More of today's home news in brief
Biofuels target should be cut, says Labour
The Government's targets on biofuels should be reduced because of growing fears of their impact on world food prices and the environment, the Labour Party said yesterday.
It called on the Government to drop its official target of having biofuels comprise 5.75 per cent of transport fuel by 2010, and 10 per cent by 2020. Instead, Labour argues, in a new position paper, the target for biofuels should be a more modest 4 per cent by 2015.
The paper was unveiled at a forum on biofuels yesterday by party leader Eamon Gilmore and spokeswoman on energy Liz McManus.
Court told of sword attack
A man swung a samurai sword at a police officer's head during neighbourhood disturbances in Co Antrim, it was alleged in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
Prosecutors claimed the constable had to draw his gun to get Richard Hartin (33) to drop the weapon after trouble flared in Larne.
Mr Hartin, St John's Place, Larne, faces charges of attempted grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.
Before releasing Mr Hartin - who denies the charges - on bail Mr Justice Weir asked how such weapons could be obtained. He was told it had been bought on eBay.
Continuity IRA men questioned
PSNI detectives were last night questioning three men about the Continuity IRA landmine attack on a police patrol near Roslea, Co Fermanagh, last month in which two officers suffered minor injuries. The men were arrested in Roslea yesterday.
Republican Sinn Féin, the political wing of the Continuity IRA, issued a statement complaining that the "RUC" had "abducted three republicans in Fermanagh".
Offenders hostels spread queried
The North's Criminal Justice Inspectorate has queried why hostels for housing released sex offenders are not more evenly spread throughout Northern Ireland, writes Gerry Moriarty.
Kit Chivers, in his latest report, noted that of the six approved premises, which supervise up to 76 registered sex offenders at any one time, four are in Belfast with one each in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, and Portadown, Co Armagh.
Ex-teacher on 35 sex assault charges
A former schoolteacher, now in his 60s, has appeared before Limerick District Court charged with multiple counts of indecent assault dating back to the 1960s.
The 35 charges relate to incidents alleged to have taken place at a Limerick school between July 1967 and July 1968.
Garda Deirdre Morris and Garda Michelle O'Halloran gave evidence of arresting the accused, who made no reply to the charges, according to their evidence.
The court heard that the DPP has directed that the case be tried on indictment.
Judge Tom O'Donnell remanded the defendant on bail until September 24th and issued an order prohibiting the publication of his name.
He also ordered that no details be published of where the indecent assaults are alleged to have taken place in order to protect the identities of the injured parties.
Bar with no beer opens in Donegal
A bar without beer in what the owner claims is the country's first alcohol-free hotel opened for business in Co Donegal yesterday.
Businesswoman Ann Sweeney decided to test the market following a clash with gardaí over a drinks licence. All alcohol in her Carraig Rua hotel in Dunfanaghy was confiscated in a Garda raid last week, two days after she opened it, because the hotel doesn't have a licence.
Ms Sweeney, who also owns the Boatshed pub around the corner, admitted the 23-bedroom hotel, which she took over four weeks ago, hadn't a current licence.
Proceedings have been initiated to have the licence transferred to her name, but complications involving two former owners mean it could take months.
Former Kerry mayor Michael Healy Rae performed the official opening yesterday. Ms Sweeney said: "It will be interesting to see how customers, especially those with young families, respond to the idea."
Man killed while felling tree
A Co Tipperary man has died following a tree-felling accident near his home. Paddy Ryan, Inchimore, Ballina, was killed when he was struck by a tree he was cutting down on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Ryan was working with a chainsaw on his own lands and was believed to have been clearing a ditch when the accident occurred. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Retiring priests asked to work on
The Bishop of Killaloe Dr Willie Walsh has asked four Co Clare priests who have reached the retirement age of 75 to continue performing priestly duties due to the shortage of priests, writes Gordon Deegan.
Announcing his diocesan clergy appointments for 2008, Dr Walsh said the four who were stepping down as full-time parish priests had agreed to remain as "priests in residence" in their parishes and would continue to perform baptism, penance, the Eucharist, marriages and funeral rites.