More news in brief
The demolition of the last tower block in Ballymun, Dublin, has been postponed after the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) expressed concern that asbestos had not been properly removed from the building.
The authority issued prohibition orders to Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL) and Dublin Demolition, which was to carry out the work.
A HSA spokesman said it was a "very serious" issue and were the demolition to take place with asbestos still in the structure, asbestos dust would be released into the air and pose a serious hazard to the community.
Work on the tower cannot now proceed until BRL carries out a "type three" survey and the HSA is satisfied that all safety standards have been met.
Gardaí investigate fatal car crash
Gardaí are investigating a car crash in Sligo in which a young man, believed to be the driver of the car, was killed. Two males in their twenties were taken to Sligo General Hospital on Sunday evening following the crash at Cuilbeg, Carraroe.
One of the men, aged 23, subsequently died. His name had not been released last night.
Former FF TD Seán Keegan dies
The death has taken place of Seán Keegan, a former Fianna Fáil senator and TD for the Longford-Westmeath constituency in the 1970s and 1980s.
A native of Killard, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, he was elected to the Dáil in 1977 having previously served in the Seanad since 1970.
85% of retailers victims of crime
Some 85 per cent of retailers have been the victims of crime in the last 12 months, according to a survey by a national organisation which represents independent family grocers.
The survey by RGDATA also reveals that one in four retailers has been assaulted or threatened with physical violence in their store during the past year.
DPP's appeal of sentence fails
The Court of Criminal Appeal has dismissed an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against the "undue leniency" of a three year sentence imposed on a young Galway man who was "completely out of it" on drugs when he committed a horrific unprovoked assault on an innocent man.
Earlier this year King, (25), Rinn Luachra, Ballybane was jailed for four years after he pleaded guilty to assaulting Liam Curran near Mr Curran's home at Castle Park, Galway, on June 26th, 2005. On the same date King also admitted threatening his victim, in the presence of Mr Curran's son, at University College Hospital, Galway.
Murder case jury sent to hotel
The jury in the trial of a man accused of stabbing a man in the neck with a shard of glass has been sent to a hotel for the night.
Gregory Conway (36) of no fixed abode denies the murder of Liam Murphy, also known as Liam Maguire, in the deceased man's house in Woodview Terrace, Dundalk, Co Louth on June 15th or June 16th last year.
Scientists doing hedgehog audit
Scientists in Co Clare are carrying out the country's first hedgehog audit in a bid to find out more about the tiny mammal.
The study will assess numbers and identify the threat posed to the species by the widespread use of pesticides.
"We are asking the public to record any sightings of hedgehogs on a reference map that has been established on the Clare Biodiversity Group website www.clarebiodiversity.ie," Biodiversity officer John Murphy said.