Other stories in brief.
Warning to weight-loss drug takers
A weight-loss drug used by thousands of people across Europe should not be taken by people on anti-depressants, a health watchdog organisation warned yesterday.
The European Medicines Agency said it was recommending that people taking anti-depressants or suffering major depression should not take rimonabant (brand name Acomplia).
Last month a committee advising the Food and Drug Administration in the US voted to ban the drug because of an increased risk of suicide.The warning has also been posted on the website of the Irish Medicines Board.
Inquest told of asbestos exposure
A man died from an aggressive asbestos-related lung cancer over 40 years after he was exposed to asbestos in the UK and just five months after he was diagnosed with the fatal condition, an inquest at Dublin City Coroner's Court has heard.
James Loughlin (62), of Garden Villas, Kilkenny, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a type of tumour related to exposure to asbestos, following his admission to St James's hospital, Dublin, with pain in his right lung on August 24th, 2006.
The court heard that Mr Loughlin had been exposed to asbestos dust during his work as an electrician in the UK between 1961 and 1969.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said between 85 per cent and 90 per cent of cases of malignant mesothelioma was related to prior exposure to asbestos, and he had no doubt that this was the case here. A jury returned a verdict of death due to an occupational-related disease.
Doctor warns of risk to McBrearty
A Letterkenny doctor said Frank McBrearty snr was at risk of a stroke or heart attack because of stress he experienced from questioning at the Morris tribunal.
Dr Ciaran Kelly told the tribunal he found Mr McBrearty snr very stressed when he examined him after he gave evidence to the inquiry last week. "He felt intimidated by the line of questioning and the way he was being questioned here."
He said the coincidence of High Court hearings for Mr McBrearty snr's High Court civil action for damages, combined with the tribunal hearings and two recent deaths in his family, were added stress factors.
Plan to open second hospice
A charity providing palliative care for terminally-ill patients throughout Cork city and county is hoping to open a new €52 million project by 2010 after this week lodging a planning application with Cork County Council.
Curraheen Hospital Ltd is a subsidiary of St Patrick's Hospital Ltd, where, since 1870, the Sisters of Charity have provided care for terminally-ill patients at its Marymount Hospice on Wellington Road on the northside of the city.
Now Curraheen Hospital Ltd has applied to Cork County Council for planning permission for a 15,000 sq m hospital and hospice at Ballinaspig More, Waterfall Road, near the start of the Ballincollig bypass on the fringe of the city.
Flooding closes Eurad office
The Europe Against Drugs (Eurad) co-ordination office in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, is closed due to flood damage, Grainne Kenny, its international president, said yesterday. "We hope to reopen in two weeks from today's date."