire

Third-level courses may soon become available in Mullingar and Tullamore, it has been announced. Athlone IT has revealed that it is carrying out a survey of employers in the two towns to see if there is interest in the proposal.

"We continually hear comments from people that there is a demand for outreach centres from the instituted," said Prof Ciarán Ó Catháin, director of Athlone IT. "This survey will give is a very good picture of the level and nature of that demand."

The questionnaire can also be completed on the AIT website from www. ait.ie/online survey and the closing date is Sunday next.

New sponsor for Cork Film Festival

The Cork Film Festival is to be renamed the Corona Cork Film Festival following the conclusion of a three-year sponsorship deal.

This year's festival, the 52nd, will screen top international films throughout Cork city, from October 14th-21st. Films will include world cinema, innovative independent films, international documentaries, an Irish showcase and short films from all over the world.

The festival programme will also include special events such as drive-in movies and "live cinema".

From its beginnings in the Savoy cinema in 1956, the festival now attracts entries from about 3,500 film-makers all over the world every year. The short film has been an integral component.

Counterfeit goods, clothing seized

Gardaí from Carlow and Kildare have seized counterfeit goods, including clothing and footwear, with an estimated value of €1 million after the search of a premises in Ballymount industrial estate last Friday.

Two men were arrested and questioned during the Garda operation. They have been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the DPP.

HGV registration from today

Dublin city business must be registered with the city council from today if they are to continue to receive deliveries from heavy goods vehicles (HGV) during business hours.

HGVs have been banned from the city centre between 7am and 7pm since February 19th, unless they have a permit. However from today city-centre businesses must also register with the council or the permit will be invalid and the HGV driver can be fined up to €800.

Motorcyclist killed in Listowel

Gardaí at Listowel, Co Kerry, have released the name of the motorcyclist who died in last night's fatal road traffic collision. He was David Foley (23), of Moyvane, Co Kerry.

He was among eight people who were killed in crashes over the weekend. Five were motorcyclists.