A roundup of today's other regional news stories in brief
Grants for food sector welcomed
A grant package for small abattoirs, marts and fruit and vegetable processors has been described as a welcome reversal of a policy which caused the unnecessary closure of many businesses in the 1990s, writes Seán Mac Connell.
The capital grants to cover 40 per cent of works carried out in the sectors were announced yesterday by Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan.
The Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland said the announcement would benefit small abattoirs and local processors.
Chief executive Pat Brady said it represented the reversal of a policy which cut a swathe through the same sector in the late 1990s, closing many viable and safe businesses unnecessarily and depriving local, especially rural communities of the fruits of their own produce.
Kerry hospital to close for two weeks
A 29-bed surgical ward is to close at Kerry General Hospital over the Christmas period, because of nursing shortages, the HSE announced yesterday.
The two-week closure begins on Christmas Eve. The 377-bed hospital serves north and west Cork and west Limerick, as well as Kerry.
The HSE statement on behalf of management at Kerry General said the closure was timed to cause "minimum impact". No elective surgery took place during Christmas week.
A number of factors had led to the nursing shortage including maternity leave, sick leave, retirements and resignations, it said.
Tributes paid to district judge
Tributes have been paid to Judge Donnachadh Ó Buachalla as he presided at Arklow District Court for the last time. The court districts are being changed in the new year to coincide with county boundaries.
Judge Ó Buachalla will remain in charge of District 23, which will embrace all district courts in Co Wexford, while Arklow and Wicklow Courts will join District 16.
The tributes were led yesterday by solicitor David Tarrant whose late father Cyril had welcomed Judge Ó Buachalla to Arklow on his first day in court 15 years ago.
Supt Catherine Kehoe joined in the tribute to the judge on behalf of the Garda.
Judge orders curfew on teens
A reign of terror against "vulnerable" people in Buncrana, Co Donegal, by teenagers who threw eggs and stones at their vehicles and homes, was outlined in court yesterday.
Garda Supt Jimmy Coen said the missile-throwing and other offences happened in the early hours. He told Donegal District Court that alleged offences still under investigation included criminal damage with a paintball gun.
He was asking the court to remand two 17-year-old youths in custody over Christmas for fear they would commit more trials before their cases could be heard. Judge Desmond A Zaidan remanded both on €4,500 bail each and ordered them to observe a curfew between 8pm and 8am.