A round-up of today's other home news in brief ...
Warning after arsenic found in rice milk
Parents have been advised not to feed toddlers and young children rice milk after a scientific study uncovered traces of arsenic in dozens of rice milk products.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said that, as a precautionary measure, children aged up to 4½ years should not consume rice milk as a substitute for cow’s milk, breast milk or infant formula following the discovery.
“This advice is based on recent findings that indicate that there are low levels of inorganic arsenic found in rice milk,” the authority said in a statement.
“Parents of young children who are currently using rice milk as an alternative to cow’s milk, breast milk or infant formula, should contact their GP or dietician for advice on a suitable alternative.”
The warning follows the publication of a recently conducted UK study which examined 60 samples of rice drinks.
The researchers uncovered low levels of inorganic arsenic in all of the tested samples.
Dr Mary Flynn, the FSAI’s public health nutrition specialist, said there was no immediate risk to children if they had previously consumed such products, as the levels of exposure were low, and it was safe for adults and older children to continue consuming rice milk.
Courses offer help to parents
Details of more than 60 parenting courses in the Republic are now available online on the Barnardos website at www.barnardos.ie/parentingcourses.
The new database funded by the Family Support Agency directs parents towards courses relevant to their own children and family situation in their locality.
The courses offer help to parents of all backgrounds coping with children from toddlers to teenagers.
Three questioned about robbery
Three men were arrested and a firearm was recovered following a raid yesterday on a pharmacy on South Circular Road in Dublin.
The incident took place at about 2pm. Three men, one armed with what appeared to be a handgun, entered the pharmacy.
Armed gardaí who were on patrol in the area responded to the incident, a Garda statement said.
No shots were fired and nobody was injured during the incident.
Woman killed in truck collision
Gardaí in Co Monaghan are investigating a crash in which an elderly woman was killed yesterday evening. The woman, aged 80, was fatally injured when she was hit by a truck in Old Cross Square in Monaghan town at about 6.30pm.
The scene was closed to traffic last night while a Garda forensic team carried out an investigation.
Witnesses are asked to contact Monaghan Garda station on (047) 772200 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Ali Hewson set for charity abseil in Cork
Ali Hewson, wife of U2’s Bono will abseil down Ireland’s tallest building in aid of Chernobyl Children’s Project International on Saturday.
Everest climber Pat Falvey and chief executive of the charity, Adi Roche, will also join Ms Hewson at the 17-storey, 83m Elysian building in Cork.
Michael O’Flynn of O’Flynn Construction will dedicate the use of the landmark tower to the charity to raise funds for its “Home of Hope” Project.
Each “Home of Hope” will provide comfort and shelter for children who were previously abandoned into state orphanages and institutions in Belarus. CCPI has already bought 23 Homes of Hope.
Taxi driver used pepper spray
A taxi driver has been given two days to pay €2,000 compensation to another taxi driver for spraying pepper spray in his eyes following a row in a taxi rank.
Martin Giblin, aged 52, of Shudane, Athenry, Co Galway, pleaded guilty at Galway District Court yesterday to assaulting another taxi driver at Eyre Square, Galway, on February 19th following a dispute over queue-jumping.
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor said tensions were running high between taxi drivers in Galway city due to the competition for trade.
She said her client had seen the other taxi driver let another taxi in ahead of him in the taxi rank queue.
She said Giblin had bought the pepper spray while abroad and kept it in his taxi for self defence.
Ms Traynor said Giblin’s taxi licence was due for renewal this time next year and he was anxious to avoid a conviction so that his licence would be renewed.
Giblin was given until tomorrow by Judge Aeneus McCarthy to come up with a further €1,000. He would give his judgment then.