A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Minister and PSNI 'at odds' on IRA status
An attempt by Northern Ireland security minister Shaun Woodward to end the controversy over his remarks on IRA criminality has backfired, write Dan Keenan and Mark Hennessy.
Policing Board chairman Sir Desmond Rea said yesterday the minister and the PSNI remain "clearly at odds".
Asst Chief Const Sam Kinkaid privately briefed members of the Policing Board on Tuesday that all paramilitary groups were still involved in crime. This contradicted views expressed by Mr Woodward at the same briefing and in comments made to The Irish Times last month when he said: "All the indications are that when the IRA made that historic statement in July [ on ending all activity], they kept their word."
To defuse the situation, the minister wrote to the Policing Board on Wednesday claiming his remarks had been taken out of context and that there was "no dichotomy between myself and the PSNI".
However, Sir Desmond said Mr Woodward's clarification did not fully address the board's concerns. "The board is clear that PSNI and the other agencies advised that all paramilitary groups were still involved in organised crime."
In New Delhi, the Taoiseach rejected Mr Kincaid's analysis, saying Sir Hugh Orde, "the most senior police officer", had given him a different view.
"I think we will see in the IMC [ Independent Monitoring Commission] report ... whether there are others who are creating difficulties perhaps on the fringes of the republican movement."
386 await beds on hospital trolleys
Some 386 people were waiting on trolleys in A&E units in hospitals around the State yesterday, the Irish Nurses' Organisation said.
This is down from Wednesday's total of 422, equalling last year's record high.
Man serious in Belfast shooting
A 22-year-old man was in a serious condition last night after a shooting incident in west Belfast. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the incident happened shortly before 8pm in the Wilton Street area of the loyalist Shankill Road.
2 young mothers killed in pile-up
Two women killed in a three-car pile-up on Wednesday evening have been named as Siobhán Drea (20), Ballykilmurray, Tullamore, and her close friend, Polish-born Mikhaela Ardeleanu, Arden Road, Tullamore, writes Liam Horan.
They died in the collision at Fardrum, halfway between Moate and Athlone. The women were returning from Athlone Institute of Technology.
Each had a young child, and yesterday Tullamore curate Fr John Nally said it was "a terrible tragedy".
Search for two missing fishermen
The Irish Coastguard helicopter was last night assisting the Belfast coastguard in its search for two missing fishermen at Ardglass, Co Down.
A coastguard spokesman said one man had been found alive on a liferaft after an emergency beacon was detected last night.
However, efforts were continuing last night to locate two other fishermen who were on the 20 metre fishing vessel at the time.
Case of man who started fire adjourned
A man who admitted starting a fire in a house where a couple were later found dead will take part in a special treatment programme in England, Dundalk Circuit Court was told.
On that basis Judge Pat McCartan adjourned his case for one year, saying the accused needed to be helped.
Marinus Griffiths (25), with addresses at Stapleton Place, Dundalk, and Mellifont Park, Drogheda, pleaded guilty to damaging the building and contents at Mill Lane, Trinity Street, Drogheda, on February 8th, 2002.
After the blaze the bodies of Winnie Reilly (27) and Thomas Maguire (35)were found inside.
The house the couple were found in had been derelict for a number of years and was, the court heard, "used on an occasional basis by people who are homeless [ and] trying to exist".
However, it was accepted that Griffiths did not know there was anybody in the house. The investigating garda said he believed that in the house Griffiths had been practising putting a cigarette lighter to the gas from an aerosol can.
Griffiths had admitted he started a fire on a piece of plastic on an armchair in a downstairs room. "I thought it would go out. It was a little flame. I don't know why I did it," he told gardaí.
Sentence deferred
Sentence on a Galway man for unlawful carnal knowledge of his 15-year-old sister-in-law has been adjourned at the Central Criminal Court arising out of a constitutional challenge to the legislation.
The now 33-year-old man was found guilty at his trial in November last by direction of Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill of having unlawful carnal knowledge of the woman in 1995 on a couch in his home.
Isobel Kennedy SC, defending, told Mr Justice O'Neill that the Supreme Court itself in a recent ruling had raised the issue of the constitutionality of the legislation dealing with unlawful carnal knowledge and was to hear submissions soon.
Ex-Marist appeals sex conviction
A former Marist Brother and school teacher has brought an appeal against his conviction on 180 counts of indecent assault of six former pupils.
The hearing concluded yesterday and the Court of Criminal Appeal said it would give judgment on February 24th.
Christopher Cosgrove (62) of Ballyhaunis Road, Claremorris, Co Mayo, left the Marist Order more than 20 years ago.
If Cosgrove fails to overturn his conviction, the court will then hear his argument that the eight-year sentence was excessive.