President's surgery a success

PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins underwent knee surgery at the Bon Secours Hospital in Renmore, Galway, yesterday.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins underwent knee surgery at the Bon Secours Hospital in Renmore, Galway, yesterday.

A spokesman for the President said no comment would be made other than the surgery to repair an old injury was complete. Mr Higgins slipped on wet tiles during an aid agency trip to Colombia last year.

It is understood Mr Higgins (70) is recovering well and will return to work early next week.

The President’s programme for the remainder of the Christmas period will continue on his return to the Áras, and he is due to spend Christmas there with his family.

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In recent days he was seen to limp significantly, but an extensive list of public engagements were completed up until Monday afternoon when he hosted a satellite link in the Áras between Irish soldiers in Lebanon and their families. The President spoke to soldiers based at Camp Shamrock during a reception for family members of Defence Forces personnel.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist