A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Flights to US to expand clearances
Full pre-clearance for US- bound flights is to be introduced at Dublin and Shannon airports, the US embassy in Dublin has said.
Since 1994, the two Irish airports have been the only airports in Europe where US customs and border protection personnel screen US-bound flights, enabling passengers to avoid passport checks upon arrival.
Now consultations with the Irish authorities are under way, a statement said, to introduce "full pre- clearance" to supplement the current screening with the agricultural and customs checks conducted at US airports. The statement said both sides recognised the significant security and commercial benefits.
Main gets 4 years for killing wife
An Enniskillen man who strangled his abusive and controlling wife on New Year's Day, and then returned to the bar to finish watching football, has been jailed for four years by Mr Justice Reg Weir at Omagh Crown Court, sitting in Belfast.
William Brady (45), also agreed to spend a further 18 months on probation.
Brady, Corbane Avenue, Enniskillen, was originally charged with murdering Kathleen Brady on January 1st last year but the court accepted his guilty plea to her manslaughter.
Haughey portrait sold for €3,000
An oil portrait which is believed to be one of the last painted of former taoiseach Charles Haughey was sold for €3,000 at public auction in Dublin yesterday. The General by contemporary artist Philip Moss was auctioned by Adams at St Stephen's Green, with a guide price between €2,500 and €3,000.
It was exhibited as part of Adams's contemporary and modern art sale. The artist's depiction of Mr Haughey is believed to have been inspired by a portrait created by David Jacques Louis of Emperor Napoleon.
Jail for disruptive flight behaviour
A drunk airline passenger was jailed for three months yesterday for disruption aboard a flight after he put his hand through a seat in front of him where a 16-year- old schoolgirl was sitting.
William Tyndall (40), Beamore Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to assaulting the girl, being drunk and to threatening behaviour aboard a Vienna to Dublin Aer Lingus flight on February 18th.
Dublin District Court heard he had been drinking heavily before the flight.
Taxi-driver fined for covering meter
An airport taxi-driver used a handkerchief to cover his meter so a passenger could not see what he was being charged when he sat into the cab, a court heard yesterday. Michael Reilly (77), Oldbawn, Tallaght, Dublin, denied operating his meter while "standing for hire" at Dublin airport on October 10th, 2005.
Dublin District Court heard that airport policeman Stephen Madden observed Mr Reilly waiting for a fare at the taxi rank with "a hanky or a cloth" covering his meter. He asked the driver to remove it and saw €3.40 was already displayed. Mr Reilly claimed he forget to switch off the meter. He was fined €800.
Two other airport taxi drivers were also fined for operating their meters while waiting for a fare last October. Patrick Devaney (24), Blanchardstown, and Alan Ingoldsby (34), Donaghmede, were fined €700 each.