A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Divers fail to find bodies of fishermen
Hopes of finding the bodies of seven fishermen lost when their trawlers sank just over two weeks ago faded last night, writes Michael Parsons in Dunmore East.
Navy divers yesterday searched the living quarters of the Pere Charles, which lies in 35 metres of water off Hook Head, Co Wexford, but no bodies were found.
Dave McMyler, of the Irish Coast Guard, said "the eating area, the accommodation area, the toilet and most of the shelter deck" were searched and divers had "got to most of the fish hold" during four separate dives but "there is nothing to report".
Twenty miles away, off Ram's Head in Co Waterford, divers from the Garda Water Unit undertook four dives to the Honeydew II which lies beneath 30 metres of water. Again no bodies were recovered.
Ex-rugby player on driving charges
Former Munster and Ireland rugby player Eddie Halvey was sent forward to the February sitting of Nenagh Circuit Court at Nenagh District Court yesterday.
The former star is charged with dangerous driving causing death following a two-vehicle collision at Coole, Toomevara, Co Tipperary, in the early hours of April 1st last year.
Mr Halvey (36), of Allandale Hall, South Circular Road, Limerick, is charged with dangerous driving, causing the death of Kevin Walsh (16), from Sycamore Drive, Bruff, Co Limerick.
Supt Robert Noonan told the court the defendant had consented to go forward for trial at Nenagh Circuit Court on February 13th next.
Mr Halvey was also remanded on bail to the March sitting of Nenagh District Court in respect of another charge arising out of the same incident, driving with excess alcohol.
Judge Michael Reilly remanded him on continuing bail in his own bond of €500.
Jury told to find accused not guilty
A judge has ordered a jury in a rape trial to find the accused not guilty of threatening to kill the 75-year-old complainant in the case.
Mr Justice Paul Carney gave the instruction at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick yesterday where a 20-year-old Tipperary man is currently on trial for raping and robbing an elderly widow at her home two years ago.
The accused - who cannot be named for legal reasons - has pleaded not guilty to having unlawful sexual intercourse with the woman and also to anally raping her on May 22nd, 2005.
He has further denied stealing money from her home.
Yesterday the jury in the trial was ordered to find the accused not guilty of a fourth charge of threatening to kill the woman on the same date.
Earlier this week, the 75-year-old woman gave a harrowing account of how she was raped twice by an intruder at her home.
The trial is due to continue next week.