A round-up of today's other news in brief
Athlone businessman Noel O'Gara, the owner of Dartmouth Square park in Dublin 6, is to appeal a fine imposed on him yesterday at Dublin District Court.
Dublin City Council issued proceedings against Mr O'Gara for failing to remove tents which have been erected in the park.
He was yesterday given four weeks to remove the tents and fined €1,000.
Mr O'Gara said last night that he would appeal the fine in the next week or two as he believed the tents were exempt from planning regulations.
Flu cases show big increase over past week
The number of patients presenting to doctors with flu-like symptoms has doubled in the past week, prompting a call for vulnerable people to get the flu jab.
"As influenza is now circulating in the community, it is important that people in high-risk categories get vaccinated against influenza," Dr Joan O'Donnell of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) said yesterday.
The rate of influenza-like illness was 20.3 per 100,000 in the first week of December and doubled to 41.3 per 100,000 by the second week.
In order to prevent the spread of the flu, people are being advised to cover their noses and mouth with a tissue when they cough and sneeze, dispose of the tissue as soon as possible and clean their hands as soon as they can, Dr O'Donnell said.
Remanded on murder charge
A woman has appeared before Strabane Magistrate's Court charged with murdering her partner in their flat in Omagh, Co Tyrone, last Monday.
Aneta Sadowska (36), a Polish national, Rathronan House, Hospital Road, Omagh, is accused of murdering Marek Seweryn, (37), the day after their son was christened. Ms Sadowska, who was accompanied by an interpreter, wept during the brief remand hearing.
Det Sgt Conor McStravick told Judge Liam McNally that he could connect the defendant to the charge, to which she had replied: "I didn't want to do anything to him." The defendant was remanded in custody to appear before Omagh Magistrate's Court next Tuesday.
Acting head for Equality body
The Equality Authority has announced the appointment of an acting chief executive, writes Carol Coulter, Legal Affairs Editor. He is Richard Fallon, the authority's head of administration, and will act as chief executive for the next three months.
This follows the resignation last week of Niall Crowley, who served as chief executive from the authority's establishment in 1999.
Two awards for 'Irish Times'
The Irish Timespicked up two accolades at TV3's Nightly News Newspaper Awards last night. Irish Timeswriter Kathy Sheridan won the best journalist award while the paper was awarded the title of best newspaper.
The Sunday Independentstory by Shane Ross and Nick Webb which uncovered the spending on foreign trips and hospitality at Fás won best exclusive. A photograph of Limerick gang members by Justin Kernoghan of Photopress won the best photograph prize. TV3's Nightly Newsprogramme is presented by Vincent Browne. The judging panel consisted of Ivan Yates, former minister and bookmaker; Marie-Louise ODonnell, communications lecturer at DCU; Karen Freeman, former New York Times columnist and journalist and activist Eamonn McCann.