A round-up of today's other news stories in brief.
Launch of Guerin bursary
A bursary in the memory of Veronica Guerin has been introduced to help up-and-coming journalists.
The Veronica Guerin Memorial Bursary was launched at DCU yesterday by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to mark the 10th anniversary of the journalist's death.
She was shot dead on the Naas Road in Dublin on June 26th, 1996, after writing extensively about the drugs trade and criminal underworld in the Sunday Independent.
The bursary was set up by her former employer, Independent Newspapers with DCU. It will involve the payment of €10,000 towards a different student's fees every year for at least the next five years.
Barnardo call for child referendum
Barnardo's children's charity has called for a referendum to ensure that the rights of children are constitutionally protected.
Chief executive Fergus Finlay said at the launch of Barnardo's annual review yesterday it would launch a nationwide campaign in the autumn seeking a number of changes in relation to the position of children.
Mr Finlay expressed concern at recent changes in the law governing the area of child abuse and statutory rape, and the potential for an abused child to be cross-examined. "I suspect that our adversarial system of justice is so embedded in our constitutional view of the world that we could need a referendum just to deal with that," he added.
Council sued over pothole injuries
An air steward told the High Court yesterday how in May 1997, his Honda car took off, hit another car and ended up looking "like a banana" after it struck a deep pothole while he was driving to Dublin airport.
Weldon Costello said he broke down when he saw the car after his release from hospital. "That car was my life," he said.
Mr Costello (34), Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, Dublin, claims Fingal County Council was negligent in failing to repair the pothole and had failed to take any or any adequate care for his safety.
He has brought an action for damages over injuries allegedly sustained as a result of the incident. The council denies the claims.
Service for Michael O'Leary
A memorial service for Michael O'Leary, former Labour Party leader, tánaiste and district court judge who died last month, will be held in Dublin tomorrow.
The service, in St Therese's church, Clarendon Street, Dublin, at 2 pm has been organised by family members and friends. The Mass will be said by Father Patrick Hannon.
Mr O'Leary died last month in St Sever de Rustan in the Haut Pyrenees in southwest France, where he had a house. He had retired as a judge just days earlier, having reached the age of 70. In recent years he married for the second time and is survived by his wife, Mary.
New drop-in centre for gays
A drop-in centre where members of the gay and lesbian community can speak to gardaí about safety concerns has been launched.
The Garda Advice Service, based at Outhouse on Capel Street, involves trained Garda gay liaison officers meeting fortnightly to take crime reports and listen to safety concerns.
The service, also open to bisexual and transgender groups, will run as a pilot scheme before being extended nationally. It was launched by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
Gardaí yesterday warned gay men about recent homophobic attacks in Dame Street, George's Street and around Christ Church.
Insp Finbarr Murphy said: "Our advice to members of the gay community is to be careful not to become isolated and not to go into an area in the early hours of the morning that are quiet or isolated."