A round-up of today’s other news stories in brief:
Parish priest accused of abuse
The Garda and Health Service Executive have started inquiries into fresh allegations against a parish priest in the Galway diocese.
Bishop of Galway Dr Martin Drennan confirmed investigations were taking place yesterday, when he visited the parish in the south of the diocese and informed parishioners.
The priest has stepped down from his duties pending the outcome.
Flynn keeps her options open
Former Fianna Fáil TD Beverly Flynn has refused to rule out the possibility of supporting Enda Kenny for taoiseach after the next election.
Ms Flynn, an Independent in the Dáil, told the Sunday Tribune she "will not be taken for granted by any party and that includes Fianna Fáil" in any future vote for a new taoiseach.
No decision on Evelyn Joel file
The garda leading the investigation into the death of Enniscorthy woman Evelyn Joel said last night it was too early to say whether a file on the case would be sent to the DPP.
Ms Joel (58) died at Wexford General Hospital on January 7th, days after being admitted suffering from severe malnutrition. She had been found in her own excrement and with severe bed sores when her daughter, with whom she lived, called an ambulance on New Year's Eve. She was suffering from septicemia.
The Health Service Executive is also investigating the death.
Meanwhile, her daughter Eleanor said she fears for her own safety as she and her partner, John Costen, had been treated "like aliens".
Japanese ban on US beef monitored
Irish beef exporters are monitoring the reimposition of a two-year ban by Japan on the import of US beef less than a month after the ban was lifted, writes Seán MacConnell.
Japan, whose market was supplied almost exclusively from the US, imposed the ban about 18 months ago when the US reported its first case of BSE in a cow it claimed was imported from Canada.
On January 1st, following assurances from the US about the safety of it beef, the market was reopened, but was closed again last week when the spine of an animal was discovered in beef imported from the US.
During the ban the market in Japan was supplied from Australia and Latin America, who are in competition with Irish exporters.
Council fined over radioactive device
North Tipperary County Council has been fined €1,250 and ordered to pay €624 costs by Judge Michael Reilly at Nenagh District Court for having an unlicensed nuclear device and for failing to carry out tests on the device to detect leakage.
The charges related to a device known as a Troxler Nuclear Moisture Density Gauge, which contains radioactive substances.
Remains identified as missing man's
Gardaí are to prepare a file for the coroners' court after a postmortem confirmed the identity of human remains found in a tree in Cork as that of a local man missing for over three years.
Officers removed the remains of 41-year-old William O'Brien from farmland in Tullig, Buttevant, on Saturday.
Foul play was ruled out.