A roundup of today's other regional news stories in brief
Bail for man in freezer murder case
A Galway man charged with the murder of a man whose body was found in a freezer behind a fishmonger's shop in Galway city last June has been further remanded on bail to next March following his appearance before Galway District Court yesterday.
Edward Griffin (43), Cimín Mór, Cappagh Road, Salthill, is charged with the murder of Dubliner Patrick McCormack (52), on a date unknown between June 1st and September 30th, 2002.
Mr Griffin secured bail in the High Court in July and in Galway District Court yesterday Insp Mick Coppinger said there was a huge file involved and the book of evidence was not ready.
Judge Mary Fahy agreed to adjourn the matter to March 5th next and she remanded Mr Griffin.
Inquests on crash couple adjourned
Inquests into the deaths of an Irish couple killed last September in a head-on collision with a car that was being pursued by police on the M4 in Wales was opened and adjourned yesterday by a coroner in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
John O'Dwyer adjourned the inquests into the deaths of James (69) and Bridget Stafford (70), late of Dooagh, Achill, Co Mayo, to allow for the completion of inquiries by British authorities.
The couple were returning home in Thornton Heath, Surrey, on September 17th last after a holiday in Achill when their car was struck by the other vehicle. Three occupants of the other car were killed.
Viable explosive found in Clare
A suspect device found in Co Clare over the weekend was a viable explosive, it has emerged.
The discovery was made in a field in Gillogue near the village of Clonlara on the outskirts of Limerick city shortly after midnight last Friday.
The Army bomb disposal team from Cork was called to inspect the device which was then defused.
Jailed for breath sample refusal
A motorist who refused to give a breath sample to gardaí was yesterday banned from driving for seven years and sentenced to three months in jail.
Judge Mary Devins said at a special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court, Co Donegal, that Andrew Kennedy, who had two previous drink-driving convictions, was "plummeting fast to the ground".
Kennedy, (35) Garavogue Villas, Sligo, admitted refusing to give the sample at Donegal Garda station last January 19th.
Priest warns of parking at church
A Donegal priest has warned motorists he will have their cars towed away if they abuse the use of free parking spaces at his church.
Fr John Walsh, parish priest of Buncrana, has been forced to issue the warning after the recent introduction of pay-and-display parking charges in the seaside town.
The 50c-an-hour charges have left many drivers scouring the town for free spaces, including those at St Mary's Oratory car park.