A round-up of today's other news stories in brief
Attempts to avert An Post strike continue
Attempts to avert a threatened strike at An Post are set to continue today following discussions last night at Government Buildings.
Representatives of An Post and the Communications Workers' Union were briefed by independent accountants on the outcome of a costings exercise undertaken over the past 10 days. The accountants were called in by the National Implementation Body to examine how much it would cost the company to make changes, sought by the union, to a rationalisation plan.
McAleese cancels engagements
On medical advice, the President Mary McAleese has postponed all engagements for the remainder of the week including today's visit to Tyrone. A statement from Áras an Uachtaráin said it will be rescheduled.
President McAleese was discharged from the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin, on Tuesday after treatment for an infection.
Garda acquitted of assault
A garda who was acquitted by direction of of the judge of assaulting a man arrested for drink-driving was yesterday granted his legal costs after the trial judge said his prosecution was unsustainable and always destined to fail.
Garda John Alfred of Bandon Garda station was awarded his costs following his acquittal at Cork Circuit Criminal Court of assaulting and causing harm to Roy O'Donoghue in Clonakilty on September 6th, 2004.
Threatened strike at Bank of Ireland
Members of the Amicus union at the Bank of Ireland are threatening to strike over the way the bank is implementing a major change programme.
The union, which represents 400 of the bank's 12,000 staff, is to hold a meeting today at which industrial action options, including a strike, are to be considered.
Amicus claims the bank, which wants to shed more than 2,000 jobs as part of a cost-cutting programme, is attempting to breach recommendations drawn up earlier this year by Labour Relations Commission chief Kieran Mulvey.
The bank said it was in discussions with the union and the two sides were to meet again next Tuesday.
Bail granted in Northern Bank raid
A third man charged in connection with the Northern Bank robbery was granted bail in the High Court in Belfast yesterday. Peter Kelly (32) a computer technician, Drumboniff Road, Newry, Co Armagh, denied possessing records or documents likely to be of use to terrorists.
The court heard that searches were carried out at Kelly's workplace and home and that computers and laptops were seized.
A witness for the defence told the court he "essentially performed the same job" as Kelly at the department of finance and personnel. Asked if there was anything unusual about the type of information the accused is alleged to have retained, he said "There isn't."
Man pleads guilty on bomb charge
A Dublin man accused of possessing an improvised bomb left under a van in north Dublin has changed his plea to guilty at the Special Criminal Court.
Christopher McCarthy, otherwise known as Christopher McArdle (28), Glen Park Road Palmerstown, changed his plea on the second day of his trial at the three-judge court. He now admits possessing the device on January 20th last.
He was remanded on continuing bail for sentence on January 17th next.
His co-accused Daniel McFaul, Croftwood Crescent, Ballyfermot also admitted possessing the device and will be sentenced on the same date.