A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Widow gets €400,000 in damages
A woman whose husband died in a road tragedy five years ago has settled her High Court action for damages of €400,000.
Bernadine Moore brought the action on behalf of herself and her two children, Fintan (17) and Cathal (7), St Joseph's Terrace, Athy, Co Kildare, arising from an incident in Co Laois in which her husband, Cathal Moore (35), died on October 25th, 2000.
The proceedings were against the driver of the other car, Robert O'Leary, Garryvadden, Blackwater, Co Wexford.
The case was settled yesterday on the basis of an award of €400,000 for mental distress, to include €25,000 for each of the couple's children. There was no admission of liability on behalf of the defendant.
Cox fails to get FF nomination
The news that Senator Margaret Cox has not been nominated for the Fianna Fáil selection convention for the Dáil constituency of Galway West has been greeted with surprise in local political circles, writes Michelle McDonagh.
Nominated for selection are Ministers Frank Fahey and Éamon Ó Cuív, councillors John Connolly, Mary Hoade and Séamus Walsh, and Val Hanley.
It had been widely expected that the local businesswoman would be going forward for the Galway West selection which takes place on January 29th.
Fire destroys boat builders on Achill
A boat builders premises was destroyed in a fire on Achill, Co Mayo yesterday morning. A partially built boat was also destroyed alongside machinery and equipment in Pattens Boatbuilders, Saulia.
Two units of the fire brigade brought the blaze under control after the fire broke out just after 8am. One fire officer estimated the damage to be in "the six figures". Nobody was injured in the incident.
Robberies in Killarney 'unusual'
Gardaí in Killarney are investigating "an unusual" spate of house robberies taking place mainly at weekends in the environs of the tourist town since November, writes Anne Lucey.
Thieves have targeted wardrobes of stylish families in the Killarney area, making off with substantial amounts of clothing, much of it designer wear.
Several of the break-ins have occurred on Saturdays at dusk, while the occupants have been out. Some householders were unaware there had been a break-in until they went to their wardrobes to fetch an item of clothing. Some of the stolen clothes still bore tags. Jewellery has also been taken along with cash and fine wines.
Gardaí believe the houses are not randomly selected and the robbers are acting on local knowledge or some type of inside information.
Sisters (13) and (6) win GAA lottery
Two sisters from Co Galway have won €20,000 in a local GAA lottery contest. Bairbre (13) and Anna (6) Finneran from Mountbellew in east Galway have their father, Barry, to thank for their success in the draw which is held in aid of Mountbellew/Moylough GAA. Mr Finneran bought the ticket for his daughters.
The lottery had not been won for three years.