A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Man (41) found dead in laneway
Tragedy struck a Limerick family for the second time yesterday when the body of a 41-year-old man was found lying in a laneway four years after his younger brother was beaten to death.
Patrick O'Donoghue, originally from the Lee Estate in Limerick, was discovered by a passerby lying on his back in Meat Market Lane off Athlunkard Street.
Gardaí said yesterday they were keeping an open mind over the circumstances of the death. However, it is understood there were no visible marks on the body. A man was arrested and was being questioned about the death.
The Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, was due to carry out a postmortem last night.
In March 2001 Patrick O'Donoghue's younger brother, Anthony, who was 25, died from head injuries following a violent assault outside an apartment block on the Dublin Road. A 24-year-old man was later charged with his manslaughter and jailed for nine years.
Operation Anvil nets €2m in assets
Gardaí working on Operation Anvil, a campaign against armed criminals in Dublin, have seized more than €2 million worth of cars, guns and drugs since its inception in mid May, it has emerged.
Figures released by the Garda Press Office last night revealed that just over 12,000 checkpoints had been carried out since the start of the operation on May 17th.
There have been 753 arrests, four of them in connection with recent murders in Dublin. Some 203 arrests were for serious assaults, 380 for burglary and 166 were for robbery.
Some 3,755 drug searches and 279 theft searches were conducted. There were 304 searches for firearms and 163 weapons were seized.
Gardaí have put the value of all the assets and drugs seized at €2.2 million. The new figures cover the period to September 5th.
The Government made €6.5 million available to Operation Anvil and An Garda is now seeking more funds to continue the operation.
Meanwhile, gardaí have appealed for information on Wednesday's murder of drug dealer Mark Glennon(32) at his Hartstown home in Dublin. Door-to- door inquiries are being conducted and gardaí are satisfied with progress made so far.
They have asked for anybody in the vicinity of the crime scene at Hazelwood Crescent on Wednesday between 3.30pm and 4.30pm to come forward. They are also anxious to speak to anybody who saw unusual cars, vans or motorbikes in the Mountview or Cherryfield estates or adjoining areas to contact them at Blanchardstown on (01) 6667000.
Questioned over Lithuanian's death
Detectives were questioning two non-Irish nationals at Monaghan Garda station last night after both had been detained earlier in the day over the investigation into the death of a Lithuanian man near Clones over a month ago.
The man was found with stab wounds at a house on the outskirts of Clones town after an all-night party at a nearby house.
Gardaí said he was stabbed following a row that developed between a number of Lithuanian men at the party.
The victim was only in Ireland for a short time and most of those at the birthday party were understood to have been living across the border in Co Fermanagh.
Head of HSE to speak at FG meeting
The head of the Health Services Executive (HSE), Prof Brendan Drumm, will be a guest speaker at the annual two-day meeting of Fine Gael's parliamentary party next week, writes Mark Brennock.
The party's TDs, senators and MEPs will also hear from economist and broadcaster David McWilliams at their meeting in Portlaoise, which is partly organised to focus on policy priorities for the coming Dáil term.
Party chairman Tom Hayes said yesterday that much of the meeting would be devoted to preparing for the next general election and discussing campaigning.
"We must build on our electoral success in the local and European elections and in the Meath by-election, and continue to develop the alternative and better government which the people are looking for."
It is normal for parties to invite expert speakers to address them on policy issues at these meetings.
Fianna Fáil's two-day meeting took place in Cavan this week. Labour will meet for two days in Clonmel on September 19th and 20th. The PD parliamentary party meets in Dublin on Tuesday.
Warning of racism in Irish society
Greater priority should be given to racial justice as Irish society was capable of being as racist as any of our European neighbours, the Conference of Religious in Ireland (Cori) justice commission has said, writes Christine Newman.
In a statement to mark Racial Justice Sunday which is taking place in the Republic of Ireland and the UK tomorrow, Cori said Government policy in the area of the treatment of those most excluded, such as immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, left a great deal to be desired.
Many people in Ireland today, particularly Travellers, immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, did not experience a society where the majority population respected their cultures.
"In fact, as we become more racially diverse, it becomes evident that Irish society is capable of being as racist as any of our European neighbours who live in mixed race societies. Policy should encourage the creation of a multi-racial, inclusive society."
Cori makes a number of proposals on migration and interculturalism, including the developing and resourcing of a cultural policy which involved a dynamic conserving of traditions and beliefs.
It also calls for the introduction of a fair "green card" system for migrant workers and recognition of the right to work of all asylum-seekers whose application was at least six months old.
"Irish people have a long tradition of solidarity with peoples facing oppression within their own countries, but that tradition is not reflected in our policies towards refugees and asylum-seekers."
Cori said the culture of Travellers was not respected by many people. It was important to ensure that the recommendations in the 1995 Task Force on the Travelling People were fully implemented.