More news in brief.
Van Morrison to get film music honour
Belfast singer/songwriter Van Morrison will be honoured in Hollywood next year for his contribution to film, which includes music featured in more than 50 films, including Martin Scorcese's forthcoming The Departed.
Oscar Wilde - Honouring Irish Writing in Film is an award established last year by the US-Ireland Alliance and the Irish Film Board, with a party held in Hollywood during the week of the Academy Awards.
Last year's event, which honoured Neil Jordan, Jim Sheridan and David Holmes, was attended by actors Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard and Anjelica Huston, and Disney Chairman Dick Cook.
US-Ireland Alliance president Trina Vargo said two further honorees will be announced before next February's event.
Sexual assault alleged in Galway
Gardaí in Galway are investigating an alleged sexual assault on a woman in the city centre early yesterday. The woman was walking along the River Corrib, close to Jury's Inn, when the attack is reported to have taken place, shortly before 3am.
The alarm was raised by a passerby and the woman was taken to Mill Street Garda station. gardaí are looking for someone who is described as dark-skinned, of medium build and about six foot tall.
Shots fired at house in Limerick
A young couple and their children had a lucky escape yesterday when a lone gunman opened fire on a house in Limerick city.
Shots were fired at the front of a house in O'Malley Park at 12.20 am yesterday morning. The house was occupied at the time by a couple in their 20s and their children, but nobody was injured.
Anybody with information or who may have witnessed the shooting is asked to contact Roxboro Garda station on (061) 212430.
Ex-soldier asked about 1966 death
A former soldier in Northern Ireland was being questioned last night about the murder of a baby girl 40 years ago.
The man, aged 60, was arrested in Staffordshire by detectives from Northern Ireland investigating the death of nine-month-old Lynda Cochrane.
The child was killed at Ballykinlar Army Camp, near Newcastle, Co Down, in September 1966. The suspect was detained by officers from the crime operations branch in Belfast. Staffordshire Police assisted in the operation.
Although a specialist unit is carrying out a major review of more than 3,000 unsolved murders, the latest arrest is not connected with the Historical Inquiries team.
Body taken from river at Limerick
The body of a Limerick man missing for three days was recovered from the River Shannon in Limerick city at 7.30pm yesterday evening.
A Garda press officer said foul play was not suspected.
The man, in his 50s, has been identified.
Five firms on stadium shortlist
Five firms are in the running to design Northern Ireland's planned £85 million (€125 million) sports stadium, it emerged yesterday.
Architects, surveyors and project managers from across Europe, Australia and the US have been asked to submit blueprints for the 42,000-seater arena, to be built on the former Maze Prison site. Each of the consortia will be invited to visit the regeneration area near Lisburn, Co Antrim, before submitting a design.
The companies shortlisted are: GMP International GmbH; New Generation Stadia; Mackenzie Partnership; Mott MacDonald; and Turner and Townsend Project Management.