A round-up of today's other news stories in brief
Woman killed by car while cycling
A cyclist killed in an early morning road crash in Co Limerick was named last night as Carmel O'Brien from Sheerin's Cross, Kilmallock, Co Limerick.
The married 49-year-old died after her bicycle was hit by a car at 6.50am yesterday. The collision occurred about 2km outside Bruff on the main Kilmallock road.
Ms O'Brien, a regular cyclist, was out for a morning cycle travelling in the direction of Bruff when the car, travelling in the opposite direction, struck her. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to contact Bruff Garda station on 061-382940.
Explosion at flat injures man (72)
Emergency services in Dublin are investigating a gas explosion in a flat in the south inner city in which a 72-year-old man was injured.
The explosion occurred yesterday morning in a flat at Ormond House, Oliver Bond Street, off the south quays. Emergency services were called and the man was taken to St James's Hospital where he was admitted suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. A spokeswoman said he was "stable" last night.
Bord Gáis technicians were called and disconnected the gas supply but a spokeswoman said there was no fault with either the supply or the equipment in the flat.
Visitors banned at Bantry hospital
A total ban on visitors has been introduced at Bantry General Hospital in west Cork due to a major outbreak of the winter vomiting bug. The only exceptions are for relatives of critically ill patients, who are asked to make contact with the hospital in advance of their visit.
Any person with vomiting and/or diarrhoea or anyone who has had contact with persons with those symptoms should not visit the hospital until they have been symptom-free for 72 hours.